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Literary Titan Book Awards November 2021
The Literary Titan Book Awards are awarded to books that have astounded and amazed us with unique writing styles, vivid worlds, complex characters, and original ideas. These books deserve extraordinary praise and we are proud to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and imagination of these talented authors.
Gold Award Winners
Silver Award Winners
Entre Duendes y Ratones by Patricia Bossano
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
All Walks of Life (and Death)
All Walks of Life (and Death) by John Spicuzz is a provocative and gripping behind the scenes story of a first responder and the scenarios they face. Author John Spicuzz begins by sharing his personal story, detailing how he became a firefighter. He walks the reader through the typical life of a first responder and what they are exposed to. The author covers various topics in the book ranging from the good to the bad, the various uncommon situations he was in, and experiences that are more personal to him.
John Spicuzz has written a fascinating memoir that relays the experiences he faced in the forty-two years being a firefighter and paramedic. The topics the author covers provides an abundance of information to the reader, all of which had me captivated from the first chapter. This memoir helps you view first responders in a different light, especially when you learn of their harrowing personal experiences. One chapter that really touched me was The Brother/Sisterhood because you really get to see the camaraderie that John Spicuzz has built with the people he worked with. I never stopped to think that a firefighter would have to attend one of their friend’s, or coworkers, funerals or in the author’s case, have to attend many funerals.
But even among these bleak events in his life, the author does not just share the ugly side of being a first responder, he also shares the good times that he had. Santa Saves the Day is a chapter that brought a smile to my face. The author’s writing is honest and he shares his experiences candidly and with a passion that can be felt. I appreciated this because that genuine affection gives this memoir much more emotional depth, certainly more than I was expecting. I also appreciated how the author had each chapter broken up into different topics, which helps to make this a very smooth read, with plenty of opportunities to put the book down and easily pick it back up again.
All Walks of Life (and Death) was a shocking, enlightening, and emotionally resonant read. The author holds nothing back, and provides insights into the various things first responders face, and I’m sure any average reader will be stunned by the things that they learn. I recommend this book to any reader who is curious to know what it is like to live a day in the life of a first responder.
Pages: 302 | ASIN: B0979MZD8K
Countless Strange and Humorous Situations
Memoir of a Nerd shares your personal stories growing up in the ’50s and the hilarious situations you got into. Why was this an important book for you to write?
My children and friends are used to me telling stories about the countless strange and humorous situations I found myself in, and they encouraged me to “write them down.” I feel fortunate to have had a very full and satisfying life and felt compelled to share my story with others.
There were a lot of humorous situations in the book. What is a moment in the book that makes you laugh every time you think about it?
My favorite story is the chapter titled “A McDonald’s Bag of Cash.” I cashed a check for over $18,000, and the only thing the teller had to put it in was a used McDonald’s bag. My second favorite is the chapter “Déjà vu,” about a prank we played on a fellow missionary.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
Life is better when you enjoy what you are doing. Looking back on my life, I realize that my enjoyment was more of a state of mind than the circumstances or situation.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your book?
I hope that readers will enjoy reading about my escapades enough to brighten their day.
Author Links: Facebook | Website | Instagram
In these tense times of uncertainty and division, this remarkable book is just what the doctor ordered! The book is filled with hilarious and humorously told stories.
A self-described nerd, the author recounts his experiences growing up in the ’50s and the endless predicaments he has found himself in throughout his life. From spending formative years as a missionary in Japan to learning life lessons in Las Vegas, Mancini’s antics seem never-ending. His days looking for love, as he says in all the wrong places, are very funny.
You will surely laugh at the hilarious and often absurd events in this very personal memoir! The author writes with wit, optimism, and humor. This book is a rare gift of humor that will give anyone a good laugh. Recommended to anyone who needs a break from these crazy times.
Read Memoir of a Nerd and find out why the author admits that if there were an award for “Worst Chapter Title,” the last chapter of his book would likely win it!
Skinny House
Skinny House: A Memoir of Family, by Julie L. Seely is, despite the title, a story about much more than just a house. It is about the fascinating people of the Seely family that lived within it. Their stories are brought to the reader by one of the family members, the house builder Nathan Seely’s granddaughter. Her experience and some research allow every reader to understand what goes on in the tiny house.
Seely writes in a captivating and detailed way, giving us insights into her family’s inspirational story and helping everyone understand what each family member has gone through during their difficult lives. As a reader keen on details, I appreciated the effort put into researching and describing the lives of the people the author barely met, like her grandfather Nathan and describing his life at the beginning of the 20th century.
The book does a fantastic job of creating detailed portraits of the people in the family, and it really transports readers to that time and place in a fascinating way, but I felt like the book moved slowly because of all these details. If you are looking for a book that dives deep into the lives of interesting people, then Skinny House is a perfect fit for you.
Skinny House: A Memoir of Family tells an emotionally resonant story that I think every reader will be able to relate to in one way or another because of how realistic and authentic these people feel due to the wonderful writing of author Julie L. Seely. I recommend this book to any reader keen on African American entrepreneur success during a time when racism was everywhere, to readers keen on history and for anyone looking for a book on real life stories that are inspiring.
I would like to end this review with my favorite quote from the book: “Despite its title, this book is no simple story about an odd narrow-built dwelling. It’s about the family who lived in the house and the patriarch who built it”.
Pages: 211 | ASIN: B07N8H4N4C
Silent Freedom: A Memoir of Service with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in Iraq – Book Trailer
During war, anything can happen. Newly married, Aurea Franklin moved to Hawaii and joined the U.S. Army, following the call of her silent freedom. After moving all around the U.S., she witnessed the attack on the Twin Towers. Soon after, she deployed to Iraq. In this memoir, Aurea details her time spent with the 101st Airborne Division Air Assault in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. She discusses life as a soldier—abroad and at home—and the triumphs and difficulties that come with it. Silent Freedom is a story about love and loss, purpose and faith. It will take you to the darkest corners of the war zone in Iraq while demonstrating how faith and hope for a better future can make a difference.
Memoir of a Nerd
![Memoir of a Nerd: Humorous Essays and Short Stories by [Hank Mancini]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41k7M0nt7uS.jpg)
Memoir of a Nerd, by Hank Mancini, is a personal account of the many situations Mancini has gotten himself into throughout his lifetime. From pranking his grandmother, Mormonism, and general lifetime shenanigans, Mancini writes from an upbeat and comical perspective. Memoir of a Nerd is a more detailed retelling of Mancini’s original book, The Cat That Ate a Thousand Bananas. What sort of antics can a self-proclaimed nerd get into? What exactly did a nerd do back in the 50s and 60s? Hank Mancini gives his readers a vivid retelling of the positive goings-on a nerd would partake in during that time.
This memoir is a good depiction of what life was like in previous decades and it gives its reader a clear window into the regular day-to-day happenings of the time. So often, we only hear about major life-altering events in terms of previous decades — JFK, the moon landing, Vietnam — it’s refreshing to read accounts of everyday life. Memoirs are meant to give readers insight into the author’s past experiences. Good memoirs will transport the reader back in time to each moment the author speaks about. Great memoirs will leave a reader wanting to go back and reread the book over and over again. This particular memoir was witty, humorous, and heartfelt and kept my attention to the very last page. I appreciate that each chapter was 2-3 pages long, but I would have liked more substance in each chapter. At the beginning of the book, Mancini mentions that he doesn’t want to dwell on the bad aspects of his previous memories, but I feel like that would’ve strengthened the story.
Memoir of a Nerd is a short but humorous memoir with a unique voice that makes this book stand out. It was nice to read a memoir from someone that does not aggrandize their life, but instead shares a life filled with humor and the same ups and downs we can all relate to.
Pages: 243 | ASIN: B096YRW48K
Throughout This Ordeal
Prayers and Po-boys tells your inspirational true story battling and surviving cancer. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I think that despite how much cancer has touched all of our lives, there is still so much that goes overlooked and I wanted to highlight the struggles of not only patients, but caregivers as well.
I appreciated how candid you were in the book. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
There were several aspects that were hard to discuss, but I think that the fear and uncertainty was definitely the hardest.
What is one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you were first diagnosed?
Throughout this ordeal, just trust the process and most importantly, trust God.
What do you hope readers take away from your story?
I hope that readers understand the true struggles that accompany having, surviving, and giving care to those with cancer and that they continue to pray for the families and friends of those who lost their battles to this terrible disease.
Author Links: Facebook | Twitter
Readers will find themselves inspired by Singleton’s courage in the face of everything cancer had to throw at him, including the extreme side effects that accompany chemotherapy. Prayers and Po-Boys will both touch and uplift audiences as they experience firsthand the trials Singleton experienced as both a cancer patient, and survivor.
Prayers and Po-Boys
A few days to Christmas, Larry Singleton receives news that would change his life forever: he has been diagnosed with stage four Hodgkin lymphoma (cancer). Suddenly, Singleton realizes that he probably doesn’t have as much time as he thinks. The father and husband braces himself for a bumpy ride of treatment and picks up vital life lessons along the way. As he weathers the storm of chemotherapy, worry, and life generally, all he can do is pray and eat.
Prayers and Po-Boys is an inspirational account of Larry Singleton’s true topsy-turvy journey from when he was diagnosed with cancer through chemotherapy till he went into remission.
With soothing honesty, Singleton relates his thoughts, fears, struggles, and victories as he battled cancer. His approach suggests he is humble enough to accept that sometimes, the best help you can offer is to simply share your story.
Singleton’s crisp, concise, and immersive writing style makes his ideas stick in the readers head long after they have put the book down. Also, his tone is warm and reassuring, a sign that he is not just out to write a book but to genuinely reach into people’s hearts.
Prayers and Po-Boys is short but insightful. Its lessons range from Singleton’s epiphanies on living with cancer to revelations that can help anyone better understand and support affected loved ones. This is a fantastic book made even more so by the relevance of its themes.
Pages: 88 | ISBN: 1643074377
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