JIM'S BAHAMAS ADVENTURE by Stephen L. Blain
Publish America, LLLP, Baltimore
www.PublishAmerica.comGenre: Travel Adventure Memoir
Rating: Average
ISBN: 1424158478, $12.95, 52 pp.
This short memoir of an adventurous group vacation is well written and an easy, fast read. I think the price of $12.95 is a bit high considering its length. If you are interested in a personal memoir about a group of men on three boats who take a sea voyage from West Palm Beach across the Devil’s Triangle to Freeport, Grand Bahamas and what they did while vacationing, then I can recommend it.
Stephen Blain is a good writer and tells this travel adventure with an upbeat flair.
Reviewed by Kaye Trout - February 10, 2007
BEYOND THE VEIL OF INNOCENCE by D. L. Jones
Beyond the Veil of Innocence
by D. L. Jones
Booklocker.com, Inc.
Genre: Inspirational Memoir
Rating: Good
ISBN: 1601450745, $13.95, 156 pp.
D. L. Jones had an amazing experience as a young boy, and I quote:
"Forty-two years ago when I touched an aluminum pipe to a high line wire, I died. I found myself in a very dark place with a light in the distance. When someone called out to me for the light, I went in to see whom it was. I met a friend I never knew I had. He told me many amazing things; he showed me many more."
Beyond the Veil of Innocence is an easy to read book: well organized, presented in an honest straight-forward manner, and the text is open, clean and designed for easy reading. While reading, I felt that D. L. Jones is a simple man with extraordinary life experiences who came to believe that it was time to tell his story. He does not present this material from a religiously fanatical perspective but with a spiritually inspirational attitude.
You may find his recollections of life after death interesting, along with his ideas about communication, energy and the soul. I can certainly recommend this book to anyone interested in true life stories and after death experiences.
Reviewed by Kaye Trout - February 10, 2007
PET PEOPLE: SURVIVING THE ALCOHOLIC HOME WITH THE FAMILY PET by Lesley Anne Schaffer
Aventine Press
1023 4th Ave #102, San Diego, CA
Genre: Memoir
Rating: Good
ISBN: 1593304250, $10.95, 112 pp.
About this book? . . . well, Lesley Anne tells it best: "Pet People - Surviving the Alcoholic Home with the Family Pet is a memoir of the 18 pets that have come into and out of my life over fifty years. It describes their loving presence throughout my upbringing in an alcoholic home and subsequent moves to Texas and New Mexico. I’ve written and illustrated this book for all the pet people out there who like their pets more than people but are too embarrassed to admit it."
This is a wonderful story, particularly if you’ve come from a dysfunctional family, which most of us have . . . to some degree. Lesley writes with an easy, honest style, and I do appreciate a book that is designed to be easily read–large dark print, open spacing and a unique font style (Comic Sans MS), which adds to the flavor of her story.
I would like to share several excerpts that were meaningful to me . . . from page 30:
"What I did learn through all this is that the human heart is capable of actually expanding when multiple pets occupy a place in it. When one pet passes on he leaves that part of your heart marked with his name forever. So the more pets you have in your life the larger your heart becomes. I’m not totally sure that the theory has ever been scientifically tested, but I know from life experience this it is so."
. . . and from page 36 . . . "This would be an excellent place for me to interject some important pet principles that I have learned over the years:
#1 Not every loose animal is lost
#2 You cannot rescue every lost animal
#3 Just because you rescue an animal does not mean you have to keep it."
This memoir will appeal to many of us dysfunctional pet lovers. Lesley Anne currently lives with her husband of 27 years (kudos to you), 3 dogs and 4 cats in Ruidoso, New Mexico. Congratulations!
Reviewed by Kaye Trout - December 14, 2006
RIDING WITH MISS LINDSEY by Jim Alexander
American Book Publishing
orders@american-book.comGenre: Memoir
Rating: Good
ISBN: 1589823591, $16.95, 105 pp.
About this book? . . . quoting from the back cover:
"Lindsey Alexander came into this world with Down syndrome and serious heart defects. Against the odds, she fought back to live sixteen joyous years with her family. This tender memoir written by her own father, celebrates the love and the laughter Lindsey brought to all who knew her, a compelling story about a remarkable young girl and a father’s love that you won’t want to miss. You’ll be glad you came along for the ride."
And that pretty much sums it up. However, you’ll need to read this memoir to learn about Lindsey–her life, loves, and what made her so special. Jim Alexander does an excellent job in creating this well-written memorial to his daughter.
This story would appeal to just about anyone, but I think it will be an inspiration to other families challenged by raising a special-need child. All profits from this book are donated to charities for special needs and pediatric heart patients.
Reviewed by Kaye Trout - December 8, 2006
THE FAT LADY NEVER SINGS by Steve Reilly
iUniverse
2021 Pine Lake Rd, Lincoln, NE
www.iuniverse.comwww.TheFatLadyNeverSings.comGenre: Memoir/Sports
Rating: Very Good
ISBN: 0595394671, $18.95, 228 pp.
Steve Reilly has coached baseball in Connecticut’s Lower Naugatuck Valley since 1976 and has assisted high school coaches for the past twenty years. He writes this true tale about defeat, dedication, perseverance and redemption using his extensive background and skills.
Three high school seniors–Gino, Ben and Donny–lose the Derby Hill School Red Raiders football game which broke the 28-year-winning streak, and think of themselves as marked losers, eventually finding redemption at the Middletown’s Palmer Field.
This memoir is well-written, edited and flows smoothly, and I’m certain will appeal to sports fans and anyone who likes a plain good inspirational story.
Reviewed by Kaye Trout - October 30, 2006
MOMMY CONFIDENTIAL: ADVENTURES FROM THE WONDERBELLY OF MOTHERHOOD - A Memoir of Sorts by Melinda Roberts
Mommy Confidential: Adventures from the Wonderbelly of Motherhood
A Memoir of Sorts
by Melinda Roberts
Aventine Press http://www.lulu.com/content/420156Genre: Parenting Memoir
Rating: Very Good
ISBN: 1593304358, $19.95, 502 pp.
Melinda Roberts certainly has a gift, and it’s wonderful that she’s taken the time to share it with us. Mommy Confidential is a compilations of family stories including: her children’s creative comments, a mother’s daily challenges and frustrations as she raises three active children, pursues a career, and deals with divorce and health issues. The memoir is considerable in depth and divided into seasons over a three year period–2002-2005–and then into days with catchy titles.
Allow me to quote from the back cover:
"Mommy Confidential: Adventures from the Wonderbelly of Motherhood is a naked, brutally funny, endearingly honest chronicle of family life beset by disaster on many fronts. Mindy keeps her family together through catastrophic illness, four bouts of postpartum depression, financial peril, familial Waterloo, and job instability. All through it her sense of humor and her sharp, edgy, witty writing keeps her together and upright. No, really."
That pretty much tells it like it is. It’s a book you can pick up, open to any page and find something to make you laugh or to which you can relate. Mindy’s sense of humor about life and living can’t help but inspire and lighten our loads just a little.
This diarylike memoir is well-written and well-edited but considerably long. I’m certain it will appeal to all parents . . . of all ages, but particularly to mothers.
Reviewed by Kaye Trout - October 9, 2006
HOOKED ON A HORN - Memoirs of a Recovered Musician by Gene Hull
Trafford Publishing
Victoria, BC V8T4P4 Canada
www.trafford.comGenre: Memoir Rating: Highly recommended
ISBN: 1412067219, $22.00, 261 pp, 2005
As I specialize in reviewing POD published book, I regularly receive memoirs–twenty-five in the past four months, to be exact. In addition, I have reviewed novels based on the true-life experiences of the authors: Clouds Are Always White on Top by Nolan Lewis, Battle Downunder by Charles Rush and Fears Flutterby by Rose Lamatt, to name a few. Memoirs are written for many different reasons: to share a problem, loss and insight with others; to help work through the loss of a loved one; to share travel adventures and aspects of different cultures; to purge one’s soul–confess our human foibles; and, in the end, to remember and immortalize one’s own life.
Hooked on Horn is indeed a memoir, but in many ways, so much more! It’s a sea adventure, a musical adventure, a small insight into our greatest jazz musicians in eras past, a family adventure, a mother’s pride for her son’s success. It is the story of a young man’s dream, begun at age 10, and his disciplined ‘alpha’ efforts to make that dream come true.
The parts of Gene Hull’s life that he has chosen to share about his professional musical journey are entertaining, educational, humorous, musically enlightening, heart wrenching, poignantly inspirational and presented with a creative flair. Gene has been in the music/entertainment field just about all his life. He has put together a number of bands, been on the road with big-name bands, conducted bands and produced shows. Prior to retiring, he produced award-winning productions and ice shows for Royal Caribbean International.
Several stories conjured up a tear or two. The first is about the 1962 Newport Jazz Festival. Gene’s group, the Jazz Giants–a band of ex-professional musicians who wanted to play interesting big band arrangements, was selected to be the guest opening band. This was their big opportunity! Allow me to quote several passages:
"Months zoomed by with extra rehearsals, arrangements being polished, new ones written, PR mailings to hundreds of jazz fans, stories and interviews in local papers, even radio interviews. Interest in us steamrolled. We were becoming a household name in Connecticut. . . .
"We kicked off our program at 8:00 PM. I don’t remember a note we played; it went so fast. But I do remember the brass section screaming out into the night with colossal fire. The saxes steamed together like bonded brothers and took their ensemble sound to another level. From our first note, the energy and drive poured over me, almost putting me in a trance. The band was like a locomotive. Get out of the way everybody. Here we come.
"The applause was generous from the sell-out crowd who had come expecting to see the famous. . . . In reality most every player had managed to play close to his best at the same time. A rare moment for us. I was proud to stand up there in front of this real band of brothers, who had laid it out for all to hear. This is who we are, world."
They were expecting the album from the 1962 Newport Jazz Festival to be their "big break." But, as fate would have it, all the tapes were spoiled by an electronic quirk. There would be no album, and ultimately, the Jazz Giants’s sound was lost with no ‘recorded’ history. If Gene was 12 in 1941 when he received his first saxophone, he would have been 33 in 1962.
The second story took place over forty years after that Newport Festival. Peter, one of Gene’s eight children, tracked down the live recording of the 1962 Festival and contacted the Library of Congress."The Gene Hull Orchestra, The Jazz Giants," had been recorded at Newport '62. A single CD could be assembled from the tape and made available with permission of the producer and for non-commercial purposes only."Peter chose a family reunion in 2003 to present Gene with the CD of the live recording.
""Just looking at the packaged CD placed before me gave me a jolt like a sudden electric current. Shivers came right from the stomach. Then I completely lost it.
"Dad," my daughter Amy whispered, "why are you crying? I’ve never seen you cry."
"I don’t know."
But I did know. I was seeing my yesterdays. My grown children as wide-eyed little kids, asking me where I was going. And me telling them, "Straight up." The Jazz Giants rehearsing at Bill’s Castle. A boy sitting on a bus on a cold winter night, clutching his first saxophone wrapped in a pillow case. All the jazz concerts the band had played. Katherine Hepburn scolding me. Benny Goodman captivating me. Paul Whiteman berating me. Woody Herman and Duke Ellington making me feel humble. Las Vegas dazzling and disappointing me. The years with Damone. Elvis greeting me with such honesty. The miles of piled-up travel. And saying good-bye to a teary young family on the front porch, as I’d leave to seek fame and fortune on yet another road trip. . . .
I tried to tell my family that this CD was more than just a recording, that their lives were in it as much as mine. It didn’t matter that I couldn’t find the words. They knew.
We listened to the CD together. The sound of the band–its energy and musicality–far exceeded the memories I had parked away. Now suddenly the sounds were alive and bright again, clearer than ever.
The look on their faces was worth the struggling years. The kids understood at last why the Jazz Giants had been one of the most important musical accomplishments of my life, and appreciated what it took to create it.""
So, if that doesn’t grab you, you’re either dead or nothing will. I highly recommend this delightful, entertaining memoir. The second edition comes with the CD so that we too can enjoy the sound of the Jazz Giants.
Reviewed by Kaye Trout - January 4, 2007
ERIC, MY SON . . . lost to drugs by Joanne Baker
Llumina Press
7915 W. McNab Rd, Tamarac, FL 33321
www.llumina.comGenre: Memoir Rating: Average
ISBN: 1595265325, $14.95, 260 pp
To tell you about this book, first I will quote from the back cover–just as it is presented:
"This is a true story about a mother’s losing battle with her drug-addicted son and their many ups and downs through life. His story begins as a hyperactive child and progresses to a troubled, drug-addicted teenager. The book discribes the forces that drove him to take drugs. It talks about society, his genetic inheritence, and his parents’ failure. Eric was raised like a child in the fifties, his parents not realizing how dangerous the world had become by the eighties. Eric gave up drugs and alcohol for a year at a time, and everyone thought he would be fine. However, the temptation would never go away! His poor judgement, due to being slightly slow, always added to his problems. His family always gave him more credit than they should have. Perhaps it is hard for parents to face reality. They always want to believe their children are doing fine. His parents encouraged Eric to make his own decisions, but this led to many frightening situations; still no one thought his life would end the way it did. They always thought that some day he would find himself."
Based on what I have quoted, you can decide for yourself if this book is one you might want to read. If you are dealing with a similar problem, possibly the book may give you insights into the problem and support to let you know that you are not alone with the problem. The book is presented in a journal-like memoir fashion and may have been written to help the author work through her grief and the complexity of losing her son.
Eric, My Son is Joanne Baker’s first effort at writing a book--it's a long, hard process and a rich learning experience.
Reviewed by Kaye Trout - August 3, 2006 - Copyright
