Don't Call Me A Crook by Bob Moore

Product Description
It is a pity there are getting to be so many places that I can never go back to, but all the same, I do not think it is much fun a man being respectable all his life.
Thus begins Don't Call Me a Crook!, a memoir of a 1920s youth thoroughly, noisily and lawlessly lived. Bob Moore, a Glaswegian, was a marine engine, occasional building superintendent and ramblin' man. "I have been round the world seven times, and I have been shipwrecked three times, and I have spent £100,000," Moore boasts. In Don't Call Me a Crook he recounts pitched battles with Chinese bandits, life in gangster-infested Chicago, and decadent orgies aboard a millionaire's yacht.
Don't Call Me a Crook! A Scotsman's Tale of World Travel, Whisky and Crime is a hardboiled-noir memoir. It's picaresque, perverse, and darkly funny. A tribute to one man's triumph over the law, morals and sobriety, it's a lost confession that will be crowned a classic.

My thoughts
I enjoy reading stories about the not so distant past and a memoir gives me the feeling of being there. DON’T CALL ME A CROOK by Bob Moore is one of those unbelievable enjoyable tales. Originally released in 1935 (but according to the book’s forward, it went unnoticed), it tells the tale of a thief and criminal. He tries to explain all that he did, why he did it and the outcomes he endured. He travels around the world creating havoc wherever he went. The story reads like an offbeat comedy of the times

Although written over 70 years ago, the editor inserts footnotes that explain the terms used during that period and also did some research trying to learn more about the author (which I found enjoyable). This reissue is a pleasant read and will probably get more notice this time around.

North From Calcutta by Duane Evans

Product Description
In a gripping story torn from today's headlines, Tarek Durrani, a westernized Pakistani intelligence officer races to stop an attack against India by a Kashmiri terrorist group. A successful attack could mean war between India and Pakistan, with possible nuclear ramifications. Of more immediate concern to Tarek, the attack also will take the life of Sahar, the hypnotically seductive Indian architect, who has cracked the combination to his soul.

My thoughts
NORTH FROM CALCUTTA is a thrilling adventure through modern day India and Pakistan. Tarek Durrani the Pakistani intelligence officer discovers that a terrorist group will attack somewhere that could cause a war or worse; a nuclear disaster. The group, headed by Salim will stop at nothing to achieve their goal. To make matters complicated, Tarek falls in love with Sahar, an Indian archictect. Duane Evans’ writing flows and makes you feel that you are there. He slowly builds the suspense as he introduces you to the characters that make up this intriguing problem. Then towards the last quarter of the book, the pages explode with action that keeps you hoping that Tarek will succeed, stop the bad guys and get the girl. But you have to read the book to find out.

One Fine Season by Mike Sheehan

Product Description
ONE FINE SEASON tells the story of a promising young athlete who must rise from the ashes of devastating personal loss to fulfill a pact made years earlier with his best friend. The book uses baseball as the medium of expression for spirituality and philosophy, human interaction and personal stories, morals and ethics, love and selflessness, and other universal concepts. The goal was to stretch the reader's mind while he or she enjoyed an entertaining sports/love story. Some of the philosophical discussions are lengthy, but I hope you find them interesting, and perhaps even enlightening. I contemplated writing this book for many years, driven by the desire to, in some small way, honor the memories of two childhood friends who died young. Their names were Danny Dettling and Pete Callinan. Danny and I hung out a lot between the ages of 12 and 14, playing on the same Pop Warner football team and spending summer nights camped out in my parent's backyard in a blue-green pup tent that we routinely shared with my brother. Danny was always fun to be around and we became close friends. Pete was a fine all-around athlete and excellent baseball player, smooth and stylish, and a good person. Both died in their early 20s, Danny from a terminal illness and Pete following a tragic accident that left him paralyzed. Even now, three decades later, the picture of them remains clear in my mind.As for future works, I've started writing another novel, which takes quite a different turn from ONE FINE SEASON. It combines plenty of action with commentary on today's political situation. My first book was a labor of love. The second will delve into the concepts of freedom, liberty, self-reliance and integrity in the face of governmental tyranny.

My thoughts
“One Fine Season” is a story about true friendship, spirituality and baseball. It isn’t s book that I would normally read, but once I did, I am glad that I did it. Using true life events, Mike Sheehan has created an emotional story about two friends and their dream of becoming pro baseball players, and what happens in their lives that changes everything, except their friendship. A very good first novel.

Logan's Run: Last Day

I enjoyed reading the Logan’s Run trilogy by William F. Nolan and never got to read the novella “Logan’s Return”, enjoyed the movie in 1976, waited for a remake and read the comic books by Marvel and the independents that came out later. And now, there is yet another comiccoming out about Logan. I hope this continuing series takes off and will spark Hollywood’s interest to do that remake!

Here’s the official press release from Bluewater:

Wed, May 27th, 2009 at 12:04PM PST

Official Press Release

Bluewater Productions proudly announces an exciting new partnership with bestselling author William F. Nolan. The Washington based comic book company has contracted to do three titles with Nolan including the iconic "Logan's Run". Bluewater's new franchise will also include another of his timeless novels "Seven For Space", and an exclusive new title that Nolan will create specifically for the publisher.

William F. Nolan's masterpiece of dystopian future once again races into the 23rd Century with an all-new comic book adaptation of "Logan's Run". Working in collaboration with William F. Nolan himself, "Logan's Run: Lastday" re-imagines the classic trilogy and continues forward with all new adventures. The new ongoing series written by Hollywood screenwriter Paul J. Salamoff with art by Daniel Gete is a terrifying look at a world gone mad. When Lastday comes, will you lie down and die or run!

"I'm excited to be partnered with Bluewater on this latest trek with Logan," said William Nolan "It has the potential to be a successful new chapter in the Logan saga. Logan lives!"

"Having been a lifelong fan of "Logan's Run", it's a dream come true to not only be asked to re-launch and re-imagine the trilogy of classic books as Graphic Novels, but to collaborate with William F. Nolan himself." Said writer Paul J. Salamoff.

"Logan's Run: Lastday" is scheduled for a 2009 release. "Seven For Space" which features Nolan's futuristic private eye, Sam Space and the new untitled series are scheduled for 2010.

Bader Field by Carl David

Product Description
Carl David is the third generation of a four-generation family art business in Philadelphia. He is the author of Collecting & Care of Fine Art published by Crown in 1981. His article about Martha Walter, an American Impressionist painter (1875-1976), was published in the American Art Review in May 1978 Mr. David's new book, Bader Field, embodies the emotional story of a son's loving relationship with his father—a legendary art dealer whose life is suddenly taken by a massive coronary at the young age of fifty-eight years. His death plunges the twenty-four-year-old man onto the front lines of the family art business, which he had entered a mere three years prior. Battling with his own grief while trying to help his adoring but fragile mother survive, David forges forward with all of the elemental tools his father imparted to him. His journey proves a difficult one, not having yet recovered from the horrific loss of his brother to suicide just eight years earlier when he was found dead on the fourth floor of the Rittenhouse Square townhouse, which was home to the prestigious David David Gallery. His self-imposed obligation is to successfully take the family art business to the next generation and to give his own children every bit of love, kindness, and wisdom bestowed upon him by the unique man whom they will never know other than the mark he left on everyone who knew him. Bader Field adds significant insight into the mysterious workings and dealings of the art world. David speaks from experience of having been immersed in it all of his life and having lived it from the inside out. There will be a tremendous crossover interest in this book as it combines the elements of an American family, its goodness and its tragedy interfaced with the multifaceted aspects of the art business and flying small airplanes. Bader Field in Atlantic City was the oldest airfield in the country. With little sophistication, its two asphalt runways juggled single and twin engine aircraft exuded a character and charm that created memories to last a lifetime. That is where this saga begins and where it ends as life comes full circle.

My thoughts
Carl David takes us on a trip through his life following the unexpected death of his father at the age of 58. Through flashback, we get to know his life and the impact his father had on him. The David family has owned an art gallery in Philadelphia for four generations and Carl fears that as he teaches his sons the business, will he be able to pass on the wisdom that this father gave him. “Bader Field” named after a small airport in Atlantic that holds fond memories for the author, is a truly inspiring book about personal growth and the strength to let go of the past and live our lives.

In the Land of Cotton by Martha A. Taylor

Product Description
Immerse yourself in this highly anticipated political docu-drama set in the Deep South amidst the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement. Martha was a young white girl living in the Deep South, inundated with the racist sentiments of the times. But Martha's natural curiosity and generous heart led her to question this racial divide. When she discovered a primitive Negro family living deep in the woods near her house, everyone's life changed forever. Take the journey of a lifetime alongside Martha as she forges relationships that lead to self discovery and a clearer understanding of the world around her. In the Land of Cotton provides an outstanding snapshot of life in the South during those troubled times - a snapshot everyone should take a close look at, regardless of era or color.

My thoughts
“In the Land of Cotton” Martha A. Taylor tells the story of a young white girl growing up in the south in the fifties who becomes friends with a black family. As her parents are busy working and/or not being around, she becomes closer and closer to this other family. Eventually, she falls in love with Silas, a boy from the black family. But remember, this is the south and the Civil Rights Movement is happening and the beginning of the Vietnam conflict is right around the corner. Ms. Taylor writes a heartwarming story of personal growth, change, love and heartbreak through one of the toughest periods of our country’s history. One learns much from what she writes in this book.

Of Bees and Mist ARC Book Giveaway

I am having a giveaway for my gently used advanced reader’s copy of “Of Bees and Mist” by Erick Setiawan. This book comes out August 4th. This contest is available to U.S. residents only and will run until Friday, June 5th. All you have to do is leave a comment. Thanks!


Read more about here:

Reminiscent of Keith Donohue's The Stolen Child, Erick Setiawan's richly atmospheric debut is a beautiful, engrossing fable of three generations of women in two families; their destructive jealousies, their loves and losses, their sacrifices and deeply rooted deceptions, and their triumphs.

Of Bees and Mist is the tale of Meridia -- raised in a sepulchral house where ghosts dwell in mirrors, she spends her childhood feeling neglected and invisible. Every evening her father vanishes inside a blue mist without so much as an explanation, and her mother spends her days venomously beheading cauliflowers in the kitchen. At sixteen, desperate to escape, Meridia marries a tenderhearted young man and moves into his seemingly warm and charming family home. Little does she suspect that his parents are harboring secrets of their own. There is a grave hidden in the garden. There are two sisters groomed from birth to despise each other. And there is Eva, the formidable matriarch whose grievances swarm the air like an army of bees. In this haunting story, Setiawan takes Meridia on a tumultuous ride of hope and heartbreak as she struggles to keep her young family together and discovers long-kept secrets about her own past as well as the shocking truths about her husband's family.

Readers of magic-realist fiction will instantly be captivated by this richly evocative fairy tale. Of Bees and Mist takes place in a nameless town during a timeless era, where spirits and spells, witchcraft and demons, ghosts and clairvoyance -- both real and imagined -- are an everyday reality. Setiawan skillfully blends the real and the fantastical as he follows our heroine over a 30-year time span in which her love, courage, and sanity are tested to the limit.

Made in the U.S.A. by Billie Letts

Product Description
Lutie McFee's history has taught her to avoid attachments...to people, to places, and to almost everything. With her mother long dead and her father long gone to find his fortune in Las Vegas, 15-year-old Lutie lives in the god-forsaken town of Spearfish, South Dakota with her twelve-year-old brother, Fate, and Floy Satterfield, the 300-pound ex-girlfriend of her father. While Lutie shoplifts for kicks, Fate spends most of his time reading, watching weird TV shows and worrying about global warming and the endangerment of pandas. As if their life is not dismal enough, one day, while shopping in their local Wal-Mart, Floy keels over and the two motherless kids are suddenly faced with the choice of becoming wards of the state or hightailing it out of town in Floy's old Pontiac. Choosing the latter, they head off to Las Vegas in search of a father who has no known address, no phone number and, clearly, no interest in the kids he left behind.

MADE IN THE U.S.A. is the alternately heartbreaking and life-affirming story of two gutsy children who must discover how cruel, unfair and frightening the world is before they come to a place they can finally call home.

My thoughts
“Made in the USA” is a touching story about Lutie McFee and her brother Fate and how they try and survive in Las Vegas after the death of the woman who was taking care of them. Lutie thinks she knows all about how to endure the cruel world which is now her home. I have never any other books by Billie Letts, and am not going to let some of the negative reviews I have come across to affect my feelings. This story brought tears to my eyes, and I was rooting for the kids. Is it believable, maybe, maybe not? I just know that I loved the book.

Painting The Invisible Man by Rita Schiano

Product DescriptionBased on a true event... In 2001, while researching the online archives of her hometown newspaper for a client, freelance writer Rita Schiano stumbled upon archived stories about her father s murder and the possible mob connections that led to his death. This brief visit to her past inspired her to look deeply into the heart of her childhood. The journey she embarked on was nothing she could have ever anticipated. Rather than place her work into the harsh scrutiny of memoirs, Schiano developed her story through the eyes of a fictional character, Anna Matteo. It is the story of a stolen childhood, a family torn apart by the violence of mafia ties and one young girl s resilient spirit that allowed her to rise above the hardships and seek solace in the most unusual ways.

My thoughts
It’s interesting how Rita Schiano took a real life event involving her father and turned it into a wonderfully, charming story about one woman’s quest to find out the truth about her father’s murder. Anna Matteo, the main character in this story, discovers that her father was killed what may have a mob hit because of his gambling debts. The more she digs deeper into this long ago event, the closer she comes to the truth. “Painting The Invisible Man’ is a witty and pleasurable book.

The Man's Book: The Essential Guide for the Modern Man by Thomas Fink

Product Description
Being modern and manly in today's world isn't always easy.

Do you know how to tie a bow-tie, mix a martini, or make a potato gun?

Do you know when to get married and how to break up, or the difference between a bock beer and a bitter?

Do you know which urinal to choose or how to start a fire with a Coke can?

The answers to every man's burning questions are within these pages, from the morning wet shave to the whiskey night-cap, from hunting deer with a .30-06 to wooing women like 007. At a time when the sexes are muddled and masculinity is marginalized, THE MAN'S BOOK unabashedly celebrates maleness. Organized by subject in a man-logical way, it's the go-to guide for anyone with a Y chromosome.

My thoughts
“The Man's Book: The Essential Guide for the Modern Man” by Thomas Fink is a manual for today’s man. It is filled with graphs, lists, instructions and drawings to help the man be a man. It includes things like how to tie a tie (various different ways) to where to stand at a public urinal when there are others there. Do you stay away from the door, close to the next person, away from them, what if there is more than one? Okay, enough on that topic. He teaches how to make drinks and what’s the difference with types of beers. Yep, this book is stocked with many tidbits of information on being a man. Fun book.

Afraid book giveaway winners

So it seems that Stephen King is the Master of Scare. I’d have to agree. So did you all get to read the short story SERIAL? Okay, that was a little grotesque. I hope everyone will download it when they get a chance.

And now the winners of the AFRAID giveaway (using random.org) are:

allisonmariecat
Belinda M
Michael
nfmgirl
Dawn M

Congratulations, I will be emailing you for your addresses so that I can submit them to Hachette. Thanks Brianne, for this wonderful giveaway. I beleive you will all enjoy this book.

The Execution of Justice by Michael Phelps

Product DescriptionMichael Walsh, as a uniformed police officer faces down a deranged man, on the front porch of his home, holding a gun to the head of his five year old daughter. The man had just shot his partner, and was threatening to kill Walsh, his daughter, and as many others as he could. In the frigid air, Walsh talks the man into releasing his little girl and surrendering. Inside the home, police find the body of his slain wife. Two months later, Walsh is promoted to Detective, and is paired with an old mentor, Detective Sergeant Jack Lovell, in the elite Robbery & Homicide Division of the Indianapolis Police Department. At age 27, with only six years experience as a patrol officer, he is the youngest member of the Robbery & Homicide unit. A series of armed robberies leads Walsh and his mentor, Lovell on an eight month hunt for a gang of vicious criminals, with the killing of one of their own, and then the murder of a Brinks Armored Truck guard, it is a race to identify, locate and capture the gang before they kill again. Two weeks before Christmas, the chase ends. Walsh’s friend and mentor is killed instantly in a barrage of gunfire in the pre-dawn hours. His shooting leads to a two and a half hour gun battle between the police and the barricaded suspects. Walsh’s life is thrust into a spiraling tail-spin. His wife cannot take the stress of being a cop’s wife, she leaves him. He is guilt-ridden over the death of his partner. Thoughts of suicide enter his alcohol soaked mind. What will he do? Will he survive?

My thoughts“Execution of Justice” is not a fast paced thriller, but an evenly flowing drama. Michael Phelps first novel shows what it is like to be a cop, both professionally and personally. While Detective Mike Walsh succeeds at his job, he fails at his marriage. While the portrayal of being on the job and dealing with criminals is fine, when Phelps writes about the home life of the detective, there is too much that doesn’t need to be there, like the too much detail in what he eats, when and if he has sex. I don’t know if he was trying to show how mundane his personal life was as compared to how stressful the job was. I just felt it slowed the story. Also, it is stated that this is the first of the “Detective Mike Walsh” series. If so, there has to be more conflict which builds up to a climax to keep me interested, as opposed to reading what essential is a journal of the character’s life. Otherwise, it’s a good start.

Who's On First

My daughter and I performed Abbott and Costello's routine "Who's On First" a few years ago, and I finally figured out how to get it online. Enjoy!

Getting A Grip On My Body, My Mind, My Self by Monica Seles

Product DescriptionFor those of you tuned into this past season’s Dancing with the Stars, it’s hard to believe that spectacularly fit former tennis champion Monica Seles struggled with binge-eating and depression. Getting a Grip chronicles Monica’s success on the tennis circuit where, at age sixteen, she became the youngest winner in French Open history. For three years she dominated the tour, racking up eight Grand Slam titles, and charming the media at post-match conferences with her trademark giggle. She seemed unstoppable until a deranged Steffi Graf fan plunged a knife into her back during a match in Hamburg and turned her life upside down. Her injuries healed but the emotional trauma was deep. With no support from the WTA and her number-one ranking falling, Monica sunk into a depression. Hiding from the media and disappearing from the tennis world, she turned to food for comfort. She spent more than two years in seclusion, trying to fight off the fog of despair. Back in the public eye but far from recovered, she continued the battle against herself—grueling six-hour workouts were sabotaged by secretive late-night binges—and she was assaulted with criticism about her weight from her trainers, nutritionists, and, most brutally, the press. Playing with an extra thirty pounds and devastated after losing her father/coach to cancer, she was never able to regain her former dominance on tour. After an excruciating injury forced her to take time off from tennis in 2003, Seles embarked on her own journey. She abandoned the arduous workouts and the punitive diets. As she uncovered the painful emotional reasons that had been the trigger for her binge-eating, she finally found the peace and balance she had been searching for. Monica Seles’s determination, amazing talent, and touching vulnerability make her story both incredibly human and inspiring. By sharing her own narrative, she hopes to motivate other people to take control of their lives and their own happiness.

My thoughts
I used to watch tennis when Monica Seles played and I lived in Queens. It was an exciting time. I also remembered when she was stabbed, but by that time I had stopped watching tennis as my life became more complicated. I read a little about her life and recently heard she was on “Dancing with the Stars”. Since I was a fan, I picked up her memoir, “Getting a Grip: On My Body, My Mind, My Self” and I am not disappointed that I did. Seles has written an excellent book about her life on and off the court, her struggles with the stabbing and the aftermath and also the death of her father. She became depressed and gained weight which made her unhappy and she began to hate herself. Tennis was her life, but through her inner strength she overcame her fears and problems. She is a down to earth person and writes with such honesty about her experiences.

The Chameleon Conspiracy by Haggai Carmon

Product Description
The master criminal and con man known as the Chameleon has eluded international law enforcement for twenty years. Dan Gordon was sure he finally had him, but he was left empty-handed. Now he won’t rest until the Chameleon is stopped. The Chameleon is actually more than a mere criminal—he’s an undercover sleeper agent. But Gordon is more than he seems, too. He’s an experienced hunter, trained by the Mossad, working now for the CIA.

My thoughts
“The Chameleon Conspiracy” is a high-speed thrilling ride around the globe where Dan Gordon of the Justice Department investigates the case of the Chameleon, a baffling figure that has stolen millions of dollars while portraying many people and avoiding capture for twenty years. Gordon finds out the funds are being used for terrorist activities. Haggai Carmon has written an international spy story that is captivating and entertaining.

Jenn's Campaign Speech for President of the Student Council

My daughter, was recently elected President of the Student Council in her school. Following is her campaign speech, a much better read then all the political garbage in the news recently.

And now her presidential speech:

While sitting at home thinking about our Student Council and its future, I realized that there are many new changes and obstacles to overcome for next year. Not only do we have a new constitution and new responsibilities for our positions, but we have a completely new way of functioning as a group. In the process of thinking, I came to the conclusion that it would be much easier to understand our goals through the characters and themes of the classic Disney movie, The Lion King.

For those of you that are not familiar with the Lion King, it is a classic movie about a young lion cub named Simba who struggles to accept the responsibilities of adulthood and find his place in nature’s “circle of life”. He goes on an exciting adventure through the savanna with his two unlikely companions, Timon, a meercat and Pumbaa, a warthog. After being blamed for this father’s death by his enemy, Scar, Simba flees his homeland, only to return later to earn his rightful place as king of the jungle. And although lions, meercats, and warthogs do not seem to relate to our Student Council, they actually portray the many positions, responsibilities, and goals of our future. The animals of the savanna including Simba, Timon, and Pumbaa represent all of the members of our Student Council. Scar, the animals’ enemy, represents all of the obstacles and challenges we must overcome. Simba’s adventure represents the school year and our adventure through each event we plan. Nature’s “circle of life” represents our “circle of positions”. Now let me explain how each of these symbols relates to the importance and duties of our Student Council.

The first and foremost important aspect of Student Council is you! There would be no Student Council without members to plan and run the events we do. Now each member has a different responsibility similar to the different species of animals in Simba’s kingdom. Each animal functions differently, but their contribution to the kingdom helps all of them live peacefully and harmoniously. Even though each responsibility of a Student Council member is different, they are all equally important to the functioning of our Student Council. One person may not be able to fulfill their responsibility because another person did not complete their own. This messes up the “circle of positions”. Next year, each position has its own job as well as the job to help out on other committees. If a person does not complete their responsibilities on a committee, a chair position and other positions will be affected. They will be too busy doing the other person’s work, to do their individual responsibilities. This makes each committee reliant on other positions and these positions reliant on the committees. With a never-ending line of people relying on each other, a circle is formed. This circle determines whether or not work is accomplished. To make sure everyone completes their given tasks, you need to understand what your actual responsibilities are. Once you understand your individual responsibilities, you can understand how you can help others achieve their goals. As the animals depend on each other to live, we, as members, depend on each other to complete each and every task given to us. We work together and support each other every step of the way. If we join together and work to the best of our abilities, we can help our Council kingdom run smoothly and effectively.

Even though we may work to the best of our abilities, there will always be obstacles to overcome. Even though Simba was determined to become king of his homeland, Scar was standing in his way. Scar wanted to take over Simba’s homeland and become king. In order to achieve his goal, Simba had to overcome his fears and defeat his enemy. We, as a Student Council, will have many “Scars” blocking our way, but we cannot whine and complain about them. We must step up to the problem, find out what causes the problem, and come up with a solution as quickly and peacefully as we can. Our problems may be as small as an argument over favors for an event or as complex as not being able to attract people to our events. In either situation, we must not run away. We cannot fight with our fellow members and refuse to do work because we did not get our way. We cannot give up because nobody cares. We must be the people who care and work until the very end. We must find ways to compromise and think of new solutions. And no one is asking you to do it alone. You will have all of your fellow members by your side, as well as me there to guide you along the way. Our goal next year is to not let any “Scars” take us away from the work we are truly capable of.

Our adventure next year will be that of excitement and hard work rolled up in one. It will be an unforgettable adventure that we will travel together, just like the journey we took throughout this past year. Except, there is a lot of change that will take effect after tonight. There will be fewer people on Student Council; there will be different meeting days. The positions in Student Council will be changing as well as the responsibilities of each position. All of this change can be scary, but Simba did not let change scare him. He realized that he needed to take on a new adventure in order to become the rightful king, even though that meant changing his entire lifestyle and starting anew. He could no longer live in the savanna with Pumbaa and Timon without a care in the world; he had to use his experiences, step up, and prove his worth. As a Student Council, we must do the same. We will be stepping into an entirely different Student Council and almost starting everything anew. But, do not let this frighten you. This only gives us more of a chance to spark our imaginations and come up with creative ideas. We will have to use new ideas combined with past experiences to figure out how to plan our events with a new group of people and less of them. With a change in size, we must really take responsibility for ourselves. We must be willing to put forth our best effort to complete our jobs as well as help out with different events. This is a new concept to many. Some of us have never served on a committee or ran an event outside our individual committee. Well now is the time to step up and try something different. By trying different things, you will be aware of all the events we run, making you more knowledgeable on our entire Student Council. And the more you know and understand, the more you will be able to help others and get things done more efficiently. If we get things done more efficiently, the smaller number of members on our Student Council will not impact us as much. We will be able to do the jobs of 80 people, with about half that amount. If everyone participates to the best of their ability with the new changes, we will be as successful as Simba and accomplish our goals.

Now, after explaining how important it is to accept change and work together to accomplish our goals, I do not want you to think you will be in this adventure alone. I, as a presidential candidate for our Student Council, will be the Timon to your Simbas. Timon and Pumbaa did not only follow Simba around and help him, they guided him through life. When Simba first ran away after his father died, Timon showed Simba how to live in the jungle and survive. I will be here to show you how to work in our Student Council. I will be here as a guide to help you through the many challenges of next year’s Student Council. I will teach you how to fulfill your responsibilities by understanding each and every one of your jobs. If you have any questions or ever need help with anything, I will be here to help you understand and help you get through your obstacles. Also, just as Timon and Pumbaa worked with Simba to get him into his position as king, I will work with you to get you to accomplish your goals. I will not only be here as a leader to turn to, but also a worker right alongside you. I will work with each and every one of you to help you succeed. You are not here to work alone; we are all here to work together and no one person will be expected to overcome it by themselves. I will be there to work and guide you because I WANT to be. I must admit, I did not want to join Student Council two years ago when I came to this high school because I didn’t want to participate in an after school activity. I was strongly encouraged by my teachers and classmates to join. From the moment I was accepted into Student Council, I learned that it was much more than an after school activity. I have gained many new friends, learned many new things, and most importantly, learned the rewards of hard work. It gave me a new sense of responsibility and showed me how teamwork really does make a struggle easier to overcome. NOW, I always want to be after school doing something for Student Council. It is hard for me to come home after school, knowing that I could have stayed after with other people. This feeling is good though, because it shows how much more I would rather do something productive that will benefit many people in the end rather than simply sit home relaxing. With this type of work ethic, I am ready to take on the new responsibilities and adventures as President of this Student Council.

If you are ready to take on new challenges, I am ready to guide you. If you are ready to succeed, I am ready to help. I am ready to be the leaders of the jungle and overcome all the “Scars” in our way. I am ready to learn new things along with everyone else in order to be able to accept and work with the new changes. Are you ready to be a part of The Lion King and join me in our adventure to the complete success of next year’s Student Council?

Terminal Freeze by Lincoln Child

Book Description
A breathtaking discovery at the top of the world...
A terrifying collision between modern science and Native American legend...
An electrifying new thriller from New York Times bestselling author Lincoln Child.
Two hundred miles north of the Arctic Circle lies Alaska’s Federal Wildlife Zone, one of the most remote and inhospitable places on Earth. But for paleoecologist Evan Marshall and a small group of fellow scientists, an expedition to the Zone represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study the effects of global warming.
Everything about the expedition changes, however, with an astonishing find. On a routine exploration of a glacial ice cave, the group discovers an enormous ancient animal, encased in solid ice. The media conglomerate sponsoring their research immediately intervenes and arranges the ultimate spectacle--the creature will be cut from the ice, thawed, and revealed live on television. Despite dire warnings from the local Native American village, and the scientific concerns of Marshall and his team, the “docudrama” plows ahead... until the scientists make one more horrifying discovery. The beast is no regular specimen--it may be an ancient killing machine. And they may be premature in believing it dead.

In this riveting new thriller, Lincoln Child weaves together a stunning Arctic landscape, a terrifying mythic creature, and a pervasive mood of chaos--and fear. With Terminal Freeze, Child demonstrates why he has become a major bestselling author, and why his novels electrify and enthrall so many.

My thoughts
I picked up TERMINAL FREEZE by Lincoln Child as it sounded like a good story. I’ve read other reviewers take on the book (both bad and good), and some compared it to THE THING. I could see the comparison. A scientific expedition in the Arctic finds something frozen in the ice, which brings out a documentary crew to film it. The production company funded the scientific expedition so they feel they have the right to do what they want. Oh, did I mention that the production company was the exploitation type. The mix of scientists and production crew and the politics of the company make for an explosive mix in this icy tundra. Since I don’t recall reading any of Lincoln Child’s books before, I found this story to be quite entertaining.

Run For Your Life by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

Product DescriptionA calculating killer who calls himself The Teacher is taking on New York City, killing the powerful and the arrogant. His message is clear: remember your manners or suffer the consequences! For some, it seems that the rich are finally getting what they deserve. For New York's elite, it is a call to terror.

Only one man can tackle such a high-profile case: Detective Mike Bennett. The pressure is enough for anyone, but Mike also has to care for his 10 children-all of whom have come down with virulent flu at once!

Discovering a secret pattern in The Teacher's lessons, Detective Bennett realizes he has just hours to save New York from the greatest disaster in its history. From the #1 bestselling author comes RUN FOR YOUR LIFE, the continuation of his newest, electrifying series.

My thoughts
I know that there are times where I would like to scream at the obnoxious person talking loudly on their cell phone in a public place without a care to the others around them, but when the Teacher in James Patterson novel, RUN FOR YOUR LIFE talks it to the extreme and pushes her onto the tracks of an income subway train. The Teacher is the latest protagonist in a Patterson story and he continues to murder those he deems rich, obnoxious and not caring about the importance of all our lives. New York City Detective Michael Bennett starts putting the pieces together and tries to track down the Teacher while trying to maintain a family for his ten motherless children. As with many of Patterson’s books, this is a fast-paced, easy read. One can devour it one sunny day at the beach. But the thrills are beginning to fade. His stories tend to formulaic and even the twist at the end did not make for a good book. My wife loves James Patterson, but he puts out books too quickly for me to expect anything powerful.

You Wanna Go To Willard? By Linda M. Holbrook

Product DescriptionGrowing up, Laura felt different, even abnormal. She was the third child of four and the oldest girl. Her mother conditioned her to respect elders. It was required to always use proper behavior and articulate manners. Laura lived with the notion of a reward for good behavior. People liked children that behaved meticulously. Her life was focused on doing all the things people asked of her. She never objected or even questioned why. Convinced everyone would like her if she did. But the older she got, and the harder she tried, the worse it became. Haunted by her thoughts of being retarded, she struggled to find an answer. Through trial and error decisions she wandered down dark paths of repeated disappointments. With years of trying too hard, she wanted the truth about whom she was or who she was supposed to be. Was happiness a myth? Her persistence pushed her over the hurdles in her life. Something inside told her she would find it. The happiness she wanted and desperately needed.

My thoughts
YOU WANNA GO TO WILLIARD? has an autobiographical feel to it and author Linda Holbrook is probably writing about her life and the struggles and obstacles she had to endure and overcome. But this story is a mundane one and I didn’t feel for the main character, Laura. There was nothing out of the ordinary about her story and the conflicts are commonplace. There were no lessons learned and I was disappointed.

Ten Cents A Dance by Christine Fletcher

Product Description
With her mother ill, it’s up to fifteen-year-old Ruby Jacinski to support her family. But in the 1940s, the only opportunities open to a Polish-American girl from Chicago’s poor Yards is a job in one of the meat packing plants. Through a chance meeting with a local tough, Ruby lands a job as a taxi dancer and soon becomes an expert in the art of “fishing”: working her patrons for meals, cash, clothes, even jewelry. Drawn ever deeper into the world of dance halls, jazz, and the mob, Ruby gradually realizes that the only one who can save her is herself. A mesmerizing look into a little known world and era.

My thoughts
Christine Fletcher captures the life of the poor in Chicago of the 1940s with such realism that you feel for the characters, especially Ruby Jacinski. Wanting more for herself that what the slums have to offer, she takes a job as a taxi dancer. We learn that life is not always greener on the other side. But Roby is strong and learns to overcome her obstacles. I enjoyed this book, but when I learned that the inspiration for this story was based on the author’s long lost family member Sophia who was a taxi dancer made it all the more special. Although this book was written for the young adult reader, it is also enjoyable for us older adults.

True Detectives by Jonathan Kellerman

Product Description
In Jonathan Kellerman’s gripping novels, the city of Los Angeles is as much a living, breathing character as the heroes and villains who roam its labyrinthine streets. Sunny on the surface but shadowy beneath, this world of privilege and pleasure has a dark core and a dangerous edge. In True Detectives, Kellerman skillfully brings his renowned gifts for breathless suspense and sharp psychological insight to a tale that resonates on every level and satisfies at every turn.

Bound by blood but divided by troubles as old as Cain and Abel, Moses Reed and Aaron Fox were first introduced in Kellerman’s bestselling Bones. They are sons of the same strong-willed mother, and their respective fathers were cops, partners, and friends. Their turbulent family history has set them at odds, despite their shared calling. Moses—part Boy Scout, part bulldog, man of few words—is a no-frills LAPD detective. Aaron, sharp dresser and smooth operator, is an ex-cop turned high-end private eye. Usually they go their separate ways. But the disappearance of Caitlin Frostig isn’t usual. For Moses, it’s an ice-cold mystery he just can’t outrun, even with the help of psychologist Alex Delaware and detective Milo Sturgis. For Aaron, it’s a billable-hours bonanza from his most lucrative client. Like it or not, Moses and Aaron are in this one together–and the rivalry that rules them won’t let either man quit till the case is cracked.

A straight-arrow, straight-A student from Malibu, Caitlin has only two men in her life: her sullen single father and her wholesome college sweetheart, who even the battling brothers agree seems too downright upright to be true. Reluctantly tag-teaming in a desperate search for fresh leads, Moses and Aaron zero in on Caitlin’s white knight as their primary “person of interest,” hoping that, like most people in L.A., he has a secret side.

But they uncover more than just a secret as they descend into the sinister, seamy side of the City of Angels after dark, populated by a Hollywood Babylon cast of the glamorous and the damned: a millionaire movie director turned hatemongering eccentric; a desperate Beverly Hills housewife looking for an exit from the fast lane; a heartthrob actor being eaten alive by personal demons; a hooker who’s probably seen it all . . . and might just know too much. And at the center, a dead young woman whose downward spiral and brutal end loom over Moses and Aaron like an omen of what may come to be if the dark end of the street claims another lost soul.

My thoughts
I am a big fan of Jonathan Kellerman’s writing and truly enjoy his Alex Delaware novels. And although some stories are better than others, TRUE DETECTIVES has to be one of his worst. I was disappointed in this story of two brothers (one a cop, the other a private detective) and them working the same case. The main characters here were minor characters in another Kellerman novel, and he does bring in Alex, Milo and Petra as minor characters in this one. But the story drags and didn’t hold my interest. I hope his next novel brings back to Alex Delaware.

Afraid by Jack Kilborn Book Giveaway and Special Short Story Download

Thanks to Brianne at the Hatchette Book Group, I am able to offer to five, yes five readers their own copy of AFRAID by Jack Kilborn. You can read my review of the book here. To enter, leave a comment telling me what the scariest book that you ever read was.

The contest is open to U.S. and Canadian residents and no P.O. boxes. Followers and Subscribers will automatically get an additional entry.

This contest will end Friday, May 22nd, and winners will be announced the following day.

And now if you go to the Hatchette Book Group web page for AFRAID you can download the the FREE exclusive eBook SERIAL by Jack Kilborn and Blake Crouch; either as a PDF file or an ePub version of the book (the Sony eBook Reader format). It is located under "Book Extras" in the bottom right-hand corner. Enjoy!

Do-Over! by Robin Hemley

Product Description
Robin Hemley's childhood made a wedgie of his memory, leaving him sore and embarrassed for over forty years. He was the most pitiful kindergartner, the least spirited summer camper, and dateless for prom. In fact, there's nary an event from his youth that couldn't use improvement. If only he could do them all over a few decades later, with an adult's wisdom, perspective, and giant-like height...

In the spirit of cult film classics like Billy Madison and Wet Hot American Summer, in DO-OVER! Hemley reencounters paper mache, revisits his childhood home, and finally attends the prom--bringing readers the thrill of recapturing a misspent youth and discovering what's most important: simple pleasures, second chances, and the forgotten joys of recess.

My thoughts
DO-OVER! is a book that I totally enjoyed and felt jealous of Robin Hemley. He got to relive those things in his life that were embarrassing or failed the first time around. How many of us wished that we could redo certain moments in our lives. Not only does he succeed in any of his attempts, he writes in detail explaining how he does each moment, contacting people long ago forgotten. This is quite an interesting tale of one middle aged man (could it be a midlife crisis?) It took guts to redo his life and this is one remarkable journey where not only the reader learns something, but so does the author.

Now if you have gotten this far and read my review are are interested in my advanced readers copy of DO-OVER, just be the first one to leave a comment here and the book is yours. Don't leave your address, I will contact you via email (so make sure I have your email address).

Kitty Raises Hell

Product DescriptionSometimes what happens in Vegas doesn't stay in Vegas. Kitty and Ben flee The City That Never Sleeps, thinking they were finished with the dangers there, but the sadistic cult of lycanthropes and their vampire priestess have laid a curse on Kitty in revenge for her disrupting their rituals. Starting at the next full moon, danger and destruction the form of fire strikes Kitty and the pack of werewolves she's sworn to protect. She enlists the help of a group of TV paranormal investigators - one of whom has real psychic abilities - to help her get to the bottom of the curse that's been laid on her. Rick, the Master vampire of Denver, believes a deeper plot lies behind the curse, and he and Kitty argue about whether or not to accept the help of a professional demon hunter - and vampire - named Roman, who arrives a little too conveniently in the nick of time. Unable to rely on Rick, and unwilling to accept Roman's offer of help for a price, Kitty and her band of allies, including Vegas magician Odysseus Grant and Kitty's own radio audience, mount a trap for the supernatural being behind the curse, a destructive force summoned by the vengeful cult, a supernatural being that none of them ever thought to face.

My thoughts
In KITTY RAISES HELL, Kitty and her husband leave Vegas, but Vegas doesn’t leave her alone. She has to deal with some paranormal force sent after her because of the adventures from the previous novel, so she gets help from the paranormal TV show crew. With a lot of action, suspense and assistance from the listeners of her radio show, this makes for one of the best stories in this series. And maybe we will see more of Cormac in the next book.

Go Down Together: The True, Untold Story of Bonnie and Clyde

Product Description
In Go Down Together: The True, Untold Story of Bonnie and Clyde, bestselling author Jeff Guinn combines exhaustive research with surprising, newly discovered material to tell the real tale of two kids from a filthy Dallas slum who fell in love and then willingly traded their lives for a brief interlude of excitement and, more important, fame. Their timing could not have been better -- the Barrow Gang pulled its first heist in 1932 when most Americans, reeling from the Great Depression, were desperate for escapist entertainment. Thanks to newsreels, true crime magazines, and new-fangled wire services that transmitted scandalous photos of Bonnie smoking a cigar to every newspaper in the nation, the Barrow Gang members almost instantly became household names on a par with Charles Lindbergh, Jack Dempsey, and Babe Ruth. In the minds of the public, they were cool, calculating bandits who robbed banks and killed cops with equal impunity.

Nothing could have been further from the truth. Clyde and Bonnie were perhaps the most inept crooks ever, and their two-year crime spree was as much a reign of error as it was of terror. Lacking the sophistication to plot robberies of big-city banks, the Barrow Gang preyed mostly on small mom-and-pop groceries and service stations. Even at that, they often came up empty-handed and were reduced to breaking into gum machines for meal money. Both were crippled, Clyde from cutting off two of his toes while in prison and Bonnie from a terrible car crash caused by Clyde's reckless driving. Constantly on the run from the law, they lived like animals, camping out in their latest stolen car, bathing in creeks, and dining on cans of cold beans and Vienna sausages. Yet theirs was a genuine love story. Their devotion to each other was as real as their overblown reputation as criminal masterminds was not.

Go Down Together has it all -- true romance, rebellion against authority, bullets flying, cars crashing, and, in the end, a dramatic death at the hands of a celebrity lawman hired to hunt them down. Thanks in great part to surviving Barrow and Parker family members and collectors of criminal memorabilia who provided Jeff Guinn with access to never-before-published material, we finally have the real story of Bonnie and Clyde and their troubled times, delivered with cinematic sweep and unprecedented insight by a masterful storyteller.

My thoughts
GO DOWN TOGETHER: THE TRUE, UNTOLD STORY OF BONNIE AND CLYDE by Jeff Guinn is a well researched and thorough account of the lives of this notorious couple. It takes us back to the depression-era Texas and we learn about whom they were and how they became to be what history has portrayed them to be. This book is filled with all the information you ever wanted to know and a few surprises to boot.

The Shipwreck of A Nation by H. Peter Nennhaus

Product Description
This memoir portrays the attitudes of a nation caught in political crisis and devastating war. The author vividly recalls his youth in Berlin before and during WWII amidst political upheaval, love, hope, and terror. The reader witnesses the appalling tyranny of Stalin in the 1930s and learns of the Germans’ conviction that they were waging a righteous and desperate struggle against the Soviet empire. The impact of this upsetting story derives from aspects of that war, which hitherto have remained unknown or been misconceived and which cast the moral equation of that conflict into a more sober light. The reader will walk in German shoes and experience the full range of their emotions, beliefs, and thoughts. The understanding of the mood then prevailing in Europe is aided by scholarly chapters of historical data that weave through the narrative of childhood, war, and ruin. In exploring the enduring mystery surrounding the root causes of the two world wars and Germany's final destruction, the author reach thought-provoking conclusions. For those seeking to know what in reality transpired in the German soul during that period, this is one of only few, unbiased sources available.

My thoughts
THE SHIPWRECK OF A NATION by H. Peter Nennhaus is a study of how it was like to live as a German in Nazi Germany. He was a young boy when Hitler became chancellor and he explains how life changed while living in Berlin. Although, he wasn’t old enough to enter the military, he talks about his two brothers that fought in the war. He questions the disappearance of his Jewish friends, remembers bombing of the city and how the struggle for his family to survive. I have read books about the war and the Holocaust, but never from the eyes of a German. My grandmother lives in Germany and will not speak of what her life was like during this time, and after reading the book, I see why. This book showed me some insight on what was going on.

Zachary the Goldfish

It is difficult to see in my photo here, but would you believe that Zachary the goldfish is six inches long. Yes, you read that correctly, he is six inches from nose to fin. I don’t know what I am feeding him, but he is huge. And he was just this tiny little fellow I bought in Wal-Mart. There used to be others – but they didn’t survive and now that Zac is all alone he takes over the whole tank. But it is enjoyable to watch him as I write.

A Voyage Beyond Reason by Tom Gauthier

Product Description
In 1996, twenty four year old Benjamin Wade sets out on a solo voyage in a tiny sea kayak. His goal lies 6,000 miles away - and deep within his own soul. The chance discovery of his journals, buried on a Colombian cliff above the sea, uncovers a mystery which took many years to finally solve. His journals tell of misery and elation, of triumph and failure, of insight and insanity. Does the man make the journey, or does the journey make the man? Follow the tiny kayak, and follow the mind of a young man set on a goal that no amount of torture can dissuade him from reaching, on a journey that brings him face to face with himself.

My thoughts
A VOYAGE BEYOND REASON is a tale based on the journals of Ben Wade, who at 24 years old took a in a kayak from San Felipe to Columbia. This was not an easy feat; and he recorded his fears, thoughts, triumphs, loneliness and his thankfulness to God. Tom Gauthier has written a truly inspiring story of Bens’ search for inner worth. Gauthier interlaces his own thoughts when reading the journal, sections of the journal and recreates actual events from interviews and remembrances. He has done an excellent job of capturing the human spirit. I loved this book.

Rescuing Sprite by Mark Levin

Product Description
Although Mark Levin is known as a constitutional lawyer and a nationally syndicated broadcaster, he is, first and foremost, a dog lover. In 1998, he and his family welcomed a half-Border Collie/half-Cocker Spaniel they named Pepsi into their lives. Six years later, his wife and son persuaded him to adopt a dog from the local shelter, a Spaniel mix. It turned out he was older than originally thought, and he was the most beautiful dog they'd ever seen. They named him Sprite. Their lives would never be the same. During the next two years, Sprite and Pepsi were inseparable. And Sprite's bond with the Levin family deepened. Friends, neighbors, and even Mark's radio audience came to know and love Sprite. But Sprite's health deteriorated -- even as his spirits remained high and his beauty and grace continued to inspire. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas 2006, the Levin family said their emotional final good-bye. Crushed and consumed with grief, Mark turned to family, friends, and fans for help. But new hope came when the Levins least expected it.

My thoughts
RESCUING SPRITE is a truly inspiring love story between one man and his dog. Mark R. Levin rescues an elderly dog from the pound and the years Sprite spends with the family and including their other dog, Pepsi, is an emotional one, making it hard to put this book down. It is a beautiful story and made me want to go out and get a dog.

Thanks Darby!

The Four Corners of the Sky by Michael Malone

Product Description
For the first time since Handling Sin, a riveting novel of love, secrets, and the mysterious bonds of family, from master author Michael Malone.

On her seventh birthday, Annie's conartist father left her behind at his boyhood home, then he raced out of her life. Years later, Annie, now a top Navy jet pilot, returns home on her 26th birthday. But everything changes when Jack calls to say he is dying, and needs her to fly to St. Louis to bring him the airplane he gave her the day he left. And if she does, he will give her the one thing she always wanted, that he always lied to her about the name of her mother.

The Four Corners of the Sky is a novel of love, sacrifice, and the inexplicable bonds that hold families together. Michael Malone brings these rich characters to life as only he can, evoking the unspoken motivations that drive people to define who they are and break out of those bonds when the call of love comes.

My thoughts
“Four Corners of the Sky” by Michael Malone is an ambitious novel about family dynamics and the bonds that hold them together. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this novel but as I started reading this story I felt for Annie and wanted to know what her con artist father was up to. Why a father would leave his seven year old daughter with her aunt and not come back? What is so important about the plane residing in the family barn? Time goes by and Annie is a soon to be divorced naval pilot when her dad comes back into her life. Upset and confusion are two of the emotions that Annie feels. This is a book one has to read slowly to really understand the characters and where they are coming from and where they are heading. I approached the book this way and although there were some parts I thought dragged, overall it is a good read.

Getting together after 18 years

About eighteen years I produced, directed and co-wrote a short film that made it into a few festivals but it didn’t pave the way to Hollywood and I went on to other things. Thanks to Facebook, though, I was able to connect with a few of the crew members from that film. The film shoot took only five days and I had not seen many of these people since that time. Somebody suggested a reunion and a few weeks ago I drove into Brooklyn to have dinner and to catch up with the lives of everyone.

Although, the drive took longer than expected and I had never driven in Brooklyn, I was able to find parking on the street and was only 45 minutes late. It was great to see everyone, talk and catch up and hopefully do it again soon (dinner and drinks, not make another movie, ha! ha!).

These unexpected surprises in life are nice and refreshing. So I ask you, has anyone else ever connected with someone from their distant past and got together (not including school reunions) and how was it for you?

I’d love to hear about it.