BOOK REVIEW: The Emancipation of Robert Sadler by Robert Sadler with Marie Chapian

The Emancipation of Robert Sadler:  The Powerful True Story of a Twentieth~Century Plantation Slave

Author:  Robert Sadler with Marie Chapian
Paperback:  254 pages
Publisher:  Bethany House; 2nd edition (June, 1975)
Language:  English

The powerful true story of a man who was a twentieth century plantation slave ~ beating and burnings of black Americans a half century after the Emancipation Proclamation.

The Emancipation of Robert Sadler was a very moving and thought~provoking book.  The insight shared with the reader allows one to feel the plight of young Robert after his father sells him into salvery with his two older sisters.

After being moved around from one slave factory to another, young Robert and his sister come to be the slaves of Master Beal, a plantation owner and Ku Klux Klan member.  He is a strict, disciplinarian  slave owner who does what he wishes with his slaves and many have died for seemingly mindless things. 

Robert is unable to speak properly and he is very young when he joins the Beal residents and because of this, he is placed as a house slave.  His primary care is to keep the huge veranda swept, the fires burning and playing nanny to the Beal's youngest daughter, Anne.  He is taunted, teased, beaten, burned and suffers many horrid things along his life's journey.  

Robert watches as his sister dies, his caregiver is branded for his acts of rebellion and those who swore to care for him, disappear and runaway in the middle of the night.  With nothing left, Robert decides to runaway and steps into the unknown, not knowing how to read nor write and never knowing anything in his life except that of being told what to do and when to do it.

With many ups and downs, Robert comes to find God and turns his life over to the Creator of All.  He prays, meditates and listens with his heart that which God wishes for him to fulfill.  Becoming a preacher to all walks of life was the solution to the suffering he saw in the streets every day and he does so with passion.

I thought The Emancipation of Robert Sadler deserved a four out of five stars.  It was compelling to read and had a great flow to the plot and storyline.  I felt his later years were thrown at the reader instead of having us immersed into the story as it did in the first early years section.  I would've liked to have seen the same flow unfold throughout the whole story.

**  Reviewed by me...as I see it~!!  **

The True Cost of Military Equipment Spending

Every year U.S. military spending increases and the military budget is a substantial and important portion of the constitutionally acceptable portion of our nation’s annual expenditures. This graphic looks at the cost of some of the tools the U.S. military uses from equipment for a soldier to the nuclear weapons program and compares them to the income and some of the expenditures of ordinary Americans.

America spends more on its military than any other country and it is reflected in our superiority on the battlefield, but spending does not directly translate into success. The question has to be asked: Are we spending too much and are we spending it wisely? The answers to those questions should be at the heart of the budget talks. Does America need to spend this much on the military? Perhaps, or perhaps not, but it cannot be argued that we should be spending wisely.



From: Military Education

BOOK REVIEW: My Little Book Of Bald Eagles by Hope Irvin Marston

My Little Book of Bald Eagles

Author:  Hope Irvin Marston
Illustrated:  Stephanie Mirocha
Paperback:  32 pages
Publisher:  Windward Pub Co (June 30, 2009)
Language:  English

This is a delightful story about a new family of bald eagles. From newborn's first lessons in life to the first solo flight, this beautifully illustrated book is ideal for introducing young children to the wonders of nature.

My Little Book of Bald Eagles is a beautifully written and depicted picture book.  The illustrations are expressive and the colours are wonderful.  

The book shares with children all that makes Bald Eagles the magnificent bird they are.  From the tending of their young, learning how to fish and fly as well as nest building are all explained within.  The book is filled with facts and would make a great early learner book to have in your home.

I loved the feeling of adventure as you read through the pages and appreciated the questions my children asked as they read it.  The book was a definite hit with the readers in my family and my son wishes to use it one day for a project.

I would give My Little Book of Bald Eagles a five out of five stars.  It's easily understood and easy to share with readers of all ages.


**  Reviewed by me...as I see it~!!  **

SPOTLIGHT: Rachel Thompson author of The Mancode: Exposed

About the Book...

Is it possible to truly expose men? Thompson explores controversial questions like: 

• Can we outrun our DNA?
• Will we women always be slaves to our talkative nature (apres sex)?
• Will men never be free of the chains of emotional withholding?
• Can we transfer man's paper towel changing abilities from garage to kitchen? 

It's about all the levels in which we communicate...viewed through Thompson's looking glass of humor and deconstructed with her special brand of snark.

***You will either LOVE this controversial book or you will HATE it. If you don't have a sense of humor, DON'T BUY IT.***

• Thank YOU for making THE MANCODE: EXPOSED a Kindle TOP 100 bestseller! 

I'm over 40. I don't have a blankie. I have vodka. 

• Praise for The Mancode: Exposed -- already #1 Kindle bestseller in Marriage, Parenting & Families AND Parenting & Relationships! 

About The Author...

I’m a chick who writes stuff that makes you laugh. My blog has been nominated for funniest blog this year. I’ve been told I write in the style of that Dickens guy. Kidding.

I’m a mom, a wife, and a recovering pharmaceuticals rep. It’s been a long process but I’m doing okay, thanks.

I usually write about men (The Mancode), marriage, kids, being a mom, living in the OC (ya know–being a pale redhead living in a sea of blondes) and vodka. Not necessarily in that order depending on the day.

I also write occasionally about serious stuff, like the death of someone I once loved or lost love–so don’t be shocked if you come visit and don’t see the funny.

Don’t come here looking to find advice about how to be sweet or nice. I’m pretty much allergic to both of those words.

If you want to learn how to find humor in everyday life, well, I’m really not your girl either. Mostly I just laugh at stuff and make up words (See “Refrigeratoritis and Manesia.”) Yet somehow it all seems to work.

And don’t call me cute. (Hint: babies and puppies are cute. Grown women are not.)

Special note to men: I write frequently about “The Mancode” — like how you guys do goofy stuff and we women try and often fail to understand. (Um, change the toilet paper roll much? Yea, that’s what I thought.) If that offends your sensibilities, keep walking, er, typing.

So, welcome to RachelintheOC. Now go read a post or two and find something to laugh at, would ya?

I have to go help my husband find the butter. Again.

In Rachel's Own Words... 

I write nonfiction essays. Most are about two pages. I put these essays together into collections. Two collections actually: A Walk In The Snark and The Mancode: Exposed. Both are Kindle bestsellers on Amazon; Mancode even made it into the Top 100 Paid this past week, a huge milestone for any author.

I published my first book last January. The majority of my reviews are overwhelmingly positive. I’ve even had a write-up in the Huffington Post for my indie success and for the work my Indie Book Collective cofounders, Carolyn McCray and Amber Scott, and I are doing – a volunteer group where our goal is to help authors learn how to market and sell their books.

I’ve learned that with this success come negative reviews, many directed at me personally, not at my writing. People make enormous assumptions about who I am as a person without knowing a thing about me. Lots of people told me this would happen; that it’s a true measure of one’s success.

Veteran authors say not to take it personally.

Good advice. Then you get your first review that calls your book “garbage, trash, awful.” Something you’ve worked on for the better part of a year; for some, many years.

What do you do?

It’s important for any author to learn how to deal with the haters. You can’t please everyone. Accept that.

How do I deal with these negative reviews? Here’s my three-part strategy:

1.  Laugh. I write about men and women, vodka, chocolate, and sex. I warn people up front that I write about adult themes and yet people are still offended. That’s funny to me.

Also, I also use those terms humorously, many times as metaphors and yet people are extremely literal, thinking I drink constantly, eat mountains of chocolate, and constantly well, ya know. If I did all those things all the time, I’d be a) too drunk to write, b) weigh 500 pounds and c) well, this is a G-rated blog so use your imagination.

I also write nonfiction. Which means I write about my experiences, not my readers’ because well, I don’t know them. Makes sense, right?

Well, not always. Sure, I write about men and women, so there are universal themes, which the majority of folks seem to relate to. Those who don’t are quite vocal about my inability to write from their perspective (um, what?), or that I must be an alien life form. Okay, then.

I guess I’d have to be a Vulcan to use that mind meld thingy, right?

2.  Analyze. Reviews are good market research. It’s a good idea to understand the issues readers have with your writing. Sometimes it’s not what you’re saying, but how you’re saying it, right?

For example, I use my most popular tweets to begin each essay in The Mancode: Exposed. For people familiar with my blog, my writing or Twitter, this is not a problem. Even my many beta readers and reviewers were okay with it. But I gleaned from my grumpies (as I call them) that hashtags (#hashtags) are an issue. They don’t get it, or they think I have typos. This is valuable information and an easy enough fix (I’ve now added an explanation in my most recent update as well as on my Amazon page).

I even had to explain hashtags to Amazon. #eyeroll

It’s also great demographic data. Trust me, I would not recommend my book for the ladies-who-lunch church book club. #justsayin 

3.  Ignore. People assume that since I live in the OC (Orange County, CA) and mention Prada, I must be “well-off.” My book is humor, so I don’t write about the fact that we lost our nice, large home two years ago and now rent a much smaller one, that my Pradas were bought on sale several years ago, and that I do in fact work my tail off, not only for my husband’s business but also as a freelance social media consultant, as well as volunteer hours every day helping authors as a cofounder of the Indie Book Collective.

None of that is funny or all that interesting. Do I correct these people who want to make judgments about me? Nope.

Why? Because I write my books to give people my truth, my view of my life at the time, and share my take on the interactions between men and women, love and loss, and to provide an escape from the daily detritus of our everyday lives.

It’s important to surround yourself with people who support your writing but ultimately, an author must trust their own voice and vision. I don’t take reviews personally, good or bad (though I appreciate the good ones more J).

I do my thing. I’ll keep writing my books, even if only a few people buy them. There’s a wonderful satisfaction in knowing I’m doing what I love, finally, after many years of retail and corporate life.

(I worked at Longs Drugs as a cashier to pay for college. People would lose their um, marbles if I was off a penny on cat food or generic cigarettes.)

Bad reviews are olives in my martini, baby.

I’m writing. My books.

And that’s enough.

** Thank you Rachel for stopping by The Marsh~!! Thanx for your thoughts on negative #reviews for I have had my fair share of the #Nasties...I tend to be overly truthful in my #reviews and some just can't take the heat and act like my few paragraphs are going to end their careers...LOL One such authoress, with 30 books under her belt, stalked me for weeks calling me names I've only ever heard on the streets...UGH I wish you all the best in success on your quest and may your muse continue to shine~!!  OH and TRUTH IS GOOD~!! **

BOOK REVIEW: Hollywood Stories by Stephen Schochet

Hollywood Stories:  Short, Entertaining Anecdotes About the Stars and Legends of the Movies! is a Literary Arts & Entertainment Non-Fiction.

Just when you thought you've heard everything about Hollywood comes a totally original new book -- a special blend of biography, history and lore. Hollywood Stories is packed with wild, wonderful short tales about famous stars, movies, directors and many others who have been a part of the world's most fascinating, unpredictable industry!

What makes the book unique is that the reader can go to any page and find a completely engaging and illuminating yarn. Sometimes people won't realize that they are reading about The Three Stooges or Popeye the Sailor until they come to the end of the story. The Midwest Book Review says Hollywood Stories is, "packed from cover to cover with fascinating tales."

A professional tour guide in Hollywood, Stephen Schochet has researched and told thousands of entertaining anecdotes for over twenty years. He is also the author and narrator of two audiobooks Tales of Hollywood and Fascinating Walt Disney. Tim Sika, host of the radio show Celluloid Dreams on KSJS in San Jose has called Stephen," The best storyteller about Hollywood we have ever heard."

Full of funny moments and twist endings, Hollywood Stories features an amazing, all-star cast of legendary characters and icons and will keep you totally entertained!

Read a few of the excerpts...

The Universal Maniac

In 1999, an Australian gentleman told me about an interesting experience he and his family had at Universal Studios. They were on the backlot tour passing one of the theme park’s main attractions, the Bates Motel used in the 1960 horror classic Psycho, about a murderous young man named Norman Bates who loved his mother a little too much. As the guide gave out information about how director Alfred Hitchcock shot the picture, a tall man, dressed in drag and carrying a large knife, emerged from behind the old set and charged toward the tram. The narrator seemed to know nothing about the Norman Bates look-alike and clammed up completely. The make-believe killer wore such a convincing maniacal expression that some of the paying customers were frightened and screamed when he raised his weapon. Then the “fiend” pulled off his wig and he turned out to be comic Jim Carrey; the thirty-seven-year-old star was clowning around during a work break. After his laughing “victims” calmed down, Jim was happy to pose for pictures and sign autographs.

Walt Disney’s Daughters 

Walt Disney’s two daughters, Sharon and Diane, grew up sheltered from the limelight. The children had no images of Mickey Mouse around their home. Their father didn’t go to many parties, preferring to stay in after a long day of work. Sometimes he would playfully chase the youngsters upstairs, cackling like the evil peddler woman in Snow White. When they behaved badly, Walt would admonish them with a raised eyebrow; his stern demeanor inspired the character of the wise old owl, in the 1942 animated feature Bambi. As toddlers, the brainy Diane and beautiful Sharon stayed blissfully unaware that their parents worried about them being kidnapped and allowed no pictures of the sisters to be publicly circulated. Once in 1939, a curious classmate questioned six-year-old Diane about her family. She went home and said, “Daddy, you never told me you were that Walt Disney,” and asked him for an autograph.

This book was a plethora of interesting and entertaining data.  I was enthralled from start to finish with all the behind-the-scene accounts of some of the celebrities we have come to know and love.  I found myself becoming a walking celebrity encyclopedia as I reiterated to everyone the things I had read.

Each of the stories is told in a straight-forward, matter-of-fact basis, some short paragraphs, some lengthier, all of them worth reading.  This would make an excellent coffee table book or a bathroom reader, you can pick the book up anywhere and find a tale or two to peruse.  It is not meant to read from front to cover, thought it is encouraged to do so, and even if you read sparsely, this is one book that would keep you coming back.

I would give Hollywood Stories a five out of five stars.  Everything about the book is informative, giving you insight into aspects of people you didn't think imaginable.  Some of the celebrities we have come to know and love were tyrants or divas but most importantly what you come to realize is that they were just people trying to live their lives as only they could.  I could've done with some more anecdotes on James Dean and Marilyn Monroe and was pleased to find one or two of them within.  Loved the book and would definitely read more of this type by the author. 

 

** Disclosure: I did not accept any compensation from the sponsors other than review copies, my views are my own, reviewed by me..as I see it~!! **

BOOK REVIEW: Poisoned Love by Caitlin Rother

Poisoned Love is a True Crime Mystery.

Kristin Rossum was the All-American girl, coming from a wealthy family who coddled her every need, popular in school, pretty, charming, to name just a few of the characteristics associated with her early years.  She was a go-getter, an over-achiever in all aspects of her life, from her academics to ballet, Kristin had to excel in everything she did or she would feel like a failure.

On the day that Kristin tears the muscle ligaments in her leg, her dreams of being a Prima Ballerina are shattered and she finds relief in drugs and alcohol.  Her grades begin to suffer, her friend base changes, she fights with everyone and her parents are worried.  Everyone is at their wits end as to what to do with Kristin when, she disappears around Christmas time. 

She had been placed on academic probation for her poor grades and she decides to head to Mexico where drugs, especially her drug of choice, Meth, was easily obtained.  As she was walking across the border on that fateful day, she runs into her future husband and from there, their destinies twine to its morbid and fatal conclusion.

Greg DeVillers is the oldest of three sons of divorced parents.  His father is neglectful in his parental duties and he and Greg have an estranged relationship.  Greg's mother is always sick and it has fallen on Greg to be the patriarch in the family, learning responsibility and control.  He isn't very successful with the women, being shy and reserved and until he meets Kristin, his long term girlfriends had been few.  Greg's brothers think there is something odd about Kristin and encourage Greg to end their relationship, however, Greg has other plans and asks Kristin to marry him.  Greg believes his love will save Kristin from her recurring drug habits.

At first their romance is beguiling as the two lovers become entranced with each other.  And for several years it appears they are the perfect couple, but then Kristin begins to show signs of using again and it becomes a game of cat and mouse as she tries to hide her addictions and her affairs from those she loves.

Kristin works at a toxicology lab for the County Coroner's office where she works on determining the cause of death via hard to locate substances found within the body.  At some point she has an affair with her boss, Michael Robertson and the two of them become infatuated with each other.

Greg hadn't been feeling well of late and when he fails to show up for work one day, which is against his character, his co-workers feel like something is wrong.  When they learn the horrible truth each of them shares their tales of Kristin and Greg and the mixed messages that Kristin was always sending out to others.  At first it is decided that Greg took his own life after learning of his wife's transgressions but there are some people who just don't buy that verdict and what they uncover not only shocked them but brought the truth to light.

Dealing with the investigation and the court case that follows we watch as Kristin and Greg's life unfold and the final outcome of Kristin Rossum, All-American girl.

I thought this was an interesting book.  I thought it began well, giving the reader much information to process so that you can get to know the people involved with the story.  The back story lives of each of them is shared and delivered in a linear form without emotion, allowing the reader to draw their own conclusions.

I became flabbergasted over the paths in life, here we have Kristin, born with silver spoon in her mouth and it wasn't enough for her.  Her narcissistic and over achievements were her folly and while one can make excuses about her drug usage, there truly isn't any explanation or reason behind any murder.

When I read the reasons why she did what she did, I was again, dumbfounded, there appeared to be a certain lack thereof as to a motive.  I got from the story that she did it because she could and I didn't feel any remorse on her part as I read the descriptive passages.

I would give Poisoned Love a three and a half stars out of five.  I thought the book started out excellent but then, about half way through I found it to be a bit repetitive and redundant.  I thought the addition of the pictures helped give the story balance as the reader could put faces to all the people mentioned throughout.  I did enjoy the writing style of the author, Caitlin Rother, and for this being her debut novel I feel she does have a excellent start in this genre. 

SYNOPSIS:
On November 6, 2000, paramedics answered a call to find Kristin Rossum, 24, sobbing. Her husband, Greg de Villers, wasn't breathing and she claimed he had overdosed on drugs after learning she was leaving him. But family and friends who knew of Greg's distaste for drugs weren't buying Kristin's story - particularly the idea that he would take his own life. The daughter of a well-to-do California family, Rossum was a brainy blonde beauty whose talent for toxicology had won her a post at the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office. But her sweet smile masked a dark side. She'd developed a taste for methamphetamine in high school, and six months after her marriage to Greg, she'd begun seeking secret trysts with other men. At the time of her husband's death, Rossum was engaged in an illicit affair with her married boss. Investigators found that the Medical Examiner's Office was missing supplies of meth and fentanyl, the narcotic that had killed her husband. With each clue discovered, another piece of Rossum's "good girl" facade fell away. What the world would eventually see was the true face of a murderer - and the hand of justice...

 ** Disclosure: I did not accept any compensation from the sponsors other than review copies, my views are my own, reviewed by me..as I see it~!! **

SPOTLIGHT - Tom Weston author of Fission

Join Tom Weston, author of the historical fiction novel Fission as he virtually tours the blogosphere in December 2011 on his fourth tour with Pump Up Your Book!

About the Author...

Originally from England, Writer and Film-Maker, Tom Weston now resides in Boston, Massachusetts.

Before turning his hand to fiction, Tom had a successful career as the CEO of a consulting company, conference speaker and writer of industry articles and business books.  But determining that the business world lacked a sense of humor, Tom decided to hand in his jacket and tie and instead turned to the world of literature.

His novel, First Night, set in Boston during the New Year’s Eve festival, introduced the unlikely heroines, Alex and Jackie, and the ghost of a 17th century Puritan named Sarah Pemberton. First Night won an Honorable Mention in the Middle-Grade/Young Adult category, in the Writers Digest 17th Annual International Self-Published Book Awards.

The sequel to First Night, called the Elf of Luxembourg, was published in January, 2010. As with First Night, The Elf of Luxembourg is also a supernatural mystery, with a blend of humor and history that has become Tom’s trademark.

Following the publication of  the Elf of Luxembourg, Tom turned to the medium of film to produce and direct the animated short, There be Monsters!, based on his short story of the same name.

Tom has also written the novel, Fission, based on his screenplay of the true story of scientist, Lisa Meitner, and the race for the atomic bomb. Fission the screenplay was named a finalist at the London Independent Film Festival. Prior to its publication in August, 2011, the novel was serialized for Tom’s Facebook fans.

Tom is now working on Book 3 of the Alex and Jackie Adventures, called Feathered: being a fairy tale, and he is researching the background material for the story, which will be set in Ireland.

For more information, visit Tom 

http://www.tom-weston.com/

About the Book...

Lise Meitner:
a physicist who never lost her humanity
 
First they tried to deny her.
Then they tried to destroy her.
But she survived to discover nuclear fission and spark the race for the atomic bomb.

The clue is to be found in her headstone. No, it isn’t the physics. For, as much as I like science, the scribbling of mathematical equations on blackboards and the clicking of Geiger-counters does not make for riveting story-telling. What drew me to the Lise Meitner story is the humanity.

Imagine a story of hate and greed, intrigue and danger, war and destruction, the slaughter of the innocents on a biblical scale and the collapse of empire. And imagine at the centre of it all one little woman, brilliant but shy, victimized but resolute, betrayed but ultimately vindicated. What a story that would make! Well, you don’t have to imagine it, because that is the Lise Meitner story. And I didn’t have to invent any of it . . .

. . . it’s all true.

BOOK REVIEW: The Art Of Invention by Steven J. Paley

The Art of Invention:  The Creative Process of Discovery and Design is a Technical Engineering Creativity book.

What makes one invention stand out from another?  What makes one great and leaves others behind?  What process do you need to follow when you invent something?  How does one invent? Is it even possible to succeed?  All of these questions and others are answered within these pages.

If you have an idea for a great invention but have no clue how to incorporate the plan, then this book will help you with the correct stepping stones in which to follow through. 

With discussion on such topics as the paper clip, the history, the process and the uses of such a mundane looking contraption.  The paper clip patent, its inventors and the aspirations are shared.

You will learn how to deal with problems in design, marketing and finances.  With chapters on Design and Invention, Making It Happen, The Business of Invention and Creativity and the Brain just to name a few, this book shows you the exact process from the moment the idea is born until its final product.

Sigmund Freud once stated that the mind is an iceberg, it floats with one-seventh of its bulk above water and this is true when you look at it from a creative process.  We are not educated, for the most part, to be creative.  From birth we are trained to use our brains in an analytical, problem-solving capacity; some people have ideas and no way to breach the creative process, this book shall help you overcome such obstacles.

I would give The Art of Invention a three out of five stars.  I found the book to be dry in its approach and it lacked creativity in its explanation.  I would've liked to have seen more pictorial examples of the methods the author was discussing as well as a few more examples of successful and unsuccessful inventions.  However, I am not a engineer nor an inventor and I shall leave the guidance of this book up to the reader.

SYNOPSIS:
The lowly paperclip attracts little attention in our world of advanced gadgets and increasingly sophisticated technology. But to veteran inventor and design engineer Steven J. Paley, it is a prime example of the qualities that often characterize a great invention--simplicity, elegance, and robustness--and it provided a lasting solution to a common problem.

In this entertaining and insightful exploration of the process of invention, Paley shows why these same three qualities are essential not only to the success of simple devices, but equally to complex inventions from computer chips to nuclear power plants. Whether you're an aspiring inventor or an experienced designer, Paley's expertise, personal examples, and case studies offer detailed guidance on conceptualizing your ideas and turning them into reality.

Paley begins by exploring the essential aspects of creative thinking, from identifying a problem or need, which is often hidden in plain sight, to finding an inspired solution. He shows how ideas can come from a variety of sources such as the natural world, basic physical principles, life experience, or even chance observations. He examines how intuition and the harnessing of subconscious information are key ingredients for the inventive process.

Next, Paley focuses on the three fundamental themes of simplicity, elegance, and robustness. He vividly and persuasively illustrates through many examples how great inventions embody these crucial characteristics.

The author concludes with an in-depth look at the business of invention and the typical inventor's toolkit. He addresses the real-world challenges of turning a good idea into a practical, marketable application, including patents, marketing, and entrepreneurship. He is candid about the realities of hard work and the need to learn from the inevitable mistakes along the way.

Full of insights and practical guidance from a successful inventor and entrepreneur, The Art of Invention will open new avenues of creativity for budding and accomplished inventors alike.

 

** Disclosure: I did not accept any compensation from the sponsors other than review copies, my views are my own, reviewed by me..as I see it~!! **

BOOK REVIEW: Inside The Spaghetti Bowl by Frank Zaccari

Inside The Spaghetti Bowl is a Family/Relationship Non-Fiction.

Frank Zaccari's mother is dying and his huge Italian family has come together for one final walk down memory lane.

Carmela (Carm) Zaccari has lead a very loving and productive life.  She has had her shares of trials and turmoils but always remained on top.  She has guided and educated each of her children in life's lessons and she has no regrets as she makes her farewells to those she has loved and cherished.

Frank and his brothers and sisters decide to write a book of memoirs to honour their mother and share with everyone the struggles and the happenstance events that have moulded the Zaccari/Mancuso families over the generations.

The tale speaks of the arrival of their ancestors to America and how they embraced the "American Dream".  The families were given a sense of duty to their new country and passed this honour and privilege onto the generations that were to follow.  They call Italy the "old country" and have decided not to share their language with their children, so that they can be completely immersed into the American culture.

Frank and family share many stories, some of love, of loss, of trials but mostly, the stories are about family and how unconditional love is the greatest gift you can give your children.

I thought this was a very endearing testimonial to a remarkable woman.  I think it would be an honour to have my children, grandchildren, cousins etc. write a memoir about the life that shaped them.  You can feel the love that the family has for Carm and it was very beautiful to feel and read.

I found it comical at times, especially the story about Stephanie, who was acting up  in the restaurant and when she was removed from the table, she looks over her shoulder and announces, "Don't worry, I'll be back!", I love kidspeak and you can tell that this comment was neither forced nor made up.  I liked that about the story, everything is believable and enjoyable to peruse.

I would give Inside The Spaghetti Bowl a four out of five stars.  I completely enjoyed the story but truly feel that pictures would have enhanced the memoir even more, especially with such a huge family, it would have been nice to see a family shot and put faces to the mentions in the book.  Or maybe some fun time photos, showing the family being themselves.  However, that's just my thoughts and I am sure that most of you will enjoy the deep feeling of life, love and family.

SYNOPSIS:
Like many of the “baby boomers” my family faced the difficult task of burying our Mother. The book is based on the last eight days of our mother's life. It is a celebration of life, family, culture and tradition. As my relatives came to pay their last respects, we heard so many wonderful stories about the trials and sacrifices made by our parents and grandparents so we could live the American dream. This is our story, this is your story. It is a story for every beating heart that has loved or has been loved. It is the story about the struggles and pains endured by those virtuous individuals who poured their lives into ours and filled our years with intimate memories and a gladdened heart. It is the story you will want to pass down to your children and grandchildren. This is a book about family and unconditional love through the good times and bad. It is about a family who is and always will be there for each other no matter what. We hope you see your family in this book and the memories make you smile.

 

 ** Disclosure: I did not accept any compensation from the sponsors other than review copies, my views are my own, reviewed by me..as I see it~!! **

Mugabe And The White African by Ben Freeth

SYNOPSIS:
Ben Freeth has an extraordinary story to tell. Like that of many white farmers, his family's land was 'reclaimed' by Mugabe's government for redistribution. But Ben's family fought back. Appealing to international law, they instigated a suit against Mugabe's government via the SADC (The Southern African Development Community). The case was deferred time and again while Mugabe's men pulled strings. But after Freeth and his parents-in-law were abducted and beaten within inches of death in 2008, the SADC deemed any further delay to be an obstruction of justice. The case was heard, and successful on all counts. But the story doesn't end there. In 2009 the family farm was burnt to the ground. The fight for justice in Zimbabwe is far from over - this book is for anyone who wants to see into the heart of one of today's hardest places, and how human dignity flourishes even in the most adverse circumstances.

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One Day At A Time