When a Spider Came to Stay
Author: Rebecca Crosdale
Illustrator: Charles Berton
Create Space Independent Publishing
Amazon Digital
ISBN: 978-14006109010
2014
e-book $ 2.99
Paperback $ 12.99
32 pages
"Along came a spider, who sat down beside her and frightened..."
Those words from the old nursery rhyme have created generations suffering from arachnophobia. Are spiders really that frightening? Are they a threat to humans?
Those words have terrified many a child and yes, even adults throughout the year. Spiders with their wiggly legs, often hairy, and fanged mouths appear frightening. In reality, most spiders really do not choose to be near humans. Yes, spiders can appear scary, but most are harmless to humans. However to insects, they are lethal.
When a Spider Came to Stay separates children's fears from reality. A girl is sitting quietly in her den with a spider weaving an intricate web in the corner of the room along the ceiling. After awhile, it quietly descends on a single silken thread to the ground where it approaches the girl and seems to sit beside the chair. She leans to the opposite arm of the chair actually cowering in the corner of the chair. In time, she feels a little more comfortable with the creature even attempting to talk and feed the spider.
When a Spider Came to Stay has clear and vividly colorful pictures perfectly matching the text as the girl's curiosity replaces her fear recognizing the beauty and artistry of one-small arachnid's magnificent creation even beginning to slightly alter the perspective from the spider.
With short sentences on each illustrated page, the story moves quickly in the first twenty-six pages. Additionally there are four pages of questions for teachers and parents leading into the underlying themes not immediately revealed in the story creating a deeper understanding and realization regarding differences and acceptances of others who are different.
The approach of the author regarding fear of the unknown is clever with this parallel story of the spider. Utilizing people's common misconceptions of ignorance through this delightful tale is a brilliant idea by the author Rebecca Crosdale while also teaching about friendship and courage.
Also unusual and wonderful is that this tale is also published in a simplified version for younger children or for those with special needs entitled The Spider in My Den with Sherry Rose Anderson as the illustrator.
The Spider Came to Stay is a delightful small book for children of all ages teaching some life lessons for everyone.
Sunday, August 31, 2014
The Son
The Son
Jo Nesbo
Translator - Charlotte Barslund
Alfred A. Knopf
Random House
New York, New York
2014
ISBN: 978-0-385-35138-6
$ 25.95
402 pages
Can a confession without evidence convict someone of murder?
Sonny Lofthus is in prison in Norway for committing two murders. Naturally many felons continually profess their own innocence but how often do other convicts believe in another inmate's innocence?
For Sonny, this unique situation of respect also appears to have given him healing hands capable of mending the broken souls of these imprisoned souls. The cost of this service is to keep him supplied with enough heroin so that he stays high. Yes within prison walls, all the inmates and the staff manage to keep Sonny content.
However, Sonny really is innocent of these two murders. Was his confession years ago worth the way he lives now?
Sonny's father as a policeman, appeared to be deeply involved in corruption. He killed himself, or did he? With new information, he questions the truth about his father. Was he set up?
He realizes that within the prison walls, he cannot discover the truth. With help, Sonny manages to successfully escape. On a personal quest to exonerate his father and to discover the truth, Sonny needs to stay ahead of law enforcement and those you do not want their secrets revealed.
The Son is an unusual mystery separating the law from justice. What is right when the law is mistaken or corrupt?
From the law enforcement perspective, Chief Inspector Simon Kefas with a new inexperienced partner are investigating a murder and the likely suspect is Sonny. What isn't clear is how Sonny is somehow connected to the death. Could he be innocent and because he is escaped, he is just the most likely suspect? Simon, coincidentally was the partner of Sonny's father, Ab. A part of Simon wants to save Sonny while also he realizes his commitment to enforce the law.
Added to Simon's conflict, is the personal problem of his wife going blind. As an addicted gambler, there is no money that creating is needed for her to travel to the States for surgery to save her sight. When money is offered, can he accept it to save his wife and what is expected of him in return?
The Son is a standalone novel and is not in the Harry Hole series. As with Nesbo's other books, this book was originally written in Norwegian and then translated into English and whether it is the writing or the translating, The Son is an enticing and enthralling tale that is graphically violent, although not as dark as Nesbo's other novels. What is unique about The Son is the internal conflicts of each character and each other creating fluctuating between being protagonists and antagonists.
Viewing the escaped murderer who seeks justice and truth creates hope in this conflicted tale.
The author, Jo Nesbo resides in Norway working as a songwriter, musician, economist as well as the award winning author for the Glass Key which is given for the best Nordic crime novel.
For a different type of mystery with realistically human characters, read The Son.
Jo Nesbo
Translator - Charlotte Barslund
Alfred A. Knopf
Random House
New York, New York
2014
ISBN: 978-0-385-35138-6
$ 25.95
402 pages
Can a confession without evidence convict someone of murder?
Sonny Lofthus is in prison in Norway for committing two murders. Naturally many felons continually profess their own innocence but how often do other convicts believe in another inmate's innocence?
For Sonny, this unique situation of respect also appears to have given him healing hands capable of mending the broken souls of these imprisoned souls. The cost of this service is to keep him supplied with enough heroin so that he stays high. Yes within prison walls, all the inmates and the staff manage to keep Sonny content.
However, Sonny really is innocent of these two murders. Was his confession years ago worth the way he lives now?
Sonny's father as a policeman, appeared to be deeply involved in corruption. He killed himself, or did he? With new information, he questions the truth about his father. Was he set up?
He realizes that within the prison walls, he cannot discover the truth. With help, Sonny manages to successfully escape. On a personal quest to exonerate his father and to discover the truth, Sonny needs to stay ahead of law enforcement and those you do not want their secrets revealed.
The Son is an unusual mystery separating the law from justice. What is right when the law is mistaken or corrupt?
From the law enforcement perspective, Chief Inspector Simon Kefas with a new inexperienced partner are investigating a murder and the likely suspect is Sonny. What isn't clear is how Sonny is somehow connected to the death. Could he be innocent and because he is escaped, he is just the most likely suspect? Simon, coincidentally was the partner of Sonny's father, Ab. A part of Simon wants to save Sonny while also he realizes his commitment to enforce the law.
Added to Simon's conflict, is the personal problem of his wife going blind. As an addicted gambler, there is no money that creating is needed for her to travel to the States for surgery to save her sight. When money is offered, can he accept it to save his wife and what is expected of him in return?
The Son is a standalone novel and is not in the Harry Hole series. As with Nesbo's other books, this book was originally written in Norwegian and then translated into English and whether it is the writing or the translating, The Son is an enticing and enthralling tale that is graphically violent, although not as dark as Nesbo's other novels. What is unique about The Son is the internal conflicts of each character and each other creating fluctuating between being protagonists and antagonists.
Viewing the escaped murderer who seeks justice and truth creates hope in this conflicted tale.
The author, Jo Nesbo resides in Norway working as a songwriter, musician, economist as well as the award winning author for the Glass Key which is given for the best Nordic crime novel.
For a different type of mystery with realistically human characters, read The Son.
Monday, August 18, 2014
Echoes in the Night
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Monday, August 11, 2014
Under the Cajun Moon
Under the Cajun Moon
Mindy Starns Clark
Harvest House Publishers
Eugene, Oregon
ISBN: 978-0-7369-2624-9
2009
$ 13.99
332 pages
"You know all the etiquette in the world, cher, but if you use it to make a person feel small, then I hate to tell you, that's not good manners. Not at all. That's just ugly.
Chloe is an expert in the field of international business etiquette can make a person appear a little "stuffy". Emily Post was well-respected years ago, but was she a popular person that people would want to be around? More than likely, probably not.
While being interviewed for a local television program, a phone call from home is answered by Chloe's assistant. As soon as she is off camera, she is informed that her father is hospitalized and in has been shot. Who would shoot her father? Is he alive?
Her assistant immediately arranges for her to fly to New Orleans to be with her father. Chloe planned to immediately take a taxi to the hospital, but her mother calls to insist that she go to her father's restaurant to sign some papers. Since she has power-of-attorney, now that her father's life in endanger, he insists that these papers must be signed immediately. What can be more important than his life?
When Chloe arrives at the restaurant, she is surprised to find the son of her father's lawyer. Apparently he inherited the law firm after his father's death. She is slightly surprised but notices that he is an attractive and personable attorney and the restaurant is providing their meal while Chloe signs the forms. This has become a wonderful evening even though she does feel guilty about not being at the hospital.
Chloe is shocked to awaken in a hotel room. The lawyer from last night is in the next room, dead. How did she get here? What really happened? It looks like she scratched the lawyer as one of her fingernails is broken and the police believe that she could have murdered him.
Who knew where she was? What did she actually sign for her father? Why would someone frame her for murder? Did she kill the lawyer?
Under the Cajun Moon is a well-written page turner set in New Orleans intermixing the mystery of the dead lawyer, the shooting of Chloe's father, the mysterious form signed by Chloe, while also referring back Cajun history into a wonderful story with a little romance, a dash of Christianity, and greed. The story is exceptional well-planned with the purpose and culprit not being revealed until the very end. This is not an easy story to predict the ending.
Mindy Starns Clark's books are wonderful books to read with roller-coaster adventures into a delightful mystery.
Mindy Starns Clark
Harvest House Publishers
Eugene, Oregon
ISBN: 978-0-7369-2624-9
2009
$ 13.99
332 pages
"You know all the etiquette in the world, cher, but if you use it to make a person feel small, then I hate to tell you, that's not good manners. Not at all. That's just ugly.
Chloe is an expert in the field of international business etiquette can make a person appear a little "stuffy". Emily Post was well-respected years ago, but was she a popular person that people would want to be around? More than likely, probably not.
While being interviewed for a local television program, a phone call from home is answered by Chloe's assistant. As soon as she is off camera, she is informed that her father is hospitalized and in has been shot. Who would shoot her father? Is he alive?
Her assistant immediately arranges for her to fly to New Orleans to be with her father. Chloe planned to immediately take a taxi to the hospital, but her mother calls to insist that she go to her father's restaurant to sign some papers. Since she has power-of-attorney, now that her father's life in endanger, he insists that these papers must be signed immediately. What can be more important than his life?
When Chloe arrives at the restaurant, she is surprised to find the son of her father's lawyer. Apparently he inherited the law firm after his father's death. She is slightly surprised but notices that he is an attractive and personable attorney and the restaurant is providing their meal while Chloe signs the forms. This has become a wonderful evening even though she does feel guilty about not being at the hospital.
Chloe is shocked to awaken in a hotel room. The lawyer from last night is in the next room, dead. How did she get here? What really happened? It looks like she scratched the lawyer as one of her fingernails is broken and the police believe that she could have murdered him.
Who knew where she was? What did she actually sign for her father? Why would someone frame her for murder? Did she kill the lawyer?
Under the Cajun Moon is a well-written page turner set in New Orleans intermixing the mystery of the dead lawyer, the shooting of Chloe's father, the mysterious form signed by Chloe, while also referring back Cajun history into a wonderful story with a little romance, a dash of Christianity, and greed. The story is exceptional well-planned with the purpose and culprit not being revealed until the very end. This is not an easy story to predict the ending.
Mindy Starns Clark's books are wonderful books to read with roller-coaster adventures into a delightful mystery.
Windmaster's Bane
Windmaster's Bane
Tom Deitz
Untreed Reads
2014
ISBN: 978--16118-76864
e-book $ 5.99
Originally published in 1986 by Avon Books
Paperback
$ 17.99
378 pages
"Things have power because you give them power."
For David Sullivan life would be perfect if he could just have the time to read his books. He loves the Celtic tales of faeries with the Irish legends of years ago. In real life, he is a teenager who has grown-up on his family farm so there are endless chores and just not enough time to be with his friends and to read.
While reading a book about the Sidhe, the Irish Faeries, he accidentally spoke aloud a chant which enabled him to see into a parallel world, the world of the faeries who are currently on the family land. At first he is confused about why others, especially his friends Alec and Liz, are not seeing this alternate reality, but then he realizes that this is a gift only for him. How do your friends react with your viewing of the alternate world? Obviously, with disbelief.
Viewing two worlds overlapping can be a problem, especially when David's uncle is shot by a faery arrow. To the human world, it appears as if he had a heart attack or stroke since the arrow is only visible to David. How can he save his uncle when no one else believes or sees it?
.
However, his mother is convinced that something horrible is happening when David's little brother is kidnapped and a changeling is left in his place. She knows that this creature is not her child.
For legends in the Appalachian Mountains about Irish faeries to exist in present day Georgia, is not unusual. The heritage and traditions of the settlers merged in the New World with the culture of the Cherokee who traced much of their legends back to the year 1170. This was supposedly the time of Prince Madoc of Wales who permanently settled with those living in the present area of Alabama creating the tales of the moon-eyed people.
Windmaster's Bane is David's encounter with the legendary Sighe complete with the evil Aihill who even as a faerie is determined to kill David. Using the knowledge in his books and sticking to the principles of Earth and Water, Fire and Air, and Time, David learns about trusting his friends and himself. Through a test of his courage, David learns of the responsibility and trust of others in his life.
Windmaster's Bane is a delightful adventure for readers of all ages. The pace is quick with believable characters in this quest of truth and courage, as well as being a heart-warming tale by a masterful storyteller.
The only complaint I have with this wonderful novel is the cover which is not a true depiction of the story.
The author, Tome Deitz was a native of Young Harris, Georgia. He studied medieval English literature at the University of Georgia earning both his Bachelor and Masters of Arts degrees. He was a professor of English at Gainesville State College. He died in 2009 still dreaming of someday owning a small castle in Ireland.
For a wonderful tale, read Windmaster's Bane. You might want to keep you own rune stick made of iron and ash near as a precaution.
Tom Deitz
Untreed Reads
2014
ISBN: 978--16118-76864
e-book $ 5.99
Originally published in 1986 by Avon Books
Paperback
$ 17.99
378 pages
"Things have power because you give them power."
For David Sullivan life would be perfect if he could just have the time to read his books. He loves the Celtic tales of faeries with the Irish legends of years ago. In real life, he is a teenager who has grown-up on his family farm so there are endless chores and just not enough time to be with his friends and to read.
While reading a book about the Sidhe, the Irish Faeries, he accidentally spoke aloud a chant which enabled him to see into a parallel world, the world of the faeries who are currently on the family land. At first he is confused about why others, especially his friends Alec and Liz, are not seeing this alternate reality, but then he realizes that this is a gift only for him. How do your friends react with your viewing of the alternate world? Obviously, with disbelief.
Viewing two worlds overlapping can be a problem, especially when David's uncle is shot by a faery arrow. To the human world, it appears as if he had a heart attack or stroke since the arrow is only visible to David. How can he save his uncle when no one else believes or sees it?
.
However, his mother is convinced that something horrible is happening when David's little brother is kidnapped and a changeling is left in his place. She knows that this creature is not her child.
For legends in the Appalachian Mountains about Irish faeries to exist in present day Georgia, is not unusual. The heritage and traditions of the settlers merged in the New World with the culture of the Cherokee who traced much of their legends back to the year 1170. This was supposedly the time of Prince Madoc of Wales who permanently settled with those living in the present area of Alabama creating the tales of the moon-eyed people.
Windmaster's Bane is David's encounter with the legendary Sighe complete with the evil Aihill who even as a faerie is determined to kill David. Using the knowledge in his books and sticking to the principles of Earth and Water, Fire and Air, and Time, David learns about trusting his friends and himself. Through a test of his courage, David learns of the responsibility and trust of others in his life.
Windmaster's Bane is a delightful adventure for readers of all ages. The pace is quick with believable characters in this quest of truth and courage, as well as being a heart-warming tale by a masterful storyteller.
The only complaint I have with this wonderful novel is the cover which is not a true depiction of the story.
The author, Tome Deitz was a native of Young Harris, Georgia. He studied medieval English literature at the University of Georgia earning both his Bachelor and Masters of Arts degrees. He was a professor of English at Gainesville State College. He died in 2009 still dreaming of someday owning a small castle in Ireland.
For a wonderful tale, read Windmaster's Bane. You might want to keep you own rune stick made of iron and ash near as a precaution.
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