Wise Reviews

PORCH POEMS

by

Porch Poems

AUTHOR: Shirley Mandel Satterfield

TITLE:  Porch Poems

GENRE: Poetry, Poems, Anthology

BOOK COVER:  NEEL TRIVEDI

REVIEWER:  DAILY WISDOM WORDS, LLC

PURCHASE ON AMAZON:  https://www.amazon.com/Porch-Poems-Shirley-Satterfield/dp/1716235421

REVIEW:

 
“PORCH POEMS” WRITTEN BY Shirley Mandel Satterfield  IS A LOVELY COLLECTION OF POETRY ABOUT NATURE AND GOD INTERTWINING TO CREATE SITTING ON A PORCH DURING MORNING.
SATTERFIELD HAS WRITTEN SEVERAL “WORKS OF ART” PORTRAYING GOD AS THE ARTIST AS MOTHER NATURE PROVIDES ABSTRACT COLORS.  ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE REALLY ENJOYED READING “PORCH POEMS” WAS MANDEL’S ABILITY TO USE HER OWN PAINTBRUSH WITH CHOSEN WORDS IN EACH POEM.
 
SATTERFIELD WRITES A COLLECTION OF BEAUTIFUL POEMS TAKING US HOME BOUND.  WE CAN’T HELP BUT APPRECIATE HER INSPIRING DETAIL OF EACH THING YOU MIGHT SEE WHILE SITTING ON A PORCH BREATHING IN THE MORNING AIR OR WATCHING THE SUNRISE.  MANDEL CARRIES YOU ON A JOURNEY THROUGH GOD’S CREATIONS WITH A POEM FOR EACH SEASON.
 
SMELL THE AIR, FEEL THE WEATHER, APPRECIATE THE SUNSHINE.  WE STRONGLY SUGGEST READING ONE OF THESE POEMS EVERY MORNING TOUCHING YOUR DAY WITH A SENSE OF HEAVEN.
SAY YOUR MORNING PRAYERS OR MEDITATE BEFORE READING ANY OF THESE “CREATIVES” IN THIS WELL ILLUSTRATED COLLECTION OF, “PORCH POEMS”.
 
WITH A POEM SHARING A WONDERFUL VISUAL, DIFFERENT SCENES PAINTED BY SATTERFIELD ARE WORDS WHICH FLOW TO THE HEART,  SATTERFIELD WILL TAKE YOU ON A SIMPLE JOURNEY WHILE READING THEM.  THERE ARE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL, ORGANIC POEMS REFLECTING THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE WE ALL TAKE FOR GRANTED, BUT SATTERFIELD DOES NOT.  SATTERFIELD REFERS TO.THE MORNING CLOUDS BEING SHAPED LIKE “ANIMALS” IN HER POEM TITLED, “SOMETIMES A TURTLE.”  ONE OF OUR FAVORITE POEMS FROM THIS BOOK IS CALLED, “MORNING BIRD”, WHICH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING VERSE:
 
                              “I KNOW THAT MORNINGS ARE QUIET FOR A REASON,
                                IT’S THE STILLNESS OF A 24 HOUR SEASON.”
                                WHEN OUR MINDS HAVE BEEN SETTLED BY REPOSE,
                                AND OUR FEELINGS ARE COMPOSED.
 
THIS VERSE WOWED US, TAKING OUR MINDS INTO SIMPLE, UNINTERRUPTED THOUGHTS WE ALL HAVE WHILE WAKING UP FIRST THING IN THE MORNING.  WE ALSO LOVED SATTERFIELD’S POEM CALLED, “MOTHER MORNING”. THIS POEM SHARES WITH US A LINE THAT STICKS; “AS MOTHER MORNING DONS HER ROBE”.  YOU LITERALLY VISUALIZE WHAT IT MIGHT FEEL LIKE IF MORNING ACTUALLY WORE A ROBE AS MOST OF US DO UPON WAKING UP.  ANOTHER POEM, “THE BOSS”,  ALSO STANDS OUT, SUMMING UP THE QUIET POWER A “WOMAN OF HER OWN HOUSE” HAS.  MANDEL BRILLIANTLY WRITES YET ANOTHER POEM
TITLED, “MUSING IN ISOLATION”.  THE  UNIQUE WAY HER WORDS COME TOGETHER CREATING A VISION IN OUR IMAGINATION IS SHEER BRILLIANCE.
 
ANOTHER POEM SATTERFIELD INCLUDES, :”LOOK IT’S SNOWING” MENTIONS EACH SNOWFLAKE BEING UNIQUELY SHAPED WHEN FALLING FROM THE SKY.  WE FEEL THE COLD TASTE OF A SNOWFLAKE WHILE READING THIS, IF A SNOWFLAKE HIT OUR TONGUE.   IN THIS POEM, SATTERFIELD TALKS OF A WINTER’S MORNING PLANS TO GO OUT, CHANGING QUICKLY INTO PLANS OF STAYING HOME BECAUSE OF A COLD WEATHER STORM.
 
WE HAVE DONE REVIEWS FOR SHIRLEY MANDEL SATTERFIELD IN THE PAST, LOVING HER WONDERFUL POETRY AND WORDS. THIS IS OUR FAVORITE POETRY BOOK BY FAR.  “PORCH POEMS” EASILY GETS FIVE STARS. SATTERFIELD TAKES POETESS INTO A NEW LEVEL OF MEANING.  “PORCH POEMS” BY SHIRLEY MANDEL SATTERFIELD IS A NECESSITY ON YOUR NIGHTSTAND FOR EACH MORNING!  IT IS A MUST TO BUY IF YOU LOVE POETRY YOU CAN FEEL, TASTE AND TOUCH WITH THE WORDS CAREFULLY CHOSEN.  SHIRLEY MANDEL SATTERFIELD CRAFTING “SHEER BRILLIANCE” WITH CAREFULLY CHOSEN WORDS IN THIS SUPERB COLLECTION OF POEMS.  BUY NOW!!

REVIEW:  *****

REVIEWER:  DAILY WISDOM WORDS, LLC

Click to Buy on Amazon

Hardback:  $8.19-AMAZON

 

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“SURVIVOR’S MIND”

by

AUTHOR: CATHERINE MELLEN

GENRE: POETRY, REALITY

“SURVIVOR’S MIND”, WRITTEN BY CATHERINE MELLEN IS BASED ON HER REALITY OF A CHILD WHO SUFFERS HORRIBLE PHYSICAL, SEXUAL, MENTAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE. OFTEN, MELLEN PORTRAYS IN THIS POETRY COLLECTION, THAT A SURVIVOR IS ONE WHO CAN LIVE TO TELL ABOUT THE ABUSE EXPERIENCED BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY SPEAK OPENLY ABOUT THIS ABUSE. I HAVE READ MANY BOOKS BUT THIS COLLECTION OF POEMS. TOOK ME ON A POWERFUL EMOTIONAL JOURNEY AS I READ EACH PAGE STARTING WITH THE FIRST POEM IN HER POETRY BOOK, ‘SURVIVOR’S MIND”, CATHERINE MELLEN WRITES THIS COLLECTION OF POETRY FROM A VICTIM’S STANDPOINT. I FOUND MYSELF IN TEARS AFTER READING ALMOST EVERY ONE OF THESE POEMS WRITTEN IN RAW TRUTH.

ALTHOUGH SADNESS IS JUST ONE EMOTION I FELT READING “SURVIVORS MIND”, I ALSO EXPERIENCE MELLEN’S FEAR BEING RESTRAINED IN A CELLAR WITH ZIP TIES, HER BEWILDERMENT AS TO WHY THE ABUSE HAPPENS FROM A FAMILY SHE WISHED TO LOVE, BUT LOVE IS NOT SHOWN TO MELLEN IN ANY WAY AS A CHILD. MELLEN DOES NOT MINCE WORDS OR FLOWER HER POETRY IN ANY WAY. MELLEN IS COMING TO US WITH HER WORDS AS A CHILD VICTIM OF HORRID SEXUAL AND EMOTIONAL CRIMES INCLUDING RAPE. HER MOTHER AND BROTHERS STOOD BY, ALLOWING THIS HORRIFIC ABUSE TO TAKE PLACE.

ONE GRIPPING POEM IN THE BOOK IS TITLED, “CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS”, SHE SUFFERED AS A CHILD WHO IS BRAVE ENOUGH NOT ONLY TO TELL HER STORY BUT DO SO WITHOUT ANY FALSITY. I BELIEVE MELLEN WRITES WITH SUCH IMMENSE TRUTH, WE OFTEN DON’T SEE WHEN A VICTIM SHARES THEIR STORY.

MELLEN TALKS OF BEING “OUTSIDE THE BOX” AND TELLING HER STORY FOR THE “WHOLE WORLD TO HEAR.” AS I READ THIS POEM I FELT HER SCREAMS LOUDLY WHILE TELLING HER. STORY. SHE TALKS OF “SHATTERING THE SILENCE” WHICH IS THE PURPOSE OF THESE POEMS, WRITTEN WITH EXCELLENCE, GRACE, TRAGEDY AND EVEN HOPE. SHE TALKS OF FEAR AND “RUNNING WITH IT” INSTEAD OF “AWAY.FROM IT”.

AS ONLY ONE WHO HAS SUFFERED SUCH TRAGEDY AND HORROR FROM A FAMILY WHO NEVER STOPPED HER STEP-FATHER FROM SODOMY AND RAPE SHE SHARES A REALITY MOST OF US WILL NEVER KNOW. HER MOTHER AND BROTHERS STOOD BY AND WATCHED AS HER STEP-FATHER LOCKED HER IN THE CELLAR DAILY. THIS IS MORE THAN A BOOK OF POETRY. IT IS A BIOGRAPHY OF MELLEN’S CHILDHOOD. MELLEN TALKS ABOUT A CHILD’S ABUSE, FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A VICTIM, AND YOU FEEL HER PAIN WITH SUCH INTENSITY.

ANOTHER POEM BY MELLEN I FOUND POWERFUL WAS, “WHAT A CHILD NEEDS.” SHE TALKS OF “THE FUN AND LAUGHTER, AND KIDDY THINGS TO DO” FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF NEVER HAVING THE JOY TO EXPERIENCE. YET, MELLEN HAS THE MATERNAL INSTINCTS AND FEELINGS OF MISSING CHILDHOOD, AS SHE SHARES HER STORY THROUGH THESE POEMS. ANOTHER POEM MELLEN WRITES ENTITLED, “BRAND NEW TEARDROP” TALKS OF THE PAIN A CHILD FEELS SUFFERING THE WORST ABUSE POSSIBLE OVER AND OVER. I FEEL EVERY WORD IN MY HEART AND SOUL AND AM OVERWHELMED AS I READ THIS WITH EMPATHY.

I FOUND ONE OF THE BEST POEMS WRITTEN BY MELLON HAVING POWERFUL EMOTIONAL IMPACT IN A BROKEN SOCIETY IS A POEM TITLED, “BEFORE YOU GO”. THIS POEM TELLS WITH SUCH POETIC ART IN HER OWN WORDS ABOUT SUICIDE AND HOW SHE WILL FEEL AS ONE WHO MUST LIVE IN TRAGEDY AND LOSS IF THE PERSON SHE LOVES GOES THROUGH WITH SUICIDE. I CAN FEEL THE POTENTIAL LOSS AFTER SOMEONE YOU LOVE WENT THROUGH WITH SUICIDE. I FELT SUCH LOSS, PAIN, AND GREIF, AND LOVE POURING OUT FROM HER HEART. THIS POEM IS SO MEANINGFUL AND LIKE THE REST OF HER BOOK, SENDS A POWERFUL MESSAGE ABOUT LOVED ONES LEFT BEHIND LOSING A LOVED ONE TO SUICIDE. SHE WRITES THIS ASKING FOR HER LAST WORDS TO BE HEARD BY THE LOVED ONE CONTEMPLATING SUICIDE.

THERE ARE SO MANY POEMS, SO WELL WRITTEN I HAD TO NARROW MY CHOICES OF THOSE EQUALLY APPRECIATED WITH SUCH POETIC SKILL MELLEN MASTERS. ONE OF MANY THINGS I FOUND ADMIRABLE, WAS HER ABILITY TO LEAVE BEHIND A MESSAGE OF HOPE, COURAGE, AND COMPASSION AFTER TELLING HER STORY. I KNOW FEW CHILDREN COULD COPE WITH THE KIND OF SUFFERING SHARED THROUGH THE POWERFUL POETRY MELLEN WRITES. MELLEN TELLS A STORY WE SHOULD ALL HEAR. EACH POEM AND MANAGES TO SEND SO MANY “NECESSARY MESSAGES” NEEDED TODAY THROUGH HER GIFT OF WRITING. THROUGH HER WORDS, I FEEL ONE MIGHT HAVE THE COURAGE TO SHARE THEIR OWN CHILDHOOD TRAGEDY. POETRY OF THIS QUALITY CAN ONLY BE WRITTEN FROM EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE.

POETRY CAN ONLY BE SHARED WITH SUCH PAINFUL EMOTION CATHERINE MELLEN CAPTURES IN HER POETRY WRITTEN WITH SUCH TRUTH AND RAW HONESTY. THIS POETRY BOOK IS A “MUST READ” WITH SO MANY NECESSARY MESSAGES SHARED BY CATHERINE MELLEN THROUGH HER MASTERY OF WORDS. “A SURVIVOR’S MIND” GETS FIVE STARS PLUS FROM US. I WISH TO PERSONALLY THANK CATHERINE MELLEN FOR SHARING HER STORY WITH SUCH PROFOUND HONESTY AND BRAVERY. THIS BOOK WRITTEN FROM A TRUE POETESS, SHOULD BE READ BY ANYONE WHO HAS THE COURAGE TO HEAR THE RAW TRUTH FROM A CHILD ABUSE SURVIVOR.

THIS BOOK TEACHES ALL OF US A LESSON OF CHILDHOOD ABUSE AND INNER STRENGTH AND THE POSSIBILITY TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE SO ONE CAN BEGIN TO HEAL AS A CHILD, TEEN OR ADULT WHO HAS SUFFERED SUCH ABUSE. CATHERINE MELLEN SHOWS US THROUGH A POET’S WORDS A HORRIBLE STORY THAT CAN HAVE A POSITIVE ENDING WITH THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF HEALING AND LOVE. SHE TAKES US ON A POWERFUL JOURNEY OF FEAR, SADNESS, ABUSE, AND YES, HOPE.

“SURVIVOR’S MIND”

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DOWNFALLS

by

DOWNFALLS IS OUR DAILY WISDOM WORD TODAY. WE ALL HAVE DOWNFALLS FROM TIME TO TIME. SOMETIMES IT IS INEVITABLE THAT SOMEONE AROUND US HAS ONE. IT MAKES IT HARD WHEN SOMEONE ELSES DOWNFALL AFFECTS US. I CALL THIS THE “RIPPLING” EFFECT. A DOWNFALL HAPPENS TO SOMEONE WHEN THEY MAKE A POOR CHOICE AND YOU ARE THE ONE WHOSE LIFE IS AFFECTED BY IT. WE ARE PLANNING A PODCAST  AND GRAND OPENING AND I HAD ASKED SOMEONE I CONSIDERED A CLOSE FRIEND TO BE A HOST FOR THESE PODCASTS.

I ORIGINALLY  HAD PAID EHR $100 TO BUILD A WEBSITE FOR OUR CUSTOM POETRY SECTION. WE DISAGREED ON HOW THE WEBSITE SHOULD BE LAID OUT. I WAS FRUSTRATED AS I HAVE HAD MANY ISSUES WITH THIS PERSON IN THE PAST.  I THOUGHT I HAD SEEN GROWTH AND KINDNESS IN HER NOW.   SHE WAS UNABLE TO SHOW TOWARDS ME PRIOR TO THIS  KINDNESS OR APPRECIATION AS I HAD HELP HER OUT IN MANY WAYS.    I WOULDN’T HAVE ASKED HER.  IT WHEN SHE DISCUSSED SCREEN SHARING TO BUILD THE NEW WEBSITE. WE HAD A FEW MORE PRESSING ISSUES, SO WE PUT ASIDE THE WEBSITE FOR A FEW DAYS OR SO I THOUGHT. 

THERE ARE ALWAYS SOUNDBITES NEEDED FOR A PODCAST AS WITH ANY SHOW.  SHE SEEMED TO BE A NATURAL AT IT.  THE PERFECT CHOICE UNTIL SHE INFORMED ME I NEEDED TO PAY HER $25 PER SOUNDBITE!!  IN THE PAST, I CREATED A FULL SEGMENT CALLED “FROM TREES TO KEYS”.  I ALSO ACTED AS. CO-HOST ON THIS CABLE SHOW WHICH AIRED ON TELEVISION FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS.  I KNOW HOW TO DO THIS AND AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE INDUSTRY.  BEFORE I HAD HIRED HER, I TOLD HER I WOULD PAY AS I WAS ABLE AND STILL THINKING SHE WAS DOING THE WEBSITE, I PAID HER TWO DIFFERENT TIMES OVER A PERIOD OF THREE DAYS.  IN ADDITION, I ALSO GAVE HER  $25, AND ANOTHER $30 SINCE PAYING FOR THE WEBSITE TOWARDS THE SHOW. 

I WANTED TO HELP HER AS MUCH AS I WAS ABLE.  A FEW DAYS LATER, I NEEDED FIVE SOUNDBITES FOR THE SHOW.  SOUNDBITES ARE BETWEEN 15-60 SECONDS LONG AND PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE WORKED IN THE INDUSTRY ARE PAID PER SHOW.  SOUNDBITES  AND ADVERTISING THE SHOW ARE PART OF BEING PAID FOR THE SHOW ITSELF WHICH I AGREED TO PAY HER $25 FOR EACH SHOW CONSIDERING THE PODCAST IS 15 MINUTES LOG, AND SHE HAD NO EXPERIENCE.    I SENT HER A TEXT ASKING HER TO RECORD FIVE SOUNDBITES FOR THE WEBSITE.  I SAID I WOULD PAY HER FIVE DOLLARS PER SOUNDBITE AND SHE INFORMED ME SHE WOULD DO EACH ONE FOR $25 APIECE WHICH WOULD  HAVE TOTALED $125.  I WAS IN SHOCK.  A.  NO WEBSITE YET, AND ANOTHER $55 PAID TO HER SIMPLY FOR HELPING WITH THE SHOW OVERALL AND DOING ONE SOUNDBITE.  SHE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT HER “FRIENDS” SHE TOLD ME, “THEY THOUGHT SHE WAS GETTING RIPPED OFF.” 

I WAS ANGRY, SAD, MAD, DISAPPOINTED, AND SUFFERED A MASSIVE DOWNFALL QUESTIONING MY OWN JUDGEMENT.  I EVEN GAVE HER A CHANCE TO MAKE IT RIGHT.  SADLY, SHE REPEATED THE WORDS I SAID OUT OF FRUSTRATION, DURING OUR INITIAL DISCUSSION WHEN I ASKED HER TO RETURN THE $100 BECAUSE SHE DID NOT FOLLOW THROUGH AND BUILD THE MINI-WEBSITE SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO.  I HAD, AT ONE POINT, FRUSTRATED, SAID “JUST KEEP THE MONEY” WE AREN’T GETTING ANYWHERE WITH THIS.”  I THOUGHT WE HAD MOVED PAST THAT  AFTER COOLING OFF, AS WE CONTINUING TO DISCUSS HOW THE WEBSITE SHOULD BE BUILT INCLUDING SCREENSHARING TO GET IT RIGHT. 

BECAUSE I COULD NOT MEET HER OUTRAGEOUS DEMANDS, I DECIDED I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO LET HER GO.  I KNEW IF I MET THAT “DEMAND” THERE WOULD BE SO MUCH MORE IN THE FUTURE.  IN MY LIFE, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TAUGHT TO BE AS KIND TO OTHERS AS THEY ARE WITH YOU.  SHE USED THIS, WHAT SHE VIEWED AS A WEAKNESS  SO SHE COULD EXPLOIT ME TO GET MORE MONEY INFORMING ME SHE WOULD BE KEEPING THE HUNDRED AND OTHER MONEY AS WELL  BECAUSE I TOLD HER TO KEEP THE $100 DURING A MOMENT OF FRUSTRATION.  SOMETIMES THERE ARE DOWNFALLS, BUT WE DON’T GET DO OVER’S. 

IT HURTS BECAUSE I AM THE ONE EXPERIENCING THE DOWNFALL  I BELIEVED SHE HAD CHANGED.  I BY THE WAY, OF COURSE DIDN’T EXPECT THE ADDITIONAL $55 BACK GIVEN FOR WORK DONE.  BECAUSE I REALLY CARED ABOUT HER AND THOUGHT WE WERE AT A GOOD PLACE I MADE A MISTAKE CAUSING A DOWNFALL WHICH HAD A RIPPLING EFFECT ON THE GUESTS I HAD ALREADY SET UP AND MY STAFF WHO ALL VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME. 

I WOULD LOVE COMMENTS ON THE DAILY WISDOM WORD TODAY, DOWNFALLS.  KEEP IN MIND, THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE ONE OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS.  I HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY HONEST LAYING OUT THESE ISSUES.  BENEATH THIS POST MY, IS A PLACE TO COMMENT WHERE YOU SEE JOIN THE DISCUSSION.  WAS I IN THE WRONG?  SHOULD SHE HAVE KEPT THE $100?  HOW MANY TIMES DO WE GIVE OTHER CHANCES EVEN IF WE CARE?  I WANT YOUR FEEDBACK AND NEED YOUR WISDOM NOW!!  THANK YOU FOR READING AND ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE THROUGH YOUR COMMENTS.  THANKS SO MUCH, SAMANTHA

 

A HIGHER CONVERSATION – ANOTHER WAY TO BE HUMAN

by

AUTHOR:  NEIL DAVID CHAN

TITLE:  A HIGHER CONVERSATION - ANOTHER WAY TO BE HUMAN

NUMBER OF PAGES:  157

GENRE:  BIOGRAPHY, METAPHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL

PURCHASE ON AMAZON:  https://www.amazon.com/A-Higher-Conversation/dp/1645363813

REVIEW:

Author, Neil David Chan brings a spiritual, metaphysical enlightening book to the table in this deep, meaningful book, A Higher Conversation-Another Way To Be Human.  The book is written in a literal, philosophical, knowledgeable composition made up of three parts:  the mind, physical body and soul.  According to Chan, most of us operate using only our mind and body, without connecting to a third pat of who we are, our soul.

Chan believes, our soul is a way to tap into many answers in life including our physical health, answers to humanity and evolution, cure for depression, violence connected to an attachment, to separation, money and material possessions which absorbs the majority of our species today.  Much of Chan’s Book,  ‘A Higher Conversation-Another Way To Be Human” uses examples from the Bible, Big Bang Theory and history itself.  Chan uses his favorite passages from the Bible  as part of answers given by our “ancient ancestors” in the the old and New Testaments.

I was in awe of Chan’s gift using analogies, acronyms and solid, understandable examples supporting his explanation of some of life’s most complex concepts when having conversations with his soul.  Chan does an outstanding job painting a picture of just how powerful one of humanities biggest issues  “separation”  preceding a multitude of issues on a global scale beginning with our own family unit can be.  Chan believes and makes legitimate points backed with thousands of years of history how this “separation” started which has lead us on a path of destiny pursuing more “possessions”, which we do not take with us when we die.

Chan suggests that without connecting to our soul, which is a choice made daily, we operate in our lives with only our mind and body.  By never connecting with our own soul, the third and most integral part of who we are, begins separation from our family leading to a separation from knowledge which can be gained and solved in our lifetime living a life full of peace, joy and fulfillment  We are separated from this because of this lack of connection to our third, cohesive part, our soul.

Chan also makes the point of “color” simply  being  six elements of pigment based on how close we live to the equator adjusting in lightness or darkness for our need for folic acid and vitamin D.  The color of one’s skin should have no impact on who we are as people and our equality shouldn’t play a role either.  Our color to our soul is a non-issue because the soul recognizes only the Language of “feeling”.

It took me thirteen hours to read this book because I found myself reading many parts of it with sheer fascination  and awe in Chan’s ability to provide answers to the worlds most complex yet fundamental  issues starting within one’s soul connected to mind and body as a whole.  On a  personal note, Chan’s book gave answers I needed to explain more of myself and experiences I’ve had in the past.  Because of this, I felt myself connecting  to Chan’s book in a way I normally don’t connect or relate with when doing a book review.

I want to point out that I myself have spoken to my own soul I believe after reading this book.  I have done so without recognizing it was my soul.  I simply use the word “God” instead of soul.  This voice of feeling revealed answers until my last ten years of disconnection from my soul without even realizing I had done so.  Chan’s book, A Higher Conversation,-Another Way To Be Human, gave me answers to the voice inside who spoke to me through feeling with answers for intellectual and spiritually meaningful questions I asked.  I immediately began receiving answers to questions I have asked myself in the past.

Our soul speaks in a voice of feeling which came from a voice at the time I didn’t recognize so I began tuning this voice out.  Chan remarkably did the  honor of having me review his book because of past personal experiences. I had moved away from the voice of my own soul years ago not comprehending at the time what or who was speaking to me.  I will now choose to move toward it, because I read this book and do believe much of what I have read in Chan’s book.    

I was beyond impressed with Chan’s ability to simplify highly debated concepts in today’s world with logical answers given to him from his own conversation with his soul which he practices connecting with over time, tuning into his soul as we do a radio frequency.  We are either “reacting or creatively moving forward” depending on which illusion we operate in or our alternate realities.

Chan believes our bodies are born “perfect” and we even have the ability to live 400 years as our ancient ancestors did if we remain focused on a higher plane of consciousness through spiritual metaphysics.  Human cells are rebuilding, and multiplying constantly and eternal life can be found through a higher level of thinking, when the soul, mind and body are operating collectively.  Chan suggests, We must center ourselves to connect our mind and body with our soul as one and we do not have to “do” anything to “get” anything.

Chan also states that possession, color, and separation are playing the majority role in our world today. We alternate between roles of villain and villainess reversing these roles. Ofter times we are creating different illusions through these roles. Illusion is sheer attachment to money, leading to division, separation, health and aging based on “ideology  and human concept”.   

Chan states we use “technology” that is ultimately wiping out evolution and its prime directive.  According to answers Neil Chan has received from his soul, “we do not have much time”.  We need to make changes and make them efficiently, and quickly. We need to think of ourselves as part of a collective “sum”  to connect to one another in this universe.

This book is filled with so much knowledge and  power which we can find through humility and humanity, insight, vision, and wisdom which supports a future and also envisions our future without change.   Chan has gained insight  in his wold travels finding that 6,000 plus different languages throughout the world are overrated when communicating.  In fact, language again, promotes separation.  I have done many reviews but few have given me the insight Neil Chan’s book,

“A Higher Conversation-Another Way To Be Human”  has in a way I understood.

This book gets a review of five stars for its insight, answers, alternatives offered and simplicity in explanation to coexist as a small part of a whole part.  The wisdom shared in this book will give answers to fundamental questions we all ask.  It is my opinion this book therefore receive our highest honor, five stars.   

Purchase now on Amazon to see your own future in connection with insight drawn from Neil David Chan’s Book, “A Higher Conversation, Another Way To be Human” and begin a conversation by tuning into your soul now, before it is too late to do so.

REVIEW:  *****

REVIEWER:  DAILY WISDOM WORDS, LLC

Click to Buy on Amazon

Hardback:  $19.43

 

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FANTASTICA – SURREAL PROSE AND POETRY

by

AUTHOR:  ANDREA LIGHTFOOT

TITLE:  FANTASTICA "SURREAL PROSE AND POETRY"

NUMBER OF PAGES:  190

GENRE:  SURREAL, FANTASY, PROSE AND POETRY

PURCHASE ON AMAZON:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019DN0SI8/ref=cm_sw_r_fm_api_glc_Kbs0FbN4GYKN2

REVIEW:  

Step into the magical realm of Fantastica, where mysterious folk and spirits reside!  Experience the wonder, magic and beauty all around Fantastica though the eyes of the Author, Andrea Lightfoot.  Lightfoot takes magical text, exalting in nature's world as it permeates and mystifies your senses.

Lightfoot has a beautiful imagination which only she can share with the reader and she does it well in her book, Fantastica, Surreal Prose and Poetry.  Lightfoot takes us to the magical world of poetry and prose in a descriptive, realistic but alternate reality.  Lightfoot appreciates romantic poetry and prose and writes it in a way that entices you to dream and appreciate the magic around us.  Fantastica takes you on a journey of its own uniqueness with Lightfoot’s ability to paint the ideal fantasy picture of what a world might be like.  We feel we are a part of this magical world she has detailed and designed so well.  Fantastic takes you on a journey of its own accord;  one you’ve never experienced or walked in and you never want to leave.  Lightfoot is magical herself in her descriptions, prose and poetry and alternate universe only she can create.

We loved how this book was written with such imagination and creativity.  Lightfoot uses poetry, prose, as well as interviews with Fantastica residents writing storytelling at it finest!  Each character is carefully crafted, having the capacity to “come alive” and jump off each page.  Right away, we are whisked into this whimsical world.  We feel as though we are in the middle of the story, living in “Fantastica” if only for a day.  

We found once we started this book, we were unable to stop reading and couldn’t put it down until we finished!  The need to escape becomes possible with this “Fantastic Book” written in Lightfoot’s amazing words which would appeal to any reader.  We see this magical world only Lightfoot has the ability to create through her originality and creativity. This world expands in a full series of additional stories set in an alternate fantastical world.  Lightfoot creates vivid imagery and paints a colorful picture with every page in what we feel will be a best-selling book.  

We especially enjoyed, “How I Learnt the Art of Magic.”  Astra, the main character writes about her experience when she meets one of the fairies in Fantastica.  Astra.  Lightfoot describes Astra’s first magic-wielding class and her reasons and desire to learn magic.     

A perfect book to read when the world seems overwhelming and you need a fantastic escape.  This is a book that will take you to a place filled with fantasy, realistic characters, and prose in various mini-stories. We found it amazing that Lightfoot could convey realism through every word of creative fantasy in each her mini-stories which, after reading, you begin to "believe".    Many authors simply do not have this capacity no matter how hard they try because it doesn't come natural to them.  However, Lightfoot is a master with this, in her description, creativity and alternate reality

When you are in the mood to experience the beauty and words of prose and poetry and fascinating characters, each with their own story, visit Fantistica.  This book will influence you to reflect on the world and all the magic in the air only her words can describe.  We feel this book deserves a five-star Review because of its diversity and creativity.  All readers would enjoy reading it.  Lightfoot's book, "Fantastica-Surreal Prose & Poetry is Available on Amazon NOW!  Click on the link to purchase!  You will not be disappointed!

REVIEW:  *****

REVIEWER:  DAILY WISDOM WORDS, LLC

Click to Buy on Amazon

Paperback:  $14.95

Kindle-Free

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THREAD, A BROTHERS’ KEEPER STORY

by

AUTHOR:  TRISTAN B. TAYLOR

GENRE:  FANTASY,SCIENCE FICTION

TYPE:  E-BOOK 

AVAILABILITY:  $2.95 OR FREE WITH KINDLE MEMBERSHIP

RATING:  5-STARS

REVIEW:  

THREAD, A BROTHERS’ KEEPER STORY, BY TRISTAN B. TAYLOR 

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON, THREAD, A BROTHERS’ KEEPER, IS AN E-BOOK.  WHAT I FOUND MOST FASCINATING ABOUT A BROTHERS’ KEEPER, BY TRISTAN B. TAYLOR, WAS AN AMAZING STORYLINE CENTERED ON FIVE BROTHERS WHICH IS PART REALITY, PART FANTASY.  TAYLOR HAS THE ABILITY TO MAKE THESE CHARACTERS REAL IN A FANTASY SETTING.  

THIS IS A SUPER HERO BOOK.  DUE TO TAYLOR’S INNATE ABILITY TO FLOAT IN AND OUT OF REAL LIFE TO THE IMAGINARY, YOU FEEL THESE CHARACTERS FROM YOUR HEART.  THEIR TEARS AND PAIN, THEIR INNER THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS COPING WITH THE DEATHS OF THEIR MOTHER YEARS AGO, AND NOW THEIR FATHER AND ELDEST BROTHER, ARE EXACTLY WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT A SIBLING OR PERSON TO FEEL WITH THIS KIND OF LOSS.  EACH BROTHERS’ ABILITIES, AND PERSONALITY TRAITS ARE SO REAL IN FACT, I FOUND MYSELF IDENTIFYING WITH MY OWN BROTHER WHO HAS THE SAME PROTECTIVE NATURE AS SHIN ROLLY, THE MAIN CHARACTER..  

TAYLOR SHOWS EMPATHY, COMPASSION AND GROWTH OF EACH BROTHER IN HIS WRITING THROUGH ANGER, FORGIVENESS AND LOVE WITH A TRUTH, WE ALL CAN IDENTIFY WITH.  BECAUSE TAYLOR HUMANIZES EACH CHARACTER, WE AS READERS FEEL THE AMAZING LOVE EACH BROTHER HAS FOR ONE ANOTHER.  SEEN THROUGH VARIOUS EMOTIONAL PERSPECTIVES, TAYLOR REFERS TO A BOND WITH A BROTHER AS “AN INVISIBLE THREAD”, BEING STRONG, YET TENDER.

ALTHOUGH IT IS DIFFICULT TO BREAK THIS THREAD, FEELINGS AND BROKEN TRUST MAY DO SO.  THE MEMORIES SHARED AS A FAMILY HOWEVER, CAN NEVER BE UNDONE OR DISSOLVED, CREATING A STRONG BOND BETWEEN THESE SIBLINGS.  EACH BROTHER, LEANS ON THE ELDEST BROTHER, SHIN ROLLY AT THE YOUNG AGE OF 26 YEARS OLD.  HE MOVES BACK HOME AFTER LOSING, MOST RECENTLY,  HIS ELDEST BROTHER AND FATHER.  SHIN KNOWS HIS YOUNGER BROTHERS AND HIMSELF KNOW LOSS THROUGH THE DEATH OF THEIR MOTHER YEARS AGO, BUT WITH HIS ELDEST BROTHER AND FATHER PROVIDING FAMILY SECURITY, HE FEELS HE MUST MOVE BACK IN. TO DO THE SAME..THESE ACTIONS SPEAK TO THE LEVEL OF COMMITMENT AND PROTECTION BROTHERS AND SIBLINGS HAVE FOR ONE ANOTHER. TAYLOR DOES AN AMAZING JOB AS A WRITER CONVEYING THE LAUGHS, AND EMBARRASSMENTS  EACH CHARACTER HAS, DEPICTING THEIR FEELINGS AS THOSE ANY SIBLING, OR PERSON WOULD HAVE IN A CLOSE FAMILY RELATIONSHIP.   ONE PARTICULAR EVENT, DEMONSTRATES THIS SO WELL WHEN ONE OF THE BROTHER’S REVEALS HIS SEXUAL IDENTITY PRIOR TO THEIR FATHER’S PASSING.  THIS RESULTS IN THE FATHER KICKING HIM OUT OF THE HOUSE.  ALL THE BROTHERS JOIN THE HOMELESS BROTHER, SLEEPING IN A CAR TOGETHER SHOWING THEIR LOYALTY TO ONE ANOTHER UNTIL THE FATHER ACCEPTS THEIR BROTHER AND WHO HE IS.   

TAYLOR’S STYLE OF WRITING, SHOW WELL-DONE, CREATIVE, UNIQUE DESCRIPTIONS OF EACH OF THE FIVE BROTHER’S PERSONALITY. THE CHARACTERS AND SINCERITY OF EACH BROTHER AND  EMOTIONS ARE VERY REAL AND IDENTIFIABLE. THIS BOOK DESCRIBES THE SLOW REALIZATION EACH BROTHER HAS TO HIS OWN UNIQUENESS USING SUPER POWERS AS THE BASIS FOR EACH BROTHER TO DISCOVER WHO THEY ARE. TAYLOR DEPICTS THIS THROUGH HIS UNCANNY ABILITY WRITING A BEST SELLER. TAYLOR ALLOWS EACH ONES FEELINGS AND SELF-DISCOVERY TO UNFOLD THROUGH CAREFULLY THOUGHT OUT SCENARIOS ENTWINING EMOTIONS WITH A FASCINATING STORYLINE.  

TAYLOR IS SENSITIVE, BUT ALSO REALISTIC IN THIS SCIENCE FICTION BOOK.  I THINK TREADING THIS FINE LINE IS PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT IN BOOKS OF THIS NATURE.  IN A COMIC BOOK, YOU EXPECT TO FEEL AND READ “THE UNREAL.” TAYLOR MANAGES QUITE A FEAT HOLDING YOUR INTEREST THROUGHOUT THIS NOVEL DANCING BETWEEN REALISM AND FANTASY.  

IN A BOOK OF THIS LENGTH, YOU WANT REAL FEELING, EXPRESSION AND EMOTION AND TAYLOR KNOCKS THIS OUT OF THE BALL PARK.  THE BOOK PORTRAYS A STORY LINE OF DEPICTING EACH BROTHERS’ REALIZATIONS THROUGH TRIAL AND TRIBULATIONS AND INDIVIDUALITY.  THIS IS ALL TESTED THROUGH A STORYLINE INVOLVING THEIR RUTHLESS UNCLE WHEN THEIR LOCAL MALL IS ATTACKED.  THEIR UNCLE IS AN EVIL, POWERFUL SUPERHERO WHO KNOWS HOW TO USE EMOTION AND HIS OWN SUPER POWERS AGAINST EACH BROTHER, PLAYING ON EACH ONE’S PARTICULAR WEAKNESSES TO DEFEAT THEM AS A TEAM. TAYLOR LITERALLY PLAYS THIS STORYLINE LIKE A FIDDLE USING THIS SCENARIO.  THE BROTHERS’ ARE RESPONSIBLE TO SAVE AND PROTECT THE MALL, AND PEOPLE IN IT AGAINST THEIR UNCLE, A DEVIL IN A TRUE DISGUISE.  

TAYLOR PLAYS EACH CHARACTER’S INTERLOCKING INDIVIDUAL STRENGTHS SUCCESSFULLY WORKING TOGETHER AS A TEAM.  EACH BROTHER ADDS TO THE STRONG BOND OF “FAMILY”, EACH ONE CONTRIBUTES A SUPERNATURAL QUALITY TO.  SOMEHOW, WITH TEAM WORK ONLY BROTHERS’ CAN SHARE, THEY DEFEAT THE WARLORD, (THEIR UNCLE). TAYLOR IS WRITING ABOUT IMAGINARY CHARACTERS,  BUT THIS BOOK FEELS MORE REAL AS YOU READ EACH WORD.  

TAYLOR WRITES A BOOK THAT WILL CARRY YOU ALONG WITH HIS STORYLINE, AWAY FROM YOUR OWN REALITY.  YOU WILL NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN ONCE YOU START READING IT.  THREAD, A BROTHERS’ KEEPER, BY TRISTAN B.TAYLOR, DISPLAYS THE SKILL OF HIS PENMANSHIP AND CREATIVITY WITH EACH SENTENCE.  TAYLOR ENDS THE BOOK WITH A SURPRISING, SHOCKING TWIST I WAS NOT EXPECTING!  READ THIS BOOK WHEN YOU WANT TO GET LOST IN WORDS, MEANING, FEELING, HEART AND  STORYLINE.  I HAVE TO GIVE THE BOOK, “THREAD, A BROTHERS’ KEEPER STORY”, BY TRISTAN B. TAYLOR, FIVE STARS.  AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON AND FREE WITH KINDLE UNLIMITED!  ORDER NOW!!

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The Wild Roses by D. B. Carter

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BOOK TITLE: The Wild Roses

AUTHOR:  D.B. Carter

GENRE:   Romance-Drama

AVAILABLE ON:  Amazon

REVIEW:

The “Wild Roses” by D.B. Carter, is a coming of age novel that is bittersweet.  I remember my teenage years vividly, and D.B. Carter does such an eloquent job reminding us of the feelings, emotions and bonds we feel in our teen years.  It is with careful thought, Carter does such an amazing job at bringing us back in time, by reminding us what we are felt as teenagers, and how flippantly we made decisions.  This book does a remarkable job setting the time era in the 1980’s which makes us feel what we felt during this time era by mentioning music played in this decade and what high school was like then.

The book is centered around the deep, bonding friendship Carter has created amongst the three teens. Carter creates realistic, life-like characters and the profound effect one decision has on all three by one of the characters, Sharon.  She happens to be skipping class and meets an older boy named Sam.  Sam has a band and works part-time as a mechanic.  The character, Sam becomes involved with Sharon and she finds herself no longer interested in being part of her high school friendships.  She begins using her two friendships as a way to see Sam or help herself in some way.  Sam, shortly after meeting Sharon decides the band (which Sharon is now a part of), will move to London to keep her relationship with Sam she longs for.  This one drastic decision Sharon makes, is made overnight.  Carter again displays how easy decisions are at that age in this storyline.  Sharon leaves her parents a note and takes off for London without any thought of the ramifications she leaves behind.

The other two characters, Pip, a willful but good girl takes her own path after having a falling out with Gavin caused by her boyfriend,Tom who insists she no longer speak to Gavin.  Due to a falling out with her parents, Sharon is behind, Pips trust from her parents is questioned.  Pip packs her things to stay with her grandparents. Carter portrays so realistically, emotions we all would feel in this situation, showing Pips hurt and pain from the distrust from those she cares about most.

Meanwhile, Gavin, the high school nerd, bullied on often, finds himself in fear of being beaten by one of his classmates, Gavin finds the strength to stand up to him.  Gavin, a very gentle character Carter has created, abhors violence.  He is so sad about the decisions Sharon and Pip have made in their respective ways for very different reasons. As the loss sets in, Gavin forces himself to develop his own group of friends.  Carter displays well through out this book how quickly life can change and the integral part of those changes. The story unfolds showing the decisions Pip makes from one huge betrayal from Sharon before she leaves.  Carter, challenges the delicate trust she once had and does such a realistic job showing how these casualties affect Pip. Sharon’s flippant move break her friends and families hearts, especially with her father.  Sharon’s betrayal, also leave behind disruptions for Pip, her family and school.

Sharon leaves the storyline creating mystery and intrigue for us. This book is close to 400 pages and not one of them did I find boring.  Carter does an exceptional job showing how our choices, no matter how insignificant they may seem, have a causal effect.  We watch as Pip makes her own series of choices and mistakes, and Gavin does the same.  Carter’s writes with such understanding how these characters feel or we would in the same situations..

We see futures unfold as these two characters go from teenagers to young adults. Both characters, each caring individuals, find mistakes have consequences.  Throughout this book, the weaknesses and strengths of each character are portrayed by Carter, and the author does an incredible job as both characters experiences show how they arrive to adulthood, and how they are feeling along the way.  There are several points in this book that caused me to tear up, laugh aloud, and feel the losses and gains of each of these characters and consequences in life unfolds for both.  As time continues, we watch trials and tribulations from Carter’s perspective, that remind us of how life is a series of outcomes based on the choices we make.

Ultimately, there is a happy ending for two of the characters, but unfortunately not all of them.  The book, “The Wild Roses” is titled this based on an an old man, and his wife’s writings who passed away. This is a house cleaning client Pip meets and befriends when she begins to take care of his home.  We see Pip growing as an individual in her kindness and strength, developed from the mistakes she made as a teen.  Carter does a brilliant job showing how the bad choices of one girl can bring out her kindness, Pip, while another’s bad choices bring out bitterness and hate in Sharon.

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Pet Peeves and Whimsical Poems – Shirley Mandel Satterfield

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BOOK TITLE: Pet Peeves and Whimsical Poems

AUTHOR:  Shirley Mandel Satterfield

GENRE:  Poetry

BOOK REVIEW:

Shirley Mandel Satterfield has surprised us again with her unlimited talent.

“Pet Peeves and Whimsical Poems”,  is a deviation from her usual and methodical thoughts of the Lord our savior.

“Pet Peeves and Whimsical Poems” gives the reader fa different perspective into the author’s sense of humor and underlying sense of self-expression.

If you need an uplift to your day, you will certainly enjoy reading this book of light hearted poetry. This book of poetry touches on feelings and emotions the reader has most likely experienced in daily life.

Reading this book will make you realize you are not alone in this universe and that God has created all of us with similar feelings and emotions as well as a sense of humor.

I myself, as a reader of Shirley Mandel Satterfield, especially liked, I’m taking a little walk today, in the whimsical section of the choices of poems. It makes me feel there is always hope and beauty if we simply open our eyes to look at it.  Although the author did not title this poem, it stands out.  As you read this book of poetry, you will know which one I am referring to.

Shirley Mandel Satterfield is a gifted Christian poet and in this book she shows her wit and versatility.  “Pet Peeves and Whimsical Poems” is an uplifting, entertaining read you will surely enjoy.

Samantha Leboeuf

 

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My Little Book Of Morning Prayers – Shirley Mandel Satterfield

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BOOK TITLE: My Little Book Of Morning Prayers

AUTHOR:  SHIRLEY MANDEL SATTERFIELD

GENRE:  CHRISTIAN, RELIGIOUS

 

BOOK REVIEW:  “My Little Book of Morning Prayers”, written by Shirley Mandel Satterfield is a true insight of how her own book of morning prayers she created, is a true insight of how these prayers reflect her deep spiritual guidance throughout each day.

Reading  “My Little Book of Morning Prayers”, will help you find inspiration not just reading it once, but reading it on a daily basis.  You will find meaning through the Lord and enjoy each day with love and a giving heart through the beauty of happiness and sorrow.

I especially liked prayer number 11.  This prayer rends us of what we all in good conscience struggle with daily, our ego.  Ego plays a large part in how we respond to others during stressful days, when we are not aware of how our words and actions affect others and can be hurtful.

Each little morning prayer carries with it a special  message we can carry with us throughout the day.

Another outstanding prayer full of meaning I enjoyed was prayer number 47, “I am so thankful Jesus for this Wonderful Life”.  If you awaken every morning and say this prayer, it will make you aware of the Lords blessings for another beautiful day.

You must read and learn Shirley Mandel Satterfield’s gift of living life through the Lord, and the happiness it will bring to you and others around you who sense the change in your attitude From reading and comprehending them.

Sometimes it’s easy to believe the world revolves around us only, and therefore our actions and thoughts can be quite selfish.  Poem 3 reminds us that our world should revolve around the Lord as does all the Universe.

I believe reading Mrs. Satterfield’s “My Little Book of Morning Prayers”, is a must read daily to uplift our lives here on earth for inspiration, guidance and direction daily.

 

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The Shadowy World of the Poor – Shirley Mandel Satterfield

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BOOK TITLE: The Shadowy Word of the Poor

GENRE:  Biography

Author: Shirley Mandel Satterfield

REVIEW:  The Shadowy Word of the Poor:  Memories of my Friends at the Rescue Mission, by Shirley Mandel Satterfield is a candid look at worshipping at a poor store-front mission in a small southern town.  This book outlines with great care and compassion the many people Mandel met while worshipping at this Mission.

In this book, Mandel outlines just how important a Rescue Mission is in a small town for the poor, who depend and count on it for their faith in a life lived without many of the everyday comforts most of us take for granted in America.  Mandel, does a remarkable job breaking down these individuals by the roles they played in the mission and describing their character and personalities.

These were the poor people who gave what they didn’t have, some of it monetary, and some of it from their hearts and souls.  She describes Pastor Mark, as the most patient and compassionate man she had ever met, because once someone came to the mission door regardless, how far down they had gone, he would never give up on caring for them, and he would never turn them away.  Mandel talks about other angels of the church that gave as much as they could with whatever they had, whether it be character and heart or money to the mission.

Mandel talks about Paul, their resident would-be missionary who described to the congregation

many places all over the U.S.A through singing "This little light of mine, let it shine".  She describes him in a comical, kind fashion trying to play the piano to the church, banging on the keys.  Mandel mentions how Paul also gave money to the church and encouraged others to do the same.  Mandel describes these kind characters of the church with such compassion, humor and kindness, it can’t help but melt your heart.  One of the many people she describes is Deborah, whom they called, “the Barefoot Prophet”, the lady refused to wear shoes because she considered “God’s whole earth to be sacred ground”, as being a generous soul tithing her Social Security check before she bought groceries for herself.  She points out that what Deborah gave, Matthew, their ghetto lawyer would give her with his money back, although he was poor himself.  Mandel is making the point that all of these “Saints” gave in some cases what they didn’t have to give.

Mandel next describes the “Sinners” in the church, and what each of them did to sin.  Yet, they worshipped just as diligently as all of us might in a situation like this, if we had been living in a world like theirs.  Mandel points out in each case the goodness in each and every one of them, and what their particular sins were.

One of the sinners that stick in my mind is “the Killer” who claimed to have killed six people for stealing his money and barely escaped death in the prison system.  Mandel shows the depth of her mercy and God’s, as she describes these people managing to find something kind to say about each of them.  She shows the same mercy in describing the Prostitute, the homeless woman and the sex addict, each with their own interesting biographies.

Mandel covers  "the innocents" in the church, such as the mission kids, and one particular ten-year-old boy who was addicted to tobacco.  She wonders, “where he got his first cigarette” to get him hooked in the first place.

Mandel, wraps up this wonderful, heartwarming book about mission life with the rules of the road.  These were the rules of the poor as they lived by their own justice system having lost faith in the justice system itself and the police.

This book is a must read because it will bring you back to some of the real realities that we may have to live through in life and other people actually live through.  This book points out the trials and tribulations that are very real conditions for the poor, and how mission life saved them in one form or another.

Mandel tells the story from her point of view, which is very credible since she was a part of it at a certain period in her life when she needed this mission the most.  She also teaches you through her eyes, what it is actually like to be this poor and still turn to God with faith and love and her compassion comes through every line.  I loved this book,  the way it was written, and the truth in each of the lines of print.

 

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Childhood’s End and Other Teenage Dreams – Tristan B Taylor

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BOOK TITLE: Childhood’s End and Other Teenage Dreams

REVIEW:

In the book, Childhood’s End and Other Teenage Dreams, Tristan B. Taylor does an amazing job of bringing out the emotions and touching moments of our teenage years with a collection of short stories.  There are some stories that truly stand out and bring back memories of our own teenage years.

One story that particularly stood out to me was a story about a son dreaming about his eighteenth

birthday, and his wonderful memories with his father making plans for his special day, only to wake up and remember that the eighteenth birthday was also the last year of his father’s life with whom he was so close with.  This really shows the vulnerability we have in our teenage years.

Taylor does a wonderful job using teenage slang within his short stories so they are more vivid and believable.  Taylor touches on the story of a high school nerd and his first school crush on the famous cheerleader at his high school.  He does a wonderful job at describing the trepidation of Penn, the high school nerd waiting and working his way up to asking Melody, the cheerleader out.  When he finally does get up the nerve, he is rejected with force.  This story shows us that we do bounce back from rejection in our teenage years even when it hurts.  Taylor makes the point from Penn’s standpoint, that Melody’s beauty is only on the outside and Penn coming to this realization.

Anyone should read this book that wishes to reminisce about their teenage years.  This story takes us back in time, and Taylor’s writing is so real, it touches your heart personally.  Another story that touched my heart was about two boys falling in love, one being a younger brother and the other, his older brothers best friend.

There are enough short stories in this book to make it “diverse and profound” and they are easy to empathize with. This book gets a five-star review for being so well written, and so real.

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Torn Between Two Worlds: Material and Ethereal – Shawn T Murphy

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BOOK TITLE: Torn Between Two Worlds - Material and Ethereal

REVIEW:

Torn Between Two Worlds, Material and Ethereal, is the third book in a trilogy written by the author, Shawn T. Murphy.  The third book, the Material and Ethereal, focuses on the world we live in today, compared to the world we cannot see, the invisible.  Murphy points out that all of us are at different points in our lives, and are more ready to receive this information than others.

As with the previous two books, Shawn T. Murphy points out all of his opinions with supporting references, which are impressive to say the least.  He points out the illustrations on the front of this book, as representing the viewpoints of the enlightened Greeks which show a temple referred to as the Erechtheion.  Murphy identifies with Greber because Greber was already a Catholic Priest.  The six Karyatides staring out to the ocean depict the women of Athens carrying the weight of society while their men are off at war.

Murphy mentions that the enlightened Greeks had a developed view of the beings of the ethereal world and categorized them as Gods, Muses, and Nymphs.  Murphy describes the battle of the ethereal world being fought since the beginning of time and cites many historical facts to prove it throughout the book.

This book will keep you interested throughout, opening your eyes to validations of Murphy’s thinking along the way.  Throughout the book, he points out how different the material world is compared to the ethereal world.  The book will draw your attention towards many interesting hypotheses including viewing the numbers in the Bible in Genesis from a new perspective, as well as the reincarnation theory, which points out we are all at different points in life on our individual journeys.

Murphy touches on the work of Dr. Carl Wickland,  a famous doctor known for looking at a medical cause rather than effect as modern medicine does.  Wickland provided help for mentally ill patients who were attacked by ethereal beings.

Murphy also recounts his own spiritual path and how it started, when he began focusing on the work of Johannes Greber’s book which challenged the author’s own Catholic upbringing.  Murphy identifies with Greber because Greber could not see becoming a Catholic Priest after becoming enlightened himself.

I personally found the chapters focusing on part of Revelations in the Bible fascinating, due to my own struggle to understand Revelations.  This book also covers the Menorah, mentioned in the Bible and explores possible numerical meanings, and a potential correlation the Menorah may have to its number of arms and candlestick holders.  The Menorah could as well have a potential correlation to the sun and moon and planets. Murphy suggests another possibility of the Menorah being built to represent our physical body which I found to be interesting.

In summation,  this book covers many controversial viewpoints but backs them up in a logical fashion.  The end of the book suggests several resources to understand better the foundations for Murphy’s theses.  Mark TTwain'sthoughts on Joan of Arc, who took command of the King’s army at seventeen, are particularly enlightening.  Walther Hinz’s work is intriguing as well. Overall, I rate the book and its theories and supporting references a fascinating read at the very least. Murphy has put his work in and should be commended for the amount of research and supporting documentation he provides in this book with his research and supporting documentation.

 

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Torn Between Two Worlds – Wisdom and Rhetoric – Shawn T Murphy

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BOOK TITLE: Torn between two worlds - Wisdom and Rhetoric

REVIEW:

Wisdom and Rhetoric, is the second book in a series of three books, pointing out the dynamic perspective from the author.  He starts by quoting personal experiences in his life, which humanizes the book connecting it to its readers.

He opens the book with the story of a young Jamaican Minister and the minister’s ability to give an honest and thoughtful sermon.  He also mentions the second commandment and this commandments importance today.  Within his introduction, states the purpose this book was written.

Socrates taught us about logic and wisdom, and how important it is to appreciate the truth and wisdom as unifying words.   Shawn T. Murphy points out three invaluable questions:  1)  Have you made sure what you are saying is true?  2.  Is what you are saying, good?  3.  Is what you are saying useful?  These three questions are addressed throughout this book in Shawn T. Murphy’s writing itself, using references and personal stories about his daughter, including a stroke she suffered at 20 years old.

Shawn T. Murphy refers to the Bible and the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  He compares the tree of life to the wisdom God planted in the garden and the tree of knowledge and evil representing rhetoric.  He defines wisdom to all that is good and true, and he defines rhetoric as a language designed to have a persuasive effect on its audience and often parables of truth and knowledge mixed together lacking in meaningful content.  The book refers to the pull of wisdom and rhetoric being at the center of conflict since the beginning of time.

Within this book is a series of chapters broken down into the months in one year, with invaluable information;  part of this is a point the author drives home to the reader.  Wisdom is based on scientific laws and needs to meet the criteria of goodness, usefulness, and truthfulness.  Rhetoric does not.  This book goes on to use key historical figures to prove his viewpoint including Abram’s story mentioned in Genesis and how important it is to our life today.  He points out the study of the Gods across cultures and the need to stick to our principles of logic.  In Abram’s story in the Bible, he speaks about multiple gods and angels during his lifetime.

The author talks about the importance of a name and its given meaning and how much water it held in the past.  He also conveys to us the importance of analyzing every word read in the Bible and looking at its true meaning.  He refers to the good path of wisdom and truth, fighting against the attempts by the benevolent force and how easily it would have been for Abram to be misled.  He supports his book with many important historical facts that have not always come to light.

He uses the story of the flood in the Bible as a way of giving farmers and fisherman a chance to establish a new way of life, as opposed to killing each other for food.  In his book Shawn T. Murphy references the book of Exodus, the power of Moses’s time in the 13th century and Ramesses, who attempted to erase wisdom from the world, by building large monuments in the name of the pagan gods, putting his name on newly renovated older monuments, and attempting to take the place of the sun god Ra on earth.  There is also reference to the mentioning of the sun and moon where symbolism is helpful.

The book goes on to mention many Greek Gods and their relevance to the history of wisdom and rhetoric even though their history has been twisted in some cases by rhetoric turning them into something they are not.

The author uses Socrates and Eryximachus and their stories to enlighten us to the meaning of wisdom.  Other important figures in history are Joan of Arc, Mark Twain and the value of some of Albert Einstein's work trying to disprove the quantum theory.

The author points out that we are all unique individuals, and by taking personal responsibility for our happiness we can acquire wisdom and overcome rhetoric.  He also points out that each of us thinks differently and we should be respected for the benefits each type of thinking can bring us.  He also refers to success, and how in today’s world it is valued differently than it once was, and how that affects our children and the day to day pressures the academic process brings them.  Instead of education using human intelligence to pursue creativity,  we find ourselves caught up in the educational policy.  He also refers to parents continuing to exert their will over their children, and the rhetoric they acquired in their past on their children.

This book gives us a clear history on one of the greatest victories over rhetoric, accomplished in 381 AD at the First Council of Constantinople reducing the wonderful diversity of Heaven to one single entity:  the trinity.  He again points out in this chapter how blinded we are with rhetoric using the example, of how hard it is to believe we all go into one melting pot, (One Heaven), after we cease to exist.

One of the chapters I found most interesting in the book was the chapter of November which goes into the importance of angels in our lives and explanation that they are not gods, but live around us to protect us.

Shawn T. Murphy concludes his book with one final chapter, about the narrow path of Wisdom.  Wisdom and Rhetoric in our world are so closely mixed in together, they produce rhetoric. He goes on to infer that the battle of science and religion are in constant conflict causing discourse in the world while hiding the reasons we are here in the first place.  Shawn T. Murphy provides references and supporting evidence for all of his teachings and should be commended for integrating his personal experiences with his daughter for inspiring him with the wisdom to do so.

This book is a must read for the deep thinker who would truly like to investigate the meaning of life, and is congruent with his first book, Torn Between Two Worlds, Science and Religion.

 

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Winners and Losers – Steven Arnett

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BOOK TITLE: Winners and Losers

AUTHOR:  Steven Arnett

GENRE:  Dark Comedy

 

REVIEW:

Steven Arnett shows versatility with the novel Winners and Losers, writing a comedy that is both entertaining and downright funny!  Winners and Losers takes place in a small city in Michigan, and begins with the main character, Tom Slotrak, losing his job as an accountant for a nuclear facility.

I have had the pleasure of reviewing several of Arnett’s books and found Winners and Losers to be a refreshing, light-hearted read! Tom Slotrak in Arnett’s book goes through a series of hilarious confrontations and scenarios after losing his job and winning $20,000,000 from a lottery ticket he purchased with his last $20.

Each character Arnett creates has their own unique persona all the way down to their names, which fit their personality perfectly.  You cannot help but laugh throughout this novel, as Tom Slotrak has to leave Michigan due to a one-night stand he has after breaking up with his fiancé, Erica Wonders.  He goes on the run from a biker gang, heading south.

This is just the start for the main character.  Arnett puts him through a series of trials and tribulations during his travels, including selling fertilizer, condoms, and meeting several intriguing women, some who take advantage of him in a comical fashion.

When you need to laugh uncontrollably, read Winners and Losers: It will take your mind off of the riff-raff of everyday life.  Arnett does it again with a completely different genre, and gets another five-star rating for his creativity and humor, for his content and story-telling, in this book which will keep you laughing right up to the last page!

 

 

SYNOPSIS:

Set in a small southern Michigan city in the early 90s, Winners and Losers is a rollicking dark comedy starring Tom Slotrak, a young man who wins the jackpot in the Michigan Lottery and the crazy and (sometimes) adventures he has afterward. He learns the hard way that money can’t buy happiness but that it sure can lead to some very funny and bizarre experiences! At the beginning of the story, Tom is 26 but feels older because he’s bored with his life and feels rootless. He’s engaged to Erica Wonders: She’s smart and good looking and doesn’t treat him too badly, but Tom is bored with the relationship and doesn’t really love her anymore. He’s thinking about how he might be able to break off the engagement without all hell breaking loose. Though Tom is engaged to Erica, when he’s at work he has a hard time keeping his mind and his eyes off clerk and administrative assistant Lena Coffee. Sexy, flirty, and funny, Lena is Tom’s fantasy woman. Rumor has it that she has a boyfriend in a motorcycle gang, but she is just flirty enough and just nice enough to Tom for him to believe it’s not quite impossible that he and Lena could hook up. They end up having a secret affair. However, Tom gets laid off from his job as an accountant at Allied Nuclear Corporation after a plant closing. He soon runs out of money and tries to find a new job but without much luck—eventually having to settle for shoveling manure for minimum wage at Meadowlark Farms. Erica is fed up with him, and it seems as if he’ll soon hit rock bottom. He’s down to his last $17, and even though he knows he shouldn’t, he buys a ticket for the Michigan Lottery at Joe’s Gas Mart. He barely makes the effort to check his ticket again the winning number when it’s announced on TV, but when he does, the seemingly impossible happens: His ticket matches the winning number! Erica is absolutely thrilled, but Tom isn’t as happy as might be expected after such a turn of good fortune. With Tom tagging along, Erica goes on a giant spending spree. When he’s not shopping with Erica, everybody on planet Earth, it seems, tries to hit him up for money. The fortune has made Tom’s alienation from Erica worse, and he ends up breaking off the engagement. The end of his engagement makes him much sadder than he ever would have imagined, but he at least hopes it will be the beginning of a new life for him. Before he even has a chance to think about what he’ll do in the future, though, Lena calls him to tell him her boyfriend found out about their affair and is threatening to kill Tom, so he decides to leave town with hardly a moment’s notice. Now that he has so much money, he doesn’t necessarily think that’s such a bad thing, and he makes his way to Florida after an adventure at a hillbilly bar in Tennessee. Tom ends up in Key West and thinks he’ll like it there, but he gets a shock when he goes to an ATM and is refused a withdrawal. Before long, he learns that Erica has sued him claiming the winning ticket really belonged to her and that a judge in Michigan has frozen his bank accounts! Broke again, Tom must again go out and look for a job. He hires in as a salesman at Florida Guano, where he meets secretary/receptionist Honey Sweetwater. All she seems to do at the office is work on her nails and looked bored. Tom soon finds, however, that she has pretty, mischievous eyes and a great sense of humor. Before long, the two of them are going out together and having a great time. Tom’s career at Florida Guano skids to a halt pretty quickly, but Tom and Honey have quite an adventure when they are invited to the Gothic mansion of Mr. Fabulous, the mysterious billionaire owner of Florida Guano. Finally, the case of Wonders vs. Slotrak goes on trial, and Tom returns to Michigan. A legal battle to end all battles ensues, and Tom knows that the whole rest of his life. Will he end up rich and living a dream with Honey or will he end up right back where he was after he lost his job at Allied

 

 

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Death on Lake Michigan – Steven Arnett

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BOOK TITLE: Death on Lake Michigan

AUTHOR:  Steven Arnett

GENRE:  Suspense;  Murder Mystery

 

REVIEW:

Steven Arnett once again hits it out of the ballpark with this Suspense, Murder Mystery, Death On Lake Michigan.  Arnett starts this book off, hooking you with a suspenseful murder on Lake Michigan, where the body of Rich Mallon washes up on the shore of the lake.  Mike O’Brian, a reporter for the local newspaper in the resort town of Gull Haven, begins to dig into this murder, and there are twists and turns at every corner with his investigation.  Death on Lake Michigan is filled with these twists and turns, the first of which is Mike O’Brien finding out through his research that Rich Mallon is not the real name of the murdered individual known as Rich Mallon (from a driver’s license that has been located at the deceased’s condo). There is no forensic evidence at the scene of the murder where Rich Mallon/Richard Nearing is found washed ashore with a gash in his head.

Mike O’Brien is even more curious when he finds this information out, and also that the detective with the local Police department, Lt. George Dirkman, has no leads in the case.  Arnett takes you through the full investigation set in the summer of 1973, using background information throughout the book and many interesting characters, some shady and some good.  For the reader, however, it's a who’s who of which people are good and which people are bad.  Mike talks with a variety of suspects/witnesses throughout the book, and just when you think you have this mystery figured out, you find out you are mistaken in your theories, making this a page turner and a must read.

Grant Fields is the first promising lead, as rumor has it Rich and Grant had a horrible argument the night of the murder on Rich’s boat.  Mike O’Brien also finds out through interviewing one of the townsfolk that local businessman Jack Engler has been overheard saying he was going to kill Rich the night of the murder, leading O’Brien to further investigate this. Mike talks with Jack and doesn’t get any information that is useful, so he then follows up on a lead involving Grant Fields, but after interviewing him, his gut instinct tells him that he wasn’t involved.  He continues to interview people in the town who might know something about Rich, but comes up empty handed with no solid leads on the case.

Throughout this book there is a cast of characters that Mike O’Brien interviews, one being Becky Westworth, which changes the course of the investigation and his life in this story. Becky happens to know that Rich Mallon, aka Richard Nearing, is from Chicago, and hands Mike the telephone number and address of Rich’s father and stepmother, Virginia Nearing, who Becky tells him never got along with Rich.  He drives to Chicago, and interviews Virginia Nearing, finding out that her husband, Richards father has terminal cancer and is only expected to live for three more months.  Virginia seems shocked when Mike informs her that Rich has been murdered.

The ending of this book will shake you to your core, with so many suspects you won’t know what to think or believe. Another fascinating character is Lana Bouchard, who ends up murdered because she knew too much about what really happened.  Mike O’Brien becomes obsessed with solving this murder, having his own life is threatened in the process. He not only receives a threatening phone call, telling him to stop snooping into this case, he is also beaten up by two strange men, leading him to believe one of his leads holds water.

The lead that seems to be most logical, is the one involving Virginia Nearing.  Mike believe she could have had Rich killed for the money in his father’s will,  but this book has Mike chasing after many theories.  He even bribes a secretary into revealing the contents of the will, which leads him to believe it is not Virginia Nearing that had Rich killed, because his father left everything to his favorite charity.

Without giving away the entire plot, this book ends with another twist, shocking you to the core with its ending.  Along the way, Mike also finds love, lending another interesting flavor to the book.  This novel deserves and gets a five star review.  It is a must read!!!

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The Summer of Robert Byron – Steven Arnett

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BOOK TITLE: The Summer of Robert Byron

AUTHOR:  Steven Arnett

REVIEW:

The Summer of Robert Byron by Steven Arnett is a romance novel that will keep you guessing about the plot with every turn of the page.  I found this highly unusual for a romance novel, and exciting because Arnett does such a wonderful job at keeping you guessing until the very end.  He does a brilliant job setting the background of this book, in the summer of 1966 in a small town in Blue Spring, Michigan.  The main character, Robert Byron, has a fascinating, unyielding personality, and Arnett displays the feelings and character of Robert Byron with such a unique quality that you feel when you're reading, you are actually still getting to know who this character is all the way to the end of the novel.

There are the usual twists and turns that are characteristic of Arnett’s writing in his former suspense novels, but this one flows even more smoothly, leaving you understanding the vulnerability in Robert Byron when he arrives home from the war in Vietnam. He brings home a dark secret that he shares with few people that leave him to question his self-worth.

Because his personality is that of a loner, he sticks to himself, so it is a surprise when he meets the future main woman in his life, Jean Summers, while doing a construction job at her home.  Arnett lays out their relationship, with its ups and downs, exquisitely, leaving you until the last page in suspense if things are going to work out or not.  The couple fights a lot during their relationship, leading you to believe they will not make it.  They go so far as breaking up for a while, and Robert Byron, being the drifter he is, leaves town and gets involved again with a former love, after a bitter breakup. Again, Arnett keeps you wondering if he and Jean will ever be together again.

Although this book is a romance, it rolls out more like a suspense novel, especially when Jean begins a new relationship when Robert has left town.  It takes a serious tragedy, and the main characters themselves questioning their own futures throughout this novel for you to figure out how the story will end, and you don’t find out until the very last page.

I have reviewed several of Arnett’s books and this one by far is the best.  It is a page turner and will keep you guessing, not only as to the intentions of the characters themselves but wondering how two complete opposites like Robert and Jean can ever mesh together as a couple.   You wonder if they could ever make a go of a long-lasting relationship.  This book, The Summer of Robert Byron is a must have, and you would be cheating yourself not to read it.

I enjoy book reviews, but sometimes feel I am reading the book because I have to.  This is not the case with Arnett’s book, The Summer of Robert Byron.  I found myself lost in this novel and finished the book in two days.  This book happily gets a rating of five stars!

 

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Midnight Flower: An Anthology of Contemporary Christian Poems – Shirley A Mandel

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BOOK TITLE: Midnight Flower- An Anthology of Contemporary Christian Poems

GENRE:  POETRY/CHRISTIAN

 

BOOK REVIEW

“Midnight Flower”, written by Shirley A. Mandel, shares the depth of her soul and shows how others can connect with the Lord in the depth of her soul and shows how others can connect with the Lord in their daily life.  Each beautiful poem is written with the wisdom of a woman who is deeply connected to the Heavenly Father and to the universe.

While reading, you will enjoy the many analogs of how Ms. Mandel has taken her life experiences and connected them to the good and bad of Mother Nature.  I especially liked, “The Stigma of Nature” where she has transformed the pattern of life’s degeneration into and back into resurrection via a new birth.

As I read “Midnight Flower”, I gather the author’s opinion of life is torn between the sins of man and the goodness of mankind that generates from God.

The poem “Fragile Frame” forms a whole new insight into the author’s poetry.  As you read, you will be curious to know if the author is searching for answers.  It is a short poem and relates so much of the author’s feelings.

I was also very touched by “The Bomb” that shares how painful it is to lose someone we love.  The painful feeling of loss is reflected in this poem along with the hope it will get better through the everlasting light of the Lord.

As I continued reading, I noticed an uplift in the author’s poetry.  I assume this comes from years of hardship and wisdom gained, and knowing happiness is around each corner.

Reading “Midnight Flower” gives so much insight into how much the author has depended on the Lord through the trials and tribulations of life and reading her poetry will bring inspiration in your daily life.  When you read this book, you will be glad you did, because of the deep insight possessed by Shirley A. Mandel.

This poetry book is unique and deep and is a must-read for anyone looking for a stronger faith in life and the Lord, from a writer who’s amazing wisdom you gain insight from.  I happily give this book a five-star rating!

 

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Torn Between Two Worlds – Science and Religion – Shawn T Murphy

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BOOK TITLE: Torn Between Two Worlds – Science and Religion

AUTHOR:   Shawn T Murphy

REVIEW:

What makes this book so fascinating, is what it addresses;  two fields of knowledge that appear to stand alone from each other;  Science and Religion.  The author talks about the gap between the two times the world has been destroyed and the missing information beforehand.  It answers many of the questions about life before we knew it and much of the missing history in specifics in our past.  Much of this history has been buried and today, unless researched has not been promoted and must be deeply researched to uncover.  

This book ties together religion and science by using what is true and not what is politically motivated.  It quotes many famous scholars works and fills in the gap that has always existed in science and religion.  This book is based on enlightenment in its truest form.  To read this book, be prepared to look at the truth.  Not from only the author’s perspective but from years and years of research quoting scholars and historians minus political motivation;  just pure facts and he provides the evidence within the book or where to obtain it if you question its authenticity.  

Torn Between Two Worlds: Science and Religion points out a very important fact.  In order to be a good philosopher, you must be a scientist first, tying in philosophy and science with religion.  All three together can answer our past.  One school of thought alone cannot.  Origen of Alexandria, one of the greatest Christian Theologians, uses history to explain and tie together many of the different Christian schools of thought and also ties together some of the actual gaps in history itself by questioning what he doesn’t know. 

Shawn T. Murphy is quick to point out that history and philosophy are based on fact, and when discovering a new fact, history needs to be corrected.  He points out that prior to Socrates, there wasn’t a conflict between science and religion.  In the third century AD, Origen of Alexandria wrote 32 books on the Gospel of John and completely explained how the wisdom of Socrates was aligned with the teachings of Solomon and Jesus.  This book explains by the sixth century,  the enlightened teachings of Origen, Jesus and Plato became a threat to The Roman Empire.  Shawn T. Murphy manages in twelve months to show us through several teachings that we can make sense of the world, if we ask the right questions, which is what we should have been doing all along.    It is worthy to point out that Shawn T. Murphy also addresses the failure of modern medicine because we focus on statistics more than fact.  I must mention that in order to understand this book fully, you need to be aware of the Work of Origen of Alexandria, as he is referenced many times.  It would also be invaluable to understand the work of Socrates as his work was considered invaluable until it was cast in the hands of the Spartans.  

In summarization, we see that history has done its best to cover the truth, by hiding valuable work of many important scholars and factual evidence to support why it very well may hold water in our society.  Science and Religion is the first in a series of three books, and I feel you must read and understand to fully comprehend the author’s viewpoints.  One viewpoint I found fascinating is that logic and reason have been absent from religion for centuries and this author uses this book to reference enough evidence to know it’s not accurate.  He also mentions sound evidence to support any of his theories. book 1 is part of a series of three books that look for answers to the questions, where did we come from?  Why are we here?  Where are we going?  Shawn T. Murphy is an excellent author and has a supporting knowledge base for all of his hypothesis in this book.  This is a must read if you are looking for answers to human existence.  

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Life, Love, and the Lord

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BOOK TITLE: Life, Love, and the Lord

AUTHOR:  Lee Shultheiss

REVIEW:  Lee Shulteiss has used his unique personality to translate his feelings and other people’s feelings he has observed into a book of interesting, enthralling outlooks on life and our world.

His poetry has been written over a period of his life, beginning at the young age of fifteen, and follows through until 2017 and the present.

While reading his original insight into himself, and others, you will feel that his unique, inspirational writings are a God given talent.  This ability that he has o communicate in poetry channeled through the Lord, produces a very enjoyable, enlightening read.  

I, myself, in reading his poetry can feel his communication with others and with the Lord.  This ruminates off of every page of his book.

Lee Schultheiss, “Life, Love and the Lord, shows how very gifted Lee is.  Some of his poetry evokes the rhythm of music and all his poetry is beautiful with the ability to touch the soul.  

If you love poetry, you will love reading this spiritually enlightening book.  Even if you don’t love poetry, you will enjoy this read, because it is uplifting and spiritual medicine for the soul.

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Makieba’s First Pajama Party

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BOOK TITLE: Makieba’s First Pajama Party

AUTHOR:  Delores Chappell

ILLUSTRATOR:  Jeanette Baker

REVIEW:  This book is about a young girl named Makieba who has moved to the United States from Kenya, Africa.  Makieba and her mother, Sheeamyah are used to her father, Nuryebie having to go on business trips for long periods of time, and Makieba is homesick for Africa where all of her friends are.

Things are so different in the United States compared to Kenya, Africa where the family is from.  This book is a children’s book that would be a great read for any child, especially if they are going through the emotions of homesickness, loneliness or even sadness.  

This book starts with Makieba’s homesickness being troubling for her mother, Sheamyah being worried about her daughter and she thinks of things that would bring her daughter pleasure, and she decides to have a pajama party for her daughter, and invite all of her friends from Kenya.  She announces this to her daughter and Makieba is thrilled.  

Her mother and Makieba spend days preparing for this wonderful pajama party where her friends, Nugeeva, Koleema Raemeeba, Maleeyia, Znobeya, and Labeeba are all coming to from Kenya.   They get board games, decorations, plan trips to the zoo,  the arcade, and plan all sorts of indoor and outdoor activities.  

One night, before her friends are due to arrive, Makieba can’t sleep. She gets out of bed and goes to the attic thinking of a very special gift she can give the girls for coming to the pajama party.  She remembers her grandmother’s mystical beads and makes beautiful jewelry as thank you gifts for her friends, a bracelet and necklace for each of them.  This shows thoughtfulness on behalf of Makieba and she finishes the jewelry at nighttime after three nights of working on the necklaces and bracelets.  She hides them from her mother in her shoeboxes because she wants them to be a surprise.  Again, this book touches on how a child is thoughtful to others.

The following night, her mother and Makieba make final preparations for her guests who arrive at the airport the very next day.  Right before they go to pick up Makieba’s friends, her mother gives her a beautiful African Afghan dress to wear for their arrival.  

The story goes on to describe a wonderful visit with Makieba’s friends, and all they do while in the United States.  The pajama party is perfect, and on the last night, all the girls go to the state fair.

The next morning they drive all their friends to the airport, and Makieba surprises all of her friends with the gifts she has made for them, showing how a child can be thoughtful too.  They all hug each other goodbye, and Sheamyah and her daughter watch as the plane goes high up in the sky. 

When they arrive home, Makieba and her mother are surprised to find a letter waiting for them on the porch.  It is a letter from her father.  As Makieba begins to read the letter, there is a knock at the door, and it is her father, Nuryebie.  

She and her mother are so excited to see him and her father takes her upstairs and puts her to bed as they laugh and chat and exchange stories.  Her mother comes up with her father’s two bags, and Makieba is excited.  She gets some wonderful gifts from her father.  

Right before Makieba is going to sleep, she asks her mother to stay in the room and she grabs underneath her pillow the beautiful handmade bracelet, earrings, and necklace she made for her mother.  Her mother is thrilled and lets Makieba know it. The book ends with Makieba and her mother exchanging their love for one another, telling each other they are best friends in the whole world.

This book is sure to enlighten your Child on thoughtfulness, kindness, goodness and giving.   What an ideal Christmas or birthday or just a present for any child to read or parent who wishes to read this book to them.  This opens their eyes to geography and how vast and diverse our world really is.  This book is a must read for any child or parent or grandparent as a gift for their grandchild.  Delores, the author does a wonderful job showing this diversity.  My rating for this book is five stars!!

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The Strange Curse of Breda – Steven Arnett

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BOOK TITLE: The Strange Curse of Breda

AUTHOR:  Steven Arnett

REVIEW:

The Strange Curse of Breda is a Murder Mystery, based in the fictional town of Breda in Michigan. Arnett succeeds once again with another novel keeping you glued to every page. I am new to Steven Arnett’s work and was mesmerized with his writing. My favorite kind of novels are Murder Mysteries, and this one does not disappoint. On February 9, 1889, a man by the name of Obadiah Kurtz is accused of a murder he did not commit and is sentenced to die by hanging, after proclaiming his innocence many times.

Obadiah, right before he is hung, declares a curse on Breda and all of its descendants that they will pay for this murder he did not commit. The book then jumps to 1971, and the beginnings of this curse being carried out by one of Obadiah’s descendants. However, the townsfolk have no idea why all the murders that are happening are being carried out. They only know one strange fact about the killings: The letters ZOSO are carved on every corpse that the investigators find.

You can’t help, with Steven Arnett’s writing, but get close to each character in the book. The main characters who solve these murders are the county Sheriff, Jack Booth, and Jim Leiden, a young gentleman who runs the general store in the heart of Breda. Law enforcement, however, is thrown off the track by the letters ZOSO, which seem to point toward the murderer being from the commune located on the outskirts of town, although Booth doubts the commune has anything to do with the murders.ZOSO is also painted on the side of the building where the commune is set up.

Jim Leiden, however, overhearing the town gossip, finds a valuable clue and begins to form a theory that maybe these murders have nothing to do with the band, Led Zeppelin at all or the commune.

This book is a cat and mouse game of murder after murder, and Jim Leiden, independently works feverishly to prove his theory to the FBI, state police and Jack Booth, Even though Booth is not convinced of the commune theory.

Meanwhile, as these murders take place, a diabolical man, a distant descendant of Obadiah, Hinton Kurtz, has worked his way slowly into the community as one of their own, is plotting these murders. 

Once Jim Leiden has proof, he shares his theory with Jack Both, and the hunt is on. Leiden fears that Hinton Kurtz is after the love of Jim Leiden’s life, Julie Veere. It is a race against time to see what comes first: the murder of Julie, who is one of the direct descendants, or the sheriff and Leiden getting to her first, to save her life. 

I couldn’t help but go into detail with this book review, because the mystery is that good, and it is a must read to fill in my blanks. Your cheating yourself from an incredible Murder Mystery if you don’t read this book!  Order through Amazon now!!

 

Genre: Suspense/thriller

Page Count: 149

Date Published: 8/28/2018

Amazon book link: https://goo.gl/EtxxQs

Amazon Author Page: https://goo.gl/7CFnHE

Synopsis of Novel: It’s 1971 and a horrible murder has occurred near the town of Breda in west Michigan. A young woman, Jane Lucas, has been dragged into the woods and stabbed. The letters ZOSO from the Led Zeppelin album have been written in blood on her waist, which leads the police to think it might be a cult murder. Suspicion falls on the commune located on a farm near the town. The shock and horror townspeople feel after that murder, though, are nothing compared to the shock and horror people feel when another murder and then another murder of the same type occur.

The Strange Curse of Breda is about those murders and how they are finally solved. As each murder occurs, the level of fear in Breda intensifies, to the point that the townsfolk either flee the town, arm themselves to the teeth, or fall into an almost catatonic state of fear. The county sheriff, the state police, and even the FBI are baffled. However, Jim Leiden, a young man who runs a small grocery in Breda, finds a clue that may link all the murders together: The hanging of a man named Obadiah Kurtz that occurred in 1889. Jim researches the story and finds that the victims are descendants of the people who were responsible for hanging Obadiah. After Jim’s discovery, he’s in a race against time to try to get the police to believe him and find the murderer before he can kill the only person in the whole world who really matters to him: His beautiful fiancée Julie Veere, who happens to be one of those direct descendants!

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