Meet author Madhu Bazaz Wangu and learn about her award-winning book The Other Shore in her new author biography: https://featheredquill.com/author-bios-madhu-bazaz-wangu/
Monday, March 13, 2023
Friday, March 10, 2023
#BookReview of Love, Lydie by Blair Harton
Love, Lydie
By: Blair Harton
Published by: Blair Harton Writes
Publication Date: October 4, 2022
ISBN: 979-8845977182
Review Date: March 9, 2023
Love, Lydie, the debut novel for author Blair Harton, is an absolutely wonderful read and a home run for this new author. Not all novels in the romance genre can be perfect in terms of plot, character development, realism, and roller-coaster emotion, but this one rings the bell in all of these things.
Love, Lydie appears to be two separate stories in the beginning, but as the reader progresses, they quickly find out that everything connects together. In the first part we meet Lydia Ashburton, a student living in New York City who meets the love of her life during an altercation on the street. Nathan Roth, this amazing man in Lydia’s eyes, is a famous rock star and the perfect hero for this young woman. The best part is that Nathan is as crazy for Lydia as she is for him, but it is not easy for a normal person to keep up with a rock star and the confusion begins quickly, along with the romance. The question is...can they succeed together given the huge differences in their lives?
All of a sudden, we shift to part two of the book where we meet Anna. She has just started a new job at a small hometown theatre in Shiloh, Georgia. It is there that Anna meets Emily, a fabulous 8-year-old who is sassy, funny, and does whatever she wants. Anna soon realizes that Emily is not going to leave her alone and that she tells the funniest stories. As an added benefit, there is Emily’s dad Nathan, who Anna wants to get to know much better and, of course, the adorable Emily has decided that this is a great idea.
And so the fun begins as Amy tries to deal with her job, figure out what makes Nathan tick, and handle Emily all at the same time. Life does always find a way to bring people together and for Lydia, Emily, and Nathan so do a series of letters that lead to amazing connections and deep emotions, along with a great adventure.
All of the characters that Harton has created are truly wonderful. Lydia is a sweet young woman who is very realistic and believable. Amy is a strong woman who is determined to make things work out no matter what. Nathan is a great man who is the perfect hero for both of these women in different ways. Even the supporting characters in the story are well-written and enjoyable, and they all bring a certain something to the story. Above all else, Emily is a wonderful character. This little girl is so much fun and reading from page to page you cannot help but want to see what she will get up to next. She is the perfect addition to the story.
The plot of the story is creative and excellent. Although it is hard to tell where it is going to go in the beginning, everything ends up being wrapped together perfectly and will leave the reader amazed at the twists and turns and, by the end, you have no doubt that fate is real and love is the thing that holds life together. I would highly recommend the book to anyone who enjoys the romance genre or just a seriously great novel, wrapped around a love story, or stories as the case may be. It is the perfect combination of love, happiness, and heartbreak.
Quill says: There are so many romance novels out there that just do not hit the mark as they are not believable. Love, Lydie is so different from those and will be such an enjoyable read for all because of this. This new author has hit a home-run with this novel and I, for one, cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.
For more information on Love, Lydie, please visit the author's website at: https://blairharton.com/
#BookReview of Culver City by Brant Vickers
Culver City
By: Brant Vickers
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Publication Date: September 27, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-639885473
Review Date: March 9, 2023
From seasoned author Brant Vickers comes his third novel entitled Culver City, a story of paranormal experiences and the unbreakable bond between young friends. At first glance, Culver City appears to be a ghost story, but anyone who reads the book can attest to the fact that the supernatural occurrences are just the beginning of a much more elaborate tale.
Looking for something to do, in the summer of 1969, best friends Cassady and Kyle sneak into one of MGM’s backlots, completely unsuspecting of what they will encounter there. While they explore the old Gone with the Wind set, the boys encounter actors from the movie that have been dead for many years, including Vivien Leigh and Leslie Howard. At first, the boys are terrified and run home that night, not knowing what to think of what they have just experienced. After thinking it over and discussing it with each other, they decide to go back to see if they will experience the same paranormal activity again or if they simply imagined it. They do, indeed, witness the dead actors again and many more present themselves to Cassady and Kyle. Though the boys notice a feeling of abnormality around the “ghosts,” they somehow know with certainty that they will not hurt the boys. From this point on, Cassady and Kyle visit the backlots almost every night, spending hours there, getting to know the actors, both as who they played in the movies and who they were outside the movies.
Cassady finds himself growing more and more curious about the dead actors he is meeting on the backlots, so he begins visiting the library regularly to conduct research. This draws the attention of the librarian, Miss Rigby. Eventually, she begins to ask Cassady why he is researching topics such as the backlots, Gone with the Wind, and dead actors. Before he can try to make up an excuse, she proceeds to tell him that she has seen him and Kyle sneaking into the backlots at night because the fence they jump over is right behind her house. Miss Rigby further amazes Cassady by telling him that her father is none other than the famous actor Leslie Howard, who Cassady has encountered on the backlots in ghost form. This leads to a friendship developing between the librarian and the boys, while simultaneously, Cassady is entering into a relationship with a girl named Brie Ann. As situations become more complicated and more people become involved, the boys have an argument about continuing to enter the backlots. This will eventually test their friendship and lead to an astounding ending that no reader will see coming.
Vickers has written a truly unique tale with Culver City. At first glance, it seems like an ordinary ghost story, but it encompasses so much more than that. Readers who enjoy paranormal activity stories will appreciate the time that Vickers devotes to that in this book. Vickers also does a superb job of developing charismatic, relatable characters who readers will love. Not only are the characters well developed in this story, but the relationships among them are as well.
Quill says: Vickers has, undoubtedly, achieved success with his intriguing novel Culver City. It is a mystery, a ghost story, a love story, a story of friendship, and a story of loss all in one compelling book. There is truly something for every reader in this captivating tale.
To learn more about Culver City, please visit the author’s website at https://brantvickers.com/
#BookReview of When Grandpa Was the Moon
When Grandpa Was The Moon
By: Stuart French
Illustrated by: Francisco Fonseca
Publisher: Ethicool Books
Publication Date: November 10, 2022
Reviewed by: Holly Connors
Review Date: March 9, 2023
Grandparents are one of the most wonderful gifts bestowed on a child - their love and devotion to their beloved grandchildren knows no bounds. But with great love can come devastating loss when a grandparent passes away. When Grandpa Was The Moon addresses this issue in a gentle and caring way that children can understand.
When Grandpa Was The Moon is narrated by a young boy whom we meet about halfway through the story. He starts his tale by telling the reader that the moon is an artist "and he paints with the evening light..." On the two-page spread that accompanies this text is a gorgeous illustration of the moon, smiling and shining brightly while an elderly gentleman with a paintbrush carefully paints the sky. Turn the page, and we meet the same grandpa, dancing on the ocean's waves, while again, the moon is brightly lighting the night sky.
On the following page, the narrator asks,
"Did you know the moon is watching
and the clouds hold his thoughts so tight,
He gathers all your kindness
and turns it into light."
The story continues as the child tells the reader of all the wonderful things the moon does - the moon is a teacher, the moon is an artist - and then he admits that he is lonely. At this point, the story takes a sad, but heartwarming turn as the child tells us,
"I know the moon's a grandpa
and his stories keep me warm,
He felt that I was crying
and my little heart was torn."
Through the child, we learn that the moon is a grandpa, and the child's imagination sees the grandpa telling bedtime stories to him. But could it be? Is the moon his grandpa? And is his grandpa always by his side?
When I was assigned When Grandpa Was The Moon, I wasn't sure what to expect. I'd never reviewed a child's book on dealing with the death of a loved one. Would it be depressing? Perhaps the book would make me, and by extension, a young reader, sad and teary-eyed? But I was thrilled to discover that this story dealt with the death of a grandparent in a sensitive and tender way. The story is beautifully written and brings a very positive message to the child reading the book. It encourages a child's imagination to envision that the missed grandparent is always nearby. The story, however, is not the only thing that makes When Grandpa Was The Moon a standout - the illustrations are absolutely stunning. The artist, Francisco Fonseca, has illustrated several children's books, and while he specializes in drawing European houses, he can add landscapes that feature an adorable moon to his resume. His drawings truly added a unique and gorgeous element to the book. Wrap up all the components of this story, and you have an excellent resource to share with a child who is dealing with the unthinkable loss of a grandparent.
Quill says: When Grandpa Was The Moon bravely takes on the death of a grandparent with a story that will both reassure and comfort a child who is experiencing the great loss of a deeply loved grandparent.
For more information on When Grandpa Was The Moon, please visit the publisher's website at: https://ethicoolbooks.com/products/when-grandpa-was-the-moon-kids-book
#BookReview - Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us
Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us
By: Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross
Publisher: Random House
Publication Date: March 21, 2023
ISBN: 978-0593449233
Reviewed by: Douglas C. MacLeod, Jr.
Review Date: March 9, 2023
Most people want health and happiness; however, to achieve those goals is a virtual impossibility. In a world filled with bots, trolls, hackers, porch pirates, and Karens (among other nefarious characters), who slowly and successfully bully marks into submission, the human race now finds itself in the precarious position of being ensnared in what has become a World-Wide Dark Web and/or living in what seems like a post-apocalyptic, illogical dystopia filled with unadulterated menaces around every corner. So, what are we humans supposed to do? Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us, the new book by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross, and published by Penguin Random House, is an attempt to help readers move past manufactured pessimism and move toward a truthful understanding of how important the arts are to their mental, spiritual, professional, and physical well-being.
The concepts readers have to focus on, according to Magsamen and Ross, are that of neuroaesthetics (focused) and neuroarts (broader), terms used that speak to how the arts are not just a form of escape but are ways to change our day-to-day mental and physical health needs for the positive. According to the writers, if we develop more of an aesthetic mindset filled with curiosity, playfulness, creativity, open-mindedness, and exploration, our senses will be heightened, our memory will become enhanced, our feelings and emotions will be calmed down, and our brains will be able to function better (among other things). In essence, we will get what we desire: again, health and happiness. Thus, much of Your Brain on Art, which is admittedly dense with a combination of scientific information about the human brain and body and how various forms of artistry affect those inner workings, speaks to the ways we can have complete agency over how we live our lives, if we just embrace the arts.
Even if it is a bit heavy, Magsamen and Ross’s text is a beautiful work in that it inadvertently brings about multiple questions as to why it is that we, as a human race, no longer place emphasis on the arts if they do, in fact, make us feel better. Schools and communities around the world are finding ways to defund or eradicate arts programs because they are either looked at as not lucrative or they are deemed as woefully unnecessary to one’s professional growth; and yet we wonder why there is a rise of violence, mental health issues, suicides, hate crimes, anti-intellectualism, etc. A book like this argues that one of the primary reasons why the human race is in constant crisis is because we no longer prioritize what we feel, taste, see, hear, and smell. We no longer experience the tangible in significant ways, and that leads to an unawareness that is detrimental not only physically and emotionally, but culturally and spiritually.
What Your Brain on Art successfully proves is that we are meant to be social, communicative beings who need all art forms to endure and thrive and connect, even if there is a concerted effort to stifle and suppress what Magsamen and Ross see as essential to our survival as a species. And, it is ultimately up to us to make an effort to seek these art forms out to make ourselves healthier and happier.
Quill says: Your Brain on Art is an enlightening and solid work that shows readers that art, biology, and psychology come together to make us healthier and happier in our everyday world.
For more information on Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us, please visit the publisher’s website at: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/697351/your-brain-on-art-by-susan-magsamen-and-ivy-ross/
Thursday, March 9, 2023
#BookReview of I Injured My Foot Doing the Mashed Potato: Or...I Should Have Stuck With the Twist
I Injured My Foot Doing the Mashed Potato: Or...I Should Have Stuck With the Twist
By: James Robinson, Jr
Publisher: Amazon Kindle Direct
Publication Date: January 16th, 2023
ASIN: B0BRMNP7NF
Review Date: March 7, 2023
I Injured My Foot Doing the Mashed Potato: Or...I Should Have Stuck With the Twist is an exhilarating composition that integrates twenty-five short stories which take a humorous look at the joys and perils of Author James Robinson Jr.'s life as he collectively offers his facetious and amusing reflections on different events across the decades that will leave readers chuffed and exultant.
This book's colorful cover design will quickly capture the reader's attention and the alluring content will hold the reader's interest throughout the book. The first pages reveal the liberal use of rhetoric and jocular, which is a brilliant endeavor that efficiently makes the stories even funnier. The author has a unique style of writing that provides double escapism, allowing readers to enjoy a good laugh while also looking at their personal situations lightheartedly.
Some of the best moments are Robinson's recollections from his early days in school. One of the episodes that jumps out involves the author being haunted for decades by his teacher's grammatical corrections, and a continued struggle with sentence structure later in college that saw him advised by his favorite teacher to invest in a grammatical text. He hilariously notes that in his current writing practice he is free to write however he wants and doesn't need to follow any punctuation or grammatical rule no matter the number of times Microsoft Word may highlight them.
The author has laudably injected levity in every topic and readers will find a hidden joke buried at some point even in the most illustrious topics such as Christmas. Some theologians, he says, have come up with a rather interesting idea that suggests the Wise Men's arrival to see the Messiah did not happen a few hours after his birth, but rather a year later. Among other risible moments that will have readers jocund are the aftermaths of the Christmas season where many people sluggishly let go of their celebration trees. Was he a victim as well when his encounter with a traffic police officer reveals he was playing a Christmas tune on his car stereo in the month of May?
This entertaining read will not only provide an experience into the author's world but will also offer practical advice on how to maintain realness and authenticity in order to enjoy life fully and make every day count. Robinson's unique perception of the world is an inspiration to readers who may want to adopt the type of thinking that focuses on maintaining a positive and optimistic attitude.
By the end of the book, it is evident that savoring a positive experience by actively reflecting on thoughts and emotions related to it can be an effective way to enhance well-being and happiness. Overall, I Injured My Foot Doing the Mashed Potato: Or...I Should Have Stuck With the Twist has been narrated with a chatty and vibrant tone that delivers a heartwarming reading experience. Readers will find themselves letting out a laugh or a giggle throughout the book.
Quill says: I Injured My Foot Doing the Mashed Potato: Or...I Should Have Stuck With the Twist’s crowning stroke is the author's ability to see everything in his life with mirth and adoration. The read will most indubitably invigorate and lift moods.
#BookReview of Song of the Sea by Meredith Leigh Burton
Song of the Sea
By: Meredith Leigh Burton
Publication Date: February 14, 2023
ASIN: B0BMM6PY7K
Reviewed by: Tripti Kandari
A story of vengeance versus faith in humanity, Meredith Leigh Burton's Song of the Sea depicts the potent dominion of strength and inner power over every sort of human affliction.
The Treaty of Separation between the two worlds of Merpeople and humanity ensures that the appallingly brutal acts of humans on the sea and its creatures do not repeat themselves; the link between these worlds is severed, with only a sliver remaining in the inquisitiveness of some young minds unaware of the brutal history between the two. Mermaid Aria is drawn to humans by her faith in humanity and her trust in love. Despite her marriage to a humanity-hater, Glissando, her instincts propel her to a fate that speaks to the overhauling of the separation treaty for the good of all. However, in her rush to locate a long-lost trust, Aria is unaware that the seeds of its own people pose a threat of deception.
On land, Prince Reginald's infirmity of a twisted spine undermines his father King Asa's faith in his only surviving successor. Yet, the prince's desire to demonstrate his strength burns brightly in his heart. Reginald is resolved to go to any length to rescue his father's deteriorating health, the solution for which can be found within the healing song of Merpeople. Intrigue, dark secrets, and the footsteps of deception trail Aria as her fate collides with that of Prince Reginald. Will the power of songs, courage, and grace heal the past wounds of these two worlds? Or will the burning flame of revenge for previous atrocities against Merpeople be given fuel to blaze fire on humanity...
The power of song is manifested in this fantasy fiction novel in a variety of ways: while it appears as a source of healing for some characters, it also appears as a tool of destruction, triggering murderous storms and other disasters. The two realms of water and land are personified via music that whispers songs of happiness and grief on several occasions.
At a brief and compact 110 pages, Song of the Sea knits realistic themes of fervent humanity against the backdrop of fantasy and magical realism. Both Reginald and Aria represent the strength of the inner self in the face of oppression, whether physical barriers in the case of Reginald or impediments against life ideals in the case of Aria. Though there is no buildup on the main themes and the dialogue surrounding them, their brevity captures their substance.
Quill says: Song of the Sea sets out to elucidate the victory of a conflict, not against life, but against everything that hinders one from trusting again - in others and oneself.
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