The Beekeeper of Aleppo: heartbreaking story of loss and love

The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri is the story of Nuri Ibrahim, a Syrian refugee in England. He and his wife, Afra are trying to claim asylum. As they go through the process, Nuri recalls his life in Syria as a beekeeper with his cousin, Mustafa and the turning point when his beloved country was no longer safe for him or Afra. Mustafa journeys ahead to England and eagerly waits for him there. The story switches back and forth between the present day in England and Nuri’s recounting their journey as refugees. From being smuggled out of the country under the darkness of night to being held as a camp in Greece while their request is processed. Nuri sees the different people who are running from horrors in their home countries. He hears the stories of the horrors they each suffered. He even witnesses horrors himself inside the camp. Will they be safe once again? Will Nuri and Afra be granted asylum? Will they be reunited with Mustafa?

The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a beautiful story of the human suffering that the political warfare creates. A man who lived a simple life finds himself running for his life because he refused to take up arms. He is a man who is battling his own demons and memories as he tries to take care of his wife in a country which looks at them with suspicion. It is a book that needs to read slowly as you take in the scene, the situation and the actions the characters take as they try to survive. According to the author’s afterword, she was inspired to write this story after she was a volunteer at a UNICEF refugee center. Ms. Lefteri truly compares the desperation of the situation as well as the faint sliver of hope that they can live in peace once again. I highly recommend The Beekeeper of Aleppo!

The Beekeeper of Aleppo

is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook

I was Hungry: a real look at the American hunger crisis

I was Hungry: Cultivating Common Ground to End an American Crisis by Jeremy K. Everett is a deep look into the American hunger crisis in which millions of Americans go without food daily. Most of the hunger crisis is due to food insecurity, the lack of access to enough healthy food to live a healthy lifestyle, in which inadequate food is experienced episodically. For example, the food supply is fine for a family at the beginning of the month but soon runs out before the month is over. Everett confronts what we know about the food crisis in America as many families must face the decision whether to buy food or pay bills with food usually loses. Poverty is an extremely complex issue. He claims that Americans often think the poor are just lazy people who are looking for a handout. Everett puts forth that many of Americans that suffer from food insecurity are working families who are underemployed, having jobs that do not pay enough to cover all expenses. However, Everett doesn’t just point out the problem and say deal with it. He offers a plan, from his own experiences, on how we can come together as a nation to end hunger in America. He highlights where plans have succeeded and where plans have failed and how they could be improved.

I was Hungry is an interesting read with statistics I have heard before. Roughly 39.7 million Americans live in poverty with 12.9 million children living in food insecure households. He is critical of all politicians, church leaders and Americans who seem to be more content to bicker. He says, “Our political system has become toxic, with both sides preferring to cast stones at the other rather than coming together to find common ground for the common good.” While I agree with him that something needs to be done, unfortunately, not everyone agrees. He claims that the image of the “Welfare Queen” is a myth and while many people on SNAP food stamps are working families, the myth exists because there are examples in the real world. He also claims that the “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps” is a myth as well because it “does not apply to people who cannot afford boots.” More and more, the news media is carrying stories of the very people he is describing doing just that. They go from homeless to Harvard. Students who live and go to school in disadvantage areas are getting full ride scholarships to very prestigious schools. These students may be the exception; but to call it a “myth” when there are examples out there is shortsighted. Everett does come off, at times, as condescending and self-righteous at times, which he acknowledges, so I applaud that, he does presents a very real problem in our nation and offers real solutions and how we can come together as a community and a nation. I highly recommend I was Hungry.

I was Hungry:

Cultivating Common Ground to End an American Crisis

is available in hardcover, paperback and eBook.

Split-Level: a story of 1970s wife swapping

Split-Level by Sande Boritz Berger is the story of Alexandra “Alex” Pearl, a married woman with children in 1974. She lives in a lovely home in an upscale New Jersey suburb and seems to be content with her two daughters and her charming husband. Until one day, she receives a telephone call which will send her world crashing down. In order to save her marriage and avoid the dreaded “7-year itch”, Alex signs her and her husband, Donny for a marriage retreat, to rekindle their marriage. When another participant at the retreat gives Donny a book on wife swapping, it begins a slippery slope that they may not be able to stop. Donny believes it’s the key to their happiness. At first, Alex refuses but she quickly finds a new heightened desire beyond her husband. Will this new life be the answer to their problems? Or will Alex find herself in a mess that she cannot get out?

Split-Level is a book in which the book description doesn’t give an accurate depiction of the story. I expected an edgy, dramatic book about one woman’s discovery of herself and her desires. From the very beginning, Alex was boring, dull and so naïve that I resisted the urge to scream. As she recounts the beginnings of her relationship with Donny and leading up to their wedding, there were so many red flags that she ignored and continued to minimize as she deals with that phone call. The great part about the book was the author’s description of the 1970s atmosphere. However, the characters were either creepy or so bland you just didn’t care for him or her. There were no real emotions, no real conflict and even a real resolution. With a topic like wife swapping, which usually ends badly, the book fell flat. I do not recommend Split-Level.

Split-Level

is available in paperback and eBook

Twenty-One Truths About Love: one man's life in list form

Twenty-One Truths About Love by Matthew Dicks is the story of Daniel Mayrock, told through his lists as he struggles with his failing bookstore, his inability to tell his wife, Jill, about their financial future and her desire to have children. He is a man at a crossroad in his life. He knows that he loves his wife. He regrets opening the bookstore and quitting his job to do so. He takes great risks to save his marriage, to do almost anything for love, but he is a man who wants to do something out of the ordinary, to be special and to deserve happiness. Will he be able to do all he dreams? Will he come clean to his wife about their finances? Will they be able to have a family?

Twenty-One Truths About Love is told in an interesting style. A style I had not heard about, so I was intrigued and decided to give it a chance. While it was hard to read, it was like getting deeper into the mind of the narrator in ways I haven’t seen before. I applaud Mr. Dicks for taking a chance on such a unique idea. However, I discovered I did not like Daniel. I had no sympathy for him whatsoever and some of his comments in his lists were annoying. That was the beginning, as I read and as I saw his struggles once Jane does get pregnant and he sees his worst nightmare coming true, he realizes that success and happiness comes in different forms. There were times I wanted to scream at the book, “TELL HER!” but I also see why he fears telling her. In the end, it is a book about a man struggling to make a life for himself and his family and struggles on how to do it. If you are interested in new forms of storytelling, I recommend Twenty-One Truths About Love. If you aren’t, its best you leave this one alone. 

Twenty-One Truths About Love

will be available on November 19, 2019

in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

The Book Charmer: when books truly speak!

The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins is the story of a small town with a magical family. Dove Pond was founded by the Dove family in the 1700s. A family with special gifts. As the story opens in 2001, we meet Sarah Dove, the seventh daughter, on her seventh birthday when something extraordinary happens: a book speaks to her! Not just catches her attention but speaks to her. Once she embraces the books, a whole new world opens to her. Grace Wheeler and her sister, Hannah, have been bounced from one foster home to another, and their last chance to stay together is at Mama G’s house. For the first time, despite her best efforts not to, Grace finally feels like she’s home. Fast forward to 2019, Grace is headed to Dove Pond with Mama G, who is now suffering from Alzheimer’s, and her niece, Daisy. Grace has taken a job as the town clerk, reluctantly, but they all need a change of scenery for a while. When she arrives, Sarah, now the town librarian, feels a change in the air, something good is going to happen to their town. At first, Grace keeps everyone at arm’s length, determined to do the job she was hired for and move on. Will the Dove Family Good Luck help win her over? How will the books help Sarah convince Grace to stay?

I loved, loved this book! From the open chapter, really a girl who can hear the books?!? To the closing pages, I fell in love with everyone in this lovely small town. I laughed, I cried. I smiled so much my face hurt! I could sympathize with Grace as she struggles to care for her ailing Mama G, learning to raise her niece and learning to ask for help. As a foster child, attachment meant pain, so Grace pushes everyone aside because it is what she knows. Sarah, who believes Grace is the key to save their town, won’t be pushed aside. Every small town has their characters from the mayor who likes the status quo, to the wealthy family who likes everyone to know it and those who hide their pain and suffering, everyone has a story. The Book Charmer is the first book in the Dove Pond series and I highly recommend it! I cannot wait to read more about this town and its wonderful residents.

The Book Charmer

is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook

Here's to the Lefties! Happy Left Hander's Day!

Today is International Left-Handers Day! First observed in 1976 by Dean R. Campbell, founder of the Lefthanders International Inc. The day was created to celebrate the uniqueness and differences of left-handers as well as to raise awareness of the advantages and disadvantages of being left-handed in a predominantly right-handed world. My dad and my brother are both left-handed, I have seen the struggles they had to deal with, particularly with writing. My dad writes in capital letters because his writing would be illegible if he were to write normally. On this day, I wanted to investigate the mechanics of a left-handed person, what about their brain is unique and what are the differences seen between left-handed and right-handed people. As well as the historical mistreatment of left-handed people and a highlight of famous lefties.

There are several theories as to the cause of handedness. Most theories focus on the brain’s division of labor is different. Other theories focus on genetics. Two left-handed people have a 26 percent change of having a left-handed child. Twin studies indicate that genetics explain about 25 percent of handedness with environmental factors explain the remaining 75 percent. Most children will show a hand preference by 4 years (48 months) when they are mostly likely to be engaged in writing and coloring activities (Fagard, 2005). The most current theory suggests that handedness is determined by the development of the spine in utero and not the brain (Dodgson, 2019). There are certain correlations between handedness and aspects in life. Such as intelligence. There is only a single point difference between IQ scores of right-handed and left-handed people. However, left-handed brains are structured differently in ways that allow processing of language, spatial relations and emotions in more diverse and creative ways (McManus, 2012). In health factors, left-handedness has been correlated with increased rates of neuropsychiatric and developmental disorders such as the autism spectrum disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and alcoholism.

Unfortunately, for centuries, left-handedness was an undesirable trait. Under the powerful influence of the Catholic Church, left-handed people were vigorously oppressed in medieval Europe. See as consorting with the devil, during the Inquisition and witch hunts, being left-handed was enough evidence for a woman to be labeled as a witch (Right Left). In the 18^th and 19^th centuries, brutal attempts were made to suppress left-handedness. A child’s left hand would be tied behind his back to discourage its use and even corporal punishment, if a child was caught using his or her left hand. I have heard stories of some schools still using this method in the mid-20^th century. The infamous Cesare Lombroso claimed that left-handedness was the mark of pathological behavior, savagery and criminality. It wasn’t until Paul Broca’s research in the 1860s did scientific interest in handedness begin (Right Left). Even today, many of the nicknames or slang for left handers are derogatory in nature. Everyone is familiar with southpaw, in Australia, left handers are referred to as “mollie dookers” which means having fits like a girl. In Belarus, the word for left handers is liewsha which means sneaky or mistrustful. In France, the word is gauche which means awkward or clumsy and in Italy, lefthanders are reference to as mancini or crooked or maimed.

There are been many famous people who were or are left-handed. In the political arena, several presidents have been left-handed including James Garfield, Harry S. Truman, and Ronald Reagan. In music, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie and Paul McCartney were all lefties. In baseball, Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and Ted Williams. Chef Gordon Ramsay is left-handed. Scientist Nikola Tesla was left-handed. It has been suggested the Albert Einstein was left-handed; however, there is no evidence he was. Bill Gates is a southpaw. It has been rumored that the famous Renaissance painter Michelangelo Buonarroti was left-handed. Queen Victoria wrote with her right hand but painted with her left. It is believed that she was forced to write with her right hand by her mother, Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Duchess of Kent. Queen Victoria’s descendant, Prince William and his son, Prince George are also lefties.

In conclusion, left-handed individuals have a disadvantage with tools and products which are designed for right-handed people. They also have shown to have advantages in music, sports, science and math. They have suffered cruel treatment through the centuries, and it has only been recently that many companies have introduced modified their products for left-handed individuals. Even some of the slang terms for left-handed people show the cruel history and thoughts behind left-handedness. It was interesting to discover the famous individuals who are lefties. Let’s celebrate the lefties in our lives! Celebrate our uniqueness and differences because if we were all the same, life would be pretty boring. Here’s to you, lefties!

References

Dodgson, Lindsay. August 12, 2019. The reason some people are left-handed could have nothing to do with the brain. https://amp.businessinsider.com/why-some-people-are-left-handed-2018-1. Retrieved August 12, 2019.

Fagard, Jacqueline; Lockman, Jeffrey J. (2005). "The effect of task constraints on infants' (bi)manual strategy for grasping and exploring objects". Infant Behavior and Development. 28 (3): 305–315. Retrieved 11 August 2019.

McManus, Chris. April 14, 2012. Is It True That Left-Handed People Are Smarter Than Right-Handed People? Scientific American. Retrieved: 11 August 2019.

Right Left Right Wrong. History of Handedness. https://www.rightleftrightwrong.com/history_recent.html. Retrieved August 11, 2019.

Mrs Everything: a painful story about women and life

Mrs Everything by Jennifer Weiner is the story from two sisters, Josette “Jo” and Elizabeth “Bethie” Kaufman. From the idyllic 1950s through the turbulent 1960s to today, the sisters face choices as women in the society around them. Jo is the tomboy who turns into a wife and mother without much thought if she really wanted to and Bethie is the princess who turns to drugs and a vagabond lifestyle when events in her life throw her for a loop. As time goes on, the sisters learn to embrace who they really are and live their lives as they find that suits them. Through infidelity, divorce, sexual assault, eating disorders and drug use, the sisters struggle to find a purpose or meaning in the event of their lives. After her divorce, Jo reunites with her first love. Bethie finds peace with herself on a farm. It is a book about woman who try to be everything to everyone and finds out that you simply can’t.

I’m not a big fan of Jennifer Weiner. I have read a few of her earlier books so when I had the opportunity to read this book, I thought, why not? From the open pages to the closing chapter, this book was hard to read. It is overwhelming and I’m not just talking about the number of pages. At 460 pages it is a long book, but I’ve read longer books that I sped through, captivated by the story. Mrs Everything is not that book. The story is divided into 7 parts with most of the book dragging along with the events of these sisters’ lives and speeds up as the book is ending as if the author realized she was running out of room. The sex scenes were graphic for me, who is a fan of romance novels, to put the book down and say “yikes.” I’m no prude when it comes to sex and sexuality, but it wasn’t necessary and felt out of place. There are just way too many social issues crammed into the book that it becomes less a story about two sisters navigating the changing social climate and becomes a political tirade. Plus, there were so many historical inaccuracies that a simple Google search would fix. Songs Jo listened to in college that could not have been playing as they were not released yet. Sloppy research with a bogged down plot, I did not enjoy this book. I do not recommend Mrs. Everything.

The Inn at Hidden Run: linking the present to the past with genealogy

The Inn at Hidden Run by Olivia Newport is the first book in the Tree of Life series. It is the story of one young woman, Meri Davies, searching for a way off her family’s career path, with a link to the historical event of the 1878 Memphis yellow fever outbreak. Meri Davies shows up at the Inn at Hidden Run in the small town of Canyon Mines. Colorado, searching for a job. The owner, Nia, hires her as she needs the help but sees there is more to her story than she is telling. Nia enlists her friend, Jillian, a genealogist and her father, Nolan, a lawyer, to help gather the story from Meri. As they learn new information about Meri, it becomes clear that she is running from something or someone. Will Meri learn to trust Nia, Jillian and Nolan and accept their help? How does the events on 1878 link to Meri and her problem?

It has become very popular among authors to connect the present with historical events. Some do it very well while others have difficulty with it. It was obvious that Meri’s story and the events of the outbreak were connected, and it had something to do with her family, otherwise why would Jillian’s skills as a genealogist be important? While the story held my attention, to the point that I finished it in a few hours but there was no emotional impact for me. When the connection was revealed, there was no “aha!” moment. It was more, “Oh that makes sense” moment. I enjoyed Jillian and her father. I loved the connection they have. While other characters seemed to be downright mean for no reason and one dimensional. Overall, I enjoyed it and I may look into other books in the series. I recommend The Inn at Hidden Run.

The Inn at Hidden Run

is available in eBook and audiobook

Bethlehem: a story of family and secrets

Bethlehem by Karen Kelly is the story of two families and a secret that could tear them apart. The story opens in 1962, Joanna Collier moved with her husband, Frank, and their two children, Charlie and Daisy, to Frank’s childhood home. His father, Wyatt, died suddenly and they moved into the family estate to help care for his mother, Susannah and his grandmother, Helen. While visiting a neighbor, Joanna sees a grave with a simple inscription, “Baby Hayes.” Rewind to the summer of 1918 where a young Susannah Parrish is fishing with family friends, Wyatt and Chap Collier. The two families are close it is no surprise when Susannah and Wyatt become romantically linked with the possibility of a proposal in the future. As the timeline switches between 1962 and the 1920s, a family history is unveiled which hides a deep family secret. Joanna must deal with feelings of abandonment as Frank tries to fill his father’s shoes and Susannah reveals her deepest secret. Will Joanna be able to tell Frank how she feels? What is the connection to Baby Hayes to the family?

Bethlehem was a fast read in that it held my attention from the opening page to the final reveal. From the Roaring Twenties to the early 60s, one family deals with life, tragedy and secrets. There isn’t much I can discuss about the book as it will give too much away but it was a great story with characters that were relatable. The story could be placed in anytime and place and it would be a story that would captivate as all families have secrets. I recommend Bethlehem.

Bethlehem

is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook