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What Lurks in the Woods
![What Lurks in the Woods: Struggle and Hope in the Midst of Chronic Illness, A Memoir by [Nicole Bell]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/515QnfyIVML.jpg)
What Lurks in the Woods by Nicole Bell is a heart-wrenching, real-life love story that deals with a family’s struggle with early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease. Nicole Bell and her husband, Russ, are living everyday life in North Carolina with their two toddlers Ryan and Hailey. Life is fast and hectic, with Nicole’s ever-increasing work in her high-tech medical device startup, which she joined when she was six months pregnant with Ryan. The fights and frustration became so frequent and overwhelming that Nicole considered leaving Russ when she saw the first sign. It was nothing big, just an issue with the home security alarm. But once she started noticing, the symptoms became more and more apparent. Placing the bowl in the wrong place, forgetting to pick up the kids. Russ had Alzheimer’s.
The book is a brilliant compilation of detailing various minor incidents and everyday life for a family dealing with a chronic disease. What makes this book stand out from other memoirs written about chronic illness and Alzheimer’s is that it isn’t written from the patient’s perspective. It highlights the struggles that not just the patient faces but how it impacts the people around them. We often forget the impact on the family and their contribution against this fight with fate and how their presence makes everything better and much more bearable. This memoir highlights a wife’s journey of love and dedication to her partner throughout his journey.
What Lurks in the Woods is an inspirational and emotional memoir that I would highly recommend for its heartfelt, raw, and authentic depiction of how a single member’s chronic illness impacts an entire family. This book is perfect for anyone with chronic disease as a significant part of their life, be it firsthand suffering or secondhand experience via a family member or a close friend.
Pages: 222 | ASIN: B09CJWWC9L
Goin’ Through the Motions
Goin’ Through the Motions: Last Renderin’s of a Questor and Rounder is a captivating book to read. As a reader, you are taken through the lives of different people and get to view the world through different lenses. Moon McNelly’s book makes one reflect on the life that they are living. When you read this book, you realize that the world is much bigger and has different elements that make us the beings we are. As a reader, I tried to put myself in the shoes of the narrator in order to fully understand and imagine their life. Every part of this book carries life lessons that readers will appreciate. We are taken through different years and one can see how diverse different eras were.
Goin’ Through the Motions: Last Renderin’s of a Questor and Rounder tells the story of John Henry Shields and his family. Getting to learn about his kin, ambitions, achievements, challenges and general personality was a great reading experience. The story is told in an interior monologue form. John Henry Shields tells his life story, touching on every aspect of his life. We read about his family, work-life, social life, and so on. I enjoyed reading the monologues because of how intimate and personal they felt. The monologues were intriguing, fun to read, and enthralling. Through the narrator’s words, the reader can tell the personality of the narrator and the kind of person they are. I enjoyed analyzing John Henry Shields as much as I enjoyed reading his thoughts.
This book is interesting to read also because of how the author arranged it. The book has a prelude, which is a dialogue between Martin and his wife in 2012. Martin is the son of Henry. I loved the prelude and got to appreciate Martin as one of the characters. As one reads the prologue and gets deeper into the book, more characters are introduced. The style that Moony McNelly took with the narration, the vocabulary, historical references, and comparisons are some of the best features in the book. The tales told by the characters are fascinating as well. I enjoyed the fortuitous epilogue a lot though it marked the end of the book. The epilogue was also stirring. We read about the dreams of John Martin Shields, which were exciting and equally captivating.
Anyone that enjoys books that read like memoirs and autobiographies will love Goin’ Through the Motions. There are numerous lessons to be learned from Peggy, John Henry, Martin, Myra, and other characters.
Pages: 320 | ISBN:1951985605
Dancing On Sloane Street
![Dancing On Sloane Street by [english golightly]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41dDfv0taOL.jpg)
Dancing On Sloane Street recounts the adventures of a young and impulsive 17 year old model. This book is written in an autobiographical style with the protagonist as its sole narrator. Such an intimate first person point of view makes it seem almost like a diary. As English, our protagonist and narrator, goes from one place to another, strung along by her rich or influential clientele, her life goes on wildly with some unexpected twists and turns, finally ending with her decision to return to a silent contemplative lifestyle, leaving behind the limelight of the modelling industry along with its risks and perks.
The story covers a fascinating subject that is captivating in and of itself. The protagonist plunges off into the world of illegal and often inappropriate practices as she describes her personal experiences as a young model during the 1990’s. I was taken in by the candid language that has a fluid quality to it and keeps the audience engaged throughout this fictional biography. English gets taken advantage of, betrayed, cheated, and lied to but after everything what stands the test of time is her grit and emotional strength to try to live life according to her own terms.
There are countless times where the protagonist, as well as other characters, objectify or implicitly degrade and judge people based on their physical appearances. This is reflective of the culture this story takes place in. While the impromptu escapades of the main character have a particular charm in the beginning of the story, towards the end we realize the characters act in a self-destructive way. This makes this story both a thrilling coming-of-age story and also an intriguing character study of various people in the industry.
Dancing On Sloane Street is a provocative and compelling story that provides a unique look at an exotic lifestyle, and English Golightly captures it in an entertaining way.
Pages: 191 | ASIN: B00KR9KU1S
I See Old People
![I See Old People: A True Story About How Small Acts of Kindness Lead Us to Extraordinary Love and Connections that Defy Our Wildest Dreams by [Jeanne Corvese Hussin]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51mYcGPIVPS.jpg)
I See Old People is a captivating memoir that tells the life story of Jeanne Corvese Hussin. Jeanne has led a life filled with happy moments, low times, challenges and more. Reading about her life, one can tell that Jeanne is a modest person. I enjoyed reading stories of her family; her mother, son, grandmother and everyone else in her family that she treasured. You can see the pure love in Jeanne. When the author loves, she loves with all her heart and I admire how committed she was to the people in her circle. I See Old People is a story of passion, breaking barriers, commitment and building self.
Every chapter in the book talks about a period in Jeanne’s life and the impact the periods had. The first chapter is about her grandmother. Jeanne talks fondly of her grandmother. Her words paint a vivid picture of the person she’s describing, allowing the reader get the impression of knowing them. I liked how the author details her connection to her grandmother. Reading about Jeanne’s grandmother’s colon cancer and her last days was agonizing. No one wants to see their loved one in pain. Jeanne talked of how she, her mother and aunts cared for her grandmother when she was ailing. Reading this brought tears to my eyes. Despite the solemn tone in this part of the book, I could see the love beneath all the pain. She loved her grandmother and her grandma loved her back. There was no greater bond than the one they created; and it was beautiful.
Jeanne Corvese Hussin’s sense of humor is displayed throughout the book. The author is witty and that is one of the elements that makes her writing engaging. Jeanne knows how to tell a story in a comical way and get the reader’s attention with little effort. Apart from her professional life, the author also shares stories from her personal life and dating. Her stories about the men in her life was interesting and relatable, but her humor really shined in these areas to make the stories absolutely fascinating.
Chapter 7 of the book touched on an important topic that is personal to me. Jeanne talks of how she lost her job in 2008, her continuous application of jobs after, dealing with loss and grief, and how she tried to balance her life. This chapter was insightful and had many life lessons that will help every reader.
I See Old People is an easy book to read. Jeanne Corvese Hussin is a wonderful storyteller. This stirring memoir will motivate you to be a kind person, better human, and help you embrace all the good things and challenges in life.
Pages: 192 | ASIN: B096T4VZRY
Butterfly Awakens: A Memoir of Transformation Through Grief
![Butterfly Awakens: A Memoir of Transformation Through Grief by [Meg Nocero, Habib Sadeghi, Sherry Sami]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51TvS0EjywL.jpg)
Butterfly Awakens by Meg Nocero is the moving memoir of Nocero’s life after losing her mother. It starts with a brief description of her childhood and introduces her parents then jumps right to her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis. Apart from narrating the difficult moments fighting the disease, we also get to see the destructive consequences such a loss can have and Meg’s deep grieving.
Nocero writes in a beautiful way that is descriptive and realistic at the same time, making it easy for readers to feel connected and empathetic. Her stages of grief are deeply felt by the reader and when she finally gets to the end of El Camino and finds freedom, every reader will feel happy for her achievements.
I appreciated the effort put into describing what she felt during each important moment of her journey toward recovery. An accurate description of her feelings helps readers impersonate and share the journey with her in an intimate way, which is what makes this book unforgettable.
While I enjoyed the story, I felt a bit of confusion between flashbacks and flash-forwards, at one point in the book it was difficult for me to understand when the action took place. But this is a minor issues in an otherwise tell told and impassioned story.
Butterfly Awakens, by Meg Nocero is an enthralling memoir with plenty of emotional and heartwarming moments that will capture most readers’ hearts. Whether one has already experienced such a loss or has not yet, this story will stir the soul. I would recommend this book to anyone who is dealing with such loss or to anyone who is looking for a book that is emotional but inspiring.
Pages: 395 | ASIN: B08QZCR9FF
Akil and Jafari
![AKIL AND JAFARI: VOL.1 HOW TO SELL YOUR SOUL by [AYURA AYIRA]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51t1gPwVAGL.jpg)
Akil and Jafari (Volume 1-4) by Ayura Ayira is a story about two boys who are childhood best friends turned rivals. Despite his health issues, life was better for Akil Chistopher than for many others, including Jafari Omar, but he still wanted more. With dreams of escaping a life of poverty in Africa and going to America, the pair hope to gain money and fame by becoming professional mixed martial arts fighters. But then a series of poor decisions leads to Akil accidentally shooting and killing his father. Jafari takes the blame and ends up sentenced to seven years in juvenile detention for the fatal shooting. Will the forced separation caused by the dark secret they share turn out to be the end of their friendship?
I liked the interactions and banter between Akil and Jafari when they were kids and missed that lighthearted tone and bits of humor during the rest of the story after events seemed to place a wedge between the two. I also liked the aspect of the story where the ghost of Akil’s father visited him and offered him encouragement when he needed it most. The story had a happy ending, which I was glad to see after all the struggle and strife that Akil and Jafari went through.
While I enjoyed this impassioned and thoughtful story, I felt that it ended abruptly. I wanted to know what happened after the two former friends were finally reunited, and to learn a bit more details about Jafari’s motivations for his actions. The story was told from Akil’s point of view, but I would have liked to see parts of the story from Jafari’s point of view, as well.
The focus on their close friendship in the beginning, which was my favorite part of the story, seemed to be replaced by a love interest for Akil in later parts of the book, giving this novel a surprising romantic element.
Akil and Jafari is a riveting story that will appeal to readers looking for a rousing and dramatic book of two intriguing men who face adversity in different ways.
Pages: 179 | ASIN: B09B2ZJQXN
3,000 Pulses Later
![3,000 Pulses Later: A Memoir of Surviving Depression Without Medications by [Martha Rhodes]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41i-KZf+N0L.jpg)
3,000 Pulses Later by Martha Rhodes, is the inspiring biography of a woman who suffers from depression. This candid memoir takes us through Martha’s darkest moments, up to the point when she reaches a dark pit of pain and suffering. However, the focus, as stated in the preface, is on the treatment that cured Martha’s depression and that is TMS or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. This procedure will bring important changes in her life and erase her depression, turning her into another person, a new Martha Rhodes.
Rhodes writes in a descriptive and factual way as she narrates her personal story. With her easy story telling she is able to allow the reader to feel empathy towards her condition and cheer with her when the cure finally works and shows itself to be more useful than expected. As a reader keen on details, I appreciated the effort put into describing the disease as this helped me visualize it, and it also helps anyone without it to feel empathy towards others and help them.
The preface at the beginning and frequently asked questions about TMS at the end of the book give the reader the feeling that the writer understands them and knows where they are coming from, I really appreciated these parts of the book.
3,000 Pulses Later, by Martha Rhodes is an emotional and uplifting memoir. This is a story that stirs the soul and will help many people who suffer from depression. This book will also be beneficial to anyone without depression as well as this is overall an inspirational memoir that highlights the struggles people with depression face. In Martha Rhodes’ own words: “My intention for you is that you’ll discover a glimmer of hope in your heart and be able to welcome miracles into your own life.” 3,000 Pulses Later inspires hope through a compelling and impassioned story.
Pages: 200 | ASIN: B00DL52NII
Alacran The Honey Badger
![Alacran The Honey Badger by [Bobby Miller]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Uk4QN6ErS.jpg)
Alacrán, The Honey Badger is an intriguing historical thriller. The reader gets caught up in a web of interesting events that involve complex and mystifying characters over several generations. There are a dozen puzzles to solve in the story. The author is creative and incorporates some elements that are rarely used in fantasy fiction. The authors imagination is out of this world. He can create an enthralling story from the simplest events. Some parts of the story appear obscure at first but the reader gets to understand why the author takes that approach as the storyline progresses.
Alacrán, The Honey Badger has a unique structure and unique writing style as well, especially when introducing a new plot or new characters. The author is artistic and uses his skills to capture the reader’s attention with the characters. Alacrán, The Honey Badger may appear eccentric at first but one soon catches up with the story. This book is for readers that enjoy following multiple stories at once. I like that the author surprises the reader with new and more robust characters that appear to overcome the impact older characters had. This is a curious piece of literature that requires your full concentration to enjoy.
In the book, we follow the lives of different men and women whose stories are distinctive but intertwined in one way or the other. Alacrán, The Honey Badger is divided into two parts; the first part of the book follows the story of a writer and an assassin. The assassin, who the reader is introduced to as Resident 27 is a fascinating character. The interview Resident 27 had with the writer reveals a lot about people that have a job like his. The assassin’s way of answering questions, his sarcasm, and humor are some of the things that make him compelling. One can also detect prudence in his thoughts. As he expresses himself Resident 27 talks about the complexities of life and why some people appear to be ahead of others. I enjoyed his conversations and even had a few favorite quotes from him.
The second half of the book gets to be even more attention-grabbing as the author introduces new characters and an additional storyline. I like how throughout the book one moves from different years. When following the storyline, the reader gets to jump to the 1800s, 1940s, 1960s and so on. The shift in years was a bit confusing but if you are able to catch on then it certainly adds to the air of intrigue. Through Bobby’s work of fiction, one is able to question the status quo and the current situation in the world we live in. This book has a political side that readers that enjoy following current affairs and global news will love. There are other crucial themes the author touched on, themes like family, friendship, love and betrayals. The language in the book is strong but fascinating, so I would recommend this book to adult readers looking for a different kind of literature.
Pages: 272 | ASIN: B098K5H61X
LITERARY TITAN 