DREAMer by Emily Gallo

DREAMer by Emily Gallo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A heartfelt mystery drama with a distinctly cinematic feel to it...

DREAMer by Emily Gallo is a touching mystery drama that is richly descriptive with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The author weaves a well-crafted and poignant adventure tale with an underlying social narrative that looks at the changing socio-political landscape, immigration and family dynamics. It’s an excellent novel that had me captivated from the opening chapter. Skillfully constructed, this masterclass in storytelling had me turning the pages from beginning to end. There’s plenty of imagery in the writing style that made me feel like I was right there in the story, and that’s something I look for in a good book.

The book description gives only a sneak preview: ‘Kate and Lawrence drive through the desert on their way home from vacation and find a young girl [12-year-old Marisol] sitting by the side of the road. Who is she? Where is she from and where is she going? Why is she there? When and how did she get there? What can they do to help? The girl won't speak, but that doesn't deter them from embarking on a journey through central and southern California to find the answers.’

The contrast between tone and content is a characteristic talent of only a few authors. Gallo pays as much attention to her sentences as she does her plots, shifting or consolidating meaning with the use of a single word. Her writing is impeccably honed, full of juxtapositions and qualifications that help to create an authentic and emotional atmosphere throughout.

What I took away from this wonderfully written story is that life is a wonderful combination of difficult experiences that are paradoxically intertwined with experiences of happiness in our lives. The difficult experiences are usually surprising, and we will never be ready for them. However, they make us resilient and make us appreciate what is there. Therefore, even with difficulty, one must not forget to be grateful. Because showing gratitude is a source of power that connects great faith and hope.

I was impressed with the insight and empathy of the writer into the spirits of her characters. Any aspiring writer will learn a lot about character development by reading DREAMer by Emily Gallo. Highly recommended and a well deserved five stars from me.

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Story Intelligence : Master Story, Master Life

Story Intelligence : Master Story, Master Life by Richard Stone
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

‘Tools to craft a more desirable future.’

Even before primitive societies put chisel to stone and began writing, one group held a special place in these communities because of their communication skills: storytellers. Today, storytelling may seem quaint. It's not. Thanks to technology, some of the largest and savviest organizations in the world are discovering that storytelling is even more important today - and more powerful. Storytelling is so powerful that it should be the primary goal of all public relations. By focusing on storytelling we tap into an essential human motivator that has propelled humankind for thousands of years.

Story Intelligence: Master Story, Master Life by Richard Stone and Scott Livengood is a book that has helped me clarify my thinking, process my feelings, and make better decisions. If you are you ready to stop drifting and design a life you love, this read with help you on your journey. The overall tone was simply imparting knowledge, personal experience and wisdom in a gentle and generous way. Their 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 personal and professional life. No matter what your situation is today, this book will put you on the right path to better things. If you are looking for inspiration and encouragement, this book comes highly recommended.


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Deadly Pranks

Deadly Pranks by D.C. Rush
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A suspenseful vigilante justice thriller...

Deadly Pranks by D.C. Rush is a suspenseful vigilante justice thriller. The story is filled with intrigue and many twists that keeps the reader engaged and hungry for more and that's one of the many reasons why this book succeeds.

The plot is intricately sculpted as the synopsis suggests: ‘…Four typical American teenagers terrorizing the neighborhood with nasty pranks and all forms of bullying, until they find themselves in the hot seat after their bullying causes someone to die. If this prospect is not terrifying enough on its own, add some relatives to the pot, hungry for revenge and the guts to set a trap during a camping trip of the boys. Vigilant justice is served with a side-order of kidnapping at gunpoint. They are captured in dog cages just to wait out their punishment. The boys endure torture as well as sleep and food deprivation by their captors. The lives of these four teenage boys are forever altered…’

The story had every element a good story should have. A solid plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s an abundance of well-illustrated scenes that make you feel like you are right there in the story, and that’s something I look for in a good book.

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.

If you are looking for a well-written thriller with amazing characters and a gripping plot then ‘Deadly Pranks’ will not leave you disappointed. Fans of the genre who like their action and adventure infused with mystery and suspense will enjoy the ride and the unexpected ending! Highly recommended.

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The Making of a Spy by Jay Johnson

The Making of a Spy by Jay Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An all-encompassing human dramatization...

Everything that we experienced during our childhood is somehow going to influence us as adults. We use the experiences that we have had so far in our lives and, more important, we create experiences to become what we want to be. The Making of a Spy by Jay Johnson tells a very interesting a poignant story of a boy, Isiac, who has to provide for his family from a young age. It documents his early years to his adulthood where he is drafted into the army in 1942 with his friend Fritz. His childhood experiences, along with the skills he learned in the Army, turn out to play a fundamental role in the ‘The Making of a Spy.’

The book description gives a sneak preview: ‘Isiac grew up without a father. His grandfather began teaching Isiac to hunt and fish when he was only 6 years old. That helped Isiac develop his skills of observation. Isiac acquired the ability to notice even the slightest changes in his environment and to interpret their causes… During the Great Depression, Isiac used his hunting and fishing skills to feed his mother, sister, and brother. Isiac's experience with and participation in bootlegging taught him the importance of planning. His skills in developing plans and contingency plans helped Isiac to anticipate potential problems. Isiac learned that it is much easier to avoid potential problems than it is to try to solve them once they occur… By the time Isiac was 15 years old, he had a black belt in Judo and was multi-lingual: He was fluent in English, German, Japanese, and Polish… When WW2 began, Isiac was drafted into the Army. Although unintentional, Isiac's childhood experiences, along with the skills he learned in the Army, became an integral part in The Making of a Spy.’

I was impressed with the insight and empathy of the writer into the spirits of his characters. The beauty of this book is in the potency of the characters and the author's mastery of the language. The originality of this story lies in the effectiveness of the characters and the author's microscopic viewpoint of the human condition. The most outstanding features of the book are the hauntingly real characters in the story and the author's eloquence and mastery with the use of the English language.

The author weave an all-encompassing human dramatization that gives "The Making of a Spy" a resounding bite and vibrant potency. Johnson’s crisp writing allows his world to encompass the reader, leaving them mesmerized. Highly recommended reading and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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DONK AND THE STUBBORN DONKEYS

DONK AND THE STUBBORN DONKEYS by K.A. Mulenga
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fun read that younger kids will love...

More often than not children relate themselves with the characters of a good story. In such circumstances, reading fiction can help them to get inspiration from the characters. These stories often portray real life implications through anecdotes, and as such makes it easier for them to understand the complex aspects of life. Moreover, reading these stories at regular intervals can actually help them to develop a positive outlook towards life, which eventually proves beneficial for good character development.

DONK AND THE STUBBORN DONKEYS by K.A. Mulenga is a delightful and charming children's picture book that makes a perfect bedtime story. The author writes in a wonderfully entertaining and imaginative style that will guarantee the attention of young minds. If you ever wanted to bond even more with your children or grandchildren, this would be a very enjoyable story to share with them. I read this book with my grandkids and they loved it.

It seems to me that this book was created with a lot of love and joy and it’s clear that the author really enjoys creating such wonderful stories. Thank you for sharing with us the gift that you have obviously worked so hard to refine. We’ll be looking forward to seeing what’s coming next. A well-deserved five stars from us!

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Raging Waters in the South China Sea: What the Battle for Supremacy Means for Southeast Asia

Raging Waters in the South China Sea: What the Battle for Supremacy Means for Southeast Asia by Rachel a Winston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well written, informative and insightful...

Raging Waters in the South China Sea: What the Battle for Supremacy Means for Southeast Asia by Rachel A. Winston, Ph.D. and Ishika Sachdeva is a very well written and researched book. Informative and insightful, the authors present an easy to read perspective on current and significant international events relating to China and its impact on the entire world.

To paraphrase the authors, they state from the outset that this book was not written as a scholarly tome for researchers since some of the topics are simplified for brevity and readability. Nevertheless, there is scholarship within, and some of the maps, charts, and timelines are clearer than other reference materials. Their aim is to break down unfamiliar rhetoric and overwhelming concepts in order to eliminate any barriers the readers might have with intellectually-astute journal articles. Their goal is to engage the curious learner. This book was written to lay a foundation for the public to understand the past and present events in the South China Sea, including how states are navigating the choppy waters of diplomacy regarding territorial claims and how decisions made now are shaping our world’s future.

If you are looking to gain a better understanding about what’s happening with China and regional countries in the South China Sea, this book would come highly recommended.

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50 Years in the OR: True Stories of Life, Loss, and Laughter While Giving Anesthesia by Ronald Whitchurch

50 Years in the OR: True Stories of Life, Loss, and Laughter While Giving Anesthesia by Ronald Whitchurch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An observational, witty and insightful read...

An anesthetist nurse is a registered nurse who has educational training in administering anesthesia. They work in hospitals mostly in the surgical areas where they administer anesthesia to patients who are going in for surgery. Their work is to make sure that the patients get enough levels of the drug before they can go in for their procedures or surgeries. This is a very sensitive job and thus the nurse needs to have special training on how to handle the anesthesia and the anesthetics in the proper way. They also need to have experience working with patient care.

50 Years in the OR: True Stories of Life, Loss, and Laughter While Giving Anesthesia by Ronald Whitchurch was a fascinating observational, entertaining and insightful read. The author communicates almost 50 years of experience by sharing many stories and anecdotes about the growth of his profession. At times, this book was emotional and heartrending while also sprinkled throughout with entertaining and hilarious stories.

A highly recommended and must-read for anyone interested in, or considering entering into, the medical profession. The book contains adult themes so would make it unsuitable for the younger (or squeamish) reader. A well-deserved five stars from me.

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