Among the thousands of cases the Supreme Court has decided, only a handful of dissenting opinions stand out. There is Justice John Marshall Harlan’s solitary dissent in Plessy v. Ferguson, the 1896 decision upholding the doctrine of “separate but equal.” “All citizens are equal before the law,” Harlan objected. “There is in this country no […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2022/10/06/breaking-the-promise-of-brown-stephen-breyer/
Liang Village sits on the edge of the North China Plain, about 650 miles south of Beijing. The area was settled by migrants who came in waves throughout Chinese history, attracted by the fertile soil in what was traditionally one of the country’s breadbaskets. But its economic promise faded a long time ago. The brickworks […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2022/10/06/china-in-one-village-liang-hong/
Keiron Pim’s absorbing biography of one of the twentieth century’s most powerful and disquieting writers begins with a description of Joseph Roth’s birthplace, a small town called Brody, now in western Ukraine. A footnote observes that “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine occurred as this book was being prepared to go to print…. Descriptions of buildings and […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2022/10/06/poet-of-the-dispossessed-endless-flight-joseph-roth/
Around ten years ago, the British writer Andrew Miller found himself in something of a crisis. Until then, his career had been a pretty gilded one. His first novel, Ingenious Pain (1997), set in the eighteenth century, won the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award—worth €100,000—from a shortlist that included Haruki Murakami’s The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2022/10/06/doomed-to-lucidity-slowworms-song-andrew-miller/
In our September 22, 2022, issue, Eric Foner reviews Donald Yacovone’s Teaching White Supremacy, an account of history education in America that examines textbooks published between the early nineteenth century and the 1980s. Over the centuries, Yacovone writes, in the United States racism and pedagogy have gone hand in hand. Both subjects are familiar to […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/daily/2022/09/17/light-under-bushel-eric-foner/
Welcome to the Twelfth Annual Thankful for Books Giveaway Hop Event*. We invite bloggers and authors to join the fun! It will be a great way to discover new blogs and to celebrate our love of books! The hosts for this year’s event are Caffeinated Reviewer and Reading Reality.
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Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2022/09/thankful-for-books-giveaway-hop-sign-up-2.html
Krystal Winkle and the Peacemaker of Kigali follows a little girl who moves to Africa and faces danger as she fights injustice and tries to find out who she really is. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
The inspiration for this story: Firstly, for my birthday years ago, my husband and I traveled to Africa, trekked into the Virunga Volcanoes Park of Rwanda, and visited a large family of Mountain Gorillas. Seeing these majestic animals in their natural environment impacted me. My hope is that through Krystal’s eyes, I can shed light on how important it is that we protect them and their habitat. The research that Dian Fossey did there so many years ago is invaluable. Today, with the help of researchers, animal activists, conservationists, tourism, and the people of Rwanda, the future of the wild Mountain Gorillas is bright. Second, my hope is that Krystal can inspire young people to feel confident about who they really are because it’s empowering.
Krystal Winkle is an intriguing and well developed character. What were some driving ideals behind her character’s development?
I hope to empower young people to embrace who they are, tap into their inner core of what makes them tick, be independent adults and achieve what motivates them. William Shakespeare said it best: “It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.”
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Strong friendships, loyalty to yourself and others, self-reliance, never give up, determination, seek happiness.
Do you have more books planned that feature Krystal Winkle?
Yes! Krystal Winkle and Galloping Giuseppe comes out at 2022/2023. This story features a Lipizzaner, a rare horse that nearly went extinct at the end of WWII because they made such a great war horse. General George Patton is one of a few credited for saving this amazing species. Today, Lipizzaner’s are on the domesticated endangered list. My goal is to create an entire series by taking my readers around the world. Through fantasy adventure, I hope to expose my reader to a place they’ve never been while bringing awareness to a special animal that Krystal befriends.
Author Website: krystalwinkle.com
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/09/17/i-hope-to-empower-young-people/
Traveling Companions follows three villagers that are left alone after the destruction of their homes from a mudslide, together they must find a way to down the mountain alone. What was the inspiration for your story?
I often write about even extreme difficulties and challenges faced by individuals and the interaction between people in such situations. The background of the events can be a disaster affecting the wider community – sometimes even the entire society.
The main reason for this book and the entire Survival Stories Series is the tragedies that Nepalese people faced in the massive 2015 earthquake. It was by no means a single event but a whole series of difficulties that still exist and are reflected in life. Many new things had to be built and the old repaired – which applies to emotional damage in addition to material things.
Naturally, I followed the flow of news related to the events, but I felt very powerless in the face of this great distress. The catastrophe was experienced on the other side of the globe, where I had not even been to myself. However, I have friends who are familiar with the places or live in Nepal. They emphasized the importance of children’s literature in a situation like this. They made me see that I have this particular way of making an impact, even a modest one.
I loved how you showcased that everyone has value and can contribute in this story. What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The book’s title – Traveling Companions – expresses the idea that we humans are together on all our life journeys. It is wisest for us to support each other in every way. That makes us stronger and helps us achieve better results.
It is important that we see the value of other people and respect them for who they are. Everyone has their weaknesses and their strengths. The best overall result is achieved when these different characteristics are considered.
To emphasize this, I have included three very different people in the story. Each of them is deficient in some respect. My message is that they are all valuable in their own right. When the special skills or characteristics of each of us are combined, the end result is greater than the sum of its parts.
The story also emphasizes the value of both childhood and old age ¬– as well as using strength for the benefit of others. The child can see with his clear eyes. The older man can share his knowledge of medical assistance and help find the way to the valley. The strong but blind man can use his strength with the help of others.
All the traveling companions in real life, too, need each other!
Do you like audiobooks, physical books, or e-books better? Why?
There were only physical books in my childhood, so they are naturally the most familiar to me. Even as a writer, at first, it was my ultimate wish to succeed in creating a beautiful paper book with valuable content. I imagined as many children as possible holding them in their hands and enjoying the illustrations and stories in peace, in a place of their choice.
I have read countless paper books to my children and later to my grandchildren. My bookshelves are still full of our favorite children’s books. There is nothing better than a peaceful moment you can offer the child in your arms by reading a good book together.
Technology has increased the possibilities of enjoying literature in many new ways. I approach all options with an open mind. The most important thing is the reader’s opportunity to choose the most suitable way to enjoy good literature. My own stories have also been published in all possible formats. I believe they all have their place.
In the end, the most important thing is always the quality of the content produced and a meaningful message. Good is good, even when served in different ways.
What other books are you working on in the survival series and when will they be available?
The Survival Series already has three books: Traveling Companions, Saved from the Flames, and The Owl and the Shepherd Boy. They all have strong illustrations by Catty Flores, which I think fits well with the dramatic events of the books. The style also leaves room for the reader’s thoughts, and it is possible to place the events in a wide area.
I consider it possible that there will be sequels to the series. The world is full of events and situations where you need to believe in the possibility of survival, even if everything seems impossible.
As a mother and a children’s author, my thoughts turn to children whenever there are various challenging events – such as natural disasters, accidents, or wars. Of course, it is difficult to improve the world and help even in small matters by just writing children’s books. Even so, I still see some ways to make a difference.
Writing survival stories is all about sharing experiences and putting yourself in the shoes of others. I have a unique opportunity to influence readers’ attitudes, as I can share information about things that would otherwise remain unknown. I can also increase readers’ empathy towards the suffering of others and make them ready to help.
The importance of books like these increases, particularly in complex and extensive problem situations. Good stories can make the events more understandable. The sense of community can then cross not only geographical boundaries but also cultural boundaries.
Author Links: Facebook | Website
After devastation caused by a landslide, the people of a small mountain village are forced to leave their ruined homes and embark on a difficult journey towards the valley.
However, an unlikely trio has to stay behind and wait for help. The rope-maker’s son, Tony, has injured his leg; the oldest of the village is weakened by his age; and the blind blacksmith is not likely to make the difficult trek down. They are anxiously waiting to be rescued, but they are running out of options.
Even though the odds are against them, the three companions gather their courage and set out. On this dangerous journey, they rely on each other and share the little they have left.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/09/17/survival-stories-series/
Taiwan Butterfly follows a British missionary who comes into possession of a powerful Tibetan grimoire called ‘The Book of the Butterfly’. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
Taiwan Butterfly is the second installment of a series I am writing called The Book of The Butterfly. The prequel will be released later, which details the adventures of the main character Jonathan Woods and his travels around Asia as he searches for occult material. Something Jonathan has been obsessed about since a teenager. The beginning of Taiwan Butterfly picks up from the ending of the first novel ‘Book of the Butterfly.’ I released the second book first, ‘Taiwan Butterfly’ because it deals with death and resurrection. I am an English teacher and recently had a young twelve-year-old private English student of mine pass away from a childhood stroke. She had been my student since she was five years old. So I released Taiwan Butterfly first as a tribute to her and with a wish that it could be true.
Jonathan Woods is an interesting character that was fun to follow. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Jonathan Woods is a composite character formed from Indiana Jones, Merlin, and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Three of my favorite fictional characters. All I had to do then was imagine what such a character would be like and do.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The death of someone we love and how it affects our belief in life was what I wanted to explore. I wanted to say that life is precious, and we should cherish it. Too many books and entertainment glorify death and the killing of people for fun or without hesitation. I find it very sad that people disrespect life so much. We are only here once on this earth. We will never be here again. Respect life and love it while you can. That’s what Taiwan Butterfly is about.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m multi-tasking on that one! I am writing four books at the same time. First to be released will be a gothic-horror story called ‘Formosan Vampire’ in mid-July 2023. The second will be a political thriller called ‘The Illuminati’ regarding a secret world order that has been controlling everything happening in the world, both good and bad. The third will be the prequel to ‘Taiwan Butterfly’. And the fourth is a sci-fi epic called ‘Conquest of our Forefathers’ about an ancient alien race that created an experimental lifeform and placed it on planet Earth to see what would happen. The human race is that experiment! Then, after a break, I will write the prequel to ‘Legend Blade’, my first novel that was published in 2021.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/09/17/taiwan-butterfly-2/
Escaping the Future is an exciting science fiction adventure that focuses on the triumphs and challenges of a group of heroes, with unexpected plot twists throughout the story. The book drew me in from the beginning, with a fast-paced narrative that engages the reader with a deeply complex world of fate and a chilling but striking future entrenched in battles and advanced technology. The characters must face their inner demons while taking on the challenges of an ever-changing society. It’s a story where richly-developed characters keep the reader interested, whether it’s Tate’s brash attitude to Sophia’s reluctance to take sides, Nic’s self-blame, or Zoe’s fear of being an outsider.
It’s not often that I read a book that is so perfectly balanced between the immensity of its setting and the dynamic relationship between a close group of friends. As the four unexpected heroes take center stage and grow as their adventure continues, they face many obstacles, including devasting setbacks, deadly adversity, and a dire final battle that elevates this science fiction tale.
I found the author has an exceptional storytelling ability. The story initially centers around Nic Walker, a boy of twelve, who faces his worst fear, which is moving away from his best friends. As he rushes to spend the precious time he has left with his friend Tate, a major aviation fan, savvy Sophia, and Zoe, they become unexpectedly involved in a lively adventure where they risk everything to save the future of earth from a truly nightmarish fate.
This book is an excellent coming-of-age story that combines the everyday challenges of kids aged twelve and up with the excitement of science fiction and futuristic elements. I recommend Escaping the Future for its fantastic narration, engaging storyline, and strong characters.
Pages: 299 | ASIN: B0B52DWYNG
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/09/17/escaping-the-future/