February The Fifth, by Derek Haines
February The Fifth, is the first book I have read by Derek Haines. It was an easy read with slight touches of science fiction and comedy throughout. There was no shortage of characters, some of whom the reader would most definitely relate to thereby making the book more enjoyable.
I think young adults would be the target audience for Derek’s book. The learning curve for the characters unexpected responsibility and out of this world (literally) adventures would be enjoyed most by middle-school age children. I can picture the variety of favorite characters and the childrens' reasoning for their choices as a productive writing project. The book is rich with description for both characters and places that would undoubtedly spark children to improve their writing skills. What a great compliment to an author!
As an adult and aspiring writer, I was greatly impressed with the ending. Derek’s words in his last paragraph, his last two sentences, could not have been written more perfectly to end this entertaining story.
The most loyal of loyal readers.
The Very End
Book review by Mary Crocco
www.mrc-bookreviewer.blogspot.com
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Long Way Home, by Bill Barich
Long Way Home, by Bill Barich
A quick and easy read
Long Way Home, by Bill Barich, left me wondering if the book would be more entertaining if written at a different time in history. The idea for his cross-country journey was sparked when Barich unexpectedly came across the book, Travels in Ireland. He decided to return to the U.S. and chronicle his journey while talking with Americans about the state of the country, much like John Steinbeck’s, Travels with Charley.
Barich is critical of some small town Americans. He seems to take too much pleasure in writing about the shortfalls of those he interviewed. On the other hand, he does highlight other Americans and shares their positive stories and views, also taking pleasure in his research.
I thought there would be more thought provoking stories in the book. I find it difficult to review because there was not much substance to it. When I finished reading it, I have nothing to think about it. I find that undesirable.
I would recommend the book for a quick read if you had no other book available. It is an okay read, but not very stimulating.
Book Review by Mary Crocco
m.crocco@yahoo.com
A quick and easy read
Long Way Home, by Bill Barich, left me wondering if the book would be more entertaining if written at a different time in history. The idea for his cross-country journey was sparked when Barich unexpectedly came across the book, Travels in Ireland. He decided to return to the U.S. and chronicle his journey while talking with Americans about the state of the country, much like John Steinbeck’s, Travels with Charley.
Barich is critical of some small town Americans. He seems to take too much pleasure in writing about the shortfalls of those he interviewed. On the other hand, he does highlight other Americans and shares their positive stories and views, also taking pleasure in his research.
I thought there would be more thought provoking stories in the book. I find it difficult to review because there was not much substance to it. When I finished reading it, I have nothing to think about it. I find that undesirable.
I would recommend the book for a quick read if you had no other book available. It is an okay read, but not very stimulating.
Book Review by Mary Crocco
m.crocco@yahoo.com
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
On Hallowed Ground, by Robert M. Poole
Every page an inspiration
On Hallowed Ground, by Robert M. Poole, bestows upon readers deep emotions and realizations that will be ingrained forever. Poole begins with informing readers of the history of Arlington National Cemetery: Robert E. Lee owned Arlington, Virginia’s plantation during the Civil War. Even if one is versed in this era of history, something new is learned in every chapter. For example: the year Taps became official, appearing in the U.S. Army Infantry Drill Regulations in 1891.
Not all the history of Arlington makes us proud. Poole tells many stories from the Civil War to present day. The reader needs to keep in mind the time frame to empathize with decisions made. Poole is thorough and the facts complete the reader’s prior knowledge.
Poole states there are more than 300,000 bodies buried at Arlington. Millions of visitors have experienced the ceremonies conducted on the grounds over time. Even if one has not personally lost a loved one in a war, the visit is emotionally draining. Pondering over those who sacrificed their lives for our freedoms, while standing on the sacred grounds of Arlington National Cemetery, is what Poole describes with such inspirational storytelling expertise.
I recommend this book for every American. I think young adults would benefit from a parent reading it to them. I feel obligated to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. I did not feel as strongly about making this trip before reading On Hallowed Ground. Robert. M. Poole has heightened my awareness to experience this in my lifetime with hopes Arlington will never run out of space.
Book review by Mary Crocco
m.crocco@yahoo.com
On Hallowed Ground, by Robert M. Poole, bestows upon readers deep emotions and realizations that will be ingrained forever. Poole begins with informing readers of the history of Arlington National Cemetery: Robert E. Lee owned Arlington, Virginia’s plantation during the Civil War. Even if one is versed in this era of history, something new is learned in every chapter. For example: the year Taps became official, appearing in the U.S. Army Infantry Drill Regulations in 1891.
Not all the history of Arlington makes us proud. Poole tells many stories from the Civil War to present day. The reader needs to keep in mind the time frame to empathize with decisions made. Poole is thorough and the facts complete the reader’s prior knowledge.
Poole states there are more than 300,000 bodies buried at Arlington. Millions of visitors have experienced the ceremonies conducted on the grounds over time. Even if one has not personally lost a loved one in a war, the visit is emotionally draining. Pondering over those who sacrificed their lives for our freedoms, while standing on the sacred grounds of Arlington National Cemetery, is what Poole describes with such inspirational storytelling expertise.
I recommend this book for every American. I think young adults would benefit from a parent reading it to them. I feel obligated to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. I did not feel as strongly about making this trip before reading On Hallowed Ground. Robert. M. Poole has heightened my awareness to experience this in my lifetime with hopes Arlington will never run out of space.
Book review by Mary Crocco
m.crocco@yahoo.com
The Power Based Life, by Mike Flynt
Run of the Mill
The Power Based Life, by Mike Flynt, is a self-help book with a spiritual twist. Flynt writes to an audience who would appreciate sport analogies to realize one’s real life goals and dreams. He is a strength training coach and writes about twelve ‘power based’ strategies to strengthen one’s body, mind, and spirit using a fitness guide. He incorporates Biblical verses to reinforce his strategies.
The book seems to be of most value as a first self-help book for someone needing guidance physically, mentally, and spiritually. As for the avid reader, it does not contain any new information or ‘a-ha’ moments. For example, most know to ‘play to one’s strengths, strive for a positive attitude, and change one’s adversities to work for us vs. against us.’ The book just adds a Biblical verse to these ‘power bases’ for the reader.
I would recommend this book to a younger audience who may not have read self-help books before and who enjoys sport analogies. It certainly is not a bad book, just another run of the mill book for realizing one’s life goals and dreams.
I am a member of BookSneeze.com
www.booksneeze.com
Book Review by Mary Crocco
m.crocco@yahoo.com
The Power Based Life, by Mike Flynt, is a self-help book with a spiritual twist. Flynt writes to an audience who would appreciate sport analogies to realize one’s real life goals and dreams. He is a strength training coach and writes about twelve ‘power based’ strategies to strengthen one’s body, mind, and spirit using a fitness guide. He incorporates Biblical verses to reinforce his strategies.
The book seems to be of most value as a first self-help book for someone needing guidance physically, mentally, and spiritually. As for the avid reader, it does not contain any new information or ‘a-ha’ moments. For example, most know to ‘play to one’s strengths, strive for a positive attitude, and change one’s adversities to work for us vs. against us.’ The book just adds a Biblical verse to these ‘power bases’ for the reader.
I would recommend this book to a younger audience who may not have read self-help books before and who enjoys sport analogies. It certainly is not a bad book, just another run of the mill book for realizing one’s life goals and dreams.
I am a member of BookSneeze.com
www.booksneeze.com
Book Review by Mary Crocco
m.crocco@yahoo.com
Monday, November 22, 2010
The American Patriot's Almanac
The American Patriot’s Almanac, by William J. Bennett and John T.E. Cribb
The American Patriot’s Almanac is both an academic resource and a story book. Bennett and Cribb have given Americans a beautifully written keepsake of mementos reminding us why we should be proud to be Americans.
The book is divided into months of the year. Each month tells a different story of America, for example: starting in January with the Flags of the Revolutionary War, continuing in June it includes the Declaration of Independence, and ending in December with State Flags, Facts, and Symbols.
No historical event or document is missing. The book reinforces well known facts, and then introduces unknown information that surprises readers. This makes the book interesting and fun for all ages.
As a former middle school history teacher, I would recommend The American Patriot’s Almanac as a classroom resource. If only textbooks were presented to students in this format, students would be enticed to study American history.
I also recommend this Almanac for every home in America. The format enables a family to easily read the monthly entries on daily basis. What an exciting way to promote the American Patriot in us all.
I am a member of BookSneeze.com
www.bookSneeze.com
Book review by Mary Crocco
www.m.crocco@yahoo.com
The American Patriot’s Almanac is both an academic resource and a story book. Bennett and Cribb have given Americans a beautifully written keepsake of mementos reminding us why we should be proud to be Americans.
The book is divided into months of the year. Each month tells a different story of America, for example: starting in January with the Flags of the Revolutionary War, continuing in June it includes the Declaration of Independence, and ending in December with State Flags, Facts, and Symbols.
No historical event or document is missing. The book reinforces well known facts, and then introduces unknown information that surprises readers. This makes the book interesting and fun for all ages.
As a former middle school history teacher, I would recommend The American Patriot’s Almanac as a classroom resource. If only textbooks were presented to students in this format, students would be enticed to study American history.
I also recommend this Almanac for every home in America. The format enables a family to easily read the monthly entries on daily basis. What an exciting way to promote the American Patriot in us all.
I am a member of BookSneeze.com
www.bookSneeze.com
Book review by Mary Crocco
www.m.crocco@yahoo.com
Monday, October 18, 2010
Lee, A Life of Virtue
Title: Lee, A life of Virtue, by John Perry
Many books written about Robert E. Lee are on bookshelves across America. Lee, A Life of Virtue, by John Perry, is geared toward a young audience. Teachers would do justice to middle school students by assigning John Perry’s book as part of the curriculum when studying the Civil War. Parents who enrich their children’s school work at home may consider purchasing this book.
Perry described Lee, a major general, with role model potential: a diligent, honest student. Readers will understand Lee’s attributes: leadership qualities, determination to get the job done, and responsibility for his actions.
People respected and admired Lee, without fearing him. He brought the best out of his soldiers by being humble, even sharing their deplorable living conditions during the Civil War.
In his book, Perry balances Lee’s virtues by including his flaws: he was too trusting and not forceful enough. This may have cost him defeat in certain battles. Perry describes the battles Lee won and lost, stating probable reasons why. He points out, ‘Lee never pointed a finger, never blamed anyone but himself.’
Lee, A Life of Virtue, is an easy, quick read for students and adults. I recommend the book to be on school and home bookshelves across America.
I am a member of BookSneeze.com
www.booksneeze.com
Book review by Mary Crocco
m.crocco@yahoo.com
Many books written about Robert E. Lee are on bookshelves across America. Lee, A Life of Virtue, by John Perry, is geared toward a young audience. Teachers would do justice to middle school students by assigning John Perry’s book as part of the curriculum when studying the Civil War. Parents who enrich their children’s school work at home may consider purchasing this book.
Perry described Lee, a major general, with role model potential: a diligent, honest student. Readers will understand Lee’s attributes: leadership qualities, determination to get the job done, and responsibility for his actions.
People respected and admired Lee, without fearing him. He brought the best out of his soldiers by being humble, even sharing their deplorable living conditions during the Civil War.
In his book, Perry balances Lee’s virtues by including his flaws: he was too trusting and not forceful enough. This may have cost him defeat in certain battles. Perry describes the battles Lee won and lost, stating probable reasons why. He points out, ‘Lee never pointed a finger, never blamed anyone but himself.’
Lee, A Life of Virtue, is an easy, quick read for students and adults. I recommend the book to be on school and home bookshelves across America.
I am a member of BookSneeze.com
www.booksneeze.com
Book review by Mary Crocco
m.crocco@yahoo.com
Monday, August 16, 2010
Same Kind of Different as Me
Same Kind of Different As me, by Ron Hall and Denver Moore
Over the Top
Same Kind of Different as Me is a true story about Denver Moore. He was a victim of slavery in the mid 20th century. He escaped on his own and was taken under Deborah Hall’s wings to overcome poverty and homelessness. Miss Debbie, as Denver called her, was a religious, spiritual zealot who helped the homeless. Ron Hall was Deborah’s phony husband who was ‘coaxed’ by his wife to do nice things for the homeless. He complied only after his affair was exposed. Throughout the book, the reader is supposed to grow to like Ron, but it did not work for me. He may have learned to be less judgmental and prejudice, but he remains to be an egotistical jerk in my opinion.
The book is based on Denver Moore’s life, but there is an excessive amount of over the top preachy religious and spiritual nonsense. For example: God talking through Denver, a voodoo rain making aunt, Deborah blaming herself that Ron strayed into the arms of another woman and then to top it off, on her death bed she tells him she has her permission for him to go back to her when she dies. These are just a few.
I think the book should have been written exclusively by Denver Moore. We could have learned more historical facts that would have been enlightening rather than the nonsense we had to endure reading about Ron. Still not sure how Ron got invited to former President Bush's inaugural address! One can assume, but the author just threw that in out of nowhere, which validates my opinion of Ron.
For the very religious, there were words and phrases of godly wisdom that will do your heart good. But when we have to read through Miss Debbie’s gruesome and tortuous two years of dying, it had me believing this was way too much suffering that should have been ended long before. I know I am supposed to come away with all the godly thoughts such as, it is in god’s hands, not ours, but this story had me thinking just the complete opposite.
I always try to acquire something positive from any book I read, whether I enjoy it or not. With that being said, I liked the history Denver related to his readers, but there should have been more. A pearl to realize is that some people can improve their lives when given a chance. We all know this to be true, but I just don’t see or hear of many Deborah Halls in this world. She was an over the top extremist, even Denver realized that.
I would only recommend this book to the very religious and spiritual who could relate to the extreme views and feelings of Miss Debbie and Denver Moore. The book left me with mixed feelings, mostly about Ron Hall, and mostly negative. I was not left with pondering thoughts, but with distaste.
I am a member of BookSneeze.com
www.bookSneeze.com
Book Review by Mary Crocco
m.crocco@yahoo.com
Over the Top
Same Kind of Different as Me is a true story about Denver Moore. He was a victim of slavery in the mid 20th century. He escaped on his own and was taken under Deborah Hall’s wings to overcome poverty and homelessness. Miss Debbie, as Denver called her, was a religious, spiritual zealot who helped the homeless. Ron Hall was Deborah’s phony husband who was ‘coaxed’ by his wife to do nice things for the homeless. He complied only after his affair was exposed. Throughout the book, the reader is supposed to grow to like Ron, but it did not work for me. He may have learned to be less judgmental and prejudice, but he remains to be an egotistical jerk in my opinion.
The book is based on Denver Moore’s life, but there is an excessive amount of over the top preachy religious and spiritual nonsense. For example: God talking through Denver, a voodoo rain making aunt, Deborah blaming herself that Ron strayed into the arms of another woman and then to top it off, on her death bed she tells him she has her permission for him to go back to her when she dies. These are just a few.
I think the book should have been written exclusively by Denver Moore. We could have learned more historical facts that would have been enlightening rather than the nonsense we had to endure reading about Ron. Still not sure how Ron got invited to former President Bush's inaugural address! One can assume, but the author just threw that in out of nowhere, which validates my opinion of Ron.
For the very religious, there were words and phrases of godly wisdom that will do your heart good. But when we have to read through Miss Debbie’s gruesome and tortuous two years of dying, it had me believing this was way too much suffering that should have been ended long before. I know I am supposed to come away with all the godly thoughts such as, it is in god’s hands, not ours, but this story had me thinking just the complete opposite.
I always try to acquire something positive from any book I read, whether I enjoy it or not. With that being said, I liked the history Denver related to his readers, but there should have been more. A pearl to realize is that some people can improve their lives when given a chance. We all know this to be true, but I just don’t see or hear of many Deborah Halls in this world. She was an over the top extremist, even Denver realized that.
I would only recommend this book to the very religious and spiritual who could relate to the extreme views and feelings of Miss Debbie and Denver Moore. The book left me with mixed feelings, mostly about Ron Hall, and mostly negative. I was not left with pondering thoughts, but with distaste.
I am a member of BookSneeze.com
www.bookSneeze.com
Book Review by Mary Crocco
m.crocco@yahoo.com
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