tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28515031201194087502011-09-28T14:09:08.566-04:00RYCJ OEBooks Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.comBlogger271100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-63084571924651780842011-03-13T01:36:00.004-05:002011-03-16T20:05:58.603-04:00

être the cowby Sean Kenniff Remembering stories passed over to me by ancestors about the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, and covered in historical references, made it easy to appreciate the premise of être the cow. In terms of civility, knowledge bears no more comfort than ignorance. Despite être, in his own suffering, believing fireflies enjoy a freedom he pined for, no life escapes the processes

RYCJ OEBooks Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-19576164516178224842011-03-11T19:34:00.002-05:002011-03-13T01:39:51.960-05:00

Sacred Ground & Holy Water by Lyn Fuchs WoW. This one felt as if Fuchs (out-of-the-blue) knocked on my door, told me let's go for a spin around the world, and then took me for a spin... through dozens of cities, several states, a few countries, and all continents... in one day! We left at noon, was back before midnight. Nearing the end of the book I found myself gasping, trying to utter, "what

RYCJ OEBooks Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-59851401603306914612011-03-04T20:40:00.006-05:002011-03-04T20:48:51.730-05:00

Crawling: A Father's First Year by Elisha Cooper This daddy’s first year sags nowhere, neither in the beginning, the middle, nor at the end of his first year. Candor is his virtue, and bravery too, leaving not one page where I wasn’t taken by the humor and assiduous metaphors. My favorite parts were Zoe’s birth — he’d call 911 but was already in the hospital… the Sportscenter & the Beastie Boy

RYCJ OEBooks Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-53910120868891112052011-02-27T19:18:00.004-05:002011-03-12T22:16:49.031-05:00

Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker by Marla Martenson Part way through reading I had to laugh at myself after re-examining the cover and synopsis of Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker. Marla says nothing about providing *insight* on matchmaking, though it was what I mostly expected. It was all in my imaginings however. She delivers EXACTLY what the back cover promises, and one big unplugged

RYCJ OEBooks Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-43743608450840774712011-02-21T16:02:00.007-05:002011-02-27T19:30:57.614-05:00

Painted Picture by Sheila Peele-Miller Painted Picture is a story that on the surface might seem to echo many (pictorials) that have come before it, and undoubtedly will come after it. Against her family's wishes Alicia leaves home with a man who is about as foreign to her as her definition of `in love', to run up against an awakening that opens her eyes and plants her mother's warnings deep in

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Covert Youth Agency C.Y.A. by Jason Ancona C.Y.A. reads like a very conscientious debut YA novel written to squash any improprieties. There's the central plot, C.Y.A. trying to find out if Jack the jock has done the naughty (cheated on his girlfriend), alongside a tangle of conforming attractions (parents, teachers, and other cliques), which together spins this novel into a pleasant, often

RYCJ OEBooks Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-86763756246524111842011-02-13T16:59:00.003-05:002011-02-17T00:10:13.461-05:00

My Desperate Love Diary by Liz Rettig …And a desperate love diary this is. The humor and sarcasm was quite entertaining, as were the many (too numerous) laugh out loud moments. As the love diary heads to the middle of the book (Kelly Ann quantifying why the guy she is madly in love with is dodging her), the theme and sarcasms thins and wears a bit. The irony however is, I’m trapped and wrapped

RYCJ OEBooks Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-82176394920701077572011-01-01T04:41:00.002-05:002011-02-17T00:07:44.905-05:00

Messalina; Devourer of Men by Zetta Brown The Messalina comes to terms with her sensuality spiraling from a culmination of events that ‘seemed’ predictable, but to the contrary turned out to be quite uncanny, and quite fascinating. I really appreciated how Evie addressed her parents as her life was spiraling out of control. And the little assistant, Neil, I found myself pulled in two ways

RYCJ OEBooks Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-83395477507004299122010-12-18T16:36:00.006-05:002011-02-27T19:38:51.564-05:00

RYCJs Most Memorable 2010 Reads It was difficult, very difficult, but I managed to pull together a top ten list of the most memorable books I’ve read and reviewed this year. This list must be counted among the cream of the crop because I only write about those books striking a profound chord in me. You will not be steered wrong if you decide to read one. Note: Next year (2011) will go just a

RYCJ OEBooks Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-37254767170376638272010-11-21T01:10:00.005-05:002011-02-13T16:32:05.412-05:00

Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick Looked at the cover and opened the book thinking I was going to be walking miles and miles through an ominous canvas wearing shoes of ordinary lives. I was so sure of it…when the first little light snapped on. It was the mention of Confucius, a philosopher whose quotes always made sense to me. According to the way I read the text,

RYCJ OEBooks Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-40327276318705802792010-11-06T00:22:00.001-04:002011-02-13T16:32:59.994-05:00

The Kitchen Sink Papersby Mike McGrady I really enjoyed The Kitchen Sink Papers. It wasn't a big book, yet I dined on it all week. It's been a long time coming across a read as humorous; a read that has helped me finally identify to a sobering default what separates writers from those who've written a book. Writers (like McGrady) can spin a tying shoelace diary into a laced up boot page-turner.

RYCJ OEBooks Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-73244771834548225472010-10-31T17:20:00.003-04:002011-02-13T16:59:42.976-05:00

Brother, I'm Dying by Edwidge Danticat Brother I’m Dying is an impressive memoir paying homage to two admirable men. The devotion Edwidge imparts presenting the life and death of her uncle and father is well done. I became most fond of her voice early on, really appreciating the intermittent storytelling. The connotations behind ‘We’re All Dying’ and ‘The Angel of Death and Father God’ were most

RYCJ OEBooks Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-59739506298978495532010-10-23T11:07:00.001-04:002011-02-13T16:33:26.785-05:00

The Sitting Swing by Irene Watson This is a deeply personal & powerful memoir of a woman seeking to answer a question buried deep inside the most sacred question ever asked. I must admit however, initially it took a good minute to get into The Sitting Swing. I found myself asking the very question Irene herself was asking. What did she want? – Followed by wanting to know if she had done something

RYCJ OEBooks Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-33283186378001244562010-10-22T00:30:00.005-04:002010-10-23T11:08:23.092-04:00

Family Matters and More: Stories of My Life in Soviet Russia by Sol Tetelbaum Solomon delivered what he promised, stories that made me laugh and cry as he personified (for me) in a melodic tune how “every cloud has a silver lining.” At times, while reading the book I wished I knew Russian. Though humorously told in English, I imaged how Russian humor translated. Maybe as humorous as Solomon’s

RYCJ OEBooks Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-45161914916492914022010-08-24T14:35:00.004-04:002010-10-23T11:08:43.904-04:00

Soul On Iceby Eldridge Cleaver At first I was thinking, ‘now wait a minute…’ wanting to start out calling this one ‘The Rage Within’, when Mr. Cleaver’s wordsmith abilities start pulling me in. There’s a lot of everything going on inside Soul On Ice, by the way, appropriately titled. There’s the rage, and outrage. Cleaver is just as enraged with himself, as he is outraged by political dealings

RYCJ OEBooks Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-50784515467401511052010-08-24T13:31:00.002-04:002010-08-24T15:49:06.882-04:00

The Life and Laughs of an At-Home Momby Chris Liefer Spiritually grounded, pleasant, and adorably humorous, Chris has earned my favor to wear the crown "Professional wife and mom! " Any which way a term can be construed she's a team player, she's supportive, nurturing, and laughing out-loud hysterically, she's the Jack-of-All-Trades too. That was one of my favorites... her being the banker, the

RYCJ OEBooks Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-63984945710338960722010-08-14T19:08:00.017-04:002010-11-06T00:55:39.324-04:00

Although I've devoured every book reviewed, particularly those on Amazon, when I close my eyes and think back, these are the books that have rocked my core. They have shifted my center and applied another dimension to the world I see… I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings… and man-o-man do I ever! "typically when I first started visiting the library I avoided venturing by shelves where I readily

RYCJ OEBooks Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-40337252954245073862010-08-09T21:06:00.002-04:002010-08-14T20:32:02.456-04:00

Life is Not a Fairy Tale by Fantasia Having never seen one American Idol episode, though I've heard of Fantasia, is what made her memoir a pleasure to read, particularly the section on how she came to American Idol, and how she sang her way into the number one spot. Good God this section carries a spiritual note, like nothing I've ever read. The grandmother, and her mother, the friend Tory, and

RYCJ OEBooks Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-41860074210176126672010-08-03T22:22:00.006-04:002010-08-14T20:32:38.459-04:00

Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 by Marcus Luttrell Lone Survivor's no nonsense tone, from the start, was one I came to appreciate. Long before the thick of the book Luttrell took his time detailing what attracted him to the SEALs, and how he handled the rigorous training. Very, very well done. Ordinarily an opening like this may have

RYCJ OEBooks Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-19705363001660035792010-07-14T22:09:00.011-04:002010-08-14T20:31:08.991-04:00

Pieces from Life's Crazy Quilt  by Marvin V. Arnett This memoir reminds me of stories my great grandmother used to share. The only difference is Marvin's account has been preserved. In a delicate voice, almost too soothing at first, before I knew it, it had swept me inside a community of mores that today is but a shell of a distant memory. There were the beverage of terms and terminologies

RYCJ OEBooks Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-63686601058493873592010-06-26T20:31:00.007-04:002010-08-03T23:01:44.133-04:00

Foxy: My Life in Three Acts by Pam Grier I was looking for one thing, and one thing only. Where did the passion in the characters Foxy Brown & Jackie Brown come from!?! In other words, who 'really' is Pam Grier? I was hesitant at first... you know, waiting for the lid to snap off... when I got to Donatello and from there just watched Foxy go! _ Good Gosh, this here is the makings of one deft

RYCJ OEBooks Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-89058590012420263942010-06-05T03:53:00.009-04:002010-08-03T22:57:01.419-04:00

My Times in Black and White: Race and Power at the New York Times by Gerald M. Boyd Difficult to put down. From the beginning I couldn't help but imagine moving like a tennis PRO, watching balls coming at me left and right, from dozens of opponents playing me at once. Yes, it felt like a frenzied tennis match, as one of the balls coming at me was black, though it wasn't the ball I kept the

RYCJ OEBooks Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-66228133798240997522010-05-16T18:18:00.004-04:002010-08-14T20:29:21.724-04:00

When We Were Colored: A Mother's Story by Eva Rutland Bathe `em, feed `em, make `em behave...that's it! Advice none to shun coming from a "down-to-earth mama" telling in sophisticated fashion the fears, joys, and concerns of any mother, in any day. Eva had me so wrapped around her observations of motherhood I couldn't find a place to put my bookmark. Hardly expected to be assuaged with as many

RYCJ OEBooks Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-38024570241974568612010-05-16T18:08:00.005-04:002010-06-29T22:56:08.832-04:00

Gal: A True Life by Ruthie Bolton It felt as if I was right in the room listening to Ruthie tell her story. Heartbreaking, horrid, painful memories... my deepest reflection being Ruthie's aversion to watching Roots as Gal, itself, took me back to the Color Purple... and I mean right back to the Color Purple! Reading Gal might make some turn pages so hard that pages rip from the book. The first

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Maybe You Never Cry Again by Pablo F. Fenjves ...I couldn't put the book down!!! Anyone looking for pearls of wisdom, and I mean there are some rugged blue mother oysters of wisdom in this one, but 'Maybe You Never Cry Again' will give it to you straighter and realer than a stand-up routine of any length could ever tell. A well put-together memoir from start to finish. The reading is not only

RYCJ OEBooks Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-27174531528195235502010-02-18T23:01:00.005-05:002010-06-29T23:01:44.032-04:00

Hope's Boy: A Memoir by Andrew Bridge What a truly valuable, praiseworthy memoir. Loved the title. The story is impressively detailed and passionately written. The attention Andy dedicates to recalling the people coloring his memory stand out. The love he held out for his mother and her return I as well admire and respect. So of course their meeting (Andy & Hope in the final chapter) moved me

RYCJ OEBooks Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-24841189009389261262010-01-16T19:54:00.005-05:002010-06-29T23:06:04.665-04:00

I'm Down: A Memoir by Mishna Wolff Spotted the cover (how could it be missed!?!) and right to the shopping cart this one went! Got home, opened the book, and `straight up' took to the humor. What other way does one parlay "she was shy, uncool, and painfully white" up against "too black to fit in with her white classmates"? The best way to invest in this very painful observation is to stroke it

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