Memory is Our Home: Loss and Remembering: Three Generations in Poland and Russia 1917-1960s

Memory is Our Home: Loss and Remembering: Three Generations in Poland and Russia 1917-1960s by Suzanna Eibuszyc
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A powerful historical memoir...

Memory is Our Home by Suzanna Eibuszyc is a stunning literary achievement. It’s a book that re-creates an overlooked part of history of the thousands of Polish Jews who survived the Holocaust by escaping to the Soviet Union. The book's epic sweep and grasp of detail are exemplary, while some scenes could make even a stone weep. The book reconstructs that horrific period of time in human history not as something abstract, but as felt knowledge thanks to the author’s mother, Roma Talesiewicz Eibuszyc.

To paraphrase the author, she bases her book on her mother Roma Talasiewicz-Eibuszyc’s diary, her writings about Warsaw, Poland during the years following World War I and the six long years of World War II, and how she was able to survive in Soviet Russia and Uzbekistan. Interwoven with her journals are stories she told to her throughout her life, as well as her own recollections as her family made a new life in the shadows of the Holocaust in Communist Poland after the war and into the late 1960s. By retelling this story, she sheds light on how the Holocaust trauma is transmitted to the next generation, the price her family paid when they said good-bye to the old world, and the challenges they faced in America.

This was a fascinating and captivating read that had me engaged from the beginning. The author shows exceptional ability when it comes to storytelling and there are plenty of emotional highs and lows in this page turner that will take the reader on a truly mesmerizing and emotional journey. The author weaves a well-crafted and all-encompassing human dramatization that serves as a memorial to all those who suffered, died and survived during this tragic period of human history.

Highly recommended reading and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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CITADEL OF MIRRORS

Citadel of Mirrors : A Supernatural Science Fiction Thriller by Stephen Perkins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A well-crafted techno-suspense thriller...

CITADEL OF MIRRORS by bestselling author Stephen Perkins is a superbly written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The threads of storytelling are expertly woven in this supernatural science fiction thriller that will guarantee the attention of the reader from beginning to end.

The book description gives only a sneak but tantalizing preview: ‘Sophia Goldwater will become America's first woman president. There's only one problem: Sophia isn't exactly human... But neither is the man maneuvering to get her into the White House. Jamal Hamilton - a brilliant young inventor - triumphs in bringing the dead back to life. And a powerful cabal of men will do anything to acquire the technology… Can a maker destroy his beloved creation to save America and the world from an abominable conspiracy?.’

I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the novel in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. It’s a well-written techno-suspense thriller with perfect pacing. Not much is as it appears here, which is just the way fans of sci-fi will want it.

Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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The Az'kari War by Tom Craydon

The Az'kari War by Tom Craydon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An epic tale of dark fantasy...

The Az'kari War by Tom Craydon is a well-written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The author spins an intriguing and compelling fantasy that will easily captivate the reader from the first page to the last. For me it was one of those ‘special’ books. You know one of those books that you read and really begin to care about the characters and what happens to them during the course of the story.

I liked the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the story in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. It’s a well written dark fantasy with perfect pacing.

If you are looking for a well-written and exceptional fantasy book with amazing characters and a gripping plot then The Az'kari War will not leave you disappointed. It’s a dark fantasy that maintains a taut, compelling hold from start to finish. Recommended to all fans of dark fantasy and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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Navigating Divorce with a Peaceful Heart: A Practical Guide to Cultivating Inner Peace in the Midst of Chaos

Navigating Divorce with a Peaceful Heart: A Practical Guide to Cultivating Inner Peace in the Midst of Chaos by Stephanie Meriaux
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A superbly written and helpful book...

Divorce is one of the toughest decisions one in every three American couples will have to make. The decision to end a marriage can be a complicated ordeal, especially when there are children involved. Sometimes parents try very hard to resolve their issues and process feelings through options such as therapy before pulling the plug on matrimony.

Navigating Divorce with a Peaceful Heart by Stephanie Meriaux is a practical guide to cultivating inner peace in the midst of chaos. The author ‘masterfully interweaves mindfulness practices, practical tools, powerful perspective shifts, and neuroscience’ to help the reader.

This book will help you to clarify your thinking, process your feelings, and make better decisions. The overall tone was simply imparting knowledge, personal experience and wisdom in a gentle and generous way. Her words will help to better equip you to interpret and handle life in a whole new way, which in turn will bring peace, love and joy into your life. If you are looking for inspiration and encouragement in the face of serious relationship issues, this would come highly recommended from me.

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The Dauntless Chronicles

The Dauntless Chronicles by Willow Wren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A well-crafted space fantasy adventure...

The Dauntless Chronicles by Willow Wren and Anthony Olmo is a wonderfully written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The threads of storytelling are expertly woven in this space fantasy adventure that will guarantee the attention of the reader. A skillfully constructed action-packed sci-fi, this book will have you turning the pages from beginning to end. In addition, the characters are drawn with great credibility and conviction. Absolutely loved it and highly recommend it! A well-deserved five stars from me.


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Mind in Rehabilitation by Dr. Eyal Heled

Mind in Rehabilitation by Eyal Heled
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A glimpse into the experiences of people with disabilities...

Mental and emotional preparation, knowledge of the condition, and the correct course of treatment are all essential and work symbiotically to assist recovery. Mind in Rehabilitation by Dr. Eyal Heled offers a unique glimpse into the experiences of people with disabilities by providing case histories to describe the impact it has on their lives, and what they encounter on the road to rehabilitation.

The authors background and knowledge speaks for itself: ‘As a person struggling with severe visual impairment and who, in a sense, has made it his profession, I wanted to share with the world the mindset on both sides of the barricade: On the one hand, individuals dealing with disability or chronic illnesses and on the other, the feelings and thoughts of their therapists--combining their individual voices. It was also important for me to introduce the reader to the process of rehabilitation in general and its psychological aspect in particular, by describing in depth what persons with disabilities go through in their trajectory of adaptation.’

Mind in Rehabilitation is an insightful read by Dr. Eyal Heled and I’ll certainly be looking forward to reading more from him in the future. I would highly recommend this perceptive and intuitive read. A well-deserved five stars from me.

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Back to Atlantis by Bar Sagi

Back to Atlantis by Bar Sagi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The adventure continues…

Forty-some years ago my uncle gave me a science fiction anthology. It was a thick red hardback that I read from cover to cover. It inspired a lifelong love of the genre. The stories in that book made me think outside the box. They filled me with awe for the imagination it took to write them. That book still remains in my collection today. The title is OMNIBUS OF SCIENCE FICTION, edited by Groff Conklin, a well-known and prolific editor of the genre. It was published in 1952, the Golden Age of Science Fiction. It’s a substantial volume, 562 pages, with 43 stories divided into sections relating to a common theme. Some stories are fun, some are thought-provoking and some are adventurous. I love them all.

BACK TO ATLANTIS by Bar Sagi is book 2 in the Dreamworld Series. It’s an excellent fantasy story that will grab readers and hurl them far beyond the boundaries of our limited world. This YA fantasy story has intriguing twists and turns that will easily captivate the reader from the first page to the last. Although the book is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. However, I would highly recommend book 1 in the series YASMIN’S BEGINNING.

The book description gives a sneak preview: ‘Yasmin returns to the kingdom of Atlantis, determined to use her newfound powers to rescue its people from a terrible fate… But when David, her true love, turns out to be engaged to another girl, and the persistent voices in her head refuse to let her be, she begins to feel as though maybe she is not cut out to be Atlantis’ savior. And what’s worse, her powers are failing her too… Yasmin vows never to use her magic again, believing that Atlantis can save itself through alliance and cooperation, with no need for her worthless contribution… As villages burn around her and the rebel forces grow stronger by the day, Yasmin is drawn deeper and deeper into the conflict. Secrets and hidden betrayal slowly come to light, and Yasmin is forced to question everything she though she knew… When the time comes, will she be strong enough to face the challenge? Who can she trust? …’

I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the story in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. It’s a well written fantasy tale with perfect pacing. Not much is as it appears here, which is just the way fans of the sci-fi fantasy genre will want it! Although written for a younger audience, I can’t see any reason why anybody of any age wouldn’t enjoy this. I did!

This was a fascinating and captivating read that had me immersed from beginning to end. The story flowed from scene to scene with ease, and the author again showed exceptional ability when it came to storytelling. There are plenty of attention-grabbing moments in this page turner that will take the reader on a truly spellbinding journey!

There is something very magical about reading fantasy fiction. It speaks to the very thread of my imagination, jolting it to life and transporting it on an exhilarating journey. This book did exactly that. Fans of the sci-fi fantasy genre will not be disappointed.

Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.

Again, regrettably I have to mention that the intended recipient of this review sadly passed away at the young age of 15. A talent that will be sadly missed, but because of her wonderful books – never forgotten. I offer here again my sincere condolences to her family and friends. May she rest in peace.

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