All Points North / Shelby R. Lee III - Book Review

Lee’s enthusiasm for writing permeates this collection of short stories (or ‘volumes’, as he calls them). Most definitely, the short pieces in All Points North (Outskirts Press, Inc.; ISBN: 978-1-4327-5569-0) are not in the conventional short story mode, so don’t expect a snappy beginning, middle and end. Rather, they are sketches of characters and scenes written in a stream of consciousness style, in a way that is reminiscent of Lee’s literary doyen, William Faulkner. One can readily tell that the author is a Southerner, who has been exposed to much of the harshness of life. He, in fact, refers to himself as “a survivor in the key of life.” His stories are not for the faint-hearted, being gritty, zestful and, in places, harsh, as he exposes the vulnerability of members of the human race.

 

Using relatively little dialogue, but a great deal of discussion of inner musings, Lee covers a wide range of characters in the thirteen stories, of which the most memorable I found to be “Boy Freud,” which deals with the perversions of a psychologist. A sense of redemption is lacking from these tales, and, being relatively unstructured as they are, they leave one with an almost indefinable sense of unease. For those who are keen on yachting, “All Points North” should prove to be of great interest, dealing as it does with the rivalry existing in a regatta, with all concerned fiercely contending for the trophy of the day.

 

One aspect of stream of consciousness expression tends to be the use of extremely long sentences. The reader need have no fear on this account, though, as the longest sentences that are included in this book tend to be those in the Foreword, in which Lee describes the role of writing in his life. If you’re more interested in the story than in the process, you could safely skip this section of the book. Personally, I find such descriptions quite fascinating, though (most probably because I enjoy writing myself). The following sentence clearly exhibits Lee’s penchant for stream of consciousness composition: “Then suddenly I was moving fast to my writing table, grabbing another legal pad, a new pen, then, deep into the night, with near heart failure, sitting, writing and thinking, and it was so painful to capture on paper, it came out of me so fast, so difficult to capture on paper, it seemed as though it was being fed to my head telepathically, but there were different phases of long thinking with little writing.” As I say, there isn’t anything like that in the course of the stories, and, even though All Points North bears minimal resemblance to Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway, it is worthwhile reading, as long as you don’t expect the sketches to conform to the requirements of the conventional short story genre.   

Rich & Lost in Prosperia: A Tropical Tale of Market Economics / Doramas Jorge-Calderón - Book Review

Ever wished that Market Economics 101 was written in the form of an easily accessible story? Well, wish no more—Rich & Lost in Prosperia (Mill City Press, Inc.; ISBN: 978-1-936107-72-8) is here to help ease all your nightmares of that particular subject. Inspired to teach young people about economics in a creative and enjoyable way, longstanding economist Doramas Jorge-Calderón has come up with a tropical tale set on a couple of neighboring isles that helps explain the basics of what typically is a dry and dusty subject. Young adults will love this adventure story of how two dudes master the basics of island life to their entrepreneurial mutual benefit. And, no, it’s not all fiction, but grounded in solid Economics theory, which is presented in straightforward point form, in between chapters containing the unraveling of the story, in which the principles can be seen in practice.

 

Richy, one of the cool dudes referred to earlier, is a native of Prosperia, which is depicted as “an ocean island between the tropic and the equator, not too far from the continent.” Though he would have loved to have gone to college and study (right, I didn’t say the story line was particularly credible, now did I?), he wasn’t able to, as he’d been a lousy scholar. However, our anti-hero and ostensible island dropout has big dreams—he wants to run his own business and be free (somewhat of a dichotomy in terms, m’thinks…), so, being an exploratory soul (with the mega ambition of taking a long trip to the neighboring island of Stagnia), he sets about realizing his dream. Alongside this young guy with inflationary hopes is another local 20s+ character, whose sole ambition is to make boodle, and lots of it. When Richy is taken in hand by a handy economics prof, things really start to rumble. These are only a few of the entertaining characters who make up the cast of this novel come introductory text to market economics. Boring it most definitely isn’t, with the plot dealing with a range of relevant topics, including privilege, profit, trust, respect, trickery, professionalism, smuggling, half-truths, competition and passion. A positive maelstrom of delights…

 

Seriously though, this 281-page book is a gem, and well worth reading by any youngster who feels overwhelmed by unwieldy subject matter and the straitjacket of hardcore academia. Now if only Jorge-Calderón would loose himself on a couple of other subjects, like law, IT, and suchlike I’m sure that the younger generation would be only the happier…

The Temple Mount Code / Charles Brokaw - Book Review

An international adventure into the unknown, starting at an archaeological dig in Henan Province, People’s Republic of China, this exciting tale of modern-day mystery and intrigue speeds its way through a range of settings that are beset by terrorist activity, including the Gaza Strip and Tehran. Counterpoised against the hectic pace of the unfolding plot in such urban settings as Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Vienna is the finding of a key inscription in an isolated monastery set high up in the Himalaya Mountains.

Brokaw clearly exploits the fear of Muslim world domination, as the plot hinges on a frantic race to find the hiding place of Mohammed’s divinely inspired handwritten Koran and a scroll that foretells the fate of Muslims on Earth. Despite the urgency of the quest, the chief protagonist and catalyst of all the action, the internationally renowned linguist Professor Thomas Lourds, also takes a keen interest in beautiful specimens of the opposite sex, in the form of an ex-lover, Alice von Volker, who is presently married to a pernicious anti-Semitic neo-Nazi arms dealer, and a lethal young Mossad agent, whose torture by Revolutionary Guards in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison is related in graphic and ghastly detail. (The Temple Mount Code is most definitely not for overly sensitive readers!)

This third book in the Lourds series is as exciting and titivating as the first two. Brokaw does not tread gently around highly sensational topics, instead appearing to revel in known antagonisms ― the Western Christian world versus the militant Jihad faction, pro-Jewish sentiments against radical neo-Nazi fanatacism. Although such issues are used to impel the novel forward, Brokaw at no stage goes into any great depth in dealing with their ramifications, as the plot that he unfolds, despite being multi-threaded, is a straightforward linear narrative. As such, his novels are likely to appeal to those who wish to have a fast, stimulating read, without requiring any profound insights into the modern political world.

Despite the fortunate lack of academia in The Temple Mount Code, Charles Brokaw is the pseudonym of a Midwest academic and college educator. His interests, as can so clearly be seen in the Lourds series, are history, human accomplishment, and archaeology. One just rather wishes that he would take a little more time delving into the psyche of his major characters, but then, perhaps his writing is not only intended to reach a wide-ranging audience, but also to act as a well-earned timeout from the tediousness that comes from being one of the intelligentsia…

Bad to the Bone: Memoir of a Rebel Doggie Blogger / Bo Hoefinger - Book Review

From the day that Bo is brought home from the local animal shelter, he brings mirth and joy into the lives of the Hoefinger couple, as he will into your home, too, if you decide to read Bad to the Bone (Kensington Publishing Corp.; ISBN: 13: 978-0-8065-3129-8. ISBN-10: 0-8065-3129-0). As ‘Bo’ writes, “It had taken me seven years to get to a place where I finally had the four F’s: family, friends, fun, and food.” Not being content with only one dog, Bo’s human 30+ parents decide, first of all, to introduce a cat, named Moose, and later a canine sister, Copper, with whom he soon becomes firm friends. Starting out in a modest home in Albany, New York, the Hoefingers have to move cross country when Bo’s father’s employer relocates to Atlanta, Georgia. There Bo continues his freelance employment as chief squirrel and chipmunk chaser, in addition to his primary occupation as guardian of the home and trustee of the kitty litter tray (and, oh boy, does he love to nibble those morsels…).

In addition to Bo’s anecdotal recall of his emotional rollercoaster life with his family, there are also numerous illustrated lists throughout the book, covering such bone-crunching topics as ‘Top Ten Reasons I Love My Mother’, ‘My Favorite Movies/Shows’ (including Dog Day Afternoon) and ‘Favorite Non-Food Smells’ (including ‘My pee on anything’). In addition to a question and answer session with Bo, and one with his human parents, the memoir ends with a number of photographs of Bo in a number of fitting disguises, as well as with his buddies. Endearing without being soppy, Bad to the Bone is a delightful, heart-warming read. And, don’t worry, unlike many books that are written by humans, the ending isn’t sad, as Bo states in the epilogue: “I’m still typing away at the tender age of sixteen, and besides, I’m so nimble that falling off anything, other than my latest diet, isn’t going to happen.”  

  

Bo Hoefinger’s popular blog, www.BoKnowsOnline.com, receives over 100,000 page views per month. He is also the dog behind the writer chosen as the “doggie blogger” for Dogster.com, which has a membership of more than 500,000 humans. 

For any dog lover, this ‘memoir’ is a must—it’ll no doubt lead to you recalling any and all memories that you have of any dog that you have ever owned or known. [For a golden retriever / chowchow cross, Bo writes very well indeed, and deserves the golden paw print of approval.]

Satchi and Little Star / Donna Marie Seim; illustrated by Susan Spellman - Book Review

If you are an animal lover who wishes to inculcate a similar love of animals in your own children, you are bound to find the delightful picture books of award-winning Donna Marie Seim, illustrated by the well-known water colorist and “Plein Air” painter Susan Spellman, an irrisistable treat. Following on the much-acclaimed Where’s Simon, Sandy? comes yet another adventure set in the Caribbean, Satchi and Little Star (Peter E. Randall; ISBN: 978-0-9828256-7-5), about a little island girl, who, despite the warnings of her parents, tries to tame a young wild colt. How she deals with the unfolding situation is sure to provide an important lesson, as well as an entertaining and inspiring read, for all youngsters who witness the unfolding of wildlife in its many aspects around them. In addition to the story itself, Seim provides a well-informed background to the life of wild horses around the globe, as well as ending off the book with fun facts about horses that not only describe certain of their key habits, but which also introduce a few important explanations of words that are used to describe horses, such as ‘star’, ‘sock’ and ‘blaze.’

Both the author and the illustrator of this fine book show their first-hand knowledge of, and love for, the outdoors and, more specifically, for island life in the Caribbean. In addition, Seim and Spellman share their good sense of humor, which is clearly revealed throughout the text and watercolor illustrations. While Seim leads an active life, with hands-on exposure to both domestic and wild horses, for which she nurtures a deep appreciation, Spellman’s keen sense of the beauty of moving figures also brings her close to the heart of the subject matter.

With Satchi and Little Star having been acknowledged with a 2011 New England Book Festival Award Honorable Mention, this enlightening and deeply empathetic picture book should be in a winner in any collection of books for young children, no matter their cultural and geographical background.

Confessions of a So-Called Middle Child / Maria T. Lennon - Book Review

Are you attracted to books with mean central characters, who eventually turn out to be quite likable? If so, and especially if you are a tween and/or a middle child yourself, you need look no farther than Confessions of a So-called Middle Child, by Maria T. Lennon. Centred on extremely fashion-conscious and egocentric Charlie C. Cooper, this coming-of-age novel tells of the escapades of a young girl who is coming to terms with principles of justice and fairness in her school and home environs. Having always been attracted to the smartest dressed, but not the most ethically sound, classmates has landed her in so much deep water that she was expelled from her last school for dosing the school cafetaria’s meals with laxatives to get her own back on a friend by whom she felt betrayed. (Unsurprisingly, one learns that the author herself was once evicted from Brilliantmont International School in Lausanne, so has some insight into the kind of feelings involved.)

Now Charlie has come to a new city, Los Angeles, and to a new school. Her ability to make a fresh start under the guidance of her shrink, Doc Scales, is plagued by her reluctance to give up on her old way of striving to gain acceptance from popular girls by being bad. As the Doc says, her self-esteem is low and she clearly needs to become more assertive in her relations with others. How she sets about, under instruction, befriending the most bullied girl in her school provides the central impetus for Charlie’s progression from being an obnoxious brat to a person whom you would be proud to associate with.

Apart from the central story there are various subplots, including Charlie’s online friendship, via Skype, with her “tech-equal main squeeze in Mumbai”, Jai, as well as Charlie’s father’s excavation of their grounds for remnants of Houdini’s hidden past (her family has come to live in the Houdini Mansion on Laurel Canyon Boulevarde, and her dad is intent on rebuilding the original house that burnt down in 1953). This, plus the Romanian background of the outcast (“Marta the Farta”), who becomes transformed through Charlie’s frendship, and not omitting the many references that are made to Mandela’s influence on Charlie’s thinking, goes into making Lennon’s second novel (with her first being the adult novel Making It Up as I Go Along) a work that should have a worldwide, contemporaneous appeal for youngsters across the globe.

Confessions of a So-called Middle Child is a throroughly humane, and humanising, novel that all middle schoolers (and their parents) should be encouraged to read.

Animythical Tales / Sarah Totton - Book Review

In Forrest Aguirre’s introduction to Animythical Tales (Fantastic Books; ISBN 10: 1-60459-932-4. ISBN 13: 978-1-60459-932-9), he describes the reading of her stories as resembling “walking into a field of Technicolor gems”, in which “the rainbow colors” account for “the distinctive, sharp visual lines that make her word-paintings so striking”. He finds that her characterizations show a wide breadth of emotion, and are hard to categorize “because they are moving targets, capable of change and growth”. Their variable moods make them more like the rest of us than are the average melodramatic characters that frequent the pages of certain other speculative fiction.

A sense of either the celebration or loss of childhood innocence that permeates these pages speaks to one on an emotional level throughout the tales, being all the more effectively conveyed by the closeness to the animal world that the stories reflect. The androgynous nature of the tales should also appeal to a wide audience, no matter whether it is the role reversal in “A Fish Story”, in which an undesired, but exceptionally resourceful, maiden attempts to snare a disinterested young man whom she ardently admires by catching an elusive fish, or in “The Man with the Seahorse Head” (a Regional Winner for Canada and the Caribbean in the prestigious Commonwealth Short Story Competition in 2007), who nurtures progeny that ultimately swim out to sea. In writing these stories, it can clearly be seen that Totton drew from her own experiences as a wildlife biologist and veterinarian.

Most of the stories have previously been published in such magazines as Realms of Fantasy Magazine and Fantasy Magazine during the last five years, or in such collections as the Commonwealth Short Stories CD 2007-2008, and TEXT: UR–The New Book of Masks. Her tales of “The Teasewater Five”, “The Bone Fisher’s Apprentice” and “Bluecoat Jack” all received Honorable Mentions in the Year’s Best Fantasy & Horror listings for the years 2006 through 2008, respectively, while “A Sip from the Cup of Enlightenment” is due to be published in Polyphony 7. “Flatrock Sunners” won a 3rd Annual Black Quill Award (Editor’s Choice Best Dark Scribble category), awarded by Dark Scribe Magazine to honor outstanding works of dark genre literature from both mainstream and small press publishers. Two of the tales have not been published elsewhere so far, namely “Pelly Medley” and “A Little Tea and Personal Magnetism”.

Animythical Tales contain just enough of reality to place the scenes within the broader context of the real world, so that the readers are not estranged from what transpires in the course of the stories themselves. The stories are all organic entities, complete and entire within themselves. Totton’s writing has depth and is multilayered, inviting the reader to explore the deeper meaning of the issues that she covers. Such issues include both the creativity and destructiveness of those who admire and create artistic forms, as well as the darker side of sexuality that can result in both physical and spiritual corruption and decay.

If you are interested in venturing beyond the norm, you’re likely to enjoy Animythical Tales very much indeed. But beware, it is not suitable reading matter for the faint-hearted… 

The Land of Darkness / C.S. Lakin - Book Review

Sprung from apocalyptic vision, The Land of Darkness (AMG Publishers; ISBN-13: 978-0-89957-891-0; ISBN-10: 0-89957-891-0), an adult fairy tale, which is the third in the Gates of Heaven series, brings freshness and vibrancy, based on strong ethical principles, to the realm of the imaginary.

The darker side is inevitably omnipresent throughout this mythical world, forming a major crux of the story. The sensual and tangible presence of evil can be seen most clearly in the murderous intent of the avaricious stepmother, Huldah, whose ruthless desire to retain her own outward, thinly veneered beauty drives her to send her innocent and truly beautiful stepdaughter on an errand to find, and bring back to her, leaves of the Terebinth Tree that offer the enticing promise of eternal youth. Through Huldah’s determination not to allow anyone or anything to stand in the way of her own selfish imperative she sets in motion the quest of the main female protagonist, Jadiel, who is intent on saving her father, whom she dearly loves, from an otherwise certain death at her stepmother’s hands. The comparative innocence of Jadiel stands in stark contrast to the malevolence and worldliness of Huldah, whose distortion of the world around her is juxtaposed against the sweetness of the rapport that Jadiel has with the natural elements that constitute her surrounds.

In contrast to the female and more devious aspects of The Land of Darkness is the more grounded masculine component, which is characterized by work, craftsmanship and a yearning to fulfill oneself in artistic expression. All of these elements can be seen at their best in the journey embarked on by Callen, a woodworking apprentice, who sets out on a self-initiated quest to find the inspiration of his finest work in the form of “an exquisitely detailed bridge made entirely of wood and embellished with mysterious symbols that appear to be ancient script.”

In this way, both Jadiel and Callen are bound, both physically and spiritually, to embark on a course of action along which they inevitably encounter each other and advance to what seems to be their preordained end. The development of the strength and integrity of their characters is intricately wound together with the symbolism of the story, of which the primary element is the transcendence of the merely physical and shallow to the ultimate attainment of the good, the noble and the everlasting.

The striking poignancy of the well-rounded characters and their interaction with such diverse creatures from the natural world as frogs and camels, imbued with magical abilities, such as the power of speech, is bound to appeal to any reader who has empathy for others. The deeper aspects of the story are present throughout the text of The Land of Darkness for all those who are able to respond imaginatively and spiritually to the tale.

Tell Me a Story 3: Women of Wonder / Amy Friedman - Audiobook Review

A love of animals and an appreciation of the many different cultures of the world permeate Tell Me a Story 3: Women of Wonder (Friedman & Danziger; ISBN-10: 0979086736). Each story in this audio collection of folktales and legends is encapsulated within a piece of folk music typical of the country in which the story originates. Both inspiring and comforting, this CD is a worthwhile investment both for younger children and for those who are just starting to learn English for the first time. Each story radiates enchantment, which can be even further enhanced by going online to the website of this woman’s collective (www.MythsandTales.com) to check out the whimsically illustrated stories. All the stories can all be printed out and read while one listens to the soundtrack by the renowned gospel musician Laura Hall.

The quirky uniqueness of each tale, marked by a strong sense of humor and compassion, is supported by the strong cast of characters that fill these tales with an awareness of the remarkable endurance of the human spirit in the face of adversity. After an overture that sets the tone for the telling of these stories, each tale is dramatized in turn by a different raconteur of stage and screen – all women, for this CD is a celebration of the woman in us all. ‘The Cleverest Tune’, a British folktale read by Bryce Dallas Howard, describes the capacity of a young girl to fill her home with joy and music on the death of her much-loved father. ‘The Goddess and the Ogre’, a Cambodian legend read by Jessica DiCicco, tells of the enterprising Manimekhala, the goddess of water, who is able to outwit the fearsome ogre Ream Eyso with the help of a wise hermit, who longs for nothing more than “to spread knowledge to everyone who wished to learn”.

‘Whisker of the Lioness’, an Ethiopian tale read by Margot Rose, shows how a daughter’s longing for her mother’s love drives her to overcome her fear of the mother of all beasts of prey, allowing her to gain insight into how to start loving again. ‘The Lady and the Judge’, a Turkish folktale read by Wendy Hammers, reveals how crossing social and class boundaries empowers the wife of a pasha to help a distressed and exploited dustman. ‘Reindeer Maiden’, a Siberian legend read by Yvette Freeman, tells how, by transforming herself into a “shimmering oil lamp”, the Reindeer Maiden is able to elude her ardent suitor, the Moon, and retain her precious freedom. My favorite, ‘Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind’ (recall ‘Annie Get Your Gun’?), an American tall tale read by Paula Poundstone, ends off the collection – the tale of a true frontier gal who captures her man, Davy Crockett, no less!

This collection of legends and (tall) tales will keep you and your children riveted to the CD player! Don’t forget to make the most of their website too…

Tiptoe through Tasmania / Janice Anderson, illustrated by Oliver Burston - Book Review

Combine a love for rip-roaring adventure with care for the environment and you have a thoughtful and intriguing work, Tiptoe through Tasmania (Brainy Books Publishing House, Inc.; ISBN: 978-0-9832791-0-5), written by an experienced author, Janice Anderson, who is as much into fostering a love for especially the endangered species on our planet as she is into getting youngsters enthralled by reading. The first in a series of Around the World Adventures, which is aimed at encouraging awareness of especially the most vulnerable of our animals among middle-school readers, the novel is exciting from start to finish, and should be sufficient inducement to get any young boy or girl excited about the possibilities of exploring the world out there.

The two boys, Jaden and Max, who are transported to various parts of the globe by their Uncle Teto in his one-of-a-kind super sleek flying submarine are likely to portray at least some of the elements to be found in Anderson’s own two sons, although one can only hope that the novels to come have one or more female characters too. Anderson’s strong naturalistic bent can be seen in her vivid and evocative descriptions of the surrounding landscape. That Uncle Teto lives in Bodega Bay is no small coincidence—the author currently resides in the city of Santa Rosa, which is just a half an hour inland from the small coastal town. A sample of her power to sum up the essence of her environs can be seen in her telling of how the “steep rocky cliffs, fierce undertow, sudden sleeper waves, and presence of great white sharks can make it unsafe.”

Anderson has the skill to make the strange and exotic immediate and suspenseful. Tasmania, too, as the destination for the boys’ trip, despite its being right on the other side of the world, is brought close to the reader by the lively responses of the boys to all that they encounter. The comforting aspect of all three main characters being closely related to one another is also reassuring. The appreciation of the richness of other cultures is clearly shown in the sensitive way in which Anderson describes the boys’ encounter with a small group of Aborigines. Although clearly from a different culture, the latter are shown to be wise and peace-loving individuals who “sway to the rhythm [of drumming] in their peaceful setting.”

The plot itself is straightforward, telling of how the boys are given the task of vaccinating one or more Tasmanian Devils against facial tumor disease that threatens to wipe out the entire population. How Jaden and Max manage to do this by themselves is enough to keep youngsters on the edge of their beds during any sleepover.

 In addition to the fictional core of Tiptoe through Tasmania, fascinating facts about Tasmania and the Tasmanian Devil are also given throughout the book, which is beautifully illustrated with drawings by Oliver Burston. An appendix of “Fun Facts” also gives the most salient points on a range of “native critters,” of which some are to be found on the Australian mainland, rather than in Tasmania itself, including crocodiles, funnel-web spiders, echidnas, jack jumper ants, and platypus. Interesting geographical facts about the Bass Strait that separates Tasmania from Australia and about the Bay of Fires, where the boys land, are also given, though it would be nice to have a map as well. Rounding off the “Fun Facts” are a few insightful pointers on Tasmanian Aborigines and the Tasmanian blue gum. 

A final strong point in favor of this book is that a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program’s fundraising arm, the Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal. So, if you’re environmentally aware, and would like your kids to be too, seriously consider buying a copy of Tiptoe through Tasmania.                    

Amy's Travels / Kathryn Starke - Book Review

Based on a real-life character, Amy Kramer, Amy’s Travels (Creative Minds Publications; ISBN: 0-9769737-0-7) tells the story of a globe-trotting girl who visits all seven continents on earth in turn. After being shown a sketched world map of all the continents, the reader is taken in turn for a fleeting visit to each continent, starting with Antarctica and ending with Australia.

Each visit consists of at least one full-page color drawing of some typical aspect of the continent, which is accompanied by a page of text. For Antarctica, there is a picture of penguins on the edge of a sheet of ice. Starke explains that few people live there because it is so cold, and invites the reader to consider whether they have ever met someone who lives there. Such questioning prompts the reader to consider their own experiences in relation to a little known element, thus prompting the growing child to think about their own life experiences. The linguistic aspect of life on other continents is emphasized in Starke’s reference to the Spanish language that is spoken in Peru. The familiar family setting of a brother and sister playing indoors, with clothing hanging on a washing line outside, should be reassuring to the child reader. Later in the reader, Amy visits the Amazon Rain Forest of Peru. Though I tend to associate the Amazon more with Brazil than I do with Peru, the description of the Rain Forest is very appealing: “The neatest thing about this place is that at night you can take a canoe ride on the Amazon River to see monkeys, bat caves, and frogs.”

The linguistic element is continued in Amy’s next visit, which is to Kenya. We are told that ‘Jambo’ means “hello in Swahili, the native language of Kenya.” The emphasis here is placed on the number of small huts that are used as a school. Such a focus draws attention to the fact that other peoples in the world live in different settings, thereby stimulating the interest in, and curiosity about, what makes contrasting cultures unique. Amy next goes on safari with her brother, during which time they see lions, zebras and hippopotamuses, all of which are portrayed in both words and pictures.

Amy’s next visit is to Holland, which Starke writes “is famous for its hills and windmills” (rather unusual that, as one tends to think of the country as flat). The illustration is, naturally enough, of a windmill. Starke describes how Amy moved to North America when she was eleven years old, and finds that the “coolest thing about the United States is that they have four seasons—fall, spring, summer, and winter.” Truth to tell, I did not find that overly unusual, but perhaps it might be for those who live in totally different climate zones. Amy’s visit to Asia shows camels trekking through the sandy desert, which is a soundly conceived idea, exposing the child reader to an animal which might be totally unknown. Lastly, kangaroos and koalas are portrayed in Amy’s visit to Australia. Starke ends Amy’s worldwide adventures with an enticing question: “So, what continent will you visit first?”

As an elementary school teacher, Starke says that she is on the constant lookout for additional books and lessons to add to the curriculum in her classroom. She, therefore, includes one activity-based lesson, using Amy’s Travels, per grade for all grades from kindergarten to fifth grade. Satisfying some of the core requirements of the Virginia Standards of Learning, Amy’s Travels is a stimulating and interesting text, which teaches children varied world perspectives in a meaningful and relevant way.

From Crime to Crime / Dennis Palumbo - Book Review

In his introduction to this collection of “armchair mysteries”, Dennis Palumbo traces the history of such mysteries back to Edgar Allan Poe. As steeped in tradition as this genre might be, these twelve tales are all thoroughly up to date, taking place largely in a contemporary domestic setting.

From Crime to Crime is based on Palumbo’s own experiences with his friends, who all used to meet together at the author’s home in the San Fernando Valley, north of Los Angeles. In those days they all reckoned that they were pretty smart, but that was a fairly long time ago… Though Palumbo does change a few of the professions (but, most notably, not his own), most of the dialogue and interactions between the characters are fictional.

Palumbo describes his core characters as ‘reasonably successful baby boomers,’ who regularly meet at ‘weekly Sunday afternoon bull sessions’. These meetings, of what they dubbed the ‘Smart Guys Marching Society’, allow them the chance to explore what’s been happening around them during the past week, freeing them up to solve murders and to resolve quandaries that they encounter in their daily lives. In brief, From Crime to Crime proves that group thinking really works!

In what could easily be rewritten as dinner theater pieces, all the mysteries that form the larger part of this collection of short stories are described in dialogue that takes place between Mark (‘an Intelligence officer turned journalist’), Fred (‘a lawyer by trade, but philosopher by avocation’), Bill (‘a long-time actor and theater director’), and the narrator himself (‘a psycho-therapist, with years of handling conflicts’). However, the fun (and solving) really starts when Uncle Isaac joins the group. As the stories unfold, so do the characters transform into our close associates, with whom we eagerly embark on the next crime-solving spree.

Palumbo’s straightforward narration, which is largely presented in the form of lively repartee that takes place between the five main characters, suits the unfolding of the crimes that have taken place within their eye- or earshot. Despite their conversation clearly being that of experts in their own divergent fields, it is highly accessible to the average reader. The references to leading psychologists (such as Jung) and film directors (such as Hitchcock and Tarantino) serve to add spice and context to the dialogue.

The focus throughout these stories is on the unraveling of the mysteries. Although the meetings start with a humorous interchange on topics of relevance to the daily lives of the main characters, it soon narrows down to a description of a crime that has recently occurred. After the description of the crime scene, a bout of verbal parrying, involving the asking of many pertinent questions and the musing about suppositions as to how the crime was committed, the solution in each case is arrived at, all within thirty pages or less.

Rounding out From Crime to Crime are three mysteries which, though not quite fitting into the mold of the Smart Guys tales, feature such interesting characters as a female psychologist sleuth and a cash-strapped pay clerk named Albert Einstein. So, despite most of the characters being male, there is much of interest to women readers as well, with the approach to women being empathic and appreciative throughout. Both the language used and the crimes described are tastefully presented, encouraging the mental puzzling out of the mysteries concerned, rather than consisting of a nail-biting suspenseful over-dramatization of the action that tends, these days, to be the usual fare.  

  

Dennis Palumbo, M.A., MFT is a licensed psychotherapist, to whom the unraveling of mysteries comes as naturally as does the unveiling of the intricacies of the human psyche. No wonder that he thrives in the drawing room milieu, as he was formerly a Hollywood screenwriter, and has even been nominated for a WGA Award for Best Screenplay.

Entertaining, witty and up to the moment, this collection of short stories is well worth the read, and might even inspire you to start your own focus group! 

Dreamer / Daniel Quinn - Book Review

The world-renowned author Daniel Quinn’s deep-seated interest in abstract expressionism, which first came to light most clearly in his 1988 novel, Dreamer,has once again come to the fore in the reissuing of this cult classic. Despite his intentions that were voiced most adamantly up until a decade ago that he was not overly keen on having the work republished, undoubtedly at least in part being due to its fairly sluggish initial reception, he has now allowed it to be so, as a result of his urging from his strong fan base, which has largely been drawn to his work by his much more widely acclaimed, Turner-award winning novel Ishmael.

Unlike the serious, educative effort of said later novel, Quinn’s debut novel is more of a deeply disturbing psychological thriller, in which the major protagonist drifts from sleeping into waking and back again in a cycle of deepening despair and soul-searching. Having much in common with two of Quinn’s later novels,The Holy and After Dachau, the anguish experienced by Greg Donner (his subconscious self, revealed in sleep) embodies the existentialist negativity and sense of destructive psychosis that beleagues and belabours modern man, in his search for self and integrity. The identity of Richard Iles (the protagonist’s waking self) is held captive, firstly, by his turbulent marriage to the emotionally draining and demanding Ginny Winters, and, secondly, by his incarceration in a sanatorium for those suffering from emotional and mental breakdowns. But who is Greg Donner, and who is he not? As his sleeping and waking personae mesh into one, and nightmare seems to become his everyday existence, the real person struggles to emerge from the imagined one, bringing a realisation of being to the central character that is both insightful and intriguing.

The disillusionment of Greg with Ginny forms an integral element of the plot, unravelling as Greg’s own psyche appears to crumble under the many societal blows that it has to endure. Starting out with the intentions of a highly romanticised, but devastatingly unrealistic and naive, lover, Greg voices his doubts even as he robotlike utters hackneyed phrases that, in actual fact, express the failure of the two to relate meaningfully on a deeper level: ‘“I mean, you are my sunshine, my only sunshine, and the apple of my eye, and my everything, and all that other stuff...”’ Dreamer should find resonance with any reader feeling that their life is being pulled apart by the many stresses inflicted on it within a contemporary urban setting.

Set in Chicago, in which city Quinn spent over two decades working in editing and publishing prior to his completion of the novel, Dreamer is imbued with the spirit of the place, to which reference is made throughout the novel, but which exemplifies any modern, over-commercialised city in America. Its “dark, deserted streets” bear echoes of other crass cities that essentially rob one of one’s soul if one fails to have the presence of mind to resist their undermining of the spiritual components of one’s being. In a sense, Dreamer figures forth the Everyman of the modern day, and thus has relevance for all those living within a Westernised environment and milieu.

The economic collapse of the presentday world, concomitant with the shattering of the dreams of so many, has come to make Dreamer as relevant today as it was when first issued over two decades ago. Perhaps it is now that its importance as a seminal novel of provocative thought and questioning of the existing status quo will be recognised, in keeping with Ellen Datlow’s listing of it as one of the year’s best in her annual review of works of fantasy and horror, and its inclusion in the New York Review of Science Fiction’s “Horror at the End of the Century.”

American Suite / Diana E. Sheets, PhD - Book Review

American Suite (Jorge Pinto Books Inc; ISBN: 978-1-934978-33-7), described by author Dr. Diana E. Sheets as “a contemporary historical novel about life in America today disguised as ‘chick lit’”, is a novel written in the form of journal entries by three women: a mother, and her two daughters, all of whom have distinctive characters that seem continuously to be at conflict with one another. Essentially, the work, which is a spoof of conventional American society, mores and literature, was written in reaction to the emotional neediness of the stereotypical female reader.

For anyone who has not found themselves at home either in rural America or in a writer’s group, the lead character, Arisa Selby, is an absolute treat. In an attempt to come to terms with her experience of 9/11, she flees New York City to try to find herself amidst the “Flatlanders” of the Midwest. Her sense of emotional disjointedness and acerbic NYC wit bring her into head-on conflict with the perfectly mannered “Overly Friendly People” that populate that neck of the woods. As a fictionalized memoir writer, Arisa naturally comes, at least tentatively, to seek refuge in the local writers’ group, the members of whom she satirizes as representing the genres that they depict in their writings. That she supplants her latent aggression and frustration into an ongoing battle waged against miniature garden marauders (a.k.a. squirrels), as well as, ultimately, against a perverted Peeping Tom neighbor, with the help of the Crime Guys is almost inevitable. 

Arisa’s sister, Sophie, presents a less “ditzy” face, and has more conventional concerns, such as how to raise her three young sons in an overwhelmingly male household (even the Labrador and two cats are masculine in gender). Sophie’s strength lies in her ability to counter all misfortunes and temptations that come her way, including her physical attraction to a son’s young tutor. Sophie’s domestic setting in the “Connecticut burbs” allows Sheets to question not only what holds the American family together in trying times, but also the nature and essence of multiculturalism, as her three sons each adopt, albeit it at a superficial level, a different religion: Protestantism, Hinduism and Judaism. The latter is strongly influenced by Arisa and Sophie’s mother’s involvement with a Jewish man that seems, overall, to be the most sane and stable of the whole bunch. His suffering from cancer might be seen as a tinge of black humor on Sheets’ side, indicating that the overall situation in America lends itself to terminal illness.

Sheets certainly exposes the vulnerable underbelly of the nation as a whole, which is what she intended to do with the work. As she says, “I wanted to use this unease, this sense of dislocation, as a means of reimaging America in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 when our world was transformed and we lost our innocence, our empowerment, maybe even our entitlement.” An informed and elucidating read, American Suite would make a brilliantly insightful and extremely witty contrast to Woody Allen’s angst-ridden movies if it were to be transformed into a screenplay. Let’s hope that Hollywood is taking note. 

Let the Dead Lie: An Emmanuel Cooper Mystery / Malla Nunn - Book Review

This suspenseful novel from award-winning author Malla Nunn is taut and tightly paced. Set in 1953 in South Africa, a country that surrounds Nunn’s country of birth, Swaziland, Let the Dead Lie: An Emmanuel Cooper Mystery (Washington Square Press; ISBN: 978-1-4165-8622-7) masterfully blends all elements that are required in such a text. Whether it is read as a sequel to Nunn’s impressive debut novel, A Beautiful Place to Die, or by itself matters little, but that it is most definitely worth reading by anyone interested in the detective genre is a cert.

The action in Let the Dead Lie centers around the deductive work of a former detective sergeant, Emmanuel Cooper. Emmanuel was earlier forced to buy his release from the police force on pain of otherwise being dishonorably discharged for an action that, under a more just system than the reigning apartheid regime, would not have been necessary. Within 48 hours, Emmanuel has to solve a crime without the backup of the resources that would have been available to him as a matter of course if he had been part of the conventional police force. Not only does Emmanuel have to cope with the thugs and criminals that formed part of the underworld of the time, but he also finds himself up against those who would, prior to his disgrace, have been his colleagues. With the threat of a jail sentence hanging over his head if he does not solve the crime, involving the murder of a young white boy, which rapidly escalates into the murder of three victims, in time, Emmanuel has no time to waste. Each page is more gripping than the first, as Emmanuel’s deadline looms ever closer.

In addition to those striving to outwit or outrun him, Emmanuel also has his own inner demons with which to contend. As a demobbed soldier who has survived the burned out battlefields of Western Europe, Emmanuel is constantly besieged by ever-present imaginary figures, such as a brutal and callous Scottish sergeant major, who appear to him in the form of pounding migraines, from whom he can only escape by resorting to taking whatever drugs are at hand.

The description of the low-life types that frequent the Durban docklands are fascinating, as are the range of prostitutes that tread these pages. The social inequalities of the time, which were entrenched in the National Party’s legislative approach to the governance of multiracial South Africa, are revealed in full. The use of such a background is an effective means of keeping alive the memory of the horrendous deeds that were perpetrated by the apartheid state. However, at no stage does Nunn dictate what the response of the reader should be to such inequity and violation of basic human rights. Her primary intent is to tell a first rate story, peopled by three dimensional, credible characters, and this she achieves to the full.

Let the Dead Lie is a well rounded, believable novel that should gain a wide audience, as well as being a work in which contemporary historians and those affected by post-traumatic stress disorder should take an interest.       

Mirror Image / Dennis Palumbo - Book Review

An upbeat setting, convincing characters and a plot that has one on the edge of one’s seat from page one—what more could a reader ask for in a crime novel? Once more, established mystery writer Dennis Palumbo has pulled off a fine fast-paced whodunnit that has one yearning for more. Set in Pittsburgh, with the backdrop of the “old Appalachian Hills, sloping away before spreading urban tendrils, looking as pristine and timeless as when the first settlers came over four hundred years ago”, Mirror Image (Poisoned Pen Press; ISBN: 1590587529) has such tangible atmosphere that the reader is locked into the plot by Palumbo’s versatile writing, which changes from poetic description to slick dialogue in the blink of an eye.

The characters range from the psychotic (with part of the novel being set in a psychiatric institution, which has its fair share of scary and battle-scarred inmates) to the professional (though the latter seem, at times, not to be too far off the former…). Palumbo’s own background as a psychotherapist enables him to imbue the lead character with authenticity and compassion towards the emotionally maimed and much undervalued social misfits.

Dr. Daniel Rinaldi is a clinical psychologist who specializes in treating victims of violent crime, to which he himself has also, ironically enough, been subject, with his wife being shot in a mugging in front of his very eyes. So, in a way, he also has some emotional baggage with which to contend. Not only that, but he’s also at loggerheads with Dr. Brooks Riley, Chief Psychiatrist at Ten Oaks, the most successful private psychiatric facility in the state of Pennsylvania, who’s determined to see to it that he gets Rinaldi’s license revoked.

When a patient of Rinaldi’s opts for dressing just like him, and gets viciously stabbed to death just outside the doc’s offices, all hell breaks loose. Tracking down the suspect, naturally, forms the major impetus of the plot, though there are loads of characters whose interrelationships tend at times to be of the rockiest kind, but at times reflect what true friendship is all about. The professional details regarding post-traumatic stress disorder which are neatly woven into the plot are fascinating. The characters are well-rounded and credible, with a fair amount of attraction between the sexes adding extra spice to the unfolding drama.

One cannot doubt that Palumbo has hands-on experience of the police and court proceedings which are so integral to the plot. His mystery stories have appeared in the past in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, The Strand Magazine and Written By, among other eminent journals. Mirror Image should make a great read for anyone interested in the crime genre, as long as you are open-minded enough not to mind the occasional cussing which goes with the territory.

The NightMan / T.L. Mitchell - Book Review

Intrigued by werewolves and vampires? Then look no further than the novella The NightMan, by T.L. Mitchell. The NightMan (Knight Night Romance Publishing; ISBN: 978-0615385631), though only 55 pages long, is an erotic thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat with excitement and tantalized taste buds. Mitchell knows how to evoke a mysterious atmosphere, despite her approach not being of the most original: “A thick foggy mist floated silently through the trees, drifting down to the cold wintry ground.” Still, there is much for her young adult audience to appreciate, especially if you come to her work with minimal exposure to more evolved writing.

The historical background of the story is traced back to “the mid-evil times of Ireland, [when] Vikings invaded the Irish some 26 times following their first appearance on the island.” The characters are as believable as they can be in the paranormal genre, with more attention being paid to their superficial appearance than to the inner workings of their psyches: “The coats they wore complimented [sic] the frilly shirts and appeared to be more of the English formal ware.”

The plot itself is fairly straightforward. The NightMan tells of Caitlin, a beautiful woman who is caught between the control of a ruthless vampire and her yearning to be truly loved. The object of her desire is Adriel, the NightMan, who longs, in turn “to give Caitlin the love of a man who would truly love the very breath which left her body.” What holds him back from doing so is his transformation into “a tall, monstrously wicked and evil creature.” Their erotic encounter is described with fervor and in graphic detail by the ardent Mitchell, who portrays the two lovers as being consumed by hunger and desire for each other.

The NightMan will most probably find a wide audience among older teens and young adults who have yet to learn a great deal about life and relationships. As the genre is extremely popular at the moment, with much coverage both on screen and in text, the novella should receive a rapturous welcome from those who enjoy light reading and an uncomplicated plot. 

The Meerkat Wars / H.S. Toshack - Book Review

If you are the kind of animal lover that revels in the antics of the smaller creatures on our planet and that chooses to look beyond the attention-grabbing Big Five of the African continent, then you just might be the ideal audience for The Meerkat Wars by H.S. Toshack. This inspiring tale of how a cat helps a clan of meerkats to fend off an invading clan that wishes to take over its territory makes for a heart-pounding and insightful read, not only teaching youngsters (and those of an older generation who still are blessed with the ability to savor such writing) of the habits of these relatively small inhabitants of the African plains, but also encouraging them to empathize with others who may, in appearance at least, seem to be significantly different to themselves, especially at first sight.

The characters that comprise the cast of this tale all come to life under Toshack’s thoughtful and perceptive penmanship. Even if a child has never before heard of the strange breed of mongoose that also bears the name ‘suricate’, they are bound to warm to the author’s lively descriptions of this apparently sun-worshipping breed of small mammal that spends so much of its life underground. By starting from familiar territory, with a cat that, unbeknownst to its owners, stows away on board their Land Rover when they go on safari in the Baragandiri National Park, and who gets lost almost as soon as she arrives in the Park, Toshack cleverly elicits the sympathy of his audience, many of whom most probably have cats as pets, or who have relatives or friends who do. Sheena, despite being the pivotal figure in the story, in her position as a link between the two warring clans, provides an understandable and empathetic connection between the familiar and the unknown on more than one level. Meerkats, on her first encountering them, are as strange to her as they are likely to be for any human who has not yet been exposed to the wonderful range of creatures that there are to encounter in the African bush.

Although Toshack is, at times, inclined to indulge in a fair measure of anthropomorphism, he conveys with ease insights into not only the way of life of meerkats, but also into that of other animals that Sheena encounters in her adventures, such as porcupines and honey badgers. It comes as no surprise, then, to find that Toshack has both lived and worked in Africa, nor that he is a retired English teacher and educational consultant. Indeed, he takes great enjoyment in playing around with the English language, such as when Sheena first thinks porcupines are called ‘porcuspines’ and has to be corrected in her language usage. Toshack’s great sense of humor adds an extra bite to the ease and flow of his writing, which is complemented by numerous fine drawings by Nelson McAlister.

If you and your children become as enamored with Toshack’s and Sheena’s (she is accredited with coauthor status) story as many others have been, don’t fret when you come to the end of this marvelous semi-allegorical tale–there are two others that you should also feel drawn to read: Paka Mdogo and The Gradual Elephant.

Butterfly Tears / Zoë S. Roy - Book Review

This collection of over fifteen pieces of short fiction is as delicate and fine as the most intricately woven filigree. Telling the tales of women who have emigrated from China to Canada or to the United States, the work reveals the complex nature of having to contend with multicultural, and often contradictory, forces both at home and abroad. Emerging from the Cultural Revolution of Mao Tse-tung, the spirit of the women that is the backbone of these stories shows how, despite the harshest discipline and the most dehumanizing conditions, some women still have the strength to endure the most adverse circumstances, and, rather than becoming embittered by them, can remain sensitive to both their own needs, as well as to those of others. The nobility of these daughters of China recalls the proud heritage from which they have emerged into contemporary Western society.

Born in China, Zoë S. Roy, the author of this collection, was an eyewitness to the red terror under Mao’s regime. The stories have the immediacy of someone who has seen the best and the worst of times – no stranger to the idealism of Communism, she also has a clear-sighted view of the horrors and deprivations of such a regime. Unable to bear the humiliation of public denunciation, several of the minor characters in the stories commit suicide, having been guilty of nothing other than a desire to reap the benefit of their own labor. The upending of an entire society and the morals and integrity of a centuries old way of life are nowhere laid more bare than in the tale ‘Herbs’, which tells of a man’s sexual promiscuity, and his attempt to force such lack of ethics on his wife. She is told by her unscrupulous husband, from whom she later flees, “You just don’t know how to enjoy sexual freedom. Everybody around the world wants this, and you can have it. And your husband doesn’t mind.” But she does, and so do the rest of the major characters in these tales.

The nuances of intense and deep-felt passion resonate throughout the text. The female protagonists are all capable of responding with a sensuality which belies their being robbed of self under the autocratic Communist regime. The freedom to which the women have access in the West is starkly contrasted with the repressiveness of the modern-day East. An exotic flavor, nevertheless, tinges these pages, and the richness of the Orient is omnipresent in the imagery which Roy uses throughout the book.

This is a collection to be treasured and admired. Both thought-provoking and mysterious, Butterfly Tears evokes the strength and endurance of womankind across the cultures. A work that will best be appreciated by those with an ear and an eye for the unusual and the unique, don’t let this one slip out of your sight too soon, else you might come to regret it.

A Dance with Jane Austen: How a Novelist and her Characters Went to the Ball / Susannah Fullerton - Book Review

The centrality of the role of the ball to Regency society is highlighted by the well-known Janeian researcher, Deidre le Faye, in her foreword to this guide to such assemblies, as presented in all of Jane Austen’s six novels, and as experienced in her own life, and recounted in her letters to her sister, Cassandra. In addition, Fullerton has, according to le Faye, “studied all mentions of dances in the novels to show how they advance the plot as well as adding to the skilful betrayal of the nature and motives of some of the characters in the tale.”

Not only, in fact, does Fullerton describe the significance of such occasions, which enabled young people of the time to meet together on their best behavior and in their finest dress in an extravagant form of courting ritual, as Austen herself wrote about them, but also how such grandiloquent events have been portrayed in the filmed versions of Austen’s work (to which Fullerton devotes an entire chapter). One aspect of A Dance with Jane Austen: How a Novelist and her Characters Went to the Ball (Frances Lincoln Ltd.; ISBN-13: 978-0-7112-3245-7) that I did find rather scanty was the two-page index, which I felt could have been more fleshed out with the names of the characters involved, especially as their attitude towards dance, and all that it entailed (including mannerisms and dress), is so revelatory to their own development in the novels. How the protagonists choose to comport, and disport, themselves, within the strict confines of the rules of etiquette holding sway over such gatherings reflects the way in which they relate to the outside world. The author, consequently, pays great attention to discussing what the rules of the day were, and shows how woe betide anyone who flaunted them—such was taken as a lack of breeding, and as a very poor show of character!

Fullerton, as the president of the Jane Austen Society of Australia, has plainly gone to considerable lengths to explore the minutiae of leading aspects of the ball (including transport arrangements and culinary feasting), within the context of Regency society. The multiple illustrations are colorful and represent the various aspects of such assemblies with great vividness and alacrity. For young people especially, many of whom are required to study at least one of Austen’s novels at school and college, A Dance with Jane Austen should provide both an instructive, and an enjoyable, glimpse into the world of the Regency period. 

Women Drummers: A History from Rock and Jazz to Blues and Country / Angela Smith - Book Review

Basing Women Drummers: A History from Rock and Jazz to Blues and Country (Rowman & Littlefield; ISBN-13: 978-0-8108-8834-0) on interviews conducted with over 50 top women drummers, Angela Smith recounts how, in addition, another 160 women gained both national and international prowess through their mastery of the art of drumming. Their astounding success in what was once a male-dominated profession is truly inspiring, with much being attributed to their determination to prove that women can be just as good, if not, at times, better than men at pursuing those interests to which they are passionately committed. Opening her introduction with an anecdote regarding the ninety-nine-year-old Viola Smith walking into a music store in Orange County, California, and being astonished to be met with frank adulation from the floored store owner, Smith continues to stress the importance of the role played by professional women drummers for thousands of years. The opposition that they have encountered is shown, over the eons, as having made them more determined than ever to prove their mettle as worthwhile musicians who have outstanding talents to share with fellow musicians, and with their avid followers, as well as with the rest of the world. And who better to tell the story of so many musically gifted women than one who is a working musician and music journalist herself, who has already written the acclaimed Steel Drums and Steelbands: A History?

Angela Smith’s focus in this overview of women drummers is on women who have, over the last six decades, made it to the top in terms of popular and contemporary jazz, country, blues, and rock. By focusing on the individual drummers involved, she has been able to bring to the forefront their most outstanding achievements, as well as the limitations that they faced on their careers emanating from a social climate that has all too often been antagonistic to them reaching their full potential. The multiple black-and-white photos of the drummers, many of whom are portrayed “on the job” also help to personalize this interesting, and occasionally provocative, glimpse into the world of the percussion instrument from a woman who is all too conscious of the legacy of discrimination that has permeated the world of music for far too long.

The chronological structure of Women Drummers aids in making the work a coherent whole, in addition to the chapters being well signposted and containing numerous helpful headings. The index is quite lengthy (20 pages) and detailed for a book of this nature, and there is also a helpful appendix, consisting of a listing of selected discography, video links, and online resources, as well as an 11-page bibliography. In short, Angela Smith seems to have done her research well, and produced a lively and informative text on a subject that, in the past, has tended not to receive the attention that it should. Although the fluency of the book has lost out somewhat to the amount of information contained therein, it is a worthwhile text that deserves its place on any music-lover’s shelf, but especially on that of keen feminists, who only too ardently wish to promote their cause.