“Pink Slips and Parting Gifts” by Deb Hosey White is a work of fiction.  It says so on both the front and back cover of the book.  But if it is a work of fiction, why does the story seem so familiar?  Perhaps it is because there is no dearth of stories about mergers, acquisitions and bankruptcies in the papers these days.  At any rate, for the casual reader, “Pink Slips and Parting Gifts” makes for an interesting, informative, and even amusing read.  But for those lucky readers who are still gainfully employed in a mid-size or large corporation it is just plain scary!

The plot of “Pink Slips and Parting Gifts” is simple and direct.  The Easton Company was a Fortune 500 company that had been around for a long time.  Its late founder had employed thousands of people who believed as he did that the community was important and every employee mattered.  The company’s charitable works in the Washington, DC area were well known and had earned the founder the Presidential Medal of Freedom.  In short, The Easton Company was as American as apple pie---until its new CEO decided to sell the company.

There were a variety of reasons why selling The Easton Company was a very bad idea; but the CEO, Jeffery Elkins, had ninety-one million reasons to do so.  Ninety-one million dollars was the amount he would receive in benefits if the sale or merger went through.  It was an offer he couldn’t refuse; especially since he himself fashioned the offer.  It doesn’t take long to figure out where all this is going.  As a matter of fact, there is a major clue in the dedication page which reads, “For the generations of American retirees and workers who have unfairly lost employer-sponsored health benefits.”  This, in a nutshell, is what happened to employees of The Easton Company after they lost their jobs.

Author Deb Hosey White chronicles the demise of The Easton Company from a variety of points of view across the spectrum of its employees.  From the hard-working administrative assistants and mid-level managers to the maintenance personnel and even the corporate pilot, each had a story to tell and each were victims of the culture of greed and mismanagement that emanated from the front office.  Writing from several points of view is never easy, but Ms. White does so easily, moving with agility from one story to another, all the time retaining the readers’ attention. At the same time, her narrative has a “been there, done that,” feel to it which is no doubt due to her more than thirty years experience working for Fortune 1000 companies where she lived mergers and acquisitions from inside the conference rooms, cubicles and executive suites of corporate America.

So, who should read “Pink Slips and Parting Gifts?”  A paragraph on the back cover says it all, “An estimated one in five corporate employees has experienced a merger or acquisition.  'Pink Slips and Parting Gifts' is their story ---the one every corporate cubicle jockey, business-class road warrior and mid-level manager will want to read.”  I respectfully agree! 

Pink Slips and Parting Gifts
Deb Hosey White
iUniverse (2009)
ISBN 9781440158049
Reviewed by Ron Standerfer for Reader Views (10/09)

Sophia: I think this a funny and sad story about a cute little dog named Mandy. It was sad because a trainer man was being mean to her. I like stories about dog and puppies. This book starts off telling about Mandy’s life as a puppy and how she went to the pet store to be sold. The mean man who bought her wanted to train her to be a show dog, but she couldn’t learn what he wanted her to. He took her to the pound. A nice family picked her up from the pound and gave her a new home. But, Mandy started biting the children and the parents were mad. The family had to figure out what to do with Mandy now.

My favorite part of the story is when Shadow asked Mandy if she was shaped like a beach ball because she ate so much when she grew up! Mandy told Shadow that she ate so much, because the mean man would hold her food back and this made her eat a lot now. The drawings are really funny too!

Madeline: This is a funny story about a Beagle named Mandy and her best friend Shadow the Dalmatian. Mandy has bad dreams about her life when she was a puppy. One day Mandy tells Shadow her dreams are so scary because her dreams are her life. It all started when “Mr. Master” bought Mandy from the pet shop. He was so mean to her. He would take her food away and keep her locked in a room. He couldn't teach her to be a show dog so he sent her to the pound. Mandy was happy to get away from the mean man.

Four days later a family finds her and takes her home. One day Mandy bites one of the little boys. The family was very sad and took her to the pound. They felt bad so they went to the pound and gave her another chance. A few months later the boy jumps on Mandy while she was asleep and she bites him again. The family decides that Mandy needs to go.

I really like the drawings in this book! The funniest drawing is of the man wearing a T-shirt that reads, “Mean Dog Training Machine.”

My favorite part of the story is when Mandy is describing the heat of the cage at the pet shop. She says to Shadow, “Yeow! Hot, hot, ouchy, ouchy!”

We think children will really enjoy “Mandy The Alpha Dog” by Paula Shene.

Mandy The Alpha Dog
Paula Shene
PublishAmerica (2009)
ISBN 9781608367108
Reviewed by Sophia (age 6.75) and Madeline (age 8.5) McElroy for Reader Views (10/09)

From the very first page author Williams has captivated his reading audience by describing vividly his two main characters, Brendan and Micah. Both young men know that their sexuality is in question and are afraid to talk about it.  Being brought up Mormon has its good and bad points and when it comes to one’s sexuality or being of color, those are some things one doesn’t discuss.

Micah, a few years older than Brendan, has left the Church as he doesn’t agree with some of the doctrine and thinking.  Brendan has left the Church as well, but has not discussed his homosexuality with many people; his concern is that he loves dance- ballet and pointe, and no one can understand why a man would do this. He questions his own faith, as does Micah.  What starts out as a friendship grows into an on-again, off-again, relationship after Brendan lets Micah read his journal about his sexual attraction toward him.

During the course of trying to take the relationship slowly, Micah finds he can’t control his feelings or desire. Brendan on the other hand is often negative and critical of Micah, but at the same time initiates romantic and intimate interludes. Their relationship is strenuous to say the least.

I would say that the major theme of “Ockham’s Razor” by Alan Michael Williams as I read it was about the Church and homosexuality.  The author, who was an active Mormon at one time, gives readers good information about the Church’s stance on homosexuality.  The narrative of the story is given from Micah’s point of view with many conversations about pitfalls of the relationship, and who gives more in the relationship.  I found that I wanted to look more into what the Mormons believed about homosexuality and people of color in the church. It was a fast read.

Ockham’s Razor: A Novel
Alan Michael Williams
BookSurge (2009)
ISBN 9781439235270
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (10/09)

When I finally shed the extra pounds that have hounded me for many years, everybody wanted to know which of the miracle diets I’ve used to achieve it and most got quite upset when I firmly told them “I do not believe in diets and that I did not use any.” What I achieved was a bit of trial and error, underscored with tenacity and an important health goal in mind, but I certainly did not have the knowledge to tell those curious people exactly how it worked for me. After having encountered “Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat” by Dr. Michelle May, I was quite surprised about the number of things that she highly recommends and also explains in no uncertain, quite scientific way, which were identical to many of my totally intuitive and/or trial and error findings. While I wish this book would have been available to me when I was struggling with my issues, I am simply grateful that it exists, and that I am now able to point any- and everybody in the right direction by recommending it.

Dr. May’s book is wise, witty and very empowering.  It teaches the reader how to conquer the obsession with food and start enjoying both the food and the life considerably more. Consider the titles of the four parts of the book: Think, Nourish, Live and Eat. Not only do they really sum up the key ingredients of a successful change, but they do it in the most logical way. First one needs to understand the “whys” and the “hows” of the situation one finds oneself in. Without understanding why, the same patterns will be repeated with the same end results, basically dooming you from the first step. Dr. May’s insights on being in charge and trusting yourself more are deceptively simple, yet brilliant.  The same sort of wisdom continues through the next three parts, with numerous examples, practical advice and uplifting thoughts. Even opening the book at random and reading one of the short “Mindful Moments” will set you on the right path.

With practical advice for everything from setting and maintaining goals to getting adequate exercise and challenging yourself to do better, this is a life-changing book.  Reading it will definitely change your life and make you realize that diets are not the way to permanent change, yet simple adjustments and better judgment may well be it. Add to this a bunch of utterly delicious menus, a healthy handful of humor and several pinches of common sense and you are pretty much guaranteed to succeed if you even vaguely adhere to the recipe outlined within the “Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat” by Dr. Michelle May.

Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat
Michelle May, M.D.
Greenleaf Book Group Press (2009)
ISBN 9781608320035
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (10/09)

“I like Lots!” is a very colorful book about eating healthy, exercising and doing your best for kids ages 6-9.  I gave this book to my granddaughter to read and she really loved it.  My granddaughter is five and in kindergarten; she is very alert to foods and gets reinforcement from her teacher and us.  It is written in a child’s language that is easy to understand. The illustrations are bright and geared to children. As soon as we finished reading the book we went to the refrigerator to look for healthy and non-healthy foods, which I thought was great. I also gave this book to my daughter who teaches autistic kindergarteners; they loved the book. Since they were studying healthy foods, each child could pick out what they loved to eat and what they were supposed to eat.

This is a story about a young boy who loves to eat donuts, cookies and chips and drink soda. He spends time inside his house playing games or watching TV. He soon discovers that he is gaining weight and his clothes don’t fit. His parents are concerned about him and they take him to his doctor to tell him he needs to exercise and play more and eat healthier food. He decides he will give it his best shot and finds that as he turns down non-healthy food he starts losing weight.

Given that obesity is a problem for our children today, I found “I Like Lots!” by Isaacsen-Bright to be entertaining without being derogatory and at the same time providing good information about healthy foods and exercise.

I Like Lots!
Isaacsen-Bright
Llumina Kids (2009)
ISBN 9781605941721
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (10/09)

Sophia: 

I like this story about a canyon. I read all about lizards, hummingbirds, bears and cougars. I never heard of a kestrel bird or a tanager bird. They are very colorful birds.

I like the beautiful front cover with the hummingbird. My favorite parts of this book are the pictures. The best picture is the tanager bird.

Madeline:

This book is about many different animals in Madera Canyon. I like how the author repeated the lines and added new lines on every page adding to the story. This is a very interesting book. I learned new birds such as: trogons, tanagers and kestrels. The best part of the story is when the hawk gently rides the breeze.

I love how the illustrator created the pictures with his scratchboard with watercolor technique in “In Madera Canyon” by Jane E. Holt. My very favorite illustration is the black bear hugging the tree because it’s very cute.

In Madera Canyon
Jane E. Holt
Wheatmark (2009)
ISBN 9781604940022
Reviewed by Sophia (age 6.5) and Madeline (age 8) McElroy for Reader Views (9/09)

This story is about a dog named Daisy who doesn’t want to do anything! She doesn't like taking baths, cleaning her room, eating vegetables or listening to her Mom. Daisy only wants to do what she thinks is fun. In the end she listens to her Mom.

My favorite part of the story is when Daisy wants to write a book, because, I want to write a book. That would be really cool.

I really like the pretty, good artwork and the patterns of the brush strokes in the paintings. My favorite picture is Daisy winning the “Tour-de-Daisy” because I love riding my bike. I also like all the pages with the pictures of the things she doesn’t want to do. I like the “dog spot” and “swirly” pink and teal pages in “No, Never!” by Sally O. Lee.

No, Never!
Sally O. Lee
BookSurge (2009)
ISBN 9781439239087
Reviewed by Sophia McElroy (age 6.5) for Reader Views (9/09)

This book is about a woman named Vernita - she is a Queen. Every year she invites her friends to stay. Each friend stays for one whole month of the year. She invites her friends to come and learn about all exciting things in Blue Ice Mountains in the Land of Quails.

In this book I learned a lot about bears, seals, glaciers, flowers, science and more! My favorite visitor was Tyler Ann who came to visit in December. I liked this visit because they got to ride in a sled pulled by reindeer! I also enjoyed the month of June where I learned a lot about Bald Eagles. Did you know that Bald Eagles can dive up to 100 miles per hour? That’s pretty amazing!

I think this book is similar to the other book by Dawn Menge, “Queen Vernita’s Visitors” because all the friends are the same, but there are some new characters as well. “Queen Vernita Visits the Blue Ice Mountains” is a very educational book; I really learned a lot about many different animals and things in nature.

Queen Vernita Visits the Blue Ice Mountains
Dawn Menge
Outskirts Press (2009)
ISBN 9781432711696
Reviewed by Madeline McElroy (age 8) for Reader Views (9/09)

Author Vicki Williams has given readers a book they can’t put down. Her ability to make the characters so life-like that each of us is able to relate to what is going on. We get caught up in their lives and it brings back memories of those we know in real life. Maddie and Avalon, friends since childhood, have a lot in common; they both came from homes that were dysfunctional to say the least. The difference in the two, however, is quite apparent.  Maddie is beautiful, successful and has everything she wants, while Avalon is low on self-esteem, rather plump and has a non-existent life. Maddie rules the friendship, while Avalon’s job is to make Maddie feel better than she does.

For years Maddie has been telling Avalon she needs to get a life, make changes and be who she really should be. But Avalon is set in her ways and doesn’t want to make changes. That comes to an abrupt halt when Maddie dies of cancer from years of smoking. Little did Avalon know that her best friend has given her an inheritance – but, it has many strings attached - Avalon has to change: lose weight, get cosmetic surgery and a good life.  Avalon who is addicted to sweets and fat foods doesn’t know if she wants to make this commitment, however, she will give it a try.

Wallace Evans, the attorney overseeing the request of Maddie is handsome and intriguing. He captures Avalon’s heart right away. However, during the time of their friendship and stolen kisses, Avalon finds out that he is separated from his wife and has just as many problems as she does. Yet she can’t get him out of her mind.  Even if she moves into a new, richer neighborhood and finds a man attracted to her, she remains on the roller coaster of Wallace’s attention.

Right from the beginning of this book, the author has readers hooked. I read this book in one day as I couldn’t put it down. Readers are placed right in the real world of Maddie and Avalon. Each of us can relate to the characters.  Many readers struggle with self-esteem issues, weight problems and relationships; this is a book that readers can feel touched by.

Your task as a reader is to get involved with this reading. “The Breakout Year” by Vicki Williams will capture your heart and spirit.

The Breakout Year
Vicki Williams
Outskirts Press (2009)
ISBN 9781432739751
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (9/09)

“I Like Lots” by Isaacsen-Bright is about a boy who likes to eat junk food (and a lot of it).  The book starts out with him looking pretty normal.  It talks about the things he likes to do such as going to sport events and eating three hot dogs in an inning.  Instead of swimming or playing in the swimming pool, he just likes to float around.  The pictures of him get plumper and plumper as the story goes on.  In the middle of the book, he can’t find clothes that fit and he doesn’t have any pep.

He finally goes to see the doctor and the doctor tells him that he has gotten too heavy and that he will feel better if he loses some weight.  The doctor give him three rules:  eat better, exercise more, and stick with it.  So, he starts to read books about how to eat better, he starts biking and walking his dog, and he drinks water instead of soda.  The pictures of him shrink, and he starts to feel better.

I would recommend this book to parents who have kids who have a problem with eating too much junk food and not exercising enough.  It wasn’t the most fun book for me to read but it could be really helpful to a kid who has a problem.  The advice in “I Like Lots” by Isaacsen-Bright was good for everybody.

I Like Lots
Isaacsen-Bright
Llumina Kids (2009)
ISBN 9781605941721
Reviewed by Evan Weldon (age 7) for Reader Views (10/09)

The authors have given readers an opportunity to travel with four main characters back to the 30s in California- the state of reinvention. Along with incredible descriptions of the characters and life in the 30s, the authors have included major news stories that occurred during that era.

Marshall Lawe, who was a constable in Peony Springs, Massachusetts, has decided that after losing his job he will travel to California to make a new life for himself.  While driving for long hours, Lawe becomes somewhat dazed by the lonely highway and he almost hits a hitchhiker, who is also trying to find his way. Al Haine, an Irishman, is a talker, con-artist, gambler and ladies man. He loves to hear himself talk and really doesn’t care if anyone is listening. Although it is never said outright, readers will know that Haine is running from something.

Lawe is also heading to California because a past love of his is there and he is hoping to reconnect with her.  Gladys is a cook and finds that the world is full of surprises when it comes to people from your past. She runs into her cousin and Lawe.  Trying to hide that she knows either of them, she changes jobs frequently. Eventually Lawe and Gladys get together much to the dismay of her Aunt Naomi.

The last character to complete the group is a Jean Harlow look-alike, an upcoming actress. Even though she believes she is better than the real Jean Harlow, she finds herself getting into trouble by impersonating her.

This is a fast, exciting read with a lot of historical detail to give readers the chance to see what life was like in Hollywood in the 30s. You’ll find con-artists, bootleggers, drug dens and much more. Each chapter introduces one of the main characters to provide background on how they ended up in California and toward the end readers will see how each of their lives is intertwined.

I didn’t have the pleasure of reading the first book, “Blood Harvest,” where several of the characters were introduced, but if it is exciting as “Tommy Gun Tango,” I can only imagine where the authors can go with this set of characters.

Tommy Gun Tango
Brant Randall and Bruce Cook
Capital Crime Press (2009)
ISBN 9780979996030
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (9/09)

One of the biggest challenges of any successful business today is the way of managing and supporting the available and potential workforce. This field is oftentimes confusing, particularly in view of fast changing, frequently baffling and perennially evolving tools and solutions available. The three authors of “Talent Management Technologies,” Allan Schweyer, Ed Newman and Peter DeVries, represent almost sixty years of combined experience in this field, and together they wrote a very comprehensive buyer’s and user’s guide to integrated solutions in Human Resources (HR).

The book opens with a chapter on identifying and understanding the trends shaping the future of HR and talent management. The four critical trends (demographics, diversity, globalization and global economic reconstruction as well as technology and innovation) are clearly presented and discussed in an engaging manner. The next two chapters deal with the present and future of technology and talent, the current state of affairs, understanding of influences shaping the market and how and why to move forward. The last numbered chapter helps the reader select an appropriate system for managing the talent; more specifically, it deals with assessment of internal needs, detailed vendor analysis and final selection of the vendor/system.

If those guidelines are not enough for the potential buyer, the next 385 pages present detailed company information and a functionality matrix for each of the twelve selected vendors, which represent the market’s “suite players,” offering integrated technology platforms with sets of tools and solutions allowing the users to manage all facets of HR with a single toolset. The information on those companies and the solutions they offer is ample, ranging from handy phone numbers, e-mail addresses and web pages to descriptions and history of each of those organizations as well as details on products/services/solutions they offer to the consumer. The corresponding functionality matrix allows the potential buyer to quickly cross-reference particular needs with available solutions and make an informed decision of which vendor would best suit the needs of any particular organization. The functionality matrix addresses numerable items in such diverse categories as are:

- Requisition Management & Posting,
- Candidate Experience,
- Sourcing/CRM,
- Assessment and Interview Management,
- Offer Management and Onboarding,
- Global Capabilities and Compliance, - Reporting & Integration,
- Performance Dashboard,
- Employee Information Review,
- Career Planning / Personal Development (Employee),
- Career Development (Manager),
- Individual Goal / Self-Assessment (Employee),
- Review Process (Employee and Manager),
- Workflow,
- System Admin,
- Search Functionality,
- Employee View / Navigation / Help / Other,
- Security,
- Reporting,
- Succession Planning,
- Succession Pooling,
- Content Management and Delivery,
- Testing and Tracking,
- Integration,
- Web 2.0 Features and
- User Communication.

I found “Talent Management Technologies” clearly written, thorough and to the point in spite of its size. In the ever expanding and oftentimes bewildering field of HR, this book is a welcome guide through the maze.

Talent Management Technologies: A Buyer’s Guide to New, Innovative Solutions
Allan Schweyer, Ed Newman and Peter DeVries
AuthorHouse (2009)
ISBN 9781449005405
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (10/09)

“Black Road 2012” is book one in a four-part book series called “Empire of the Gods: The God Conspiracy.”  After reading the first one, I cannot wait to get my hands on the rest when they become available.  Like a dangerous addictive substance, I was hooked immediately.

Jack Vane is an aging, injured, ex-private eye.  He is head over heels over his much younger, beautiful, pregnant wife.  When she and the twins that she is carrying are brutally murdered, his whole world appears to collapse. But in reality something in him has awakened.  As he discovers that there is much more to her death than meets the eye, he finds himself evolving into something more.  He learns that he is a key player in an ancient prophecy that involves a Sumerian relic.  He also discovers he now has a darkness within that at times threatens to overwhelm him.

As Jack continues to investigate who caused his wife’s death, he learns there are three potential groups involved.  Each one is seeking the mysteriously powerful relic for their groups’ own means.  Initially, Jack is not quite sure what is happening to him, he just knows that one of the three groups was involved with his wife’s murder. He is more interested in seeking revenge than anything else.  As time passes he realizes he could benefit from learning more about the prophecy and how it involves him.  He must do this to stay alive and possibly save the world.

“Black Road 2012” is an incredible book.  The characters are well developed and very interesting. The scenes are vividly detailed, so that you feel like you are watching what is happening instead of reading about it.  Friedberg has done an excellent job with creating a plot that has so many twists and turns, you will feel like you are on a rollercoaster ride -- a really intense one.  As a matter of fact, while I didn’t hold my hands up in the air and scream, I did find myself holding my breath, covered in goose bumps, wishing that I could shut my eyes, but of course since I needed to be able to read the print to move on with the story, I had to keep them open. I highly recommend “Black Road 2012” by Jeffrey A. Friedberg.

Black Road 2012
Jeffrey A. Friedberg
INDI Publishing Group (2009)
ISBN 9780978924720
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (10/09)

Lea Kostovic has been abandoned by her family during the war in the early 1990s and is rescued by a staunch military man, Major Ed Russell. Realizing that there is no way Lea can care for herself, the Major offers her a job and to live with him. Lea is very skeptical about why the Major wants or is concerned about her, but accepts the offer but only till the spring.

Lea finds that she has a lot to learn about the American military, their slang and treacherous ways. She has become the Major’s whore in the eyes of all the soldiers, except for young Forbes who is the aide to the Major. Although she doesn’t understand all the jokes that are made about her, she does know when someone is treating her badly. That particular person is Captain Harper who feels he should be the Major’s executive officer and not a trifling woman.

Little does Major Russell know, but he will fall in love with Lea and it will cause some problems with his Commanding Officer. Colonel Sloane is a very good friend of the Major but he feels that the Major’s feelings are getting in the way of him being a good soldier.  He directly confronts Lea and her attentions and states he believes she is just in the relationship to get the Major to take her to the United States.

Eventually, the Major and Lea marry much to everyone’s chagrin. Life in the United States is even more difficult than in the Balkans. Lea is thrown into military life for which she is not prepared and doesn’t understand. Part of being married to an officer is to host social functions and be courteous to other military spouses. Lea has no desire to do this. She just wants to be left alone to paint and read.
From the very first page, this book has captured the reader. The author has done an excellent job of presenting the knowledge of the military, protocol and events that occur during the war time. Readers will feel sorry for Lea, but at the same time might get angry because she is so distrustful of a kind man who really loves her.  The events, conversations and military lifestyle is one that is easy to understand.  “Sanctuary” by N.E. Julian is a book that readers will not be able to put down, even though it is quite thick.

Sanctuary
N.E. Julian
iUniverse (2009)
ISBN 9781440133091
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (10/09)

As a Psychologist and former substance abuse counselor, I have witnessed many attempting recovery from drugs and alcohol. Many succeed but many do not, which I feel comes from their viewpoint “If I just cut back or control it, I am okay.” Robert Bolch was one of the latter. His personal journey from using to attempting recovery and finally “getting it” was not an easy one as readers will find through his narratives and notes from his journaling.  Not only did he have problem with substances, his wife did as well. She chose to go to a rehabilitation program in California and Robert chose to do it on his own by going to Europe.

By traveling to Europe he thought he would be away from the distraction of substances, however, he took drugs with him. “Might as well use it all up, no sense letting it go to waste,” was his stance, a common thought for many addicted to substances.

The author takes us through his nightmare and successes by addressing honesty, resentment and humility just to name a few. He does state several times that he is not telling readers how to become recovered, but he is telling what worked for him. I liked his honesty and ability to admit weaknesses during this process and letting readers know that abstinence is not sobriety, regardless of drug of choice. Journaling is very therapeutic and it is very hard to read after you have written your thoughts.

This is a journey of change from the inside. Robert, as many of us, always needs to take a self-inventory frequently. It is not an easy thing to do, but is a necessity. “Excuse Me, Your Life Is Waiting!” by Robert Bolch certainly is a book that I will recommend to my college Psychology students as it gives an honest point of view on recovery.

Excuse Me, Your Life Is Waiting!: A Bridge From Addiction To Early Recovery
Robert Bolch
iUniverse (2009)
ISBN 9781440121074
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (10/09)

What is the difference between morality and ethics? To most of us, they may seem similar, but Scott Gustafson explains they are vastly different and that morality has negative, judgmental, and even deadly effects on human life while ethics affirms the value of life.

Gustafson begins by explaining that our view of morality is linked to the idea of Good and Evil. Something immoral is something evil. It’s an “us vs. them” mindset. More specifically, it’s a civilized view of the world, and civilization is, but should not be, synonymous with good. Gustafson draws on examples of the “civilized” world such as Christianity and various governments to show how morality has been used to build hierarchical systems that ultimately allow the moral destruction of uncivilized peoples who may not engage in moral structures but who are nevertheless ethical. For example, Christianity was used by civilized nations as a way to make Native Americans become civilized, while at the same time, civilized nations used the excuse of morality to deride the Native Americans as savages resulting in genocide. Similarly, Nazi Germany used the idea of morality to bring about the holocaust. Gustafson argues that Nazi Germany was not a crazy or immoral country, but rather the holocaust was the direct and logical, if not ultimate, result of a nation that believed in morality.

Gustafson also makes the point that Christianity as a moral system is not the same as Christ’s teachings. He illustrates, using numerous biblical passages, how Christ was ethical and affirmed life. He also makes a powerful argument for the history of ancient Israel being an ethical nation surrounded by moral nations, as evidenced by it having God as its leader for much of its history, while it only succumbed to being moral when it changed to being governed by a monarchy.

In addition, Gustafson clarifies that in the Bible the use of “good” does not always mean right or orthodox but suitable. If something is not suitable for a situation, it does not mean it is by default evil. While this part of the argument may seem like a fine line, Gustafson also provides a simple appendix to distinguish between morality and ethics to make the argument easy to follow.
Food is at the center of Gustafson’s argument. Gustafson argues that ethical societies became moral societies when people no longer had to exist as hunters and gatherers, but people became able to store food; this agricultural revolution resulted in food becoming a “commodity,” which allowed for decisions to be made regarding who did and did not deserve food by using a moral code that established hierarchies to determine the value of people and all life forms. This thinking ultimately

resulted in “dominator” societies that felt justified in conquering other peoples, taking their belongings—not property per se since ethical societies such as Native Americans did not understand or believe in property—and ultimately in genocide.

Life is not hierarchical. Gustafson argues that one group of people is not superior to another, and even one life form is not superior to another. Life is symbiotic, and what we regard as lower life forms are necessary for the survival of higher life forms as we know from studying bacteria.

“Behind Good & Evil” by Scott W. Gustafson is one of the most thoughtful and interesting books I have read. It may well be the most important book I read this year. I hope it leads to people thinking twice before they use the word “moral” and understanding what “moral” actually means. I know it has made me think twice and reevaluate several situations and issues already and catch myself when I hear other people use the word “moral” to understand they are coming from a “dominator” and hierarchical way of thinking. This book will open up understanding among and between people and hopefully change and save lives by making us rethink why we label things as good or evil from a moral standpoint.

Behind Good & Evil: How to overcome the death-dealing character of morality
Scott Gustafson
Infinity Publishing (2009)
ISBN 9780741454041
Reviewed by Tyler R. Tichelaar for Reader Views (10/09)

It has been over a year and a half since Mr. Valen’s first published book, “White Tombs,” found its way into my hands, yet I remember it and its impact vividly. For me, it was love at first read, somewhat surprising in view of the fact that I am not a great lover of violence, evil and generally unpleasant situations. I fell in love with Mr. Valen’s writing, his clever use of contemporary issues, his heroes and his insights into the human mind. I also clearly remember wishing for a sequel, or better yet, sequels.

With the sequel in front of me, I hesitated for a moment.  Will it be as good as the first one or am I in for a disappointment? There was only one way to find out, so I opened it. And four hours later I sat back and finally exhaled. Just like the first one, “The Black Minute” grabbed me from the first page on, and pulled me into a complex world of evil, violence, deceit, bravery and search for justice.

The story opens with detective John Santana, Colombian-born and still haunted by his past, investigating a suspicious death of a young Hmong girl, Mai Yang. While investigating her death, Santana meets her “business associate,” another young prostitute going by the name of Jenna Jones, as well as Mai’s father and brother. While trying to discover what brought Mai to Harriet Island, where she met her death, Santana also questions a woman who discovered her body, Grace Chandler. Grace, daughter of a powerful politician, stirs something in Santana and he finds himself falling hard for her. Jenna is soon murdered herself, and so are several gang members with close ties to Mai Yang and her family. While most clues for those murders point straight to Mai's brother, Kou Yang, Santana is simply not convinced. Will he discover the true culprit before more innocent people die?
Once again I was very pleasantly surprised by the quality of Mr. Valen’s writing and storytelling. While the plot is complex and anything but predictable, his storyline stays comprehensible and easy to follow. The characters are well developed, very believable and constantly evolving. The setting of the story is vivid, detailed and engaging.  While being thoroughly entertained, I also felt that I’ve learned a good few new facts, notably about the Hmong people and their fight, as well as details of police procedures and some other items I do not want to mention for fear of divulging too much of the story of “The Black Minute.” Suffice to say that Mr. Valen again wrote an incredibly relevant story, touching on a significant number of challenges facing us today. Although I learned more about Santana and his early life than in the first book, my curiosity is anything but sated, so once again I will - impatiently! - wait on the sequel.

The Black Minute
Christopher Valen
North Star Press of St. Cloud (2009)
ISBN 9780878393329
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (10/09)

“In and Out of Madness” is one of the most disturbing, yet also one of the most powerful books I’ve read in a long time. Carrying an intriguing subtitle of “A fictionalized account of a true experience,” it left me wondering what is it that propels some people into madness while others seem to benefit from the harsh experiences life deals them and simply careen into growing stronger and more resilient.

The book’s protagonist, Lee Thames, is somebody who seems to attract violence, be it physical or emotional, throughout her life. Having grown up with an abusive grandmother and no less abusive mother, she briefly seems to find solace in the arms of her first husband. That happiness does not last and his actions - as well as his inactions - push Lee into a series of affairs, which, although endorsed by her husband, certainly contribute to the demise of her first marriage. Her second marriage becomes her true undoing. Cursed with an honest desire to please her husband, and almost unbearably willing to trust him, Lee gets entangled in an intricate web woven by her husband Joe, a slick talker who lies, cheats and exploits her in every possible way. The one bright spot of her existence, which luckily remains consistent, is her daughter Jolly.

The book begins with Lee escaping from a mental facility after an unsuccessful suicide attempt. She decides to take revenge on her husband, Joe. Planning a perfect murder, Lee revisits the events that lead to this powerful decision, thus familiarizing the reader with the way her mind works.

N. L. Snowden’s writing is sharp, precise and powerful. The story grabs you quickly and most certainly does not let go. I found it strangely fascinating, somewhat akin to picking on a dried scab on one’s knee when we were children. Yes, it hurts, but... Reading “In and Out of Madness” was much like that. Parts of me wanted to put it down, feeling like I was intruding on somebody’s most private thoughts. My always inquisitive mind was dead set on finding what happens next. And I was not disappointed. This is definitely a book that I would recommend to anybody who loves solid, tight writing and to anybody who’s curious about the ways people’s minds work, especially in case of multiple personalities disorder coupled with a bi-polar condition. Enlightening, powerful and strangely uplifting, this is one of those books that will haunt you for a long time.

In and Out of Madness
N. L. Snowden
Sneakaboard Press (2009)
ISBN 9780977476770
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (10/09)