Book Reviews

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From Stress to Success…in Just 31 Days

by: Dr.John F. Demartini     reviewed By: Laura Allard

I bought this cute looking little book as a reference resource for another project I am working on, and then just had to make it my next review.

You might recognize that author’s name as he was one of the contributing “teachers” in “The Secret”, and has a great story of success to tell about his own life and the turnaround thereof.

Earth shattering, mind blowing and world changing however, it is not. Containing practical tips about deep breathing and the positives effects of grooming for success, one actually might be overwhelmed by the thought of having to put all these things to work over a 31 day period…and thusly create more stress for themselves than they went into the project with.

Dr.Demartini’s approach of changing little every day things to your favour is a good one, and the book is a quick read.The practical steps he offers are genuinely easy to follow, but the magnitude of undertaking so many things over the period of 31 days seems a trite ambitious even for those of us that have 1/2 of them down pat already.

One of the things I am always challenged by with these types of books is their ability to offer advice and guidance on the how to’s but not necessarily on the work that needs to be done to achieve what one would like to achieve. The assumption that one will be reading this book, journal in hand and at the ready to make the notes the author advises to make while progressing through the process is not giving value to the fact that many a reader will indeed bypass the important step, or just put the blasted book down in search of something to write with and on, never to be visited again.

Wow, that was a rant

This is a beautiful and lovely looking book with an inviting cover colour and image which fooled me with the age old adage to never judge a book by its cover

Habits that you do not like have generally taken a bit of time to be cultivated and worm their way into your life….they will take a bit of time and more than a bit of concentration and effort to reverse their effects…just ask anyone who’s ever successfully lost weight about the difference in the time it took to gain it and then lose it!!

Until next time…be well!!

LA xo

 

The Hour I First Believed

Written By : Wally Lamb

Reviewed By: Laura Allard

The Hour I First Believed delivers in pure Wally Lamb style with insightful believable characters and a storyline that is beyond intriguing.

723 pages of amazing writing with a plot that wends its way through love and disaster, triumph and death upon death, finally finds peace in the end. My absolute favorite line in the book, “I just wanted to let you know that I do believe that there’s life after love,and also that there is love, still, after a life is over.” brings tears to my eyes even as I write this!

Master story teller Wally Lamb has once again graced us with the lives of people involved in a story that makes you think and cry and root for and admonish as each and every one of them finds their way. A week after turning the final page,the characters linger, are with me still and I am reticent to let them go!

What a wonder-filled read!

LA

 

 

 

Lipstick Jungle

Written By: Candace Bushnell     Review By: Laura Allard

Always a fan of Sex and the City, it took me 3 starts to actually keep reading and then finally finish this book.

Realization #1…I should have read this one during the summer before Jane Hamilton!

Realization #2…there is no replacement for Sex and The City!!

But…this was an entertaining read, and because I had no expectations of it whatsoever, was not disappointed and didn’t feel it to be a waste of time. I do have to say however, that Bushnell’s writing in this book is a bit multi faceted, and not necessarily in a commendable way…at times seemingly gibberish and disjointed and then at others, surprisingly enough, downright insightful and prosaic…that was tough to get a grip on.

However, at the end of the day Bushnell still reigns as one of the Chick Lit Queens, and to be immersed in a little self indulgence for a week at the mere cost of about $30 is well worth the price of admission….do save it for a summer beach read though, there characters really cannot endure winter

LA

The Short History of a Prince

Written by: Jane Hamilton Reviewed by: Laura Allard

Always a fan of Jane Hamilton, I embarked upon “The Short History of a Prince” with high hopes. From the jacket of the hardcover, the publisher promises “Only a writer of Jane Hamilton’s sensitivity and humanity could do justice to this moving story of the torments of sexuality and the redemptive power of family and friendship.” And for the most part I agree with this bit of PR, although it was hard work getting there.

Probably not a book I should have taken up as an end of summer read, it may have gotten more consideration as a long winter read, when one has time to languish in front of a fire with a well written but stubborn book. Curled up cozy and comfortable nuzzled in a favorite blanket with a warm cup of cinnamon tea simmering on the coffee table to add comfort and solace as one works through this novel, page by painstaking page.

It started out tough, the middle dragged and the end happened too fast, with not enough time for the reader to recover from the tragedies of the first 300 pages and fully celebrate the turnaround for poor Walter and his family. But alas that may just be the point as a reflection of our own lives, where our suffering seems to carrying on eternally and the good times pass in a heartbeat.

Don’t pass by this novel, just don’t read it in the summer! I really do wish I would have saved this book for a different season to do better by Jane Hamilton, always a favorite, and will know better for next time.

LA

 

 

 

 

SYC Book Reviews

Book Review: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

The Lord of the Rings is a fictional story written in three novels by
J.R.R. Tolkien. The trilogy consists of The Fellowship of the Ring, The
Two Towers, and The Return of the King. Basically the novels follow a
group of mythical characters through treacherous lands to unthinkable
danger. A classic story of good versus evil, but with a lot more
intensity. The authour does a great job of explaining things in extreme
detail which really brings the read to life, it pulled me in and hooked me
anyways. The characters are the key to the whole experience though, you
really get a great sense of what each of their personalities are like;
this brings the reader closer to the novel by being able to relate to the
characters. Although they are fictional, Tolkien does an outstanding job
of making the reader believe in and hope for the “good characters” to
prevail in this epic battle. Nowadays, I’m sure everyone knows of The Lord
of the Rings and what they are about with the motion pictures out for each
novel. But I truly believe the books are a better experience. They bring
the scenarios to a whole new level the movies definitely cannot come close
to. Not to mention they are the original and unchanged stories. Anyways, I
strongly recommend that people attempt to read the novels, as I enjoyed
them very much.

 - Jeffrey Morberg (SYC Memeber)

Book Review: Severed

My book review is on Severed by Simon Kernick. It is a gripping novel like
all of his stories. It takes you in and holds you tight never giving you a
second to let go, reading his books gets my imagination flowing and I can
really picture the scenes in the story. Severed is about a young man
waking up only to find that his girlfriend has been killed in cold blood
but as he finds out he has been set up and framed! Now he must find out
who has set him up and why, Also he must avoid the police, dodge bullets,
knives, and men prepared to do anything to kill him. When he finally finds
who he is looking for he has to make a choice of killing the people who
framed him or to get out alive….

Simon Kernick has written many good books particularly thrillers that are
both gripping and mysterious in their own ways. From the books of his that
I have read such as Relentless, Severed,and Deadline I would have to give
them high rating for Severed its self I would rate it on a scale from 1 to
10 I would give it an 8. I would suggest this book to anyone who likes a
good thrill and anyone who has read any of Simon’s books. Thanks for
Reading!

 - Courtney W. (SYC Member)

Book Review: Alex Rider: Scorpia

Alex Rider: Scorpia is the 5th installment of the Alex rider series by
Anthony Horowitz. Alex Rider is a 14 year old ‘spy’ for MI6.
Alex’s 5th mission for MI6 brings him to Venice- in the last book, he was
told by his arch nemisis, Yassen, that is father worked as an assassin for
the most lethal organization in the world, Scorpia. Just before Yassen
died, he told Alex to go to Venice, find Scorpia, find his destiny.
Alex goes through many difficult challenges to infiltrate Scorpia’s
headquarters. In the end, he was captured by an assassin, Nile, and was
thrown in a dungeon. Alex escapes and follows Mrs. Rothman (leader of
Scorpia) to Constanzo, a chemist lab in southern Italy. He is met by Nile,
who takes him (under Alex’s wishes) to Mrs. Rothman, who finally reveals
how is father really died. John Rider was shot by MI6. Alex is furious,
and joins  pre=”joins “>Scorpia. His first mission for Scorpia is to shoot Mrs. Jones,
the lady in MI6 who gave the order to shoot John Rider. Alex shoots for
Mrs. Jones, but security measures prevents the bullet from hitting her.
Alex is captured by MI6 and is taken to a COBRA meeting (Prime Minister,
secretaries, of Great Britain). Alex reveals that Scorpia’s target is
London schoolchildren- it is up to Alex to return to Scorpia, and to learn
the inside of Scorpia’s mission. The ending to this book will keep you
reading until the very last page, it grips you in ways that any other book
can’t.

 - Connor Larmour (SYC Alternate Member)