#BookReview - Koi: A Modern Folktale

Koi: A Modern Folktale

By: Sheldon Harnick
Photographer: Margery Gray Harnick and Matt Harnick
Publisher: Beaufort Books
Publication Date: June 2017
ISBN: 978-0825308413
Reviewed by: Ellen Feld
Review Date: June 14, 2017

Koi are beautiful, majestic, and a little bit mysterious and have been the focal point of numerous legends. In the new book Koi: A Modern Folktale, a new legend comes alive to entertain and intrigue readers.

With a foreword by Alan Alda that gives the reader a little background on the history and legends surrounding koi (and please don't call them big goldfish - they are ornamental carp), the reader is transported to a faraway land where koi are numerous and brighten the waters with their magnificent colors. In this modern tale, written in haiku, we learn about the role of koi in bringing delight to mankind with their resplendent colors.

The gods high up in heaven soon notice how much pleasure the koi give man:

What impressed the gods
was the way in which the koi's
prismatic beauty

could brighten men's days,
as it nourished their senses,
and lightened their hearts.


The gods decide that the koi should be rewarded for "enriching men's lives." They cast a spell on the koi that...I don't want to spoil the story so I'll simply say the koi are amply rewarded as is the reader by following along with the adventure.

The author of Koi, Sheldon Harnick, is a Pulitzer Prize winning lyricist and his talent definitely carries over to the writing of haiku. Because the Japanese are credited with developing the ornamental varieties of koi that we know today, the choice of writing the story in haiku is particularly fitting. Along with the fun story, Harnick's wife, actress and photographer Margery Harnick, and their photographer son, Matt Harnick, have provided absolutely stunning photographs of various koi that add so much to the book. The expressions on the fish, their colors, and even the rainbow qualities of the water, add a mystical feeling to the story that makes it seem as if the koi are jumping off the pages. Together, this talented family has created a lovely new legend that boasts a great selection of amazing photographs of the brightly colored, majestic koi.

Quill says: A lovely new legend mimicking the stories of old, with absolutely stunning photographs, that brings the wonders of koi to readers of all ages.

#BookReview - Gladden the Heart

Gladden the Heart (Amish Turns of Time)

By: Olivia Newport
Publisher: Shiloh Run Press
Publication Date: July 2017
ISBN: 978-1683221104
Reviewed by: Holly Connors
Review Date: June 2017

In the latest installment in the "Amish Turns of Time" series, author Olivia Newport tests her characters' faith and love of family.

The time is 1847 and the place is the Kishacoquillas Valley of Pennsylvania. The characters are the members of the local Amish church as well as people from the surrounding community who, while they might not be Amish, are friends and do care for each other. Susanna Hooley is a young Amish woman, devoted to God and her family. She is promised to Adam Yotter and they truly care about each other. Susanna is also good friends with Patsy Baxton, the daughter of Reverend Charles Baxton, a Methodist preacher. Susanna and Patsy have been friends since childhood, although they really don't understand the finer points of each others' religions. As the story opens, Patsy catches Susanna peeking through a tent at a Methodist church service run by a traveling preacher.

The story continues as various characters are introduced and the reader gets a feel for life within and around an Amish community in 1847. All seems quiet and well until the day that Susanna was having a casual conversation with Noah Kauffman - her mother's cousin's son - as the meal after the church service was ending. They were talking about Noah's desire, or lack thereof, of becoming a minister. As they talk, Noah's face suddenly turns white and his eyes roll back. Noah collapses in Susanna's arms and Adam, who isn't far off, notices something is wrong and comes running to her aid. Noah appears to fall into unconsciousness and Susanna goes rushing to find Noah's wife Phoebe. By the time they return, Noah is up and preaching up a storm, and definitely not preaching in the quiet, solemn ways of the Amish. A crowd soon gathers, curious about what is happening to a man who had never preached before. More than two hours later, Noah collapses and falls out of his trance.

Noah's trances and preaching continue in the ensuing days and the crowds slowly grow. And while the Amish way is to be quiet and not bring attention to oneself, Noah's loud and animated preaching while in these trances are more like the Methodist revival meetings Susanna has recently observed. Susanna wants to help Noah and believes that her cousin has no control over the trances, while Adam doesn't know what to believe. This difference of opinion causes stress in their relationship. Meanwhile, because Noah is unaware of his surroundings while in the trances, he one day wanders off and the whole community must come together to help him.

While I've read many Amish romances and inspirational books, this is the first in the "Amish Turns of Time" series that I've read. I was initially intrigued by the storyline, but I kept waiting for the story to get moving and the plot to engage me. While it was somewhat interesting, and I did enjoy the historical aspects, many segments dragged and I had trouble getting invested in Susanna's story. The romance between Susanna and Adam fell flat and while Noah's sudden preaching trances were of interest, it wasn't enough to carry the story.

Quill says: An interesting, but not a "must read," story of a "sleeping preacher" that never really takes off.

#BookReview - Return to Babylon @lee_eiland

Return to Babylon: The Orfeo Saga, Book Five

By: Murray Lee Eiland, Jr.
Publisher: CreateSpace
Publication Date: August 2016
ISBN: 978-1537090534
Reviewed by: Anita Lock
Date: June 12, 2017

Author Murray Lee Eiland spins a tale of shadows, secrets, and sabotage in book five of the Orfeo Saga.

Orfeo and Clarice are back in Pylos after “their battle with the Spartans.” For the first time in a long time, life is peaceful, almost too peaceful—like the lull before a vicious storm. That is most likely the sense they feel, although they can’t quite put their fingers on why. Moments later, Orfeo, who was on a walk, is attacked. While the police assume that the attack was an assassination attempt, their investigation reveals that foreign agents were in search of Zurga. More disconcerting information unfolds when Webbor, who overtakes the throne of Mursillius the Hittite, sends Orfeo a letter indicating that a “mad assassin” killed Mursillius. The letter sends up a red flag that danger is imminent. The question is who is perpetrating this fear?

The answer comes clearly to Daryush (who now has a kingdom of his own) when he gets word from his spies that his old lover Zinaida (Zurga’s Fire), and now the ruler of Babylon, has plans to kill him. While it is true that she devises his demise, Zinaida’s anger spreads far and wide—even to Zurga whom she has a difficult time locating—to annihilate every person who attacked Babylon and overthrew her father, Nurim Sin. Little by little leaders from areas bordering Babylon are mysteriously murdered, which is unnerving for Orfeo, Clarice, Daryush, and Semira. With Zinaida’s spies out and about and reeking havoc, the troop of friends band together with their neighboring friends attempt to put a stop to Zinaida’s clandestine strategy to rule the world.

Fans of the Orfeo Saga have much to look forward to in book five of Eiland’s inimitable series. Continuing where book four, The Wanderer’s Journey, left off, Eiland places his protagonists within a new battle. But this time it is far different than the fearless troop has ever encountered; one that is veiled in shadows, smoke and mirrors. As with his previous books, Eiland always includes new characters, both minor and major, and the pivotal roles they play in aiding his heroes and heroines in overpowering their enemies. Without giving away any spoilers, featured characters to watch out for in Return to Babylon are Araka and Cyrus.

There are other aspects of Eiland’s writing style that offer a warm welcome to Orfeo Saga fans, as well as newcomers to the series. Besides the information mentioned above, Eiland’s narratives follow a consistent format. Each story is divided into four sections. Each section is broken up into a handful of short chapters. Snippets of back stories from previous books are incorporated in each story, which ties the series together; and when appropriate, Eiland includes historical references. That said, each book functions as a standalone. But once you’ve read one, you’ll want to read them all.

Return to Babylon offers readers another opportunity to explore an incredible adventure into ancient history. Plenty of scene changes replete with twists and turns and yet another cliffhanger closure that will get readers anxiously waiting for The Slave Boy, book six of the Orfeo Saga.

Quill says: Return to Babylon is a page-turner, replete with twists and turns--up to the very end.

For more information on Return to Babylon: The Orfeo Saga, Book Five, please visit the author's website at: murrayeiland.godaddysites.com

#BookReview - The Invention of Celebrity

The Invention of Celebrity

By: Antoine Lilti
Publisher: Polity
Publication Date: June 2017
ISBN: 978-1509508747
Reviewed by: Holly Connors
Review Date: June 11, 2017

Author Antoine Lilti has penned an in-depth analysis of the origins of "celebrity" with his new book, The Invention of Celebrity.

Lilti begins his exploration of celebrity in 1778 (with many references throughout the book to earlier dates/events), with an examination of the then eighty-five year old Voltaire. Upon returning to Paris after a thirty-year absence, the author notes that the philosopher was in great demand by the people of the time, with people eager to catch a glimpse of the man. And, notes Louis-Sébastien Mercier, a French writer of the time, "An epidemic curiosity made people rush to catch sight of Voltaire's face, as if the soul of the writer were no longer in his writings but in the way he looked." (pg. 15). Sound familiar? The name "Voltaire" could be replaced with just about any present-day celebrity. And that, in essence, is the author's premise - that while "we" (present day celebrity watchers) like to think that "celebrity" is a fairly modern creation, it really isn't. Long before movies, or television, or social media helped spread images and news of various celebrities, Lilti notes that the foundations of celebrity were already well-established - in fact, many aspects of celebrity were developed in Europe during the Enlightenment.

The Invention of Celebrity is broken down into seven chapters that explore Voltaire in Paris; Society of the Spectacle; A First Media Revolution; From Glory to Celebrity; Loneliness of the Celebrity; The Power of Celebrity; and finally, Romanticism and Celebrity. Within each chapter are numerous sections that look at various aspects of that topic, and include such varied and interesting discussions as private lives/public figures; a European celebrity; the burden of celebrity; and celebrity in America.

One of the many interesting topics the author examines is the "Invention of the Fan(atic)" and to do this he takes a careful look at the life, and death, of Francois Joseph Talma, a stage actor born in 1763. What, asks Lilti, caused "...thousands of Parisians to follow Talma's funeral procession and readers from all over Europe to read in the newspapers the accounts of his last days and all the details of his career?" (pg. 43) Lilti argues that celebrity is not the same as success because it goes beyond that person being well-known/liked in his field to a desire by others to learn about the personal/private life of that person. Indeed, the author argues, that with celebrity, people desire a closeness to that person and "...media events do the best job of creating this illusion of long-distance intimacy." (pg. 44) In contrast, George Washington "...firmly refused all requests to talk about his private life" (pg. 203) but this didn't keep his peers from building him up as a hero, and thus, celebrity. How this differed from others before, and after Washington, is but one way celebrity status is achieved.

The author of The Invention of Celebrity, historian Antoine Lilti, is Director of Studies at the École des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris and has written several books on public figures and sociability. He does an excellent job in his newest book examining the development of celebrity, both in Europe and America, with detailed examples of many public figures and the stories behind their fame. This is not a light, Saturday afternoon read, but rather a detailed examination that will reveal many interesting facts and events behind so many well-known, as well as lesser-known, figures of the past several centuries. Indeed, The Invention of Celebrity is an excellent read for those intrigued by the development of fame.

Quill says: Exhaustively researched, with in-depth analysis, this book is not a light read, but is definitely an interesting read for those who have more than a passing curiosity for the history behind the rise of "celebrity."

#BookReview - Owl and the City of Angels

Owl and the City of Angels (The Owl Series Book 2)

By: Kristi Charish
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication Date: March 2016
ISBN: 978-1501122101
Reviewed By: Kristi Benedict
Review Date: June 11, 2017

Stealing authentic artifacts was something former archeology student Alix Hiboux did not exactly see herself doing as a career but things have a way of changing. Now she is known by the name "Owl" and is considered one of the best for this particular skill. However, everyone around her would admit that her methods are often times unorthodox, risky, and quite dangerous. This is why Alix chose not to tell anyone about her current plan to locate and steal two artifacts on the same trip for it would produce double the rewards but be twice as risky.

Unfortunately, while looking for these two artifacts, Alix is found by a group of International Archeology Association agents (IAA agents). Alix is not on good terms with this group because they do not appreciate thieves coming to steal artifacts from under them. Barely escaping from the IAA, Alix cannot help but wonder why in the world they were after her with such force, for yes she has stolen artifacts for clients but there are many bigger problems that the IAA should be preoccupied with. After returning to Las Vegas to face her boss, Mr. Kurosawa, who is secretly a dragon hidden under his human form, she is told the reason for the IAA’s keen interest in her. There have been several cursed artifacts stolen from a place called the City of the Dead, which is a terrible idea for ancient curses are extremely powerful, but the worst part is that the thief has been identified as the Owl.

Suddenly, the realization hits Alix that the IAA was hunting the person pretending to be her because whoever he/she was they had stolen cursed artifacts under her name. Now, she is on the top of the IAA’s list and Mr. Kurosawa is debating whether to keep Alix or fire her. He decides her next job will be to first steal the cursed artifacts that have been taken from the City of Dead and bring them to him and next to find the person responsible for impersonating her. The catch is that these artifacts cannot be handled by humans for they will instantly be cursed by whatever evil lays within them and these curses lead to death for the host. So, with no other choice, Alix heads off to find these artifacts knowing that they will probably be difficult to locate, and they will curse her if she touches them. Also, her boss will most likely kill her if she does not complete this job successfully. With her vampire attacking cat Captain along for the ride, Alix locates the artifacts but the web of deception surrounding them is connected to something much more terrible than anything Alix has encountered before.

There was not a page in this book that wasn’t filled with suspense, adventure, and action which made for a great read. The character of Alix is a wonderful mix of cockiness, stubbornness, but also ambition that creates an unforgettable personality. Even though the language is definitely geared toward an adult audience, the storyline is compelling and fun to read, causing me to flip pages as fast as I could. I have the next book ready to start and I can’t wait to begin reading the next installment.

Quill says: A series with an unforgettable character who brings the action to life.

#BookReview - Dead Spider

Dead Spider (A Loon Lake Mystery Book 17)

By: Victoria Houston
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication Date: May 2017
ISBN: 978-1507204566
Reviewed by: Ellen Feld
Review Date: June 6, 2017

In the seventeenth book in her "Loon Lake" mystery series, author Victoria Houston delivers a satisfying mystery that will keep fans wanting more from the residents of Loon Lake.

Paul "Doc" Osborne, retired dentist and occasional deputy coroner, is attending the annual Loon Lake Youth Fishing Tournament with his daughter Erin. They're hoping that Erin's son Mason might win an award in the "muskie division." But the music is much too loud, the crowds a bit too boisterous, the fireworks have started, and Doc would like nothing better than to get out of there. The annual event is sponsored by Chuck Pfeiffer - the richest man in Wisconsin and a long-time acquaintance of Osborne's. Like many residents in the area, Osborne isn't particularly fond of Pfeiffer as the man has done many hurtful things, to many different people.

As the event comes to an end, screams are heard and Osborne heads in the direction of the commotion. He quickly discovers the reason for the screams - Chuck Pfeiffer has been shot in the head and is quite dead. Police Chief Lewellyn Ferris arrives soon after and the investigation into Pfeiffer's murder begins. With the coroner out of the country on vacation, Ferris enlists Osborne's help as deputy coroner. It won't be an easy investigation as Pfeiffer had a lot of enemies...

As the investigation continues, Osborne, Ferris, and the other officers and staff on the case pour over photos and video taken at the tournament. With the abundance of images and video, the challenge of finding someone or something within the digital evidence is daunting. At the same time, Osborne's fifteen-year-old granddaughter Beth is arrested for doing drugs and there's a robbery at the local nursing home that requires Ferris' attention. With their time and energies split between the various issues, it will be tough to solve Pfeiffer's murder.

Dead Spider was an easy book to get lost in as the story took off quickly and kept a good, even pace. I had not read any of the other books in this mystery series and yet I had no trouble following along and keeping track of the various characters. While the story wasn't as intense as some of the other murder mysteries I've read, it did hold my interest and was perfect for a rainy afternoon read. I look forward to meeting Doc Osborne and the other members of the Loon Lake area in their next case.

Quill say: Dead Spider is an easy, satisfying continuation of the Loon Lake mystery series with likeable characters and just enough twists in the plot to keep you guessing.

#BookReview - The Child @figbarton

The Child

By: Fiona Barton
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: June 2017
ISBN: 978-1101990483
Review by: Jennifer Rearick
Review Date: June 6, 2017

Kate Waters is a reporter for the Daily Post. One day while reading through another newspaper, she sees a small story on the back page, that she knows she needs to make her own. The story is about a baby's body being found at a construction site. Although there hasn't been any identification on the baby, police have said that the body could have been placed there recently or years prior. Since Kate is looking for a story to really hit the front page, she talks her editor into letting her investigate the story.

During her investigation, Kate comes across a woman named Angela Irving and her husband Nick. Angela and Nick, forty years ago, lost their middle child Alice, while Angela was still in the hospital recovering after giving birth. While Alice slept in her crib, Angela left the room to take a shower. When she came back, Alice was gone. Although they searched the hospital and continued searching, Alice was never seen again. When Kate goes to talk to Angela, Angela is adamant that the baby that was found is Alice. After talking with Angela, Kate encourages her to reach out to the police involved with the case now for a possible identification. After days of waiting, the news finally comes back and the baby is a positive match to Angela.

After finding out that the baby is a match, Kate runs her story. After running her story Kate receives a call from a woman, using a fake name, looking to get more information about the baby and asking Kate to continue looking into the story. The woman claims that the baby may not actually be Alice at all. When Kate presses the woman for details, the woman suddenly has to get off the phone.
The mystery woman on the phone is Emma. Emma works from home as a book editor while her husband Paul is a professor at the local university. As Emma tries to carry on a normal life, sometimes her anxiety gets the best of her. Although for years Emma has been deemed to have a mental illness, no one understands the full extent as to why.

With this new information, Kate continues to investigate. Through her investigation, Kate uncovers many secrets and keeps some information to herself. Soon, she must decide what, if any, of this information she will give to the police. After talking it over with her editor, they decide that Kate needs to bring all that she knows to the police. After bringing her information to the police, although Kate has the story she wanted, she finds herself in the middle of a decade-long mystery.

The Child is a great read. This book will leave you wanting more. It is very hard to put down. Your investigative skills are put to the test because just when you think that you may have an idea as to where the story is going, another twist happens and another piece of the puzzle is added. It isn't until the end that you truly understand why and how everything happened.

Quill says: If you are looking for a heartwarming mystery, that will put your investigative skills to the test, this is your story.