Portland Book Review, December 2011 - February 2012

Portland F R E E www.portlandbookreview.com

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4 December 2011 - February 2012

HIGHLIGHTS

GI T• V

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•GIF

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Happy Holidays

The Assassin’s Accomplice

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Page 4

REAMDE

I DE

Page 5

You Know Your Way Home

6

Page 11

Rose City Unwrapped

By Mark Petruska

Page 12

Eclipse Four Page 13

11

Floors Page 14

The Panama Laugh Page 16

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15 56 Reviews INSIDE!

Edited by Maria Teresa Caracciolo and Roselyne de Ayala Abbeville Press, $235.00, 496 pages Without a doubt, The History of Rome in Painting, edited by Caracciolo and de Ayala, is the most beautiful and best produced book I’ve ever seen. The book features hundreds of very large, high definition pictures of art from, and about the Eternal City.

The accompanying text is illuminating; it discusses Rome from its earliest Etruscan beginnings through to the modern period.

The story of Rome is told in its art; it is as much myth-building as it is monuments, coliseums, and forums.

Rome remained the center and subject of Mediterranean art for close to two millennia. The Papacy, the princes of the Church, and a tremendously wealthy earthly kingdom in its own right, were the inheritors of Rome following its Empire.

They built a monumental collection of art

in the Vatican City. The names Michaelangelo, Rafael and Bernini, just to name a few, are eternal, their art sublime and they represent just a small fraction of the magnificence of Rome. As a major world capital and cultural center of Europe, Rome remains a center for the arts today.

Abbeville Press has reproduced the art of Rome in amazing detail and quality.

Upon reading the book, I genuinely felt like I should have been handling it with kid gloves. The paper is of extremely high quality; the printing is of such high definition that it’s possible to see the individual brush strokes. A very large book, weighing in at close to 14 lbs, this won’t be the book you sit down with on a comfy chair. This book will make an amazing, unforgettable gift for the art lover in your life.

Portland Book Review wishes you the best this holiday season and in the new year!

Home & Garden Seeing Trees: Discover the Extraordinary Secrets of Everyday Trees

By Nancy R. Hugo Timber Press, Inc., $29.95, 242 pages Writer and botanist Nancy Ross Hugo and nature photographer Robert Llewellyn have put together a fascinating and beautiful book, Seeing Trees, which works wonderfully on at least three levels: to understand the unique processes of trees; as a reference for studying individual trees where you find them; and as a stunning coffee table book with some of the most beautiful photography to be seen anywhere. Written in an interesting, conversational tone, the reader will find descriptions of both deciduous and evergreen trees including American Beech, American Sycamore, Black Walnut, Eastern Red Cedar, Ginkgo, Red Maple, Southern Magnolia, Tulip Poplar, White Oak and White Pine. While these trees are found in or near the author’s home in Virginia, they can also be found in other locales.

Written descriptions complement the photos, explaining unique tree processes,

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while the close-up photography shows views that could never be seen with the naked eye.

This reviewer highly recommends the book Seeing Trees as both an object of beauty and a marvelous, enjoyable source of learning.

Rosalie West

plants, edible gardens, attracting wildlife, gardening for climate changes, managing soil health, pest and disease solutions, green roofs and conservation. Readers will find the chapter about meadow gardens to be fascinating. According to a NASA study, lawns in America cover an area larger than The New American Landscape: Leading the state of Kansas. It is suggested that Voices on the Future of Sustainable rather than laying down a conventional Gardening lawn, to combine natural lawn (naEdited by Thomas Christopher tive grasses) with native plants. The Timber Press, Inc., $34.95, 255 book’s photographs are beautiful. pages The authors include case studies to The benefits of sustainable garshow successful projects. A home in dening are many: it provides loPortland, Oregon, is featured and cal food options, cools the earth, applauded for its reduction in water absorbs carbon dioxide, enriches use for irrigation, reuse of salvaged topsoil, and supplies habitats for materials, and overall reliance on animals. In The New American Landscape, 14 sustainable practices. of the leading voices in gardening and ecoloElizabeth Franklin gy discuss the future of sustainable planting.

An ecologically friendly garden is one that 50 Beautiful Deer-Resistant Plants: The improves, not degrades, the environment. Prettiest Annuals, Perennials, Bulbs, It is easy to define but harder to achieve. and Shrubs that Deer Don’t Eat Based on years of gardening experience, the By Ruth Rogers Clausen experts and the editor, Thomas Christopher, Timber Press, Inc., $19.95, 225 pages reflect upon how to make plantings an enWhen people work so hard on creating, vironmental asset rather than a drain. Top- planting and maintaining their gardens, the ics covered include “no-mow” lawns, native last thing they want to see is a deer making

lunch out of blooming flowers! In 50 Beautiful Deer-Resistant Plants, author and garden expert Ruth Rogers Clausen has chosen to feature 50 stunning (and least palatable) annuals, bulbs, ferns, grasses, herbs, perennials and shrubs. This informative guide advises readers on how to grow a deer-resistant garden without resorting to fences, barriers, and toxic repellents. Whether due to natural poisonous compounds, fuzzy or aromatic leaves, or tough, spiny, or bristly textures, deer do not find the included plants to be edible. Arranged alphabetically, each entry includes interesting historical and scientific facts, advice on how to grow the plant, and design tips to help fit the plant aesthetically into the garden. Photographer Alan L. Detrick captures amazing images of each of the 50 plants. Gardeners will enjoy the inspirational images just as much as the text. Clausen’s writing style is clear, concise and informative. She balances how-to advice with design element suggestions. Finally enjoy a gorgeous garden without fear of deer.

Kathryn Franklin

Religion Sponsored Book Review Thoughts Escape Me: Perspectives From the Pew

By Grady Walton Xulon, $16.99, 258 pages How are Christians to respond when someone in church leadership confesses to multiple adulterous affairs? How are Christians to respond when they find themselves condemned by a long-trusted church family? How are Christians to respond when they are faced with conflict, sin, pride, tedium and humanness within the walls of their own church? Some flee, some circle the wagons and some simply shut down emotionally.

Much of it ties back to an overall discontent among Americans and, more specifically, American Christians. Grady Walton writes in Thoughts Escape Me: Perspectives From the Pew: “The spirit of discontent extends to our expectations of the church. We aren’t satisfied with the motif of the church building, the color of the sanctuary walls, the new pastor’s preaching style, the songs chosen by the worship leader, the personality of the youth pastor, the programs and services the church provides, the attitudes of some of the congregants. Without deep personal contentment, it doesn’t matter which church we go to because it will never feel quite right,” Walton argues.

Walton does not suggest that we plant our feet regardless of the sin patterns around us, but that we learn to first seek strength, peace, and contentment in our own faith. If our primary focus in life is the Lord, we will see the discontentment of a secular society and even the sin within a church body with a more eternal, Christ-like view. While Walton’s thesis is admirable and he supports his suppositions well with both biblical references and personal stories, the book could use a rigorous editing to tighten language, solidify ideas, and clean up mechanical errors. That said, much of the American evangelical Christian world would be well-served to listen to what Walton has to say: “The joy of God is expressed everywhere in millions of ways, but people keep walking by, too busy to notice.” What kind of Christians would we be if we all slowed down enough to relocate the Holy Spirit and the truth of Christ’s teachings about love, hope, peace, and joy?

December 2011 - February 2012

The Gift for All People: Thoughts on God’s Great Grace

By Max Lucado Multnomah Books, $12.99, 142 pages In The Gift for All People: Thoughts on God’s Great Grace, accomplished Christian author Max Lucado gathers more than 30 short essays and inspirational stories that look to the foundations of the Christian faith. The book’s cover features a bow and gift tag, much like a present, and Lucado dedicates his collection to missionaries who are in the field, sharing the scripture worldwide.

Many of the essays are geared toward non-believers who may be hearing the Gospel for the first time, although Lucado himself writes that he hopes that even seasoned Christians will take comfort in a book that reminds us of the basics of faith.

Majesty in the midst of the mundane. Holiness in the filth of sheep manure and sweat. This baby had overseen the universe.

For example, in a chapter titled “Leaving the Porch Light On,” Lucado writes that God is “the housewife in search of the lost coin”: even though he has nine other coins in his possession, he will not rest until he locates the tenth. “He’s waiting for you,” Lucado writes. “God is standing on the porch of heaven, expectantly hoping, searching the horizon for a glimpse of his child. You’re the one God is seeking”. For those hoping for a more erudite theological discussion, Lucado’s newest collection will not suffice. But for those in search of inspiration, The Gift for All People is an uplifting celebration of the basic tenets of the Christian faith.

Jennie A. Camp

All of us at Portland Book Review wish you the very best this holiday season!

www.portlandbookreview.com 526 S. 15th Avenue Cornelius, OR 97113 info@portlandbookreview.com 503.701.6761 EDITOR IN CHIEF M. Chris Johnson chris.johnson@portlandbookreview.com 503.701.6761 EXECUTIVE EDITOR Brad Wright brad.wright@portlandbookreview.com 503.577.5256 LAYOUT & DESIGN Janet Wright janet.wright@portlandbookreview.com 503.577.4791 COPY EDITORS Mark Petruska Aimee Rasmussen Donna Reynolds DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING Jack Godwin jack.godwin@portlandbookreview.com 541.614.0708 COLUMN COORDINATOR FOR “WRITERS ON WRITING” AND “THE READER’S PERSPECTIVE” Joseph Arellano ADDITIONAL GRAPHICS BY Trixie Scraps Designs

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IN THIS ISSUE Biographies & Memoirs...... 11 Children............................15 Cooking, Food & Wine........ 12 Gift Giving Guide................. 7 Historical Fiction................. 6 History................................ 4 Home & Garden................... 2 Mystery, Crime & Thriller.... 5 Poetry & Short Stories....... 13 Popular Fiction.................... 6 Religion.............................. 2 Science Fiction & Fantasy...16 Self-Help........................... 13 Tween............................... 14 Young Adult....................... 14 Hundreds of reviews in a variety of additional categories are available at www.portlandbookreview.com To be updated when new reviews and articles are posted: ‘Like’ us on Facebook www.facebook.com/portlandbookreview Follow us on Twitter @PDXBookReview

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FROM THE EDITOR

I want to be a writer, not just a writer, but a best-selling novelist. Many aspire to that lofty, albeit lonely dream. People blog daily to hone their craft, they self-publish, submit countless queries to publishing houses, send articles to magazines with the hope of publication, participate in writing contests, read numerous books on writing to work on their skills. Why? They do it for the love of writing, word-smithing, storytelling and ultimately, the love of sharing it with others. What drives that desire in so many of us, setting wannabe writers apart from say, an aspiring accountant, is a whole lot of determination and a little bit of blind enthusiasm.

There are good writers and then there are gifted storytellers. When the two come together then there’s magic! Recently, I’ve been reading the classics, the public domain ones mainly, since I can download those for free on my iPhone. It’s rekindled my love of reading. Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series and Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight saga all have one thing in common; they’re great STORIES. It could be debated whether or not they’re great works of prose, but each are great stories none the less.

You can be an MFA, a published author or even have a job where you write every day, but that doesn’t make you a best-selling author. Even if an author puts all the right words in the right order and follows all the grammar rules, it still doesn’t make that author a good storyteller. That’s the difference, it’s the story; the believability, the creativity, the colorful descriptions that make readers relate to the characters, giving them a plausibility and a camaraderie with the reader. Plot notwithstanding, the “show it, don’t tell it” philosophy makes the story come alive.

That is what reviewers look for in fiction work; the next best-seller, the make-meswoon with a good tale regardless of the genre. Anyone can read a romance novel and either enjoy it or hate it but a story told by a truly gifted storyteller can be any genre, have anyone or anything as the hero. If the story is told the way a story should be told, it will come to life and organically become the next best-seller, the next big classic.

Regardless of the vehicle used to read a good book, I’ll say again, Readers Unite!

M. Chris Johnson

Editor In Chief, Portland Book Review chris.johnson@portlandbookreview.com

December 2011 - February 2012

3

History Voyages of Discovery

By David Boyle Thames & Hudson, $24.95, 144 pages David Boyle’s Voyages of Discovery is a readily accessible text about the early days of European exploration. It is beautifully illustrated, and contains a packet of reproduced primary source materials, such as an excerpt from Captain James Cook’s diary, and a 17th century map of the southern hemisphere.

While many texts have been produced that tell the story of these voyages from the dominant European perspective, Boyle’s Voyages of Discovery succeeds in providing multiple points of view. Additionally, Boyle discusses the lesser known voyages of the Chinese explorers. Although China only sent explorers for a few short years, they were still quite important.

The lion’s share of the text discusses the period between 1450, with the importance of King Henry the Navigator, and the Portuguese efforts to traverse the Cape of Good Hope, to 1527 and Ferdinand Magellan’s circumnavigation of the globe. There are further chapters that discuss the effects of the Conquistadors in the Americas, the search for the Northwest Passage, and the

South Seas journeys of Captain Cook in the middle of the 18th century.

This book is smaller than most textbooks, but it’s very sturdy, with an excellent, well cross-referenced index, and chronology of events. This is an ideal gift for the armchair historian, or general reader who is fascinated by the age of discovery.

Brad Wright James Madison

By Richard Brookhiser Basic Books, $26.99, 287 pages James Madison was one of the youngest members of the Constitutional Convention.

He is known as the man who was President when the British burnt the White House, in the War of 1812. He made his mark on politics and the country but it was not always a smooth ride. Trying to find out who the real Madison was has been a problem for historians across the years; Richard Brookhiser takes on James Madison.

James Madison was born into a wealthy Virginia plantation family.

Soon after he finished college, the Revolutionary War broke out and he went to join

Pearl Harbor Christmas: A World at War, December 1941

By Stanley Weintraub Da Capo Press, $24.00, 224 pages The 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor is one of the most significant periods of time in American history. Military historian and author Stanley Weintraub tells the story of December 1941 in Pearl Harbor Christmas. He captures what it was like to live through one of the most infamous holiday seasons in American history. Weintraub recounts the tale day-by-day (the last ten days of 1941 and New Year’s Day of 1942).

Beginning with the opening prelude of the book, it is clear that Weintraub has

done his research. The author’s sources include quotes from memoirs, telegrams, drafts of letters (sent and unsent), annotated minutes from meetings and press conferences, and news clippings. Weintraub’s writing style is a bit wordy. Missing are photographs of the major players or the Pearl Harbor attack, or anything that would lend more visual interest to the story.

Weintraub is very detail oriented. This is a positive for history fans, but can be a challenge to get through for readers perusing for pleasure. History buffs will see this as a treasured addition to their library.

Kathryn Franklin

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his fellow radicals in Congress where he attended the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Considered the Father of the Constitution, he worked closely with Alexander Hamilton during the Constitutional Convention. Shortly after this he was elected to the House, and served as Secretary of State when Thomas Jefferson was President. His turn as President eventually came in 1808 and he would serve two terms.

Madison is a tough nut to crack. He is the founder of political parties, and political machines. He was good at running a political party, not so good at running a new country.

He made his mark, but he is largely forgotten.

Kevin Winter The Assassin’s Accomplice: Mary Surratt and the Plot to Kill Abraham Lincoln

By Kate Clifford Larson Basic Books, $16.99, 263 pages Did you know that the first woman to be executed by the federal government was Mary Surratt, a suspected conspirator in the plot to kill President Lincoln? The primary name associated with Lincoln’s death is John Wilkes Booth. His actions at Ford’s Theatre and his attempted escape are the story most Americans learn about the assassination.

Historian and professor Kate Clifford Larson hopes to change that as people read her new book The Assassin’s Accomplice. The book consists of ten chapters that take readers through Mary’s upbringing, marriage, family life, and focuses on her activities during the time before and after the death of President Lincoln. The book does read like a story and would be better suited in the Historical Fiction section rather than History. The first half is made up of Larson’s guesswork. She has pieced together context clues to predict what Mary did or did not do as a conspirator. Larson uses available primary sources (including police documents and court transcripts) to tell the story post-assassination which reads more smoothly.

Regardless, Larson sets the scene well and has brought an important part of history to light.

Elizabeth Franklin The Complete Roman Army

By Adrian Goldsworthy Thames & Hudson, $26.95, 224 pages It’s impossible to separate Roman government from her military. Rome was her army, and her army was Rome. An observer from the Roman Empire, upon hearing President Eisenhower’s dire warning about the Military/Industrial Complex, would wonder what Ike was whining about. Adrian Goldsworthy’s The Complete Roman Army is an amazing textbook, it provides detailed information about different aspects of the Roman war machine. While the book is only 224 pages, including the bibliography, and

index, the book is incredibly dense with information. Goldsworthy’s writing style is engaging, however, this book is not for the struggling reader. The book presumes that the reader possesses background information about Rome, and a strong, universitylevel vocabulary.

You’re going to want your reading glasses handy for this book, the text is small, and although there are an amazing array of images, diagrams, tables, and photographs, there are very few line breaks in the text. Readers with experience navigating textbooks will have no difficulty here, there’s no wasted white space on these pages.

Goldsworthy seems to focus on the army of the Imperium, rather than the Republic. The book, published by Thames & Hudson, is well constructed with heavy, high grade semi-gloss stock which makes the many gorgeous images really pop off of the page. If you or someone you love has an interest in Rome, ancient history, or military history, this would make an excellent gift come Christmas.

Brad Wright The Whites of Their Eyes: The Tea Party’s Revolution and the Battle over American History

By Jill Lepore Princeton University Press, $19.95, 210 pages Jill Lepore, professor of history at Harvard, has a written a brief, but content rich, examination of the modern Tea Party. She finds their thinking a kind of ‘antihistory’, “enslaved” in “reverence” to a mythical American past, instead of critically aware, engaged participation in the nation’s democratic processes.

In prose that reads swiftly, Lepore elegantly juxtaposes the beliefs of this movement the actual events of the American Revolution. She demonstrates her claims through what is to her a better history, utilizing proper standards of evidence and rhetoric, to counterweight their abundant ‘presentism,’ plucking from the past whatever facts support a preexisting dogma.

The reader gets a deep reading in many familiar founders and events alongside the superficial, motivated Tea Party interpretations. Her nuanced understanding of the messiness of history contrasts with the reflexive consumption of politically slanted biography shared by the Tea Party.

Lepore has written a worthwhile primer on what history can and should do, but ultimately finds fault as one would expect of a historian. Perhaps that is her point with history, how we do it matters.

Neil Liss

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Mystery, Crime & Thriller Sponsored Book Review

Sponsored Book Review

No Time For Kings

By Mark Petruska Booklocker.com, $17.95, 334 pages I know it’s December, but Portland-based author Mark Petruska’s thriller, No Time For Kings, is perfect beach reading.

We may be six or more months away from direct sunlight, but if you like a good blend of action, romance and a characterdriven plot, this may be the book for you. The main protagonists are Rachel, a journalist investigating an eco-terrorism group called Earth Fights Back, and her new beau Alex, her daughter’s school teacher. The author does well in giving the pair a once bitten/twice shy chemistry. The real star however, is the mysterious, and darn-right EVIL terrorist mastermind Drake. If a thriller is defined by the strengths of its villain, No Time For Kings is in dastardly hands.

The book is set in and around the Portland area, the Pacific Northwest, and the western states. If I hadn’t known that the author resides in the Portland area, his loving descriptions of the locale would have given it away. From the zoo, to Voodoo Doughnuts, you could practically follow the characters around on their adventures in Google Maps. While the book is set against the larger issues of international eco-terrorism, Mark Petruska has crafted a story of the relationships between people, whether they’re heroes, or villains.

Quick Fall of Light

By Sherrida Woodley Gray Dog Press, $16.95, 282 pages The human race is being threatened by avian flu, which has already killed much of the bird population. At the center of the crisis is ornithologist Robert Russo, who is already dead in a plane crash at the beginning of the novel. His widow, Josephine, leaves her home and drives to the Olympic Rain Forest to find out what happened to Russo and the meaning of a particular bird he has protected. In a different story line, Martin Pritchard has a sick daughter whose delicate immune system is threatened by the flu. Martin also peddles an anti-virus to various developing countries. Another character is Gary Sterns, a logger in Washington, who helps Josephine in her quest. All

of these characters’ stories play out on a backdrop of a disintegrating nation.

The writing is polished and the premise interesting. Many of the characters, such as Pritchard, are strong. However, this story lags at times because the wrong portions are dramatized—for example, long conversations are shown between Pritchard and his infirmed daughter while the burning of Los Angeles is just glossed over. However, the story is good, and with more work on what to ‘show’ and what to ‘tell,’ it would be even better yet.

Overall, this is an on-theedge-of-your-seat thriller that will keep readers riveted with a not too farreaching and still healthy paranoia of birds!

Creep: A Thriller of Deadly Attraction

By Jennifer Hillier Gallery, $23.00, 358 pages Author Jennifer Hillier’s debut novel, Creep: A Thriller of Deadly Attraction, is presented as a psychological thriller. The story takes place at a fictional university in Seattle, where the lead character, a professor of psychology, makes the mistake of having an affair with one of her student-assistants.

Each character possesses psychological twists such as addictions, personality disorders and outright psychosis, providing a strong thread. So well done are those characterizations that the people seem real.

The writing flows at a steady pace throughout this frightful story. I was careful not to read the book at night, as I would never have gotten to sleep. The namesake song, “Creep”, by Radiohead, embodies the atmosphere of the book. I would recommend this book for anyone who is fond of the thriller genre. I personally would have enjoyed it more had it been a little less graphic in its descriptions. I can tell you

tween a gang of well-armed international terrorists, a large, extended family of welladjusted quasi-militia from the wilds of Idaho, a lovesick Hungarian IT specialist, a Chinese computer gamer/hacker, a British spy and her Russian ex-commando paramour, and a hungry man-eating cougar.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

At its core, REAMDE is brilliantly funny, exciting, and interesting. A word of caution though, I would suggest reading this in manageable bite-sized pieces.

You’ve heard of books that you just can’t put down? This is one such book, but you may find yourself needing a break for sleep or something to eat.

Brad Wright

small-time scandals. Aside from the mystery, Monument to Murder brings up some excellent points to ponder: Should people be allowed to escape their past? What is justice? Who can choose if an injustice should be righted? As always, Margaret Truman delivers a puzzle rich in setting and memorable characters.

Jodi M. Webb

that the book’s surprising ending could easily be an introduction to a sequel.

Rosalie West REAMDE

By Neal Stephenson William Morrow, $35.00, 1056 pages The prospect of reading a Neal Stephenson book fills me with giddy anticipation. Generally speaking, a Stephenson novel will clock in north of 1,000 pages, and is filled with a patented blend of elaborate globetrotting characters doing clever things. To the uninitiated, Neal Stephenson is not an easy read; he fills his books with an enormous cast of dramatis personae, each following multiparallel stories. Honestly, you’ll just have to read the book if you want to figure out how they all come together in the end.

It starts off as a technothriller involving Russian gangsters who kidnap the niece of an American computer game designer in order to pursue a Chinese hacker who’s written a virus, which accidentally exposed their underworld finances. It all comes to a head in a prolonged firefight be-

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Monument to Murder

By Margaret Truman Forge, $24.99, 368 pages Monument to Murder, Margaret Truman’s latest novel, bounces between Savannah and Washington, D.C. When Robert Brixton, an ex-Savannah cop turned private eye, is hired to find out if a poor Savannah girl was paid to plead guilty to murder twenty years ago, the trail leads him straight to the movers and shakers in the nation’s capital. Who hired her, why, and to what lengths will they go to keep their old secrets?

Truman successfully weaves the Southern aristocracy of Georgia and the power aristocracy of DC, making their morals even more twisted when compared to Brooklyn native and PI Brixton.

She also throws in a few complications: minor philandering politicians, hired assassins, and a mysterious behind-the-scenes group of power puppet masters to keep you guessing. For a while you’re wondering if it’s one massive conspiracy or several

December 2011 - February 2012

5

Historical Fiction

Sponsored Book Review

Bianca’s Vineyard

By Teresa Neumann All’s Well House, $14.99, 412 pages Bianca’s Vineyard is many things: a striking portrait of wartime Italy under the Fascist reign of Benito Mussolini; a poignant story of family, torn apart and brought back together in the decades that spanned the Second World War; a love letter to the Tuscan countryside through its downfall and triumph. But beneath the lush descriptions of the Italian wine country and the startling brutality of a gruesome war that left a lasting impression on the entire world, it’s a story about forgiveness and second chances, and true love that prevails.

Based on a true story, Teresa Neumann’s debut novel begins in pre-war Ripa (between Genoa and Florence), in the year 1913. Egisto Bertozzi, the second son of la famiglia Bertozzi, is preparing to leave for America in order to support his family, yet his anarchist ideals have ruined his impending nuptials to his true love, Marietta Tarabella, by his refusal to marry in the church. Preferring instead, to marry in a civil ceremony, Egisto hopes that Mari-

etta will defy her father and agree to marry him outside of the church in order to preserve his pride. Realizing, however, the night before his departure for America that he has all but lost Marietta, his brothers take him out for a night of consolation and celebration at a local tavern. There, he meets Armida Sigali.

Bianca’s Vineyard, surprisingly, is not as much about the eponymous Bianca, as it is about the complexities and depth of the familial ties that bind, and how Armida’s return to Italy as a woman who divorced her husband and left her children in America to work as nanny to one of the region’s most powerful Fascist leaders, ultimately leads to a family’s rebirth and renewal through the devastation and havoc of world war.

The novel, ultimately, is a beautifully descriptive piece of historical fiction that spans nearly 90 years of one family’s history, focusing on one of the most pivotal moments of the twentieth century. The plot twists and turns with all of the provocative intrigue of family lore, but never fails to delight.

Pour a glass of Italian wine, and enjoy.

The Favored Queen

By Carolly Erickson St. Martin’s Press, $25.99, 295 pages The Favored Queen opens with Queen Catherine giving birth to an apparent heir after many miscarriages. But the baby dies only hours later and thus incites the anger of King Henry.

He quickly finds a replacement queen in Anne Boleyn. Anne is a haughty, demanding lady of the court.

Once it has been determined, that she cannot give the king an heir either, the king rids himself of her, too. Jane Seymour, the narrator, becomes Henry’s third wife.

The book details the behind-the-scenes maneuvering of those jockeying for power and for the attention of the king. It also gives the specifics of the conflict between England and France, as well as, the struggle the king had with the church. Jane has her own trials and tribulations while trying to be loyal to King Henry.

Erickson writes with amazing detail about a time that happened hundreds of years ago. The characters feel real; the con-

Popular Fiction Sponsored Book Review

River in the Sea

By Tina Boscha CreateSpace, $9.00, 298 pages River in the Sea is a WWII coming of age story set in Friesland, Netherlands. Based on her parents’ accounts, author, Tina Boscha, writes tragically, sensitively and honestly about life on the harsh North Sea coast during the German occupation.

Boscha’s 14-year-old protagonist, Leen De Graaf, is drawn to the universal teenage peccadilloes of smoking, makeup, and

driving. Leen also works as a household servant and a field hand, spending nights “underground,” sleeping in neighbor’s barns to avoid German raids. A series of tragedies causes Nazi soldiers to suspect her family of anti-German sentiment which triggers her father going into hiding, losing all contact with his family. Leen’s mother suffers from depression — spending days on end in bed — leaving her children to care for themselves.

The author chronicles ordinary life in the 1940s — like food preparation and church services as well as the extraordinary

An O’Brien Family Christmas

By Sherryl Woods Mira, $16.95, 288 pages When Laila Riley began dating Matthew O’Brien, she never imagined that her world would be turned upside down! He cost Laila her career in her father’s banking business, and her parents’ respect, so she broke things off with him. Now it is Christmastime and Laila has been invited to visit Ireland with the O’Brien clan which includes some of her favorite friends. If Laila goes, she’ll surely run into Matthew (whom she still secretly loves). If she stays home, she’ll be alone for the holidays. Dublin is starting to look enticing and Laila deserves a vaca-

tion. Bestselling author Sherryl Woods brings readers a new Chesapeake Shores novel, An O’Brien Family Christmas.

Readers just joining the series will feel caught up by the end of the second chapter.

Woods’ writing style is upbeat and fun, perfect for a romantic holiday story. Nell O’Brien, the matriarch of the clan, considers Laila to be part of the family. Nell wants to see someone walk down the aisle by the end of the Ireland trip. When Nell runs into her first love, sparks fly.

Will she take a chance on an unexpected romance and follow her heart, despite the risks? Love is in the air during an Irish Christmas.

Kathryn Franklin

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December 2011 - February 2012

such as dissembling a vehicle to keep it from German seizure. She explores the need for teenagers to be a part of the adult world at the same time needing to be assured of familial safety and love.

The book is well written and historically significant. The readers will find themselves drawn into the period and the problems this family transverses on a daily basis.

A thorough rendering of details causes the book’s pace to be cumbersome in places.

An inordinate number of passages are attributed to the main character’s visceral reactions—enough to be distracting. But the story is interesting and praise worthy and Boscha has best-seller potential.

versations true. Erickson clearly describes how treacherous the king’s court could be, as well as, how disposable women were for the king. If Erickson taught high school history, every student would have been a history buff!

Seniye Groff The Echo Chamber: A Novel

By Luke Williams Viking, $25.95, 372 pages From an attic in Scotland, emotional memories are revealed as an aging woman struggles to put her life story on paper. A series of remembrances, beautifully told, about the life of a girl named Evie fill the ages, in parts almost like poetry. The story takes the reader from the attic to a train through Britain, to Nigeria, to America and back. Along the way she experiences friendship, loss, hardship, joy and romance. The style of writing and the story itself are unusual and original. A recurring theme involves sounds and hearing, which Evie finds fascinating.

This is the first novel of author Luke Williams. He was born in Scotland and studied West African history at university.

He based the story on research of the colonial history in Africa.

Though sometimes seeming disjointed, the pieces of the story are fascinating and occasionally even sound legendary.

The book is generally without suspense, but contains many enjoyable descriptions of Evie’s experiences and the interesting characters she encounters as she travels the course of her life. Written in the firstperson about the life of Evie, it is a little odd, even weird, but in a creative and successful way.

Fran Byram

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Happy Holidays

F R E E

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4 December 2011 - February 2012

The Gardener Homesteading in the 21st Century $24.95 9781600852961

Locals Only $39.95 9781934429471

The Left Coast $29.95 9780520255098

Spencer Tracy $39.95 9780307262899

A Taste for Classics

The English Patient $24.95 9780307700872

The Phantom Tollbooth $24.00 9780375869037

Wuthering Heights $17.99 9780062008114

This insightful DIY guide holds to the premise that anyone can homestead, and raise at least a portion of their food themselves.

Pocket Posh Wine $7.99 9781449407711

Creating Wine $39.50 9780691136035

Is there anything that goes better with books than wine? Check out these book selections for the wine lover in your life.

Envisioning the Garden $39.95 9780393733426 Robert Mallet explains easily achieved principles for making beautiful gardens, offering a range of ideas that can be adapted to visually enlarge space and liberate the mind.

Food for the Family

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Love Food & Live Well $19.99 9780307457844

The Table Comes First $25.95 9780307593450

My Family Table $35.00 9781449407872

Joy to the Readers!

7

Gift Giving Guide Armchair Historians

The Bird Lover

From The Battle of Bull Run to Seal Team 6, armchair historians have a wide range of really great gifts this year.

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The Atlas of Birds $22.95 9780691149493

Great Civil War Heroes and Their Battles $29.95 9780789210647

The Outdoorsman

Elite Fighting Forces $35.00 9780500251768

The Complete Fishing Manual $25.00 9780756682293

White Planet $21.95 9781553654797 Great Discoveries in Medicine $45.00 9780500251805

The Cyclist It’s All About the Bike $23.00 9781608195381

Historical Atlas of Washington and Oregon $39.95 9780520266155

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Explore Titanic $17.99 9781438071596

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May we a ll read many more books in the New Year!

Gift Giving Guide A-Fiction-iados The Bucket List The Language of Flowers $25.00 9780345525543

100 Places to Go Before They Disappear $24.95 9781419700033

At the flower market, Victoria meets a mysterious flowerseller that knows the meaning of flowers too, and so begins a secret language back and forth between them.

One Hundred & One Beautiful Towns in France: Food & Wine $17.98 9780789322050

Fifty Places to Hike Before You Die $24.95 9781584798538

Wildflower Hill $16.00 9781451623499 The Cat’s Table $26.00 9780307700117

Divine Inspiration

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Author Kimberley Freeman has crafted a moving story of two women whose dreams have been obliterated and showed how they individually find the strength to move on.

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T hank you for reading Portland Book Review!

December 2011 - February 2012

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Read “ T he Reader’s Perspective” at w w w.portlandbookrev iew.com.

Biographies & Memoirs Sponsored Book Review You Know Your Way Home

By Suzanne Jauchius Bree Noa Publishing Co, $15.00, 319 pages Portland author Suzanne Jauchius’ inspiring story began as a journal that she intended to privately share with her children and grandchildren. It turned into something much more meaningful and revealing along the way. You Know Your Way Home is one woman’s memoir about a life filled with psychic experiences, troubling relationships and self-discovery.

“It’s not normal.” Those three words defined a majority of Suzanne’s life. As a young girl, her first vision was of her sister’s bed catching on fire. Upon sharing this with her parents, she was belittled and made to feel worthless.

Growing up, her relationships were primarily negative. They included an abusive mother, a financial con artist boyfriend, a mentally troubled sister, and an alcoholic spouse. Jauchius’ life became about damage control. As she experienced supreme sadness and grief, despair came to define her. By her mid-40s, Suzanne was on her fifth husband and began questioning her own judgment.

The first half of the book is quite tragic.

Readers will meet people in the author’s life, most of whom are detrimental to her happiness. However, once Jauchius seeks therapy, she begins to feel empowered. ...that I was so invested in my own specialness and it was not until I sat in a room with people in pain, that I discovered that I was not special: I was human.

Some of the most interesting sections of the book are Jauchius’ descriptions of the psychic events she experienced and her work with the families and rescue teams searching for missing people.

This is as much a book about breaking a pattern of addiction as it is about a woman’s psychic journey. It is always nice to read a story about personal triumph and hope, especially around the holidays.

Jauchius is an instantly likable woman and many readers will feel a strong connection to her and will identify strongly with much of her life story, struggles, and successes. Read this book if you are looking for a motivational, inspirational story that incorporates a fascinating subject (psychic abilities) with a local Portland flavor.

11

Lennon: The Man, the Myth, the Music - The Definitive Life

By Tim Riley Hyperion, $35.00, 765 pages If you’ve been holding out for the ultimate bio of John Lennon, wait no more.

Lennon: The Man, the Myth, the Music - The Definitive Life delivers a complete fly-on-thewall account of Lennon’s life from the day he was born until the day he was shot dead by a deranged fan. It is divided into three periods beginning with Pre-Beatles, 19401959, then Beatlehood, 1960-1969 and finally, Beyond Beatles, 1970-1980.

The amount of detail in this book is phenomenal even down to revealing what clothes Lennon wore to certain gigs, how he and the rest of the Beatles ended up with a mop-top hairdo, to when and why he bought his famous Rickenbacker guitar. The transformative Hamburg days are fully recounted, shedding light on the gigs that started the band down the road to fame, and author Tim Riley digs deep to explain the roots and influences that gave them their unique sound. Riley manages to remain mostly impartial and leaves no stone unturned, delving deeply into the complexities of Lennon’s personality, his vast talent, and tortured soul. This 765page doorstopper of a book is a must-have for any serious music fan.

Diane Prokop My Song: A Memoir

By Harry Belafonte with Michael Shnayerson Alfred A. Knopf, $30.50, 470 pages Harry Belafonte is best known as a successful folk-pop singer who appeared in films and was active in the Civil Rights movement. This memoir reveals the depth of his activities in the struggle. Belafonte was a friend of Martin Luther King Jr. and contributed a tremendous amount of time and money to the battle for racial equality.

The book reveals his complex relationship with the actor Sidney Poitier, and his introduction of South African singer Miriam Makeba to American audiences. Along the way are some interesting surprises, including his work as a serious student of drama, and his not quite successful early career as a jazz singer.

Behind the façade of a sophisticated, handsome entertainer is the story of a father who abandoned him, and a mother whose approval he could never quite attain.

Through decades of psychotherapy with a compassionate and gifted analyst, he has been able to overcome these difficulties and to finally settle

December 2011 - February 2012

into a rewarding family life.

Belafonte has graciously accepted the fact that fame does not last forever, but he continues his efforts towards racial and social equality. This is an absorbing story of a complex man who has contributed much of himself in the struggle for a better America.

Dick Weissman Myrna Loy: The Only Good Girl in Hollywood

By Emily Leider University of California Press, $34.95, 411 pages No scandal has ever been attached to the perfect wife of the Silver Screen, which is perhaps why no one has written about her….until now. In Myrna Loy: The Only Good Girl in Hollywood, author Emily W. Leider reveals the woman behind the cocked eyebrow and knowing smile, while highlighting her close relationships with many Hollywood luminaries along the way.

A welcome biography on the woman, the actress, and the Golden Age of Hollywood Leider takes us from her early days in Montana, (those country roots would stay with her all her life) to her pre-starlet days in California, (where Sid Grauman gave Myrna her first job) and leads us into her longstanding career in films. Practical, yet sophisticated, and always with a witty line up her sleeve, Loy became the ideal counterpart to Hollywood’s leading men: among them Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, Cary Grant and Montgomery Clift. Today, she is most easily recognized as Nora to William Powell’s Nick in The Thin Man series. Sadly, try as she might, Loy’s film persona didn’t meld with her four failed marriages. Despite any disappointment, Loy managed to maintain her dignity and we come to know the real Myrna Loy as a fiercely loyal friend, patriot, and humanitarian.

Movie buffs will appreciate the careful research that went into this book, while readers wanting intimacy will delight in hearing Myrna’s own voice come through; as her autobiography, Being and Becoming, is generously referred to throughout the book.

Alicea Swett

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Sponsored Book Review Keep This Quiet! A Memoir:

My Relationship with Hunter S. Thompson, Milton Klonsky, and Jan Mensaert

By Margaret A. Harrell Saeculum University Press, $17.95, 230 pages Keep This Quiet! is a captivating and enlightening piece that teaches the reader more about its protagonists than they would ever learn on their own.

Margaret A. Harrell tells her own story through the stories of three artists; men who had written impacts on people they weren’t acquainted with, and likely changed Harrell’s life more than any of them will ever know. Harrell takes the reader through her life from 1965 on, detailing her meetings and interactions with Hunter S. Thompson, Milton Klonsky, and Jan Mensaert along the way.

Most captivating are the various letters from Thompson, Klonsky, and Mensaert to Harrell, who includes everything from short quotes to help describe how and why they react, to large portions of the letters that tell you what was happening to both the author and Harrell at the time. Thompson’s letters are most intriguing, and give the reader insight into the mind of a widely admired artist. Harrell beautifully tells the story of how her relationships with the three men, predominantly Thompson, progressed, sharing intimate moments and keeping the reader turning the page.

To choose one portion that truly spoke to this reviewer is near impossible; Harrell’s memoir, from start to finish, is a series of moments that will speak to any artist, young or old, or any person in the midst of finding themselves. The book is a direct experience with Thompson, and Klonsky and Mensaert’s roles only enhance the trip Harrell takes the reader on. Keep This Quiet! is a must-read for anyone who is a fan of Thompson, an artist themselves, or is in search of their own life’s meaning.

Harrell quotes Thompson near the end of the book, from a letter to Jim Silberman that reads, “The job of a writer, it seems to me, is to focus very finely on a thing, a place, a person, act, phenomenon… and then, when the focus is right, to understand, and then render the subject of that focus in such a way that it suddenly appears in context – the reader’s context, regardless of who the reader happens to be, or where.” When any reader picks up Keep This Quiet! they’ll notice right away that Harrell does just that. Readers everywhere should do as Hunter S. Thompson once said, “Buy the ticket, take the ride.”

Read more rev iews at w w w.portlandbookrev iew.com!

Cooking, Food & Wine Made in America: Our Best Chefs Reinvent Comfort Food

By Lucy Lean Welcome Books, $45.00, 320 pages I am always a bit averse to reviewing cookbooks written by restaurant chefs/ owners. They seem to forget they are writing to home cooks. Mercifully, in Made in America: Our Best Chefs Reinvent Comfort Food, author Lucy Lean took care not to fall into this category. In fact, this book is excellent, something like watching Food Network as millions do with no interest in getting into their kitchens.

This is a serious book for foodies and average home cooks alike. Even if you don’t intend to test any of the recipes, this book reads like watching “Iron Chef” – very entertaining. The author interviewed some hundred chefs and asked them for their comfort food recipes. She introduces each recipe with a page about the chef and the recipe, and her excellent writing is a pleasure to read, not just scan. Quarter- to full-page gorgeous photos of the chef, the dish, and a shot or two in the kitchen fill the space between the texts.

Yes, many recipes are for dedicated cooks; however, many others (tomato soup, baked beans, chicken soup) any home cook can reproduce. Very few recipes will make you hunt for special ingredients, but some will keep you in the kitchen for hours working on three separate preparations before assembling (e.g., the pulled pork sandwich). Though from many chefs, all recipes are uniform, rewritten by the author, and easy to follow with step-by-step instructions. A brief useful “Chef’s Tips” follows many recipes,

along with sidebars giving historic recipes, mostly from the 19th century. Many chefs based their comfort foods on these, updating, testing, and retesting them to make them easy to use for today’s home cooks.

For example, when the old recipe calls for “1 large cup yeast,” the chef interpreted this as one cup of sourdough starter.

Debbie Macomber’s Christmas Cookbook: Favorite Recipes and Holiday Traditions from My Home to Yours

By Debbie Macomber Harlequin, $29.95, 240 pages You may know Debbie Macomber as a bestselling author. Her Cedar Cove series is a hit around the world. In addition to being a great writer, Macomber is a successful cook. To help readers prepare for and celebrate the coming holiday season, she has combined her love of writing, cooking, and hosting parties in her new book Christmas Cookbook: Favorite Recipes and Holiday Traditions from My Home to Yours.

This beautifully designed coffee table book will be a welcomed addition to any home. Macomber includes over 100 recipes. She organizes them in helpful chapters that include Merry Morning Breakfast, Christmas Tea, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dinner, Christmas Desserts, and Cooking with Grandma. Parents

will love the Easy Family Dinners chapter which gives suggestions for quick meals that are perfect for busy days. The Crock Pot Chicken Chili looks great! Interspersed among the recipes are Macomber’s tips for setting a festive table and decorating a home. She gives instructions for making paper greeting cards, and tasty treats like Ice Krispie Snowmen. Macomber’s love of tradition is evident as she shares her memories. She calls them Macomber Family Traditions and encourages readers to use them and create their own.

Elizabeth Franklin

I hope that in some small ways these recipes feel like you have invited America’s chefs into your kitchen to cook with you.

Even though this is a coffee table and anytime-reading book, many home cooks can attempt the easier, simpler recipes.

But you better leave some for the truly serious cooks, like the “Spiced Corn Broth with Scallops, Noodles and Herbs,” having 20 ingredients (based on a recipe that had six ingredients). Many of the illustrations showing the finished dish are attainable by a home cook, but having professional training helps to reproduce others (Grilled Flatiron Steak with Truffled Creamed Spinach and Pickled Onion Rings). The nine chapters include everything from breakfast/brunch recipes through desserts. Chances are you will find an updated version of your own comfort food somewhere in there. The index is also very good, cross-referenced, and listing all the chefs’ establishments. This serious cookbook benefits any cook or foodie.

George Erdosh

Delicious Gifts: Edible Creations to Make and Give

By Jess McCloskey Barron’s Educational Series, Inc., $16.99, 144 pages Jess McCloskey learned to make desserts as a child in her grandmother’s Pennsylvania farm kitchen. Now she shares her delicious recipes with readers in Delicious Gifts: Edible Creations to Make and Give.

Are you looking for a unique hostess gift

to bring to the next dinner party you are invited to attend? Do you need the perfect dessert to wow your own guests? Make one of McCloskey’s easy homemade truffles or cake balls (red velvet and cream cheese or carrot cake and buttercream). Try one of the yummy brittle, toffee, or fudge recipes.

While the first half of the book focuses on desserts, the second half shows readers how to prepare jellies, dips, chutneys, salsas, spreads, flavored oils and vinegars, and pickled vegetable treats. Novices and advanced cooks will find success by following McCloskey’s user-friendly instructions that highlight complex flavors and simple techniques. Be flexible with the recipes and change them depending on personal taste. McCloskey features tips on which ingredients complement each other, and she encourages experimentation in the kitchen. The 200-plus color photographs of all the completed food items are stunning and motivate readers to pick one and get started!

Kathryn Franklin Craft Beers of the Pacific Northwest: A Beer Lover’s Guide to Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia

By Lisa M. Morrison Timber Press, Inc, $18.95, 208 pages Attention beer lovers of the Pacific Northwest! If you are looking for the perfect gift for yourself or a fellow beer buddy, look no further. Lisa Morrison’s book Craft Beers of the Pacific Northwest is this year’s best bet. Morrison is considered the country’s beer and brewing expert and her extensive knowledge has earned her the title of “Beer Goddess.” Morrison opens with Beer 101. Learn how beer is made.

The glossary defines terms readers will encounter throughout the book.

The following three chapters focus on Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. Morrison generally explores each region and then highlights exact locations and specific neighborhoods. The book concludes with a city guide for each region and suggests additional places to seek out during beer expeditions. History, facts and pictures are sprinkled throughout.

Morrison takes readers on a tour of the 115 key pubs and breweries of the Pacific Northwest and provides contact information for each. Her “Don’t Miss” sidebars guarantee readers won’t skip any essential tasting experiences. Pub crawl ideas will excite and encourage anyone to start enjoying craft beer. This book is the ultimate guide for locals looking to have a perfect time enjoying the craft beers of the Pacific Northwest.

Elizabeth Franklin

Read more “Rose Cit y Unw rapped ” at w w w.portlandbookrev iew.com.

Omelettes, Waffles and Bacon – Oh, My! I’m a big breakfast fan. In fact, I would rank it as one of my three favorite meals of the day! Actually, when dining out, if I find myself in one of those restaurants that serves breakfast all day long, I’m much more likely to opt for an omelette over, say, a burger – ordering breakfast out feels like a warm and cozy indulgence, and it’s a meal that tastes most delicious when somebody else cooks it. Fortunately, Portlanders share my enthusiasm for a hearty first meal; the Rose City is chock-full of cafes, coffee shops, bistros, and (naturally) food carts that serve delicious and filling breakfasts morning, noon and night.

In the mood for more than a McMuffin? Here are just a few of my favorite Portland-area breakfast spots…hardly a definitive list, but a good launching pad for further breakfast exploration.

Pine State Biscuits (two locations – Alberta and Belmont, plus the Portland Farmer’s Market) is a haven for folks who aren’t afraid of a little – gasp!

– cholesterol in their diets, and judging by the long lines at this popular eatery, there are many people willing to throw caution to the wind for a bite of the scrumptious biscuits dished out here daily. Most popular is The Reggie, a glorious ode to gluttony consisting of the holy grail of culinary excess – fried chicken, bacon and cheese – sandwiched between a flaky, buttery biscuit topped with sausage gravy. Make it a Deluxe (let’s face it, why wouldn’t you?) and you’ll also get an egg. Much like the statue of the umbrella-wielding man in Pioneer Square, The Reggie is a Portland icon, and every bit as tasty as it sounds. There are other options, including a Steak Club and an Andouille Corn Dog, but it’s that magic combination of chicken, biscuits and gravy that makes my mouth water most.

Read the remainder of this article at: www.portlandbookreview.com/ 10-20-11-rose-city-unwrapped Look for local author, Paul Gerald’s, Breakfast in Bridgetown: 2nd serving for even more places to check out for breakfast.

December 2011 - February 2012

12

Poetry & Short Stories A Book of Miracles: Inspiring True Stories of Healing, Gratitude, and Love

By Dr. Bernie S. Siegel New World Library, $19.95, 312 pages As one contributor wrote in A Book of Miracles, one has to be living in a cave if they haven’t heard of Dr. Bernie S. Siegel.

Well, this reviewer must admit that it is her first experience with his teachings, but it will definitely not be the last. What makes this book special is not only the stories submitted by “A Motley Crew of Angels” (as one story is entitled), but also the personal reflections that Bernie (as the author prefers to be called) makes throughout the 15 chapters. We learn that chance occurrences, and what we may see as disappointments or disasters, often lead our lives in the direction we should have been heading in the first place. If we are open and receptive, having found “a sense of harmony and inner peace,” there is no reason not to expect miracles.

There is a cat named Harry, not unlike Dewey the famous library cat, but his tail is different. He was devoted to Frances, a little girl prone to dressing him up like a paper doll. Read about their miracle in “The Child Whisperer.” In “Not a Sparrow Falls,” Cindy Hurn shows that even the most

fragile creatures of God, such as an “hoursold incubator chick” can have a hunger for life even bigger than the circumference of its wide-open beak. Witness the power of prayer in “Battle Plans” as a mom is told that her Vietnam-bound enlisted son was diverted to a special assignment in Italy.

The dreams of a childhood really do come true for Derrick Sutton with his chance encounter of a “fellow writer,” and he finally lands “On Zanussi.” Then there is “All in God’s Time: Rich Eldredge’s Story” – a love story, that is.

But the most heartfelt miracle comes from the mama of a little four-year-old girl named Amber. Patti DiMiceli poignantly shares in “The Miracle of Change” how, through their struggles with her daughter’s cancer, children truly can be God’s messengers. If for only this story, and this story alone, read this book.

Kathleen Godwin Straw House, Wood House, Brick House, Blow

By Daniel Nayeri Candlewick Press, $19.99, 406 pages Clever, unique, suspenseful, genius, these words describe Daniel Nayeri’s book Straw House, Wood House, Brick House, Blow, a collection of four stand-alone novellas composed entirely on an iPhone. In Toy Farm, a mysterious farmer grows living toys but leaves them to fight evil on their own. This Western tackles questions of humanity. Can a toy have a conscious or ex-

Self-Help Sponsored Book Review

It’s Not About the Funeral: What You Need to Know Before You Go

By Chris R. Bentley Strategic Book Publishing, $23.25, 160 pages Chris R. Bentley’s exposé‚ on the funeral and cemetery business; It’s Not About the Funeral gives one an insider’s account of the death industry from a former funeral home owner, funeral director, and that dreaded of all professions, the preneed salesman. His book is quite thorough yet concise, a mere 160 pages, covering topics from preneed to at-need arrangements, to the actual funeral service itself.

There is a look at merchandise one needs to consider such as caskets, the monument or tombstone, and the grave liners. Can one really use a rental casket? This question is answered and more. (Hint: Only in application to a cremation. See the end of Chapter III.) Alternative methods of burial are discussed such as at sea or for the flower child, one that is totally green. No stone is left unturned.

He does not write in the style of, say, Elisabeth KÜbler-Ross, who is much more

sensitive in tone. But then he makes no pretences to such accolades. Having worked in the funeral/cemetery industry, and having studied thanatology, I understand the author’s concerns, yet his style is a little lacking. His incessant references to the “hammering” one will encounter from the sharks that the big box corporations hire as salespeople will no doubt leave one reluctant to even enter those doors, especially if they don’t have to. But the point is well taken. After all, this book presents one with a ‘behind the scenes’ look and all the harsh realities that accompany it.

The stand-out chapters actually walk a family through the process, answering such questions as the need to embalm, “don’t embalm for the wrong reasons, namely because your salesperson wants you to.” This take-you-by-the-hand approach is comforting knowing what to expect whether it’s for the funeral service and burial, or the pre-arrangements. Take this knowledge and use it to your advantage and you’ll gain the most out of this book.

perience love? Our Lady of Villains is set in a futuristic society where technology is a threat to human survival and a young girl is the people’s main hope.

Wish Police is an urban detective story with a squad of wish police who lock up wishes that shouldn’t come true. Doom with a View is a love story narrated by Death.

Each novella has the depth and content to be developed into full novels. Nayeri could easily write additional material based on these stories. The Young Adult label doesn’t completely fit. Adult readers will find Nayeri’s concepts and themes challenging and engaging, in addition to being extremely entertaining. Nayeri’s writing challenges the reader to re-think how literary genres work. He masters the western, fantasy, sci-fi, and fairy tale and adds his own spin on the familiar writing styles.

Kathryn Franklin Los Angeles Stories (City Lights Noir)

By Ry Cooder City Lights Publishers, $15.95, 224 pages Big on character, high on mood, these seven stories by musician and composer Ry Cooder are jagged depictions of a high-noir, post-war, fringe-centered Los Angeles. Famous for collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries, including the Buena Vista Social Club, Cooder populates his rambling and sometimes mysteriously plotted stories with the most colorful of characters. A city directory salesman who inherits a record collection stuffed with mafia cash. A high school dropout making donuts until the aliens arrive, and a cross-dresser who double-crosses.

Los Angeles Stories is full of characters outside the mainstream: musicians, immigrants, kool-kat types – shadowy figures acting in confidential tones, minor-key men chasing short-skirted dreams. Cooder offers stories

with significant hooks – the kind of snare that grabs at your ear lobes. He negotiates your imagination into what L.A. was back when the cops had it all figured out and they spoke plain and standard. For example, in “End of the Line,” set at the midpoint of the previous century, a Red Car operator buys his rail car and turns it into a diner with help from some gangland funding. These are tales – Los Angeles stories – that ramble from one pointof-view to another, where good fortune frowns on the privileged as often as it does on those who “ain’t got it fortunate.”

And then it’s over.

Bryan Burch Eclipse Four

By Edited by Jonathan Strahan Night Shade Books, $14.99, 230 pages Eclipse Four, the fourth volume in this anthology collection is a pleasure and a treat for fans of science fiction. There are 15 short stories in this collection, ranging in length from a page or two, to 20-odd pages. They also range along the sci-fi spectrum from strongly science and spaceship based traditional science fiction to stories that flirt with the fantasy boundary, as well as many places in between. This anthology, like others in the series, uses the idea of an eclipse as a connective thread, and this volume emphasizes the rarity and the mysterious and marvelous nature of the eclipse, rather than its more scientific side. The stories are all well written and compelling, with one or two standouts that linger in the imagination. The editor offers the book as both a resurrection and as homage to the great science fiction anthologies of the mid-20th centuries succeeding in both tasks, as well as offering a look at how broad and welcoming the field of science fiction has become.

Katie Richards

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December 2011 - February 2012

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Tween

Young Adult Sponsored Book Review

Mimi and the Magic Pea

By Leo Franz and Illustrated by Sophie Franz Xlibris, $19.99, 218 pages Mimi and the Magic Pea is a story about the magic and imagination of being a child.

Mimi is not your typical 12 year old girl - in fact she is pretty unique. She plays a mean game of baseball and runs like the wind.

Her best friends are a rag-tag group of kids and her dog, Ziggy. They have a make-shift club house in the laurel bushes right below the witch’s house, and they are fighting a war with a gang of thugs threatening to take over their NE Portland neighborhood. All of this is happening as the witch watches from her vantage point. ...but in good moments a child will slow down and be a child. It’s their job, but it has its obstacles.

It is a familiar tale of good versus evil, and in fact references a classic story by C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

But at times it resonates more like Through the Looking Glass and Alice in Wonderland. I kept waiting for the Cheshire cat to appear or the white rabbit to run across Mimi’s path as she runs through the laurel bushes to her fort. At other times it feels more like a Grimm Fairy Tale with its darker side waiting in the bushes to pounce. Yet, it is the imagery that the author brings to life; the back alleys of NE Portland, the crack of the baseball bats, the smell of rotten eggs and the clanging printing press in the basement of the community art center that reminds me of the bedtime stories of my own youth. Then, add the illustrations that bring both the characters and the story to life and you have the making of a cherished childhood novel. It is a tale that will certainly captivate the imaginations of young readers and they will be churning in their dreams as they drift off to sleep.

Starstruck

By Cyn Balog Delacorte Books for Young Readers, $15.99, 244 pages Sarcastic and self-depreciating are not typical traits of a heroine, but that pretty much sums up Gwendolyn “Dough” Reilly, the narrator of Starstruck. Written by Cyn Balog, this young adult novel tackles common teen issues of fitting in, self-esteem, and young love, while also including some

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mystery and celestial magic.

According to Gwen, the only good thing in her life is her long-distance best friendturned-boyfriend. She hasn’t seen Phillip Wishman (known as “Wish”) in three years, and when he suddenly moves back to town, she expects him to dump her because she’s overweight and unpopular.

At first, her fears are relieved when Wish treats her as well as he always has. Even better, his new charisma and golden physique make him the most popular boy in school, and Gwen finds herself being suddenly accepted by the popular crowd because of him.

The story turns suspenseful when she notices things aren’t quite right with Wish.

Strange behavior from him and others, as well as certain comments from a new friend, convinces Gwen that something’s wrong. When he doesn’t confide in her, their relationship becomes strained, and it takes a life-threatening event to show them the way back to each other. Sweet, quirky, and magical, this story will keep readers intrigued by this awkward, unlikely heroine and her star-crossed lover.

Aimee Rasmussen You Don’t Know About Me

By Brian Meehl Delacorte Books for Young Readers, $17.99, 416 pages You Don’t Know About Me is a modernday Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Brian Meehl crafts a thoughtful coming-of-age novel about sixteen-year-old Billy Allbright. Due to his mother’s fanatic religious stunts, Billy is forced to move all his life. She wants him to serve in the JesusBrigade while he wants to become a pro mountain-biker.

Billy receives a mysterious Bible in the mail. His mother believes it is a sign from God, but within its covers, Billy uncovers the adventure of a lifetime. According to his mother, his preacher-father died when Billy was a small child, but according to the man who hides himself within the pages, his scholar-father is still alive, but only barely. Billy’s mission is to travel the country looking for his inheritance, and the truth about his history.

From Mississippi to Kentucky, from Ohio to Idaho, and finally Oregon, Billy follows his father’s clues. Along the way, he goes AWOL from Bible camp, does some Dumpster diving, becomes a stowaway, and is kidnapped by con artists for their anti-action un-movie. Along the way, Billy’s deepest convictions are challenged.

At times he is angry, scared, judgmental, and confused, but ultimately, he discovers his own convictions, and becomes his own man.

Emily Davis

December 2011 - February 2012

Floors

By Patrick Carman Scholastic, $16.99, 261 pages Floors is a captivating tale about a young boy named Leo who is the son of a maintenance man and a friend of the owner of the Whippet Hotel, Merganzer Whippet. When Merganzer disappears for 100 days, it’s up to Leo and his newest friend Remi, the young doorman, to save the hotel from the evil real estate owner Bernard and his limo driver Milton.

Typical of a Disney movie, readers are introduced to the wackiest characters; a rich oil tycoon’s snobby daughter, a nottoo famous author, a crazy captain, a perfectly evil manager, and a mysterious man following the two boys on their adventure.

The hotel itself is also madcap with flying animals, huge puzzle rooms and many more fantastical and adventurous accommodations.

The humor in this book is built for kids as it keeps them engaged and laughing throughout the story. This book is a good, family-friendly comedy that many will enjoy for years to come. This reviewer is looking forward to the next exciting tale from author Patrick Carman!

Leona Johnson Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes

By Jonathan Auxier Amulet, $16.95, 382 pages In this one-of-a-kind adventure, a young boy discovers courage and friendship in a strange and wild world. Although Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes gets off to a somewhat confusing start, the story quickly snaps into focus and becomes difficult to put down. In a dreary port town, the blind orphan Peter Nimble is forced to live a life of crime and misery, but when he steals a box containing three pairs of magical eyes, he begins an incredible journey which transforms his life forever.

Horse-man-cats, traitorous clockwork, and armies of ravens are only a few of the unusual things Peter encounters in author Jonathan Auxier’s unique tale.

Instead of sight, most of the descriptions in this book are based on sound, smell, touch, and taste. By using very little visual imagery, the book immerses the reader in Peter’s blindness and gives the story a very distinctive voice. The book’s quirky humor and encouragement of traits like self confidence, perseverance, and tolerance also make it stand out. A wellcrafted fantastical journey, this story will pull readers in with its raw and undiluted inventiveness.

Elizabeth Goss

The Worst-Case Scenario Survive-OPedia: Junior Edition

By David Borgenicht, Molly Smith, Brendan Walsh, Robin Epstein Chronicle Books, $16.99, 144 pages Sixty-three different events, places, or animals are featured in The Worst Case Scenario Survive-O-Pedia: Junior Edition.

Each feature is covered in two pages that include: “How To Survive,” fast facts, a general overview, a bit of fun and/or weird information, photographs, and colorful illustrations. Let’s just say that these pages are jam-packed full of quirky, helpful, and amazing facts.

Chances are, young readers won’t run into 90% of these situations: stampeding bulls, deserted islands, and quicksand won’t show up on the next family vacation. So if you’re looking for a book to really teach your child survival techniques, this isn’t it. This IS a fun book that will get your child reading.

The Worst Case Scenario Survive-O-Pedia: Junior Edition allows children to enjoy a good scare as they read about asteroids, poisonous spiders, and spelunking. It will make a great addition to a classroom where it will likely become dog-eared as students use it to further investigate things they read in a current events magazine or textbook.

Jodi M. Webb Schooling Around: Pencil of Doom!

By Andy Griffiths Scholastic, $5.99, 165 pages Are you looking for a chapter book for girls and boys? Never fear!

New York Times bestselling author Andy Griffiths is here with his newest book Schooling Around: Pencil of Doom! It is a fun story perfect for anyone ready for an adventure.

Griffiths’ book is set at Northwest Southwest Central Elementary School, which is never boring. Henry is the main character and narrator. He and his classmates are always learning something new.

They recently learned how to protect their classroom from a lion attack. The kids expect these adventures because their teachers are wild! What they never expected was a wild pencil. That’s right – the pencil of doom!

What Henry thinks is a regular pencil is really a weird and dangerous writing implement. Henry and his friends quickly learn that whatever you draw with the pencil happens in real life. One of Henry’s friends drew the cuddly kitten she had always wanted. But the pencil of doom isn’t into cute and cuddly! Check out this book to find out what else the pencil creates.

Think twice about the next pencil you pick up and use.

Elizabeth Franklin

T hank you for reading Portland Book Review!

Children Whispered Wonders

By Kari Pius Baker Bree Noa Publishing Co, $15.00, 32 pages Whispered Wonders is different than most children’s picture books. Among these differences is the exceptional quality. The paper is heavyweight, both the dust jacket and cover are embossed, the binding is sewn, the printing is superb. That’s just one of the “Wonders” of this book. Every page is a blend of two artists’ work, the visual and words melded seamlessly together. “What’s it about?” That’s a difficult question to answer, so I asked the author, Kari Pius Baker. She replied, “In a day and age of high technology and over stimulation, I was inspired to write a simple story about being still. I wanted to weave in nature and create positive affirmations that when read would feel good. Statements such as ‘I am love, I am peace, I am safe, stable, and brave’ are to encourage the reader to recognize these qualities not just in the nature that surrounds them; but also within themselves.”

It’s not surprising to me that Whispered Wonders is selling well in art galleries. What surprises me is that the price is only fifteen dollars. How the publisher managed to create such a masterpiece to sell it for that price is a mystery.

David Broughton Operation Alphabet

By Al MacCuish Thames & Hudson, $19.95, 64 pages Did you know that in an ordinary mailbox in London there exists a top secret government department called the Ministry of Letters? It is run by 26 agents of the S.A.S. (Special Alphabet Service). That’s right! Each letter, A-Z, works to create all the words in the world. But they also have secret assignments.

Author Al MacCuish, in his book Operation Alphabet, tells how the S.A.S. comes to the rescue of Charlie Foxtrot, a young boy who is just starting school. Charlie finds the alphabet strange and confusing. When he comes down with a case of the alphabet-a-heebiegeebies, the agents prepare a plan and set off across London.

Luciano Lozano’s illustrations are delightful.

Any one of the 50 pictures is filled with details and energetic creativity. When removed, the book’s cover turns into a poster depicting each letter in costume and featuring their favorite words and musical instruments.

This is the ideal book to introduce young children to the alphabet and the joys of reading.

MacCuish and Lozano have created a unique, well-written, beautifully designed adventure that families will love. Mission accomplished!

Elizabeth Franklin One Love: Based on the Song by Bob Marley

By Cedella Marley Chronicle Books, $16.99, 32 pages From the song by Bob Marley, One Love has been adapted into a children’s book

The Christmas Creativity Book

By Andrea Pinnington Barron’s Educational Series, Inc., $12.99, 80 pages This book is delivered straight from the North Pole! Girls and boys alike with find hours of entertainment within the pages of Andrea Pinnington’s The Christmas Creativity Book. In those exciting weeks leading up to the big night when Santa makes his visit, children need something fun to do. Kids, how does this sound? Use the included stencils to add wacky details to scenes like a bungee jumping Santa. Colorful stickers fit perfectly on the sticker scenes and anywhere else that needs some holiday cheer! You’ll find puzzles galore, like connect the dots, mazes, spot the differences and other games. Write your own captions for holiday comic strips. There is a special place to write a letter to Santa Claus. Create your own stories, draw and paint your own pieces of artwork, and even make some delicious cookies by following a recipe from Mrs. Claus, Yummy! Surprise your family when you wear a punch-out reindeer mask. You can even make unique Christmas cards. A homemade lantern will look beautiful hanging in the window. There really is an activity for everyone!

Parents and grandparents will have fun working together with the young children in their lives.

Kathryn Franklin Santa’s Birthday Gift

By Sherrill S. Cannon Eloquent Books, $11.50, 24 pages When reading The Christmas Story, does your child often ask, “Where does Santa Claus fit into all this?” Well, now we have the answer with Sherrill Cannon´s fun version of Santa´s Birthday Gift. Entwined in this story, the Christ child and Santa come together in an enchanting way. In many families, children only get excited about Santa Claus and getting gifts. This story brings back the focus to Jesus and lets us not forget why we celebrate the season. Written in rhyme, your child will want to hear this story over and over again. Find out how Santa, living in the North Pole, realizes that Jesus indeed was born. Santa and Jesus find each other through a message from God. Santa promises to bring Christmas gifts to children to celebrate Jesus´ birthday every year.

The illustrations have a dark hue background which gives the characters a pop out of the book illusion.

This book will bring joy and understanding to young and old in a new flair. We must remember to never lose our child’s heart. This would make a wonderful addition to any child´s Christmas collection.

Rhonda Fischer

by his daughter, Cedella Marley. I found it quite interesting, even at my age. I think children will enjoy it immensely. The words are little changed from the original song, and the book is illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton.

The art alone is worth the price of the book, and then some, but the words will teach children many things, tolerance for others is one, a love of nature is another. This little book should also make them feel good about who they are, but does it in a soft manner, not like it’s teaching or preaching. I would never have thought about making that song into a children’s book, but it came together beautifully. There seems to be a magical something to it that I simply cannot put into words.

Bob was always quite the lyricist, so the words have that hard to achieve musical, lyrical, and difficult to describe quality that holds the magic that was Bob Marley. Other than that, all I can say is: Cedella, you did your dad proud.

David Broughton Frangoline and the Midnight Dream

By Clemency Pearce & Rebecca Elliott The Chicken House, $16.99, 32 pages A fabulous story about the things that go bump in the night, and the little girl who sends them running, Frangoline and the Midnight Dream has an infectious sense of fun. By day, Frangoline is a sweet and obedient child, but at the midnight hour she emerges from her room to frighten beasts, waken ghouls, and enjoy a fantastic midnight romp in the forest. The kindly moon cautions Frangoline that she should return home before things get out of hand, but the little girl is fearless. When the dead start rising from their graves, however, Frangoline might be in over her head.

Written in rhyme, this spooky adventure is a perfect book to read aloud. Readers will bounce along with the mischievous protagonist as she dances over tombstones, causes mischief, and eventually learns a valuable lesson. Rebecca Elliott’s illustrations capture the dark and mysterious mood of the story and make this unusual tale come to life. Let your inner imp run free with this fiendishly delightful book.

Elizabeth Goss Santa’s New Jet

By David Biedrzycki Charlesbridge Press, $7.95, 32 pages Christmas Eve will soon be here and Santa must prepare for the big night. But when he pulls his sled out of the workshop, he sees that it is in no condition to fly. It needs major repairs. Just when things couldn’t get any worse, Santa discovers that the reindeer are out of shape after a year of eating nothing but North Pole pizza, popcorn, and ice cream sundaes. A practice run with the broken sled and couch potato reindeer turns into a disaster. Can the elves save the day?

Orville Elf informs Santa that the elves can build him a jet to use on Christmas Eve. Rudolph and the other reindeer are in jeopardy of being replaced. They hatch a plan to be there for Santa just in case his new jet isn’t able to save Christmas. Will they have a chance to redeem themselves? David Biedrzycki’s holiday children’s book Santa’s New Jet tells the story of Santa’s most challenging Christmas. The illustrations are a riot. Kids will love searching for intricate details and Biedrzycki has included hidden images (an elf, sled, and reindeer) to find on every page. This story of second chances, friendship, and holiday cheer is sure to become a new family favorite.

Kathryn Franklin

Read “ Words from the Root Cellar” at w w w.portlandbookrev iew.com.

December 2011 - February 2012

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Science Fiction & Fantasy The Bite Before Christmas

By Lynsay Sands and Jeaniene Frost William Morrow, $19.99, 370 pages It’s that time of year again – the Christmas trees are going up, houses are decorated with lights, and vampires abound, looking for holiday cheer. Well, at least they are in The Bite Before Christmas, a joint venture between Lynsay Sands and Jeaniene Frost.

The book is split into two stories: the first is an Argeneau vampire series spin-off that finds vampire Katricia stranded in a snow storm with Sheriff Teddy Brunswick. Combining vacation cottages to survive, they come to realize that they may be a perfect match for each other.

The second story by Jeaniene Frost comes from her popular Night Huntress series with characters Cat and Bones. Looking forward to a quiet family holiday, they instead find themselves fending off demon possessions, hostile takeover attempts, attempted murder and, most horrifying of all, Cat’s cooking. This is a fun book for the holiday season – great for reading on a winter’s evening by the fire with some eggnog.

Fans of either series will enjoy this book.

Barbara Cothern Hearts of Smoke and Steam: The Society of Steam, Book Two

By Andrew P. Mayer PYR, $16.00, 334 pages Hearts of Smoke and Steam: The Society of Steam, Book Two is exactly the kind of adventure story I like best.

It’s got rollicking action, a plucky super-heroine, impossible gadgets, and some truly villainous evildoers. I was lucky enough to review Andrew Mayer’s first book The Falling Machine, and called it the best superhero steampunk novel, I’d ever read. Hearts of Smoke and

Steam is better still.

Our heroine, Sarah Stanton, who fights crime as The Adventuress, is estranged from her father, a superhero called The Industrialist. Alienated from her highsociety world, Sarah has moved downtown amongst the working poor, and immigrants of 1880s New York. She possesses the heart of The Automaton, her robotic best friend, and the Alpha Element, the device that gives the clockwork hero life.

Our villain, Lord Eschaton, along with his group of evil henchmen, has brought low his enemies, and now sets his sights on Sarah, and her new friends, the handsome, heartbroken Emilio, and his scandalously dressed sister, Viola.

In Hearts of Smoke and Steam the action is non-stop, but unlike other superhero stories, all of the violence has consequences. Danger lurks around every corner, and the bad guys are more than willing to do whatever they need to do, to get what they want. Readers who love adventure, romance, and tales of derring-do will love Andrew Mayer’s newest novel.

Brad WRight The Dark Griffin: The Fallen Moon, Book One

By K.J. Taylor Ace, $7.99, 367 pages Tales of griffins are fashionably the new black in the sciencefiction genre and The Fallen Moon Trilogy will not disappoint those fast-growing number of fans. The first book in the saga, The Dark Griffin creates a whole new world of those large eagle/lion hybrids, and their need to own their own human for survival.

Our protagonist, Arren is an outcast Northerner who also by chance, (or is it by fate?) happens to be a Griffiner. After an awkward incident with Arren and his griffin, Eluna, Rannigon, the Master of Law, secretly sends him and his griffin on a perilous journey to capture and kill a rogue griffin that has been killing live-

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December 2011 - February 2012

stock in a neighboring town. They set off alone to hunt and kill this menace only to have their lives changed dramatically for the worse. Non-stop devastation and tragedy keeps readers cheering for Arren.

Yet, clever chapter twists lure readers into a sympathetic lull for the title namesake.

Young, yet talented author, K.J. Taylor surprisingly weaves an intricate tale, appealing to the senses in a wholly-transporting way.

M. Chris Johnson Southern Gods

By John Hornor Jacobs Night Shade Books, $14.99, 270 pages Southern Gods by John Hornor Jacobs tells the interweaving story of Bull Ingram and Sarah Rheinhart who are both searching for truths. Ingram, hired to find a lost DJ in Arkansas, and Rheinhart, living with her sick mother after leaving her husband, join together to reveal the truth about how their lives have been destined to intertwine.

This book held high anticipation for me.

It garnered ample praise prior to publication; it also lives up to the hype. In the same supernatural vein as other outstanding authors like Neil Gaiman and Douglas Adams, Jacobs deftly blends German myth, American horror and world religion into a fast-paced tale of arcane knowledge and bloody family secrets.

The greatest strength the book holds is the use of subtly surprising horror elements. Unlike many other contemporaries, Jacobs doesn’t rely on zombies and shadowy figures outside the window to make this book horror. Instead, Jacobs creates a sense deep in the subconscious, affecting how the whole book is read.

Despite the intense action, moments of panic, mania and the constant feeling of unease running through the book, Southern Gods has a few drawbacks. The sluggish beginning, though filled with interesting subplot, is forgotten by the time the action picks up half way through the book. The first several chapters could have been condensed to half, and the reader still would have had an enjoyable reading experience.

Ultimately though, Southern Gods brings an exciting adventure to readers and is worth finishing.

Andrew Keyser The Panama Laugh

By Thomas S. Roche Night Shade Books, $14.99, 300 pages Generally, the protagonists of zombie apocalypse stories are just ordinary people trying to survive the unthinkable. In The Panama Laugh, our hero, Dante Bogart (DON’T call him Frosty) is somebody

who’s been surviving the unthinkable long before the dead starting eating everybody.

Frosty is a “military contractor” Blackwater-style mercenary, who’s spent his entire adult life in transit from one hell hole to another. One could say that he’s uniquely qualified to survive the zombie apocalypse.

Written in a scorchingly fast first-person narrative, The Panama Laugh follows Frosty as he tries to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding his last five years as a prisoner/patient zero in a bio-terror laboratory. Along with his best friend Van, and his ex-girlfriend Trixie, Frosty (Stop Calling Me That!) Bogart travels from Panama to San Francisco, the epicenter of the plague, aboard a stolen nuclear cruiser.

The action sequences are unbelievably tight, and fast-paced. The creatures, who acquire an evil laugh as they become zombies, are singularly creepy. Thomas Roche’s debut novel is surefooted, and very, very fun to read. If you like a little gallows humor, and like your anti-heroes dark as pitch, you’ll love The Panama Laugh.

Brad Wright The Iron Thorn

By Caitlin Kittredge Delecorte Press, $17.99, 493 pages Aoife Grayson has spent her life in fear – madness created by a necrovirus has cursed her family. Approaching her 16th birthday, Aoife becomes increasingly worried that she, too, will succumb to the virus and spend her life in a madhouse like her mother. When she receives a request for help from her brother, who nearly killed Aoife years ago, she decides to throw caution to the wind and find her brother, no matter how much it affects her life. With her best friend Cal and guide Dean, Aoife runs from the city and its guards, the Proctors, to her absent father’s home in Arkham. There, she discovers secrets about her family and the world that will change things forever.

The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge is the first book in a fascinating new series. The author creates a world starkly vivid and bleak and envelopes the reader from the first page. The characters are complex and well-written. Aoife is a great heroine – she is brave, smart, and caring. The choices she makes feel natural and logical for her. The supporting characters are also well-written and intriguing. Fans of young adult fantasy should absolutely read this book – they won’t be disappointed.

Barbara Cothern

T hank you for reading Portland Book Review!