A Thousand Tiny Cracks by Stella Maddox

I opened the book and liked the book. Snarky, but intellectually satircal-based writing at the start often holds my interest.

Early on we learn Stella is intelligent, analytical, and a generally good person great at sizing up everyone and everything within and around her marriage. Her difficulty however is, she's unable to engage her critical thinking skills to connect the dots on how to manage her new life. The kids exasperate her; the hubby isn't responding the way she desires, and her overall morale and confidence is shaken. How does she deal with this?

Oh, here we go… Tad; a teenager soon about to enlist in the Army who conveniently lives next door and is granted full access into Stella's home under the innocent guise of helping the family with repairs to the home.

Tad comes in early into the picture… ready-made too… all the things marriage and children are not. The mutual connection is instant, like attraction at first sight, perhaps the same attraction that lured her and Ethan together, before he became the hubby and she the wife. I could almost feel the energy canvass the page as Stella enjoyed a sweaty day at the gun range with Tad, but later wasted her time spending a day with her daughter Maya, because her child likes daddy better.

Overall I really enjoyed Stella evaluating her feelings, and the assessments she penned to others, but would have enjoyed seeing more storytelling. A deeper premise (early on) leading to anticipating a unique ending would have really made this story sing. The cover and the title was also a nice treat.

Healing After Dark: Pioneering Compassionate Medicine at the Boston Evening Clinic by Morris A. Cohen

While there are a number of ways to read into Cohen's memoir, my thoughts took a more holistic view identifying with the philanthropy work involved in providing affordable healthcare, with dignity, to working class people who often couldn't afford healthcare `at any cost', and most certainly not at the rate of exceptional medical care that Cohen (and an initial handful of others risking their personal, professional, and financial welfare) provided `After Dark.'

It was really fascinating to reflect on what makes a person as giving. Sacrificing a steady salary, (or salary altogether), for years on end, particularly faced with such unreceptive opposition, takes internal hard-wiring worth understanding.

Don't Block the Blessings by Patti LaBelle

Surely Patti's memoir will qualify among my top ten reading selections this year! I couldn't get past the first chapter before knowing I was hardly going to be disappointed.


From a `painfully shy' girl, to `hang onto to your hat... don't mess with Patti', I must've experienced every range of emotion on an emotive scale there is getting to the end of this highly uplifting inspiration!

By the middle of the book I had to start taking notes. Some things I just didn't want to miss noting, such as on page 131 when I liked to have passed out. "Patti, you didn't know?" "Know what, Reggie?" ---and like I said, I nearly passed out!

Loved all the colloquialisms too; "put me under...twice," (referring to giving birth), in which except for that one, many of them old sayings I've heard before, although this is what brings Patti's voice... or should I say character, clear off the page.

The Black Russian by Vladimir Alexandrov

This autobiography was an especially delightful read, particularly having always wanted to come across a pioneer like Frederick "Fyodor" Thomas. Vladimir did a fine job piecing together Frederick's life; tracing his encounters from Mississippi to Constantinople. This story pales in comparison to anything I've ever read during such a time before.

Most spectacular, outside of noting how passports weren’t required to leave the U.S. during the1800's-early 1900's, was in the way Vladimir presented Fredrick's story. Despite almost loosely tracing Frederick’s life story, that being primarily covering the highlights of his 'celeb' life and career, I could still picture Frederick 'the person' very well… vividly catching glimpses of him switching between customs, mannerisms, and languages to achieve the successes he did while living in Russia. Very charming and sage all rolled into one. Of course too, that detailing how he spoke American English with the Mississippian lisp, but then speaking French flawlessly also helped in allowing me to peer into this remarkable man's character.

Engaging, charming, droll, quite surprising, and sadly moving in large spots, the Black Russian is highly recommended.

Tempest Rising: A Novel by Diane McKinney-Whetstone

Did I just read a novel that I really loved?

This story, set in Philadelphia, is about a young woman raised by strong-willed aunts and doting uncles, who elopes to marry a wonderful man, and create a family of her own.  For years, blessed with three young daughters and a fine marriage, things go well, very well in fact, as the family makes a nice living off a catering business that affords them moving to the suburbs to enjoy a privileged (so-to-speak) life among the elite.

from ashes to africa by Josh and Amy Bottomly

I can't recall what drew me to this book, but I had a strong inkling the story would be tremendous soon as I read Frederick Buechner's inserted quote: "Writing is really quite simple; all you have to do is sit down at your typewriter and open a vein."

This was exactly what happened in the writing `from ashes to africa.' Josh and Amy open that vein, candidly recounting a tumulus marriage which blossoms into a most remarkable story.