Author: Bergers Book Reviews

Author and book reviewer.
Christian, spirituality

In the Beginning: The Art of Genesis (a pop-up book)

Bergers Book Reviews

genesisAuthor: Chuck Fischer
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 978-0316118422
Pages: 12
Price: $35.00

Author’s website
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The Biblical book of Genesis has been the subject of great art works for many years, and is the inspiration for Chuck Fischer in creating this book. In these six pop-up scenes, he shows in majestic format: the creation, Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Noah’s Ark, the tower of Babel, Jacob’s ladder, and Joseph in Egypt.

These stunning works also include attached booklets that tell the Biblical story that goes with the scene, as well as exploring its meaning, and sharing other great art works that have touched on these stories.

In the Beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Chuck Fischer has created a masterpiece, taking the book of Genesis to a new dimension in these spectacular pop-up scenes.  This beautiful book would be perfect for anyone who enjoys great art and Biblical stories.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

inspiration

Awakening the Genie Within

Bergers Book Reviews

genieAuthor: Bettye Johnson
Publisher: Living Free Press
Genre: Mind-Body-Spirit
ISBN: 978-0-9650454-4-5
Pages: 163
Price: $17.95

Author’s website
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Bettye Johnson believes that each of us has a genie within that can grant all our wishes. Awakening the Genie Within attempts to show us how to access this power.

The teacher, Ramtha, channeled through JZ Knight, and his School of Enlightenment have provided guidance to the author over the last twenty years. This book reveals some of the wisdom she has learned from him. In it, she touches on topics such as the law of attraction, the powers of the mind, healing, love and abundance. These are enhanced by Johnson’s own experiences.

Although there is a lot of good material in this book, the organization is a bit haphazard, and the book has numerous typos, leading the reader to believe it may have been put together hastily. The author’s experiences could also have been supplemented with other people’s, giving a broader view on the subjects covered.

If this is the first book you’ve read on discovering your own power to manifest your life, it provides a basic framework that will encourage further reading. If you’re already fluent in these studies, this book will give you only one person’s experiences in following these principles successfully. The inspirational stories will leave you feeling good about life, eager to create positive changes for yourself.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

The Fairy and the Chupacabra and Those Marfa Lights

Bergers Book Reviews

chupacabraAuthor: James A. Mangum & Sidney Spires
Publisher: John M. Hardy Publishing
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9798391-5-3
Pages: 24
Price: $17.95

Author’s website
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Javi is a very mischievous fairy. One day, he decides to take a journey to watch the humans in the neighboring village, but he forgets to tell anyone where he is going. While he is there, he meets a young chupacabra – a most-misunderstood creature that looks a lot scarier than he really is.

As nightfall approaches, Javi’s sister Mari is worried that he hasn’t arrived home yet, and she sets out to find him, knowing her parents will worry about both of them if she fails to return. Mari finds Javi, who is now in quite a predicament, and they both make it home safely from their trip.

Written in folk tale style, this charming West Texas fable is accompanied by colorful and vibrant illustrations by James A. Mangum. The first in a series, this bilingual story includes Spanish phrases with a glossary in the back. The Fairy and the Chupacabra and Those Marfa Lights is a delightful tale, suitable for children of all ages.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, crafts, how-to

The Pocket Paper Engineer Vol. 1 & 2

Bergers Book Reviews

popupsAuthor: Carol Barton
Publisher: Popular Kinetics Press
Genre: Crafts / How-to / Children’s
ISBN: 978-0962775208 / 978-0-962775222
Pages: 67 / 72
Price: $24.95 / $26.95

Author’s website
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Pop-up books and cards delight children and adults with their unique and clever designs, but how are these intricate pictures created? If you’ve ever wanted to make one yourself, The Pocket Paper Engineer will show you how.

This set of two volumes focuses on basic pop-up forms, platforms and props in a fully hands-on manner. Designed to be taken apart and used in construction, the pages are sturdy and include pockets to place your finished products. Clear directions and illustrations show you exactly how to put these pop-up designs together, and then explain how to use these newly acquired skills for creations of your own.

The Pocket Paper Engineer is well-designed, and the step-by-step instructions are easy for anyone to follow. I highly recommend these unique how-to books on crafting pop-ups.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, holiday

The Night Before the Little Mermaid’s Christmas

Bergers Book Reviews

mermaid1
Author: Larry Carney
Publisher: PC Treasures, Inc.
Genre: Children / Christmas
ISBN: 978-1600721106
Pages: 24
Price: $6.95

Author’s website
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The little mermaid has decorated her home deep under the sea, in the hopes that Santa will pay a visit on Christmas Eve. But can Santa get to her home? How will he ever be able to find her, and if he does, how can he breathe?

This adorable and heart-warming Christmas story of the little mermaid is written in rhyme, and is accompanied by a CD-ROM. This includes a read-along version of the story so kids can follow the story as they’re learning to read. It also has several novelty Christmas songs with easy to learn lyrics kids can sing along to. And it includes computer activities like coloring pages and an on-screen performance of one of the songs.

Since this package comes with a book, music and activities, The Night Before the Little Mermaid’s Christmas is a superb value for the price, and would be ideal for any family looking for fun new holiday stories to enjoy.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

romance

A Country Girl

Bergers Book Reviews

angela
Author: Jeanne Ainslie
Publisher: Xlibris
Genre: Erotica
ISBN: 978-1-4363-3179-1
Pages: 243
Price: $19.99

Author’s website
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Angela, a country girl, awakens to her blossoming womanhood in her teens, with a boy named William. Although the relationship doesn’t last, she continues to delight in her own body, and those of her partners, with wild abandon.

The sequel to Angela, written in 1975 and selling over 61,000 copies, A Country Girl takes us on an erotic exploration of Angela’s sexuality. Jeanne Ainslie’s evocative use of language creates a beautiful sensory picture. Touch, taste, smell and sight combine for a complete immersion in Angela’s sexual experiences.

Angela doesn’t hold back from anything new, and the bolder and more forbidden it is, the more she enjoys it. If you long to break free of convention, if only vicariously, A Country Girl will take you to places you may have only visited in your imagination. I highly recommend this well-written erotic novel.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, holiday

The Night Before the Three Pigs’ Christmas

Bergers Book Reviews

pigsAuthor: Larry Carney
Publisher: PC Treasures, Inc.
Genre: Children / Christmas
ISBN: 978-1600721236
Pages: 24
Price: $6.95

Author’s website
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The three little pigs are all snug in their beds, waiting for Santa Claus to visit their house. But the big bad wolf is hungry and needs to find something to eat. He comes up with a plan to sneak in and catch them so he can have pork for dinner. But he doesn’t count on Santa’s help in rescuing the pigs.

This cute and clever Christmas take on the story of the three little pigs is written in rhyme, and is accompanied by a CD-ROM. This includes a read-along version of the story so kids can follow the story as they’re learning to read. It also has several novelty Christmas songs with easy to learn lyrics kids can sing along to. And it includes computer activities like coloring pages and an on-screen performance of one of the songs.

Since this package comes with a book, music and activities, The Night Before the Three Pigs’ Christmas is a superb value for the price, and would be ideal for any family looking for fun new holiday stories to enjoy.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, holiday

Elmo’s Christmas Countdown

Bergers Book Reviews

elmoAuthor: Meg McLaughlin
Illustrator: Tom Leigh
Publisher: Dalmatian Press
Genre: Children / Christmas
ISBN: 1-40375-013-0
Pages: 24
Price: $3.50

Sesame Street website
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When Santa’s elf crashes his sleigh, it nearly causes a holiday disaster. The Christmas Counter Downer has lost its boxes, and without it, Christmas will be late. But Elmo suggests they make a wish on the Christmas star for the boxes to reappear.

As if by magic, each of the boxes is returned to Santa’s elf in the correct order, counting down from ten to one. And when the last box is returned, they realize a true Christmas miracle has occurred because Christmas will arrive right on time.

Adapted from the original screenplay, Elmo’s Christmas Countdown is a new and fresh Christmas tale that also teaches counting – but in reverse. This fun Sesame Street story will please kids and adults alike.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

new age fiction

Honeycomb

Bergers Book Reviews

honeycombAuthor: Israel Del Rio
Genre: New Age Fiction
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN: 1-434-80954-4
Price: $15.00

Buy it at Amazon

Did you ever wonder what your next life would be like once this one is over? The possibility exists that once you die, you will “come back” and experience a completely different reality. But what if you were given the opportunity to choose that next life? Israel Del Rio entertains this fascinating idea in his new book, Honeycomb.

An ordinary man enters into the mystical realm of the Honeycomb, where a rather eccentric spiritual guide presents him with an extraordinary opportunity. The man may randomly pick five scrolls from the Honeycomb each representing five separate lives. From those, he can choose his next life. With the assistance and resolve of his spiritual guide, the man must decide quickly or his next life will be chosen for him.

Del Rio presents an alluring snapshot into the lives of five very different individuals.  Through his observations, the man is faced with a difficult decision, one the reader eagerly awaits throughout the course of the book.

Honeycomb may be considered part of a new literary genre, New Age Fiction. I believe it to be an excellent work that needs no special label. Quite simply, it is an entertaining novel that stands on its own as a work that includes new ideas, old concepts, and a refreshing voice. I highly recommend it to all those who have an open mind.

Reviewer: Gene Berger

children, holiday

My First Night Before Christmas

Bergers Book Reviews

xmasAuthor: Clement C. Moore
Illustrator: Tom Newsom
Publisher: Piggy Toes Press
Genre: Children / Christmas
ISBN: 978-158117808-1
Pages: 12
Price: $9.95

Buy it at Amazon

The magic of the holiday season is expressed so eloquently through Clement C. Moore’s classic poem, “The Night Before Christmas.” Children of many generations have grown up listening to it read on Christmas Eve, as they await Santa’s arrival. This book was obviously created with that magic in mind.

As a touch and feel and sparkle book, each page has a special decoration to enhance the illustrations. Santa has a soft and cuddly beard and a red satiny jacket. The children sleep with a quilted bed cover. And bright sparkles adorn the Christmas ornaments and Santa’s sleigh.

Solidly constructed with sturdy pages, this book is meant to last, for many enjoyable Christmas memories. My First Night Before Christmas would make a charming addition to any family holiday tradition.

Reviewer: Alice Berger