Jesus, My Father, the CIA and Me is a memoir...of sorts.
Author,
Ian Morgan Cron, tells his life in a personable and off-hand manner, knowing he has lived this life, but not totally believing all the players in his game.
As a young boy, he had many questions concerning his father and their lifestyle. His father was very mysterious and would often be gone for long periods of time or have to stop what he was doing and head off into the unknown. When Ian found pictures of his dad playing golf with the president, he questions his mother, who is just as enigmatic as his father.
All through his life, Ian is left with more questions than answers and he must struggle with his own inner demons to become the man he was meant to be.
The reader is taken on a journey that seems almost fantastical in places and heart-wrenching in others. We learn of Ian's fathers addiction to alcohol and how it eventually removes him from the game. We learn of Ian's struggle with his father's love, always left wondering if his father did, in fact, love him and he wasn't just a "tool" of the trade.
We learn of Ian's struggles with Jesus and God and their intentions for his life. How he embraces their lessons and applies them to his life. We watch as he walks the path less traveled to come to a point in his life where everything seems to fall into place and his message is clear.
This was a very engaging book by
Ian Morgan Cron, who also authored,
Chasing Francis: A Pilgrim's Tale, which was also an exceptional read. You can read my review
here. I thought the insights into his life were written in an enjoyable and thought-provoking method. I enjoyed reading his thoughts and worries and his projections for the future.
I thought his grip on reality was an interesting one and I enjoyed his sharing it with me. The writing is engaging, interesting and easily read. The reader will find minor to mild expletives, which might surprise the average person, especially when you read that the author is an Episcopalian minister. It is that honest, "average-joe", writing style that will submerge the reader into the author's realm of life and leave you with a well-blended tale of one man's life and the choices he makes.
I would give this a four out of five stars, while I thought the book was a great read and I am sure anyone who reads it would agree with such, I just found there was a certain something lacking from its pages that would have made it exceptional, maybe a degree of warmth that was lacking or maybe it was the introduction of his faith, the people that surrounded him, cajoling him into their fold, it kind of gave me a creepy feeling and I am unsure how I would handled the situation. If it wasn't for the good-looking girl coming into the picture, who knows where Ian Morgan Cron's life may have ended, it was certainly looking like he was heading down a path of destruction.
SYNOPSIS:When he was sixteen years old, Ian Morgan Cron was told about his fathers clandestine work with the CIA. This astonishing revelation, coupled with his fathers dark struggles with chronic alcoholism and depression, upended the world of a boy struggling to become a man. Decades later, as he faces his own personal demons, Ian realizes the only way to find peace is to voyage back through a painful childhood marked by extremes-pr
Master of the Moors is a supernatural thriller.
There is something unnatural living in the Brent Prior Moors. Rumours and legends state that huge, hairy creatures live in the moors and will stalk unwitting victims until their death. Many of the townsfolk know a secret, a secret about the moors and many aren't willing to share their story.
A group of men, many years ago, went in search of the Huntmaster, Edgar Callow's wife, Slyvia. She went missing and this group of men were persuaded to enter the moors in search for her. At first the men believe they are searching for the lost woman, however, it doesn't take long to realize the group has been set up and the men are in flight for their lives. Not everyone gets out alive that night, and those who survived, often wish they hadn't.
Katherine Mansfield lives with her blind brother Neil, her father, who has come down with a mysterious illness, groundskeeper, Ned Grady and their housekeeper, Mrs. Fletcher. Kate has always believed the rumours about the Beast in the moors and has never strayed to far into their midst. Neil, who is a very stubborn and independent youth, is always trying to fight the yoke that holds him and befriends a man who smells like rotting earth, who claims he can cure Neil's eyesight.
Neither of these children realize their worth to the Beasts of the moors, they don't realize their family legacy and as the drama unfolds and the truth comes out, Kate and Neil will wish that the myths would remain exactly that. They don't understand the magnitude of the secrets that have been kept in order for them to survive; with the return of the Master of the Moors, the secrets unfold and the horror that follows may be their undoing.
I thought the read was an okay one, I truly was expecting more. The book starts out in the past, setting the ambiance for the reader, giving us a hint as to what was to come. I thought the build up to the secrets was great, however, the secret itself fell flat with me. I thought the twist at the end of the story was predictable however, it was delivered with the right amount of suspense.
I found the story to be rather dull in places and lacked intrigue to keep the reading momentum going. I sometimes struggled to read through the chapter, as I wanted to read more action, or see more of the beasts in the Moor deliver their "justice", but your left with thoughts and ramblings of the characters and not enough about the back story, which left the plot non-existent and lacking.
I would give this a two and a half stars out of five, for lacking in many of the areas that is required to make a great book. I didn't have any feelings for the characters, other than Grady and Mrs. Fletcher, the only two characters in which the reader is given any insight too. I found the actions of the Master of the Moors to be trite and blase, he did not frighten me and I am unsure of why he enlisted Tabitha and her brother to draw Neil closer to him, he could've just taken him and had been done with it.
To learn more...
The Medium Next Door: Adventures of a Real-Life Ghost Whisperer is a new age spiritual book on channeling.
Maureen Hancock was raised in a large family of Irish Catholic heritage. It is said she was born with a veil over her when she was born and old wives tales and legends have always explained this as being "special" in psychic abilities.
Ever since she had a near-death experience as a little girl, Maureen has seen things that she was unable to explain and she decides to stifle her "gift" for the next couple of decades, as she feared her abilities.
When she regains her abilities by allowing them to return, she finds that she is even more heightened to the spiritual energies that were attracted to her. Now, she is able to communicate with them and they with her.
Since then, she has been on talk shows, held seminars, assisted police in cases and shared herself with anyone who wishes to hear her story. From the Mayan spirits who arrived in her hotel to tell her that her mother was having heart attack to the story of Suzie whose son Bo hung himself and wanted to let his family know he is still with them, each of these anecdotes are shared in a heart-warming and friendly manner.
I thought this was an interesting read and if you love paranormal then you will definitely find something in this book. The stories that Maureen shares are quite thought-provoking and truly freaky in their content. I am not sure how I would deal with such a "gift"! I have my own "gifts", not only was I born with a caul, but I was born dead to boot and I often shy away from my own abilities and am thankful I cannot speak to dead people. Though I would try it for a day if it were possible!
I did find some of the stories and flow of the book to be disconnected and at times it was hard for me to stay involved with the story. While I do believe in Maureen's gifts, some of the stories are unbelievable and you wish you could have your own reading just to fully understand her gifts. She is quick to put the skeptics at ease by relating stories only they would know to show the connection between the departed soul and the loved one.
It is a quick read even with over 260 pages of text, it is written in a friendly narrative, giving the reader a bit of insight into the author. This would make an interesting book to discuss in book groups or to read on rainy afternoon.
SYNOPSIS:At just five years old, Maureen Hancock discovered her ability to communicate with the dead. Descended from a long line of legendary Irish mystics, she was no stranger to the spiritual realm, but for fear of being misunderstood by her friends and family she kept the otherworldly messages to herself, eventually suppressing them completely.
Maureen wouldn't hear the spirits again until she was in a near-fatal car crash. Soon after, she had hundreds of voices in her head, many of which helped her crack cases and expose fraud in her role as a litigation paralegal at a large Boston law firm. Then, when tragedy struck on 9/11, Maureen was bombarded with messages from the spirit world. As each one made contact with her, she finally came to terms with her calling: to communicate with the deceased, assist the dying, search for missing children, and teach the living about life after death, all the while raising her children in her subu
My child Is Sick!: Expert Advice for Managing Common Illnesses and Injuries is an encyclopedia of information pertaining to childhood common ailments.
This book is dedicated to the health of all children and is published by the American Academy of Pediatrics Association. This book will help you realize when to call your doctor and when it's safe to treat your children at home.
You, as a parent, want to ensure that you are doing the best for your children, however, it can get very expensive to take your child to the doctor's for every ailment. This book is geared to help you decide when you should visit your doctor and help ease your worries both financially and emotionally.
This book is based on the guidelines developed by
Dr. Barton D. Schmitt and is used by over 10,000 pediatricians and nurses and over 400 nurse advice call centers in the United States and Canada. These guidelines have been tested for 15 years on more than 150 million phone calls.
Inside of these pages you will find useful information pertaining to many illnesses and injuries. There are decision charts which are used to help determine when to call a doctor or to treat at home and it will describe everything you need to keep your concerns at a minimum by walking you through each stage of symptoms.
There is in-depth advice for treating symptoms at home, home remedies for treatments, charts for medicine distribution, dos and don'ts on what you can and cannot do, prevention recommendations and so much more!
There are chapters on head injuries; eye, ear, nose, throat ailments as well as chapters on fever, bites or stings, abdomen injuries, and so much more. Each has a definition, cause, home care advice and when to call you doctor laid out in an easy-to-read approach that will not leave you guessing on your interaction with your child.
Dr. Schmitt is a board-certified pediatrician and a professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He is an author and created the first self-triage, self-care iPhone app for parents, KidsDoc. He is the recipient of the American Academy of Pediatrics' C. Anderson Aldrich Award for contributions in child development and the Education Award for contributions in pediatric condition.
This is an EXCELLENT reference guide that I would recommend that all parents keep a copy around. I have used this book several times in the past few weeks and have been thankful to have had it. I'm not a panic-mongering parent who rushes my child to the doctor's/hospital and usually do everything by instinct or common sense. It has been great to realize that I often do the correct things in certain situations.
My youngest son is always coughing and croupy. This book reinforced my own medical know-how AND taught me a few things, like, I didn't know it was beneficial to have your child drink warm water or apple juice to help open up their airways!! As well, I forget that honey is better for your child than store bought medicines and now keep a jar in the house JUST for his croup.
I found many useful tips to keep my sanity when it comes to my kids. I have four of them still at home and a 6 year old granddaughter, so for me, this has become my new bible! I keep this close at hand and will use it over and over again!!
I could see this as a great benefit to keep in schools and day cares!! Truthfully, this book has it all and it will reassure you that your doing everything correctly!!
SYNOPSIS
Mugabe and the White African is a non-fiction account of the farmers plight during the Mugabe regime, with forewords by Desmond Tutu and John Sentamu.
For more than 30 years the farmers of Zimbabwe have been fighting the Mugabe government in order to restore the declining state of affairs that Mugabe and his henchmen have destroyed.
Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe, is a racist, hate filled pariah who will stop at nothing to remove the white farmers from their lands, claiming only those who are African may hold their titles. While some of the farmers moved to Africa to farm, many of the farming families had been there for generations, being born and bred on the lands of Africa, making them all African. However, Mugabe believes only those who are black are african, his motto being, "Only good white man is a dead white man" and he sets up a genocide program encouraging his supporters to do whatever act necessary to take back control of these farming lands.
Mugabe's proposal is to take all the land and divided it amongst his "favourites" in a lottery system. His delegates use a paint pot, brush and a lottery to determine who will control that rested lands. Upon receiving the land, the new "owners" would annihilate all trees, animals and vegetation and leave the land barren and defunct. Many of the farmers had their lands stolen by the Mugabe government and there were others who were beaten, murdered, raped and their houses and livelihoods destroyed in jealous and evil rages.
The few farmers who held together were becoming fewer and fewer as the reign of tyranny continues to escalate and the police nor the governing bodies set in place to ensure these acts of violence do not occur, actually helped promote the madness. Many people's lives could have been saved if the police had done their job, if the judicial system didn't just give lip service and if the people stood up to the fear that was being bred in their neighbourhoods.
After Ben and his family lose their house to fire, beaten beyond recognition, they once again turn to the court systems to uphold the law. Now, the outside world is finally listening and perhaps the wrongs can be righted. The road is long and the whole system is corrupt and only those with faith in God and attest to his wonderous powers will remain and as of this year, 2011, the Mugabe government still holds power and rages war on the white farmers of Zimbabwe.
Ben Freeth, father-in-law, Mike Campbell, along with their families have always stood up to the Mugabe regime and for that they have lost everything they own and still they fight. This book has been made into a documentary and the world is awakening to the plight, but will it be enough or will it be too late?
This book is very disturbing literature to read. The situations involved with the farmers is very graphic and horrendous to absorb. I became furious at humanity for allowing things such as this to occur and not just in Zimbabwe, but everywhere in the world it seems evil people rule. The evil that was shared within these pages was honest, direct and appalling. I do not understand how a ruler, such as Mugabe, could ever be allowed to rule with such blatant practices that I read about.
I was also appalled to learn that at a time when Mugabe should have been asked to step down from his seat of power, the Queen of England decides he should be awarded a knighthood, my mind was flabbergasted. However, I did some resea
Kathryn Thorson Gruhn has 35 years of child development experience. She is certified by the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA), holding both Bachelors and Masters degrees in Speech and Language Pathology. She gained her clinical expertise by working with children as well as adults with a full spectrum of communication disorders.
One of Kathryn’s most rewarding experiences was working for United Cerebral Palsy in an inclusive child development center which was composed equally of children with normal development and those with delayed development. She provided therapy in the classroom and facilitated educational, nurturing relationships between parents and their children, which inspired her ideas for
My Baby Compass.
Her down-to-earth, approachable style makes this program accessible for all parents and caregivers.
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| My Baby Compass: Birth to Two Years |
My Baby Compass
The
My Baby Compass checklists are specifically formulated to enable you to quickly and easily detect any delays as your child grows.
The checklists are designed to identify milestones, which are skills, behaviors and physical developments that commonly occur in certain age ranges.
The book is full of simple, practical information and activities that will complement your own intuition.
The milestones on the checklists are based on statistics, and while 90% of children will fall into this range, your child may be only a few days away from meeting a particular milestone.
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| My Baby Compass: Two to Four Years |
There is a separate checklists for each age group, which
Award winning live painter and illustrator, Joanna Henly, a.k.a. Miss Led is taking on the art world like an F5 tornado. The only woman who has ever won the internationally renowned urban street art competition ‘Secret Wars’, her art is so good you can practically taste it. Provocative, sultry, seductive linework and color that has graced the faces of canvases, walls, and even sneakers and cars. Miss Led's artwork is like a stinging smack on the ass that is so painfully good you find yourself wanting more. But why take someone else's word for it? Something like that you should experience yourself - shouldn't you?
The Monster On Top Of The Bed is an enjoyable read for all youngsters.
Sometimes things aren't always what they seem and when the monster fears the child, we come to see a different perspective on misunderstandings and ignorance. As well, we learn that not everything we say is what it actually means, when Karrit explains to Suzy that certain things she says and does, frightens him.
Together the two work out their differences and a friendship forms and a new light is shed upon them both when they realize that maybe they aren't so different from each other afterall.
My children just loved this book, they read it over and over and my youngest son is going to be doing a book review on it as well as, a storytelling in front of his grade 1 class. The book is filled with many fun sight words that my children enjoyed and they really liked the overall message of the story.
We also received the CD and while they weren't as impressed with the CD as with the book, the CD is an excellent compendium to have along with the book. It tells the story in several languages as well as, positive reinforcements are shared with the children.
It was a neat idea to add a little bookle with the big book, so that the child can read along while the parent is reading and as in my case, where my two youngest are a year apart, there was no fights over who was going to read the book first, they took turns sharing the big book and the little book equally!! It is a very cute book with gorgeous and colourful illustrations and it is a great book for encouraging reading with younger children. Suzy and Karrit are equally appealing to children and its a story that all will be able to follow.
For more information please stop by Alan H. Jordan's website, he also has several school fund raising ideas that children are sure to enjoy participating in~!
SYNOPSIS:
In The Monster on Top of the Bed young Suzy learns that she never has to be afraid of monsters again after she befriends a "monster" who thinks of her as "the monster on top of the bed." This is a great children's book for children who love to read, and those who don't.
** Disclosure: I did not accept any compensation from the publishers other than review copies, my views are my own, reviewed by me..as I see it~!! **
Magnify Logo - branding and creative agency
Brian Miller is an award-winning designer and lecturer who specializes in branding for the Web and print. In addition to managing the
Brian Miller Design Group, he teaches design at the
Shintaro Akatsu School of Design, and is a member of the board of directors for the Type Directors Club.
Type Answers Logo - community-based website invites users to ask questions about typography
Stunt Lizard Logo - online retailer of extreme sporting equipment
Spinning Plates Logo - electronic, jazz improvisational group
Shintaro Akatsu School of Design Logo
The business district of New Canaan Logo
Title: The Memory Palace
Author: Mira Bartok
Publisher: Free Press, A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Published: January 2011
ISBN 978-1-4391-8331-1 hard cover
Genre: Memoir
Pages: 305
Source: review copy furnished by publisher
Synopsis:
Beautiful piano protege, Norma Herr, had been the most vibrant personality in the room before she was struck with schizophrenia at the age of nineteen. She did her best to raise her two daughters whom she loved dearly, but as her mental state deteriorated she spoke less about Chopin & more about Nazis & her constant feat that her daughters would be kidnapped, raped or murdered.
When the girls left for college the harassment escalated. Norma called them obsessively, appeared at their apartments or jobs, and threatened to kill herself if they did not return. After a traumatic encounter, Mira and her sister were forced to change their names and sever all contact with Norma in order to stay safe.
While Mira pursued her artistic career - exploring the ancient romance of Florence, the eerie mysticism of northern Norway and the raw desert of Israel - the haunting memories of her mother were never far away.
After a debilitating car accident, Mira's life changed forever. Suffering a traumatic brain injury (TBI), she had to relearn how to paint, read, & interact with the outside world and her person. In an effort to grasp her lost self, she reached out to the homeless shelter where she believed Norma lived - and discovered she was dying.
Mira and her sister traveled to Cleveland and shared an extraordinary reconciliation with their mother, they had not thought possible. At the the hospital, Mira discovered a set of keys that opened a storage unit Norma had been keeping for 17 years! Filled with family photos, childhood toys and ephemera from Norma's life, the storage unit brought back memories that Mira thought were lost to her forever.
My Review:
Author Kay Redfield Jamison once described a floridly manic state as "dancing on the rings of Saturn". In The Memory Palace, Mira Birtok's stunningly fluid and chillingly authentic memoir we are taken on a journey that illustrates the razor-fine edge between brilliance and madness living with a paranoid schizophrenic mother with such cruelly vivid descriptions and aching vulnerability that we are there.
I have nothing but high praise for this scintillating book - a Valentine to the human spirit and triumph of love and creative expression over the ravages of madness. It is not an easy read, but a privileged and intimate one. Birtok's drawings illustrate each room within the multi-chambered palace, as
we journey lucidly through madness, her insatiable intellect, emotional paralysis, and subsequent courageous reconciliation with the shards of her past and shattered sense of self.
A must read! Five out of five stars, not to be missed!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one copy of the memory Palace free of charge
Juana Martinez-Neal's illustrations are so vibrant and full of life. Her art is bursting with brilliant color and rich textures. And there's a tiny hint of
Richard Scarry in each one of her little animal friends. You'll find a whole lot of warmth and joy in them without a doubt. Wouldn't you agree?
As long-time readers already know, M is my younger daughter, who is now 15-1/2 and about to be a high school sophomore. Here's M's review of Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare, based on ARC I brought home from ALA.
I don't know how long I've been a Cassandra Clare fan, but I've read ll her books more than 5 times (and they never get old), so imagine my surprise when I opened my bad of ARCs my mother graciously scored for me at ALA, and sitting (strategically place - at least that's my theory) on the bottom is an ARC of Cassandra Clare's new novel, Clockwork Angel. I'm not sure how many minutes of high-pitched squealing and "Oh my God-ing" my mother had to listen to over that one book. [KRF: It was at least a full minute, and it was loud and long.]
I have a bad habit of not going to sleep until the early morning anyway, so there I was, sitting in my bed at 2:00 a.m., reading Clockwork Angel and dying because it was JUST SO GOOD. Like usual, Cassandra Clare fills Clockwork Angel with excitement, witty benter, an awesome heroine, crazy plot twists, and hot boys.
Set in 1817 London, Clockwork Angel follows our heroine Tessa (who is no just kickass but . . . LOVES to read - bonus!) as she pairs up with the Nephilim (shadowhunters). Cue the hot boys! In come Will and James who - much like Alec & Jace [from the Mortal Instruments books] - provide us with light-hearted best-friend banter, but who will gladly kick your ass if you look at them funny. Or at least one of them will.
Their adventures together (and their touching backstories) keep you reading and thinking: what the heck is going to happen now?
I never once let this book leave my side as I was reading. It's the kind of book you sneak out of the house with if you have somewhere to go. It's not only the beautiful people and excitement that keep you going - it's Cassandra Clare's beautiful writing. The way she throws you for a loop after you turn a corner, or makes you think. Also, there are little references that catch a fan's eye, like our favorite characters' [from the Mortal Instruments books] great relatives, or mention of the Pandemonium Club. Of course, this book speaks for itself, and you don't need to read the Mortal Instruments series first, but it gives you a little insight if you have.
I was sad when it ended, and can recall telling my mom "I wish I didn't read it yet. Now I have to wait!"
And so the countdown starts for the sequel. I don't think I can wait, actually . . .
Those of you familiar with M's reviews or opinions will not be surprised to hear that she has re-read this book already. And that she is chomping at the bit for the next
Mortal Instruments book (despite having said "Wait - there's a
fourth book in the trilogy?", then laughing about it).
I'll see if I can con her into writing a few more reviews before school starts. I can tell you for sure that she loved
WHITE CAT by Holly Black and
RAISED BY WOLVES by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, as well as completely loving the ARC of
REVOLUTION by Jennifer Donnelly.
How would you like to step inside the mind of artist Travis Millard? You might not come out the same on the other side. These are some wild illustrations he’s conjuring up. Travis waves his freak flag high and let’s his imagination run loose like a madman with the keys to the asylum. And wouldn’t you agree that’s what an artist should do? Fearless - no holds barred - let it go from the brain to the paper – that’s the pure essence of the creative spirit. Why be afraid to put down on paper or canvas what it is that you want to put down? Artists like Travis Millard are saying to hell with conventional thinking – my way is much more fun.
His work looks like it might have some
Robert Crumb or a little bit of S. Clay Wilson influence to it. Heck, everyone has been influenced by someone. Still Travis Millard is definitely original in his own right. Eye gouging, hand biting with some face melding make out sessions – yeah this guy certainly isn’t having any problems creating unique pieces of art.
Artist and designer J.R. Mounger has a passion for illustration and you sure can tell by the artwork he creates. His illustrations and sketches are bursting with imagination and wild ideas. His hand drawn letter-work is impeccable.
Wait until you see the images J.R. posts from his sketchbook - skulls and daggers, tattooed wrestlers, bombshell beauties, laser-shooting, alien robots and all sorts of insane characters. This guy's work is phenomenal. You can see that J.R. Mounger is one of those illustrators with a natural ability to create and draw.
Sectioned off in different photo albums, the
Photo tab on J.R.'s Facebook page is filled with piles of photographs of his work. Only one important thing is missing from his page. Where's all your information for the info tab J.R.? Website? Blog? Contact? Bet he's just been so busy drawing and dreaming up fantastic illustrations he forgot to add how to get in touch with him.
Wouldn't you love to buy one of J.R.'s original sketches? Or 10 or 15 of them?
There's an edge to
Alé Mercado's illustrations. His work conveys emotion through gritty texture, aggressive, bold line-work and uncluttered, well-organized page structures. Some of his work is reminiscent of Edvard Munch and the Expressionist prints of Kirchner and Pechstein.
Alé is also no stranger to typography. In some of his work he incorporates different typefaces that compliment his illustrations nicely. And Alé uses color sparingly, which is another element that adds to the atmosphere and intensity of his work.
Alé's Facebook page displays a good amount of his designs and illustrations. He also incorporated an
Events tab which offers a list of upcoming events.
0 Comments on Illustrator and Painter Miss Led - Falling Angels as of 1/1/1900
ohhh will have to check this out!! i love watching old episodes of the ghost whisperer hehehe.. would love to read more about it!