There is always another perspective than yours, whether you want to accept it, believe it, or not.  These pairs of stories are two views of the same situation involving an adolescent boy and girl, with the spotlight shining on different aspects of the events as they unfold, on the feelings as they arise and dissipate, understood or not, with this shift.   Sex/romance/motivation/hope/love/fear/trust, prejudice/loneliness/insecurity – all are addressed openly and directly, with a thread throughout of how little we know of each other, regardless of age, sex, background . . . and how much we need to listen even when we don’t think we can possibly understand.

Sometimes it is the smallest detail that triggers the most painful memories; such is the case for Vernon, a man struggling with the terminal illness of his brother Leonard along with his own impending retirement, drinking problem, and the decades-old fury seething beneath his skin.    His brother has one request – he wants to see his sons, Jody and Scooter, before he dies.  It has been over ten years since the boys have been to their childhood home of Branden, Louisiana, both driven away by violence and circumstance.  As one of the locals explains to the returning Jody, “we’ve got adultery, violence, intrigue,” as a matter of convincing him that all is not as quiet and boring as one might think in such a sleepy, backwards town.  Jody has made a new life for himself as a civilian in the military, including a longtime friend and his sister, who has become Jody’s girlfriend, who are accepting and loving where his own family had been mysteriously difficult and frustrating.  Vernon’s own son, Billy, died as a young adult and Vernon blames his own strict parenting for his loss, while Jody attempts to convince him that no one was at fault.  The two, a broken man nearing old age and his nephew, close to burying his father as he forges his own path in life, find comfort in each other as they wade through memories that are both revealing and devastating.   Vernon’s habit of hanging his wash buck-naked during the Baptist church Easter picnic is a hilarious visual, as is the gathering of the family in Vernon and Leonard’s father’s home state of Texas, the whole group settled in front of the television fixated on Hee Haw, providing comic relief in the midst of this serious look at family relationships and how letting go is sometimes the only way to move on. 

Written by a medical doctor and a wellness coach, this book brings a different perspective to organization and productivity, focusing on practical information about how our minds work and how we can best use that knowledge to bring order to our lives, increasing confidence and self-trust.  Information overload, which happens to all of us, is explained as a ‘black out’ in our brains, making everything difficult, including the management of emotions; although, the authors warn that “if you are someone who becomes transfixed by the sight of farm animals in trucks while driving, nothing we can say will help you.”  There is a healthy dose of humor along with very easy to understand explanations and advice, along with the assurance that we are in charge of our own lives and we can make priorities and find motivations that keep us happy and healthy.  It might not be easy, but taking the time to learn about ourselves and making the effort to change for the better is well worth it.  The authors make a point of noting that ‘normal’ is a relative term; what is ‘normal’ for others might not work for you.  We should each strive to find what works best for ourselves and our individual needs.  The text includes ‘case studies’ or examples along with an appendix that is a sort of ‘Cliffs Notes’ to the book, which sums everything up and makes it easy to browse through as a refresher when necessary.

New Girl by Paige Harbison
The Faith of a Writer by Joyce Carol Oates
Sins of the Highlander by Connie Mason
A Jane Austen Devotional (Thomas Nelson)
The Real Elizabeth by Andrew Marr

The JCO is a treadmill book – gotta have something to keep me moving!

Reviewed at Bookspotcentral.

This collection of short stories takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, but stops short of reaching the top of the ride before sliding back to even ground.  Most of the tales hold the promise of more than what is delivered; the plotlines and the characters are just not quite developed as they could be.  Morrow isn’t afraid to visit the depths of human depravity: greed, psychotic depression, violence, lust . . . this might very well be a list of deadly – or close to it – sins.  In “The Hoarder,” a young man who watches patrons on the miniature golf course where he works, unbeknownst to them, and takes intimate photographs of his brother’s girlfriend, again, without her knowledge, becomes a murderer in a matter of heartbeats.  This is the first, and perhaps, the best of the set.  Other stories involve a man’s struggle with his childhood memories and the death of his twin sister, the heartless fear of a brother who may have raped his sister decades ago and worries only that his crime might be discovered, a man blinded in an accident only to bring relief to others in pain through his religious speeches who recovers his sight only to realize that his wife and children have become moral slaves to the money made through his work, an animal hoarder who may have had an incestuous relationship with his sister, an orphan who believes his grandmother’s boarder is an alien, and a man who enjoys the unhappiness he visits upon others by stealing objects of emotional value to them.  Some of the descriptions are wonderfully vivid; blood vessels “thick and blue as rancid meat” is particularly lovely, and some lines are absolutely perfect – “What a lovely woman.  Worry can sometimes be so becoming in a person” and “I knew I loved Lydia when I stole her ring” are priceless, the latter even more so because it is the first line of that story.  In spite of these gems, there is a lack of plausibility in some of the details that detracts from them.  Can one really chew through duct tape?  Can a man “fake it”? (I asked my ex-husband and a male friend, who confirmed my suspicions  – the physical aspect is the kicker).  I am unsure as to whether a patient in a mental hospital can get married, but I would think not.  These stories are worth the time to read, if, however, lacking that inexplicable ‘something’ that makes the experience complete.

(Originally released in 1985, now available for Kindle download)

George is best known for her Newbery Award-winning Julie of the Wolves as well as My Side of the Mountain, which have delighted and challenged readers of all ages for half a century.  Her expertise in the animal realm makes her the perfect author for this fun and informative look at how animals communicate with each other and us, focusing on dogs, cats, birds, and horses.  Animal communication is based on cause and effect and is actually much more complicated than most of us might think.  She uses specific (and entertaining) examples to illustrate her point from her own experience and that of other animal owners, and reiterates the point that there is still so much that we don’t know and need to be open to learn.  Individual animals are unique in their personalities, and like people, are known best by those who live with them and love them; an owner knows his or her animal from their personal experience with them.  George adds fun sketches and diagrams to the text that are as amusing as they are informative.  The facial expression charts are hilarious and so true – I can see my own cats in those drawings.  You might understand the signals from your own pet but reading this book will help you understand some of the ‘whys’ behind the behavior and verify that feeling we all have that a lot of what your animal friend does is a complete mystery and that is, really, part of their charm. 

This is a very accessible, poetically written look at how we, through spiritual depression and worldly trials, draw nearer to God and by our difficulties, become closer to Him and the life we are meant to lead by His plan.  Yes, there are many books out there on dealing with pain, stress, tragedy – questions of the existence of a God who would allow terrible things to happen to His children, but this one is unique in the addition of personal questions meant for exploration at the end of each chapter.  The immediate use of the material to the reader’s own life makes this useful and memorable.  Milton, who is the chancellor elect of the Reformed Theological Seminary, makes the strong and valuable point that in times of crisis, we must turn to God rather than away from Him; this is our natural response and we should not fight it, but allow ourselves to seek Him regardless of shame, guilt, fear, or anger.  As a Roman Catholic, I understand that the RTS philosophy is in direct opposition to many of my personal beliefs, and there are some vague anti-Catholic references (without using the word ‘Catholic,’ but those of us who are, will catch it immediately) but they were not overtly hostile and did not turn me off to the main message of the book, which should speak loud and clearly to all Christians and those who seek God.  Our faith, regardless of denominational separations, unites us in our walk towards and with Christ.

What happens when a gorgeous Etruscan goddess, worshiped by supernatural beings she created two thousand years ago, locks lips with an incredibly hot minor league hockey player who has no clue that she is so much more than the spectacularly beautiful woman who has been watching his moves on the ice? Blindingly intense sex powered by pure animal lust that keeps the reader wanting more, that’s what.  Lucy and Brandon have no idea that their physical passion for each other might lead to a deeper connection neither one of them intends or desires.  Scratching the itch they have both felt since they set eyes on each other is the name of the game and they waste no time getting down and dirty, devouring each other with a driving force almost beyond their control.  Sex with a human, or eteri, is not part of Lucy’s repertoire, but she enjoys coupling with Brandon like a starving woman at a feast; he is no less appreciative of their encounters, which are vividly described by Julian, who wastes no time getting her characters naked, sweaty, and satiated.  Satiated for the moment, for Lucy and Brandon both realize, after a few short days, that the sex they share has brought them closer together on an emotional level, one that binds and commits them to fight evil in order to save each other and pursue a life together.

This is the second book in the Forgotten Goddesses series, following What a Goddess Wants.  Reading the first might make the elements of the supernatural tale that frames this love story a bit easier to understand, but ultimately, those details pale compared to the scalding scenes between Lucy and Brandon.  Whatever happens, it is clear that this pair will do anything for – and to – each other; emphasis on the ‘to.’  This is not merely page after page of erotica, however.  The feelings that grow so quickly and believably beyond the satisfaction of sexual release ring true as Julian breathes life into her characters.  This tale will make your heart beat faster and your breath catch as Lucy tames Brandon’s perpetual hard-on and he dominates her as no supernatural lover ever has, taking time, of course, to battle the demon that comes to drag Lucy into the underworld.  Brandon finds himself possessed of a nearly superhuman strength and an intimidating power that leads to a surprising secret revealed when a bloody but necessary ritual goes awry, and Lucy makes a decision that will change the future for both of them forever.  There is not a dull moment in this very satisfying plunge into darkness and desire.