Review: Awakening Cocijo by Thomas Juarez

Genre: Metaphysical Fiction/Cultural Myths/Coming of Age 

Description:

“A storm rises.

Can a boy quell the fury of a god?

Join the Zapotec on a journey through time and across generations, as the descendants of this civilization are led on a path of transcendence.  The rebirth of their storied civilization depends upon their ability to awaken Cocijo, the god of lightning and rain.”

Author:

 “With roots set in Germany and Texas, Thomas (Tom) Juarez grew up enjoying the life of a military dependent. Living in multiple states and countries, his family would finally settle down in the beautiful city of Wetumpka, Alabama; a place Tom still refers to as home.

Filled with a sense of service, Tom would leave Wetumpka in 1985 for a twenty-one-year career in the United States Army… After a lifetime of moving here or there, Tom called it a career and retired from the military. He and his wife enjoy the fruits of their collective journey in Sterling, Oklahoma.”

Appraisal:

Part one of this journey begins in ancient times. Following the initiation of a young Priest and his transcendence to adulthood of mythic proportions. This sets up the legend behind the story and I found it fascinating. Part two moves forward to a more modern time. The summer of 2003 in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Here we meet Agent Gustavo Hamilton, a clairvoyant with the US government, and Staff Sergeant Citalli Patee, of Hispanic descent. Agent Hamilton recruits Citalli to help him prevent an international incident that he had a vision of which included Citalli.  

After a metaphysical experience in Oaxaca, Mexico, Citalli and Gus develop a lifelong friendship with mutual respect. Part three jumps forward ten years to Taugui, Oklahoma where he meets Citalli’s ten year-old son, Canneo. Canneo has been raised knowing the old ways and legends, as Citalli was. Canneo has started having dreams of things to come. His rite of passage into adulthood and introduction to the old gods follows.

I liked the relationship and dialogue between Citalli and Gus. Citalli has a quirky sense of humor, you couldn’t help but like him. Citalli’s wife, Kara, kept him grounded so they were a perfect match. Gus is a character that takes a bit of time to get to know, but he settled in with the whole family well.

Citalli’s dead mother had a heavy load to carry. During Citalli’s prayer time she explained their religion and their relationship to the gods. It seemed a bit repetitious but I can understand why the author did it. It is a lot to take in. This is a work of fiction and loosely based on Zapotec history, not a history lesson. I did enjoy the story and it was worth my time to read. If you are interested in Mesoamerican cultures you may enjoy this story as well.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

Format/Typo Issues:

A small number of proofing issues, nothing that threw me out of the story.

Rating: **** Four Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 55-60,000 words

Reprise Review: You Are Not Alone by Leah Carey

Genre: Non-Fiction/Current Events/Culture

Description:

“On May 24, 2014, Twitter exploded with stories of women’s experiences of harassment and assault in their daily lives using the hashtag #YesAllWomen.

With the Twitter conversation as inspiration, 10 women came together to share their stories with each other and the world. They dug within themselves to find wisdom...but they also revealed their own inner conflict about their experiences and their views of the world. They were willing to be vulnerable and admit not only how they have been hurt, but also how they have hurt others.

Through telling our stories - and hearing the stories of others - we learn that there is much more that unites us than divides us. That is the purpose of this book. To remind you: You are not alone.”

Author:

Leah Carey is a journalist, professional speaker, life coach, and author. She conceived of this volume, edited and compiled it, as well as adding her own material to tie it all together.

For more, visit Carey's website or Facebook page.

Appraisal:

The point of this book, on the surface at least, seems clear. Through the stories told the authors can share their experiences (a positive for them, as you’ll see if you read it), and in the process tell other women that You Are Not Alone, another positive in the message of understanding it sends. The clichéd win-win.

However, I’m not in the obvious demographic to read this book and would suggest it can be a win-win-win. (Something that Carey recognized as well.) With decades of training and feedback from sisters, spouses, a daughter, and now a granddaughter who is old enough to speak up, I like to think I’m more cognizant of how certain actions or words can be perceived. That it is easy to send a message that is unintended. It is easy to say you see those of both genders as equals, but actions sometimes contradict what you say and consciously believe. Many of these stories, I understood. But others, gave me a different perspective that will hopefully help in the interactions with the important women in my life.

Lest any man think this book is about man bashing, it isn’t. There is a universal recognition among the authors that many of the things discussed are cultural attitudes that, if they are to change, need to be discussed. There is also an understanding (explicitly stated in a few places) that women are also guilty of reinforcing some of these cultural stereotypes. Interspersed through the book are tweets from the original twitter explosion mentioned in the book description.

One of them seems like the ultimate description of how I perceived this book.

I think a lot of people assume the goal of #YesAllWomen is to persuade when really, it's just to explain what so many of us go through.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

A small amount of adult language.

Added for Reprise Review: You Are Not Alone was a Winner in the Non-Fiction category for B&P 2015 Readers' Choice Awards. Original review ran February 13, 2015

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: BigAl

Approximate word count: 35-40,000 words        

Reprise Review: Conjure Woman's Cat by Malcolm R. Campbell

Genre: Magical Realism / Culture / Spirituality

Description:

“Lena, a shamanistic cat, and her conjure woman Eulalie live in a small town near the Apalachicola River in Florida’s lightly populated Liberty County, where longleaf pines own the world. In Eulalie’s time, women of color look after white children in the homes of white families and are respected, even loved, but distrusted and kept separated as a group…

When some white boys rape and murder a black girl named Mattie near the sawmill, the police have no suspects and don’t intend to find any. Eulalie, who sees conjure as a way of helping the good Lord work His will, intends to set things right by ‘laying tricks.’

But Eulalie has secrets of her own, and it’s hard not to look back on her own life and ponder how the decisions she made while drinking and singing at the local juke were, perhaps, the beginning of Mattie’s ending.”

Author:

Malcolm R. Campbell lives in north Georgia and has worked as a corporate communications director, technical writer, and college journalism instructor. He now works as a grant writer for museums and other nonprofit organizations and writes stories.

For more, visit Campbell’s website.

Appraisal:

The Conjure Woman’s Cat is a novella set in the Florida Panhandle in the 1950s-era about Hoodoo, the KKK, and the blues. The story is told through Lena, Eulalie’s cat and her familiar. Lena is able to spirit walk and communicate with Eulalie. I had no trouble buying into this scenario, this is fiction and I was ready to believe. I found the characters well defined, believable, and they fit into the era the book was written to be in. Eulalie claims to be older than dirt, is full of gumption and spitfire. She has had a hard life and won’t take guff from anyone and she means to set things right. I loved this quote from Lena towards the end of the book.

My Conjure Woman believes no man, woman, or cat should question the consequences of calling upon folk magic, archangels, or the good Lord to rearrange the puzzle pieces that make up the world.

I have heard there is truth in that statement. One can ask the spirits, or pray, but one cannot direct the consequences. So, you better mean what you say and say what you mean.

The plot is multi-layered and confronts racism head-on. If you are offended by certain terms, this may not be the book for you, however it fits the era and is realistic of the times. This story concerns two families in particular. Both being torn apart, one eventually comes to terms with the past so the healing can begin. It’s a realistic and moving story that will break your heart but then try to make you whole again. This book gives you a look at how white justice was handled in the south. It is sad to believe that certain aspects of this still hold true today. No one can undo the past and it could take years to get past the hurt even if the pain is a sacred pain.

I dearly loved Eulalie and Willie, I could easily have been friends with them both. The more I read the name Eulalie the more I adored it. It has a beautiful rhythm and made me smile every time I read it. Eulalie was a wise woman and deserved the respect she was given. Kudos to Malcolm R. Campbell for a story well told.

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Certain racist terms are used within this story, however they fit with the time and the story would seem unrealistic without them. If you are offended by such, perhaps this is not the book for you.

Format/Typo Issues:

I was given an ARC so I really can’t comment on the finished book, but I ran across no significant proofing or formatting issues in the copy I received.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 30-35,000 words

Reprise Review: Evolution of a Wine Drinker by Alicia Bien

Genre: Humor/Culture/Non-Fiction

Description:

“Do you like wine but don’t know anything about it except it’s 1) Alcoholic and 2) Wet? Well, Alicia Bien is here to remedy that. Pronto!

Here's a collection of wine stories, the highs—and lows—of Alicia’s own evolution as a wine drinker from novice to—many bottles later—an expert wine bottle opener. These pages contain an alphabet’s worth of wine stories from 'Drinking Alone' and 'How the Army Changed My Life’, to ‘Ullage Uvula, U Know’ and ‘Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah, Zip-A-Dee-Ay, My Oh My What a Zinfandel Day’.

So grab a bottle, sit back and enjoy. CHEERS!”

Author:

“Raised in Ohio, Alicia Bien received a Bachelor's Degree in Literature and a Master's in English Linguistics. She is a Fulbright Scholar, wine lover and comedy fan. While interning in the U.S. Senate, she saw lots of funny things.

Drawing on life's humorous experiences, Alicia writes and performs comedy. She studied sketch and improv at Second City, Hollywood and the Upright Citizens Brigade.

She lives in California with her husband and adopted cat.”

Her blog looks like a fun site to visit.

Appraisal:

Every now and then I have to step away from my fantasy diet and read something… well, more down-to-earth.  As I was scanning the books submitted for review database, I came across Evolution of a Wine Drinker and thought, “I like wine! Perhaps I could educate myself a little.” So I stepped outside of my comfort zone to review a non-fiction novella, hoping some of the wine culture will rub off on me. These are stories of Ms. Bien’s experiences with wine, wine tasting, and vacations centered on wine regions. Bien takes her wine very seriously and has taken the time to educate us novices on the finer points of all things wine.

It all started in college (go figure) when she was looking for an elective and her academic advisor pointed out a “wine tasting class” in the catalog… She grinned. So begins Alicia Bien’s love of wine. She learned how to hold each wine glass, judge a wine by its color, how swirling wine in the glass aerates the wine to improve its flavor, and how to smell the wines to help your taste buds better define and appreciate the flavors and nuances of a wine. She studied grape varietals, wine growing regions of the world, and their histories. In time her instructor managed to turn a college beer chugger into a passionate wine drinker.

This book is full of short personal essays cleverly arranged from A-Z which include humorous and educational stories from Ms. Bien’s adventures with wine and wine country not only here in the states but around the world. Along with stories about her friends and their own wine tasting club parties, which almost convinced me to try hosting one. :) This book is a fast, pleasant read that will leave a smile on your face. It may also make you feel a little more confident in choosing your next bottle of wine. This review was written while enjoying a glass of Belle, a sweet red wine from Red 55 Winery located in Texas. Ha! See, I never would have checked that out if I hadn’t read this book!

Buy now from:            Amazon US        Amazon UK

FYI:

Added for Reprise Review: Evolution of a Wine Drinker was the winner in the Humor category for B&P 2015 Readers' Choice Awards. Original review ran September 21, 2014

Format/Typo Issues:

I came across no editing or formatting issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Approximate word count: 20-25,000 words

Reprise Review: You Are Not Alone / Leah Carey

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Genre: Non-Fiction / Current Events / Culture

Approximate word count: 35-40,000 word

Availability
Kindle US: YES UK: YES Nook: NO Smashwords: NO Paper: YES
Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords store

Author:

“Transformational speaker and author Leah Carey has been in the trenches. She spent over two decades struggling with chronic depression, believing that no matter how hard she worked or how much she accomplished, she was never good enough and no one could ever understand. She now shares with audiences the answer that saved her life: sharing our stories helps us to release shame, build community, and increase effectiveness and resilience…

Leah is a journalist and has been published in books, magazines, medical journals, and on many internet sites on a variety of self-empowerment and personal development topics. She also speaks frequently at groups and conferences on these subjects. She lives in northern New Hampshire with her parakeet, Cinnamon, and about a bazillion of her favorite books.”

For more, visit Carey's website or Facebook page.

Description:

“On May 24, 2014, Twitter exploded with stories of women’s experiences of harassment and assault in their daily lives using the hashtag #YesAllWomen.

With the Twitter conversation as inspiration, 10 women came together to share their stories with each other and the world. They dug within themselves to find wisdom...but they also revealed their own inner conflict about their experiences and their views of the world. They were willing to be vulnerable and admit not only how they have been hurt, but also how they have hurt others.

Through telling our stories - and hearing the stories of others - we learn that there is much more that unites us than divides us. That is the purpose of this book. To remind you: You are not alone.

I hope that you will hear those words repeating in your head as you read this book and realize how true they are: YOU ARE NOT ALONE”

Appraisal:


I don’t read much non-fiction any longer and I don’t read self-help books, so I really didn’t know what to expect with this book. I wasn’t looking forward to reading about other women’s horror stories. However, that is not what I found here in this book. Ten brave women give us an inside look into their struggles and share their own personal journeys through their individual healing processes. Sharing their thoughts and feelings in a safe environment allowed them to realize they are not alone in their struggles to get a handle on their lives. Identifying similar dilemmas and seeing it through others eyes gives them a chance to view their own situations with new eyes. Perspectives changed and that change helped them all move forward in different degrees.

Everyone’s path is different. I thank my lucky stars that I have not had to deal with the abuse these women have survived. I have not been accosted while walking down the street and I have never been sexually harassed. I do realize the possibility is there every single day though. The problem is we are all vulnerable when we are alone. We all need to take a stronger stand on teaching our sons and daughters to respect other people. To gather around and support those who are being oppressed and to support one another. The enemy is silence. We need to share our fears and experiences to find our power and strength. I liked this quote from the book:

We’re not saving the world FROM men. We’re not saving the world FOR women. We’re saving the world from our fear. We’re saving the world from our shame. We’re saving the world from all those times that we didn’t speak our truth, and turned our anger inward on ourselves.

We’re saving the world from all those times that we didn’t speak our truth and exploded at innocent bystanders… many of whom happen to be the men who want to love us. We’re saving the world by finding peace and respect within ourselves, because it will save the world for the next generation.

I found this an enlightening read and I want to thank BigAl for pushing the boundaries of my comfort-zone yet again, by asking if I would like to do a doubleshot with him. :D Honestly, once I started reading I couldn’t put the book down. You Are Not Alone is a valuable read for both men and women and Ms. Carey did a wonderful job putting it together. I was captivated by these women and want to thank each and every one of them for opening up and sharing a piece of their soul with the world.

Format/Typo Issues:

I found no significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five stars

Fossils: Viagra, snuff, and Rock n Roll / Robert A. Webster

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Adventure/Humor/Culture

Approximate word count: 60-65,000 words

Availability

Kindle US: YES UK: YES Nook: YES Smashwords: YES Paper: YES

Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords store

Author:

“Robert A. Webster is a multi-genre author based in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. Originally from Cleethorpes, UK, he embodies both hearty wit and adventurous vigor, making his prose insanely memorable and incessantly enjoyable…

His first novel Siam Storm received rave reviews in the expat community in Southeast Asia. Its sequels, Chalice and Bimat, were similarly acclaimed.

When he's not crafting unforgettable stories, he enjoys snorkelling, self-deprecating humour, and the warm climate of Cambodia.”

Description:

“When Charles Clark’s wife passed away, he thought life without his beloved Mary would be unbearable. Charles knew that his middle-aged children, who had families of their own, didn't want him burdening them, which is why they dumped him into Fossdyke Old Folks’ Home. However, unbeknownst to Charles, this is not the end of his life story, but rather the beginning of a new chapter.

What started out as fun for the four elderly musicians of a band called Fossils, has now, thanks to Kipper, spiralled out of control. Record companies, fans, and the nation’s media scour the country in search of the elusive, young, vibrant, four-piece band, unaware they have a combined age of 280 years.

The old rockers, fearing their families being ridiculed when the truth comes out, need to find a way to avoid attention in the UK until things can be resolved.

Fortunately, Steve has a plan... Follow their antics as the band tours the Philippines, Cambodia, and Thailand as they attempt to stay one step ahead of their pursuers. They discover a new and carefree way of life, which they enjoy to its fullest.”

Appraisal:

Fossils was a fun read and very informative about Southeast Asian history and landmarks. You can tell Robert A. Webster loves living in that area of the world. Each character is well defined and realistic. Getting to know the old men as well as the secondary characters was entertaining.

Steve Baker is known for causing disruptions at Fossdyke Old Folks’ Home. He is a thorn in Mrs. Chew’s, known as the warden or Chewy by the residents, side because his daughter owns the home. So his eccentricities must be tolerated to a point. Things liven up around the home when new resident, Charles Clark, moves in with his piano. Steve quickly introduces Charles to Wayne and Elvin. Wayne plays the drums, is mostly deaf, and also writes music. Elvin plays an old double bass with the assistance of his small falsies. He lost a couple of fingers in the Navy several years ago and has fashioned himself with fake finger extensions so he can continue to play his double bass. Steve plays an old Fender Stratocaster and loves playing old Rock and Roll. It’s his idea to start a band. The problem is Charles only knows classical music. When Wayne reveals he writes music, he and Charles sit down to adapt Wayne’s pieces into music for their band. So they start playing their original music at a small bar down the road for fun.

Kipper, a local DJ, records their music onto a disc and then submits it to a local contest. When things get out of control, Steve, being familiar with and longing to revisit the Philippines, decides the Fossils need to tour and hide out from British promoters there. Steve is happy to be back in his old stomping ground and hooks up with old friends in the area. The other men have a great time chasing women and partying all night long after playing a set at a local bar. Until one British journalist happens upon their trail in Cambodia. This imaginative story is a randy romp of debauchery and a unique read where you never know what is about to happen next.

FYI:

British spelling conventions and slang. Adult situations and language including several F-bombs.

Format/Typo Issues:

I did come across a small number of proofing issues that included extra words, missing words, and wrong words.

Rating: **** Four stars

Given Names / Andrew Leon Hudson

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Genre: Coming of Age/Native American/Culture/Historical Fiction

Approximate word count: 20-25,000 words

Availability

Kindle US: YES UK: YES Nook: NO Smashwords: NO Paper: NO

Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords store

Author:

“Andrew Leon Hudson is an unapologetic genre author from England. In preparation for life as a writer he has worked in fields as diverse as prosthetic make-up, teaching, contact lens retail, "intoxicant delivery" and the services (customer and military). He used to have his own company, but it died. His first novel was published in 2014 to silent acclaim only to vanish from existence nine months later, so in 2015 he's doing all that sort of thing for himself. An ‘unapologetic genre author’, he is currently writing End Trails, a series of weird western stories, and Dark Matters, which presents themed pairs of apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic science fiction, and horror stories with an edge of black humour…”

For more,visit his website.

Description:

“Travel the End Trails - paths into hidden places, taking you towards the unknown and from which return is far from certain. Tales of things not believed from the comfort and safety of civilisation and only whispered about on the distant fringes of exploration, all waiting in the wilderness.

In Given Names, a Native American boy comes of age only to have the future he imagined snatched horribly away, leaving only doubt. No-one knows to what destination the path through life will lead - but one thing is for sure: you won't be the same person when you get there...”

Appraisal:

This novella is a well written account, from a young boy’s point-of-view, of his life as a member of his tribal community. No mention of his parents is ever given, so I assumed he was an orphan adopted by the whole tribe. His name is Circling Bird, which could be construed a few different ways, since we don’t really know him yet I assume it refers to a hawk or eagle. He and three of his friends have been chosen to follow along on their first hunt. They are excited, they have been training for this experience. No one expects the tragedy that befalls them.

The story is Circling Birds healing journey, he has been renamed Three Spirits. He is taken under the wing of Wide Sky, the village shaman who has lost his son. As Three Spirits regains his strength he undergoes a process of selfdiscovery as he learns the healing arts from Wide Sky. As time passes, Three Spirits feels the need to confront his past and he separates himself from the tribe to head back to where he once called home alone. Prairie Wind follows and guides him in weapon use for hunting and further lessons in tracking. Until the early morning, when Three Spirits feels he must continue his journey alone.

The twist at the end of the story is shocking and totally unexpected. Whether it is believable or not depends on your own perspective and willingness to believe in the outcome. It is certainly grievous on several levels.

FYI:

The author uses British spelling conventions. Given Names is Book 2 in the End Trails series and can be read as a stand alone. “The End Trails are stories to be told around the camp-fire, dark things to unsettle the mind, before you settle down to sleep.”

Format/Typo Issues:

I found no issues with editing or formatting.

Rating: **** Four stars

Conjure Woman's Cat / Malcolm R. Campbell

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Genre: Magical Realism / Culture / Spirituality

Approximate word count: 30-35,000 words

Availability    

Kindle  US: YES  UK: YES  Nook: YES  Smashwords: NO  Paper: YES

Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords store

Author:

Malcolm R. Campbell lives in north Georgia and has worked as a corporate communications director, technical writer, and college journalism instructor. He now works as a grant writer for museums and other nonprofit organizations and writes stories.

For more, visit Campbell’s website.

Description:

“Lena, a shamanistic cat, and her conjure woman Eulalie live in a small town near the Apalachicola River in Florida’s lightly populated Liberty County, where longleaf pines own the world. In Eulalie’s time, women of color look after white children in the homes of white families and are respected, even loved, but distrusted and kept separated as a group…

When some white boys rape and murder a black girl named Mattie near the sawmill, the police have no suspects and don’t intend to find any. Eulalie, who sees conjure as a way of helping the good Lord work His will, intends to set things right by ‘laying tricks.’

But Eulalie has secrets of her own, and it’s hard not to look back on her own life and ponder how the decisions she made while drinking and singing at the local juke were, perhaps, the beginning of Mattie’s ending.”

Appraisal:

The Conjure Woman’s Cat is a novella set in the Florida Panhandle in the 1950s-era about Hoodoo, the KKK, and the blues. The story is told through Lena, Eulalie’s cat and her familiar. Lena is able to spirit walk and communicate with Eulalie. I had no trouble buying into this scenario, this is fiction and I was ready to believe. I found the characters well defined, believable, and they fit into the era the book was written to be in. Eulalie claims to be older than dirt, is full of gumption and spitfire. She has had a hard life and won’t take guff from anyone and she means to set things right. I loved this quote from Lena towards the end of the book.

My Conjure Woman believes no man, woman, or cat should question the consequences of calling upon folk magic, archangels, or the good Lord to rearrange the puzzle pieces that make up the world.

I have heard there is truth in that statement. One can ask the spirits, or pray, but one cannot direct the consequences. So, you better mean what you say and say what you mean.

The plot is multi-layered and confronts racism head-on. If you are offended by certain terms, this may not be the book for you, however it fits the era and is realistic of the times. This story concerns two families in particular. Both being torn apart, one eventually comes to terms with the past so the healing can begin. It’s a realistic and moving story that will break your heart but then try to make you whole again. This book gives you a look at how white justice was handled in the south. It is sad to believe that certain aspects of this still hold true today. No one can undo the past and it could take years to get past the hurt even if the pain is a sacred pain.

I dearly loved Eulalie and Willie, I could easily have been friends with them both. The more I read the name Eulalie the more I adored it. It has a beautiful rhythm and made me smile every time I read it. Eulalie was a wise woman and deserved the respect she was given. Kudos to Malcolm R. Campbell for a story well told.

FYI:

Certain racist terms are used within this story, however they fit with the time and the story would seem unrealistic without them. If you are offended by such, perhaps this is not the book for you.

Format/Typo Issues:

I was given an ARC so I really can’t comment on the finished book, but I ran across no significant proofing or formatting issues in the copy I received.

Rating: ***** Five stars

You Are Not Alone / Leah Carey

This is the second half of a doubleshot. If you missed it, check out what ?waziIthinkin had to say in her review this morning.

Reviewed by: BigAl

Genre: Non-Fiction / Current Events / Culture

Approximate word count: 35-40,000 words

Availability    

Kindle  US: YES  UK: YES  Nook: NO  Smashwords: NO Paper: YES

Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords store

Author:

Leah Carey is a journalist, professional speaker, life coach, and author. She conceived of this volume, edited and compiled it, as well as adding her own material to tie it all together.

Fpr more, visit Carey's website or Facebook page.

Description:

“On May 24, 2014, Twitter exploded with stories of women’s experiences of harassment and assault in their daily lives using the hashtag #YesAllWomen.

With the Twitter conversation as inspiration, 10 women came together to share their stories with each other and the world. They dug within themselves to find wisdom...but they also revealed their own inner conflict about their experiences and their views of the world. They were willing to be vulnerable and admit not only how they have been hurt, but also how they have hurt others.

Through telling our stories - and hearing the stories of others - we learn that there is much more that unites us than divides us. That is the purpose of this book. To remind you: You are not alone.”

Appraisal:

The point of this book, on the surface at least, seems clear. Through the stories told the authors can share their experiences (a positive for them, as you’ll see if you read it), and in the process tell other women that You Are Not Alone, another positive in the message of understanding it sends. The clichéd win-win.

However, I’m not in the obvious demographic to read this book and would suggest it can be a win-win-win. (Something that Carey recognized as well.) With decades of training and feedback from sisters, spouses, a daughter, and now a granddaughter who is old enough to speak up, I like to think I’m more cognizant of how certain actions or words can be perceived. That it is easy to send a message that is unintended. It is easy to say you see those of both genders as equals, but actions sometimes contradict what you say and consciously believe. Many of these stories, I understood. But others, gave me a different perspective that will hopefully help in the interactions with the important women in my life.

Lest any man think this book is about man bashing, it isn’t. There is a universal recognition among the authors that many of the things discussed are cultural attitudes that, if they are to change, need to be discussed. There is also an understanding (explicitly stated in a few places) that women are also guilty of reinforcing some of these cultural stereotypes. Interspersed through the book are tweets from the original twitter explosion mentioned in the book description. 

One of them seems like the ultimate description of how I perceived this book.

I think a lot of people assume the goal of #YesAllWomen is to persuade when really, it's just to explain what so many of us go through. 

FYI:

A small amount of adult languge.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

You Are Not Alone / Leah Carey

Five Star Week continues with a doubleshot. You should be able to guess the ranking BigAl gives this book, but chances are his thoughts on the book will be much different. Check back this afternoon to see.

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Genre: Non-Fiction / Current Events / Culture

Approximate word count: 35-40,000 word

Availability    

Kindle  US: YES  UK: YES  Nook: NO  Smashwords: NO  Paper: YES

Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords store

Author:

“Transformational speaker and author Leah Carey has been in the trenches. She spent over two decades struggling with chronic depression, believing that no matter how hard she worked or how much she accomplished, she was never good enough and no one could ever understand. She now shares with audiences the answer that saved her life: sharing our stories helps us to release shame, build community, and increase effectiveness and resilience…

Leah is a journalist and has been published in books, magazines, medical journals, and on many internet sites on a variety of self-empowerment and personal development topics. She also speaks frequently at groups and conferences on these subjects. She lives in northern New Hampshire with her parakeet, Cinnamon, and about a bazillion of her favorite books.”

Fpr more, visit Carey's website or Facebook page.

Description:

“On May 24, 2014, Twitter exploded with stories of women’s experiences of harassment and assault in their daily lives using the hashtag #YesAllWomen.

With the Twitter conversation as inspiration, 10 women came together to share their stories with each other and the world. They dug within themselves to find wisdom...but they also revealed their own inner conflict about their experiences and their views of the world. They were willing to be vulnerable and admit not only how they have been hurt, but also how they have hurt others.

Through telling our stories - and hearing the stories of others - we learn that there is much more that unites us than divides us. That is the purpose of this book. To remind you: You are not alone.

I hope that you will hear those words repeating in your head as you read this book and realize how true they are: YOU ARE NOT ALONE”

Appraisal:

I don’t read much non-fiction any longer and I don’t read self-help books, so I really didn’t know what to expect with this book. I wasn’t looking forward to reading about other women’s horror stories. However, that is not what I found here in this book. Ten brave women give us an inside look into their struggles and share their own personal journeys through their individual healing processes. Sharing their thoughts and feelings in a safe environment allowed them to realize they are not alone in their struggles to get a handle on their lives. Identifying similar dilemmas and seeing it through others eyes gives them a chance to view their own situations with new eyes. Perspectives changed and that change helped them all move forward in different degrees.

Everyone’s path is different. I thank my lucky stars that I have not had to deal with the abuse these women have survived. I have not been accosted while walking down the street and I have never been sexually harassed. I do realize the possibility is there every single day though. The problem is we are all vulnerable when we are alone. We all need to take a stronger stand on teaching our sons and daughters to respect other people. To gather around and support those who are being oppressed and to support one another. The enemy is silence. We need to share our fears and experiences to find our power and strength. I liked this quote from the book:

We’re not saving the world FROM men. We’re not saving the world FOR women. We’re saving the world from our fear. We’re saving the world from our shame. We’re saving the world from all those times that we didn’t speak our truth, and turned our anger inward on ourselves.

We’re saving the world from all those times that we didn’t speak our truth and exploded at innocent bystanders… many of whom happen to be the men who want to love us. We’re saving the world by finding peace and respect within ourselves, because it will save the world for the next generation.

I found this an enlightening read and I want to thank BigAl for pushing the boundaries of my comfort-zone yet again, by asking if I would like to do a doubleshot with him. :D Honestly, once I started reading I couldn’t put the book down. You Are Not Alone is a valuable read for both men and women and Ms. Carey did a wonderful job putting it together. I was captivated by these women and want to thank each and every one of them for opening up and sharing a piece of their soul with the world.

Format/Typo Issues:

I found no significant issues.

Rating: ***** Five stars