Monday, December 27, 2010

The Babylonian Codex

THE BABYLONIAN CODEX
C. S. Graham
Harper Collins
December 2010
Trade Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-06-168936-9
358 pages
$ 7.99

What if you had the ability to actually envision stolen objects where they are presently located? Would this be most valuable to the police, the public, the government, or the thieves?

October “Tobie” Guinness is known to have remote viewing capabilities. This involves concentrating on a sealed envelope and picturing what is inside it. Then she looks at the objects where it is presently stored. This allows her to view the object and its surroundings and gives clues to investigators where to find the stolen treasures.

She has been asked to find some of the missing treasures from the museum that was ransacked in Babylon, Iraq. Unfortunately, while she was engaged in this task, the F.B.I. agents, that were protecting her and the information, were shot. Since she managed to get away, currently she is being pursued by the F.B.I. as a person of interest. Where can she go?

Fortunately, she is well acquainted with a C.I.A. agent, Jax Alexander who immediately realizes her danger and the problems that can be associated with even knowing her. The two decide to pursue the stolen antiquities while trying to clear Tobie of any criminal involvement.

Jax and Tobie have an old and trusting friendship. The two decide to discover what is so valuable from Tobie’s viewing and why people want to kill her. While searching for this, the two also discover that they need to find the biblical translation of a missing artifact that seems to be a life-threatening secret.

The history of Christianity in Iraq is an underlying plot. It is written in a manner that is fascinating and informative as well as valid. It also brings to light another aspect of our involvement with Iraq.

THE BABYLONIAN CODEX is non-stop action. As a reader, it is difficult to take a break in this story due to its intensity. The characterization is believable in this well-written novel.

What is most frightening in this fictional novel is the events and the correlations with present day situations. Even though there are author’s notes at the conclusion of the novel, it does leave you wondering about where the line between fiction and factual information really exists.

C.S. Graham is the partnership of the husband-wife writing team of Steven Harris and Candice Proctor. Mr. Harris worked as an Army intelligence officer in the remote viewing program. Ms. Proctor has written more than a dozen fictional and nonfiction novels using the names of C.S. Harris and C. S. Graham. The twosome lives in New Orleans.

For an informative and adventurous novel, read THE BABYLONIAN CODEX.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

The Key to Joy-Filled Living

THE KEYS TO JOY-FILLED LIVING
By Robert C. Jameson, MFT
Morgan-James Publishing
2008
Trade Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-60037-467-8
228 pages
Self-help

How many people wished that life came with an instruction book? Here it is. THE KEYS TO JOY-FILLED
LIVING is that book. What will make you happy? Do each of us have mannerisms or bad habits that
prevent us from being happy? Are there things that we can do that could make us much happier and
more content in our daily lives? What does it take to actually feel fulfillment in our lives?

THE KEYS TO JOY-FILLED LIVING is about us connecting with others and ourselves. All of us have choices
and our choices are what determine who we are and our personal happiness. Sometimes these choices
are not instinctive and we need some guidance into the steps that can give our lives more purpose and
meaning. This gives each of us the opportunity to find our purpose and to achieve our personal
fulfillment.

The author ‘s approach is simple and down to earth. He believes that each of us can improve
ourselves while improving our relationships with others. He believes in self-talk and in how to control
your emotions in a positive manner that can benefit you and others. This is the book that guides each
of us to a higher level in all our relationships that most people only dream about or believe only exist in
fiction.

Many people have never experienced these basic foundations for a fuller and contented life. THE KEYS
JOY-FILLED LIVING allows everyone to know these basic life skills lessons that we missed in our
developing years.

The author, Robert C. Jameson, MFT is an experienced Marriage, Family Therapist. His approach helps
everyone to better approach the challenges of life and how to focus your thoughts on the positive
aspects. He currently resides in California.

All of us at times need life’s instruction manual. You’ll find that the name of the book is THE KEYS TO
JOY-FILLED LIVING.

Teri Davis December 12, 2010

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Gar Fish and Long Gravy

GAR FISH & LONG GRAVY: MEMOIRS OF SOUTHERN SENSIBILITY
Author: Alexander Devereux
Copyright 2010
Outskirts Press
Paperback $ 12.95
ISBN 978-1-59800-675-9
78 pages

“If sense were common, everybody would have it.”
A A small town in Mississippi is not where most people would expect to learn the most important lessons of life but this short memoir for Alexander Devereux proves to be a wonderful experience for every reader.

Alexander Devereux would by today’s terms be considered “at risk” as a child. Fortunately for him, he had a grandmother who taught him lessons in real life about what was important. These lessons made him a successful person due to the realistic common sense attitudes and beliefs which allowed him to grow and overcome his childhood hardships.

The lessons are learned from making mistakes and developing your personal character based on how you handle the situation. The advice from Grandmama Lia is as important today as it was to a small, disadvantaged black child.

The lessons were written first from the point-of-view for someone with a problem. Usually when someone has a problem, a wise person is not always available to share their wisdom. The advice for this small black boy is surprising as useful for everyone today as it was in his past.

This is a book of common sense and unfortunately, most sense isn’t common since we have to use the term “common sense.” Much of the sense is unusual in the viewpoint and the bluntness, also it’s logical.

Personally, I was thrilled with this book. Even in a hardship situation, the advice and approach to difficult situations are reassurances to all of us as we go about our everyday challenges. I was surprised about the mention about “church tithing”. For me, this allowed a guilt-free perspective that certainly makes more sense than the organized church perspective.

Not surprisingly, Mr. Devereux has successfully completed college and is now a strong contributing member in society. He currently lives in Atlanta and is working on his second book.

GAR FISH AND LONG GRAVY should be required reading for everyone. Don’t let the shortness of this book make you apprehensive about buying it. This book has value from the viewpoint of a young child looking back at his past and offering a different perspective to today’s sense.

Don’t expect GAR FISH AND LONG GRAVY to be a quick read. It is reflective and introspective in a way that makes all of us stop and think about how to make each of our own lives better.