Month: March 2012

mystery

The Vampire Patrons

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Robert Gruett
Publisher: Nightfold
Genre: Mystery
ISBN: 978-0983721703
Pages: 100
Price: $6.99

Author’s website
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Imagine picking up a small tome, a novella if you will, after taking notice to its titillating name, The Vampire Patrons. Intrigued, you look inside to see that the book is quickly described as a vampire comedy, legal thriller. You’ve got to be kidding! But that’s the point. Robert Gruett is kidding, sort of…his short novel is part comedy, mystery, and fantasy all rolled into one. And it works quite well.

Three sibling vampires, all upstanding citizens in a world where vampires and humans co-exist (apparently along with zombies), meet weekly at Barlowe’s Restaurant. They routinely chat, verbally joust, and are attended to by Larry, a werewolf, who seems to know exactly what his patrons need for their dining pleasure.

Annie, the only female in the group, is a cop trying to solve a series of grisly murders. Freddie has a curious image problem, while Jacob is a respected lawyer. The narrator is an aspiring stand-up comedian who must settle for doing office work. Each week they become increasingly drawn into trying to solve the perplexing crime. Clever conversation and Holmes-like speculation punctuate their sibling rivalries as the plot thickens with each passing week. Larry, not immune to his patron’s dilemma, joins the fray while secretly yearning for Annie’s affections.

The wit is dry, the dialogue fun, and the element of surprise makes for a fitting end. Robert Gruett has done the unthinkable, penning a highly “comic vampire legal thriller” that makes one happy to have picked up such an unusual book at all.

Reviewer: Gene Berger

business

The Skinny on Networking

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Jim Randel
Publisher: Rand Media
Genre: Business
ISBN: 978-0-9844418-1-5
Pages: 156
Price: $14.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” But how do you get to know the people who can assist you when you need it most? Our inner circle of acquaintances – friends and family – can occasionally help. But it’s best to broaden our network and increase the likelihood of being able to call on just the person who can address our need.

In The Skinny on Networking, Jim Randel shows us the power of having a large network, and how to go about creating it. He discusses the concept of “connectors” – those who seem to know just about everyone. Social capital is explored, and why it’s not always a good idea to ask for big vs. little favors. And Randel shares his thoughts on how best to use the internet through social media and blogs.

For many folks, networking is difficult, but Randel encourages us to work on this important skill every day. A network that grows organically takes effort, but it’s well worth it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Buddhism, meditation, spirituality

A Lamp in the Darkness

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Jack Kornfield
Publisher: Sounds True
Genre: Meditation / Spirituality / Buddhism
ISBN: 978-1-60407-642-4
Pages: 103
Price: $19.95

Author’s website
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Trouble is an inevitable part of being human. Although it’s tempting to simply bemoan our fate when something bad happens, it’s far more effective to accept these upsetting issues and integrate them into our whole life experience. In A Lamp in the Darkness, Jack Kornfield shares his thoughts on dealing with difficult times, in an effort to help us get through them.

Suffering can be caused by many things, and Kornfield reminds us that we already have an inner light – “The One Who Knows” – who will guide us. We may be in so much pain that we don’t feel we’re capable of compassion, forgiveness, healing, and wisdom, but these are some of the topics discussed, followed by meditations to explore these characteristics more deeply. An accompanying CD provides audio recordings of these meditations.

Difficulty doesn’t need to destroy us. We can rise above what happens, with our sense of self and peace of mind intact. A Lamp in the Darkness shows us how.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

animals, children

Wild Colt

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Lois Szymanski
Illustrator: Linda Kantjas
Publisher: Schiffer Books
Genre: Children / Horses
ISBN: 978-0-7643-3975-2
Pages: 40
Price: $16.99

Author’s website
Schiffer Books
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Assateague Island is well-known for its wild horses. In Wild Colt, the reader is treated to a delightful glimpse of how these horses live until they are ultimately rounded up for sale each year.

Gentle, rhyming verse tells the story of a newborn colt. As he and his mother wander around the island, other birds and animals cross their paths. Occasional storms brew overhead, and they enjoy lazy summer days with moonlit evenings. But summer comes to an end, and the wild colt is sold in the annual auction. Although he’ll miss his mother, the girl he’s going home with gives him a hug, and he knows he’ll be happy.

Illustrations by Linda Kantjas are beautifully done in oil painting, setting the scene for warm summer afternoons at the beach. A wildlife identification list shows some of the animals in this book, so children can try to find them in the story. Discussion topics and questions are also provided for classroom use. This charming book will please all who love horses or summer days at the beach.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

tween

Goodbye Tchaikovsky

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Michael Thal
Publisher: Royal Fireworks Press
Genre: Middle Grade
ISBN: 978-0-88092-469-6
Price:  $9.99

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David Rothman is on top of the world. After bringing down the house as soloist in the Youth Orchestra, he and the group are invited to play for the Queen of England. But just days after his triumphant moment, he suddenly finds himself unable to hear a single note.

Deafness has struck the Rothmans in the past, and now David has the family curse. Playing the violin is as meaningless to him as holding a stick of wood, since he can’t hear the music. Putting it down for good, he embarks on a journey to understand and deal with his new course of life.

Over the next six years, David enrolls in a school for the deaf, switching to mainstream high school once he is proficient enough in communication. He makes new friends and learns to adjust, hoping he will eventually find a career path to follow. And when he graduates from high school, he heads off to a mainstream college, finally knowing exactly what he is called to do.

Finding yourself deaf, literally overnight, is a scary thing, and David’s response to his disability is understandable. It takes courage to accept what he can’t change, and he tries to make the best of a bad situation. Goodbye Tchaikovsky is a touching portrayal of a boy who just wants to fit in, but finds himself pulled between the hearing and the deaf world. Ultimately, what he really needs to find is himself.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

sports, teen

Download Basketball

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Alison Hawes
Publisher: Hameray
Genre: Teens / Sports
ISBN: 978-1-60559-003-5
Pages: 48
Price: $9.95

Buy it from Hameray

Basketball is a fun sport for boys and girls of all ages. But how is it played, and who are all those people on the court? If basketball looks interesting to you and you want to know more about its history, stars, and rules, you’ll need to read Download Basketball.

Basketball is a fast-paced game, and this book is set up to be a fast read. Position players, scorekeepers, and referees are all introduced, with explanations of what each does. Court markings and how they’re used to score, and what to wear to stay cool and comfortable, help in learning to play the game. And no book about any sport would be complete without a history of its beginnings, as well as legends who dazzled the crowds with their prowess.

The Download series was created to support striving readers for whom reading is a difficult or frustrating task. This series would be great in engaging kids ages 9-14, reading at age level 7-8.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian, inspiration, music

Songs of Mary

Bergers Book Reviews

Sung by: Various Artists
Producer: Sounds True
Genre: Christian inspiration

Buy it at Amazon

Mary has been revered and adored for centuries as the mother of Jesus Christ. Songs of her worship and praise date back to the early Catholic church. In this collection, various artists join in honoring the Blessed Mother.

Many of these songs are reminiscent of a medieval Catholic church, with plain chant and a minimum of instrumental accompaniment. But there are also Celtic and Spanish influences, reminding us of how much Mary is honored all over the world. A songbook is included with this CD, giving us the words as they are actually sung, in addition to the English translations.

Listen to this music reverently, in anticipation of receiving Mary’s blessings, healing, and guidance.  These beautiful and powerful vocals will inspire all who hear them.

Reviewer:  Alice Berger

children

Oscar Did It!

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Joy Cowley
Illustrator: Don Tate
Publisher: Hameray
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-60559-368-5
Pages: 16
Price: $5.95

Author’s website
Buy it from Hameray

Poor Oscar always gets blamed for everything. If the older children make a mess or do something they shouldn’t, they tell their mom “Oscar did it!” But Oscar finally gets even with them when lunch is served.

Oscar Did It! is part of the Joy Cowley collection, meant for classroom use. At the end of the text, lesson pointers for teachers are provided for guiding discussions about this story. Features like punctuation marks, repeated sentence patterns, and consequences of actions are summarized.

This fun read will have kids giggling as Oscar gets his revenge. I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger