TV dinners: the sequel (more cookbooks inspired by hit TV shows and movies)
Original source: https://www.amazon.com/amazonbookreview/editorspicks.html?ref_=abr_widget_nav&theme=light
Decades ago, as communists and suspected communists were being blacklisted and debates spread over the future of American democracy, John Steinbeck wrote about his homeland in
Original source: https://www.npr.org/2022/10/28/1132163845/an-unearthed-john-steinbeck-column-probes-the-strength-of-u-s-democracy
Keri Blakinger, a reporter with The Marshall Project, received word this week that the Florida state prison system placed her book,
Original source: https://www.npr.org/2022/10/28/1131937439/keri-blakinger-florida-prisons-ban-memoir
The first season of HBO’s
spin-off ended with the beginning of a civil war. Here’s what to expect out of season 2.
Original source: https://www.npr.org/2022/10/28/1131922270/house-of-the-dragon-season-2
King talks about what terrified him as a child — and what frightens him as an adult. Peele talks about the fears that inspire his filmmaking.
Originally broadcast in 1992, 2013 and 2017.
Original source: https://www.npr.org/2022/10/28/1132221915/fresh-airs-halloween-special-with-horror-masters-stephen-king-and-jordan-peele
When Hilary Mantel died suddenly of a stroke on September 22, one of the most distinctive voices in fiction fell silent. Here is Thomas Cromwell in Wolf Hall (2009), peering at the baby who will grow up to be Elizabeth I: Ginger bristles poke from beneath her cap, and her eyes are vigilant; he has […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2022/11/24/hilary-mantel-1952-2022-jenny-uglow/
The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly or for a monthly wrap up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme
What a week. On Tuesday, I was enjoying a cuppa and watching NCIS when I heard a noise out back. The underground cable boxes and utilities for our block are in the corner of our property. Men were out there putting in underground cables. Whelp, my internet went out, so I went out there and asked if they were with my provider. They were with Cox. I let them know my cable was out, and they denied it was their doing. Pfft. So I had no internet until Friday and low and behold, they severed my line and four of my neighbors. Thankfully, CenturyLink fixed it. They have to come back to do more work because Cox cut the lines and they’ll need to be completely replaced. So, I am behind on reviews, work, etc. On the upside, I did a lot of reading this week, and I am now one book ahead for my Goodreads goal and blasted past my Audiobook Challenge goal. Gotta look at the bright side. Go Phillies! Stay Caffeinated.
Ghost 19 By Simone St. James (audio review) Twenty Three By Murray McDonald (audio review) The Midnight Club By Christopher Pike (audio review) Rosemary And Rue By Seanan McGuire (audio review) Deadbeat Druid By David R. Slayton (audio review) Before The Storm By Erik Carter (audio review)
Learn more:
Special thanks to Brilliant Audio & Tantor Audio
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Source
Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2022/10/sunday-post-548-the-dark-ages.html
Margaret’s Story follows a woman living in a nursing home and her dysfunctional family’s actions both in the past and present. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
The inspiration for writing Margaret’s Story came from the time when nursing facilities were being reported in the media as places in which aged people were placed and abandoned by their families.
Margaret endured giving up a child, a husband with bipolar disorder, and children in toxic relationships. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Just like many novelists, my stories are based on true stories I have encountered interwoven with a fictional overarching narrative.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I wanted to show the readers how mental illness can strike suddenly with resultant ramifications for the victim and his family and how surrendering a baby for adoption leaves an indelible mark on the birth mother.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
My next novel, Return to Portovenere was inspired by a visit I made to Portovenere in Cinque Terre, Italy. I and my son were so entranced by this magical place I knew there would be a novel ready to be written. The book is due for publication soon by Pharos Books.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Twitter | Website
A baby surrendered for adoption, the trauma of mental illness, a dysfunctional family. Can happiness be achieved or what fate awaits this ordinary woman called Margaret?
From an early age, Annette was encouraged to write and was awarded several prizes for English. A native of Sydney, Australia, she published a short story at the age of twelve. She remained passionate to her writing, but the demands of raising a family left no time to pursue her interest. Now retired, Annette has reignited her passion and written six books with the seventh nearing completion. Annette lives with her partner, Stephen, at Neutral Bay, a suburb on Sydney Harbour. She has two sons, Mark and Brett, two grandsons, Jaime and Flynn and a sister, Maree.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/30/based-on-true-stories/
The Billionaire’s Conspiracy follows a White House operative who is trying to figure out who is targeting secret agents and kidnapped his wife; he must figure out the answer to both before it is too late. Where did the idea for this novel come from?
The series is about a private intelligence organization named Unit 81. This entity exists to defend America against enemies both foreign and domestic. The agents of Unit 81, including the protagonist Janusz Soltani, are mostly former members of the US intelligence community.
Unit 81 was stood up because the former government officials were tired of how political correctness shackled the ability of federal agencies to fight the war on terror. Because Americans don’t want to offend anyone, there is a reluctance to discuss certain aspects of Middle Eastern culture, including the Islamic religion, truthfully. This was among the main reason that enabled the attacks against the Twin Towers and the Pentagon 21 years ago.
Furthermore, wars are a savage business that should not be fought in the first place. However, if a society decides to engage in war, it should not be sqeamish about using whatever tactics necessary (i.e. water borading or enhanced interrogations) to achieve its goals. That is no longer the case with the United States government, and thus the need for an organization such as Unit 81 that does what is necessary to win.
The idea for these stories comes from my own experiences in the US intelligence community and the politically correct induced paralysis I witnessed during the so called “war on terror.”
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
There is an interrogation scene in Chapter 39 of the book involving the creative use of ants and honey to force an enemy agent to cooperate. That scene involved lots of thought and imagination, but it is by far the funniest part of the book in my opinion.
What experience in your life has had the biggest impact on your writing?
As mentioned earlier, my time in the US intelligence community has colored my view of the world in many ways. One of those is that the mainstream American media paints a far too benign picture of America’s opponents abroad and a far too simplistic picture of the reasons behind their animosity. Unfortunately, American media does not paint an accurate picture of the world. They choose instead to give little snippets with no historical context in order to paint adversaries in a way that will make it easier to push whatever narrative they choose for the American public.
What is the next story that you’re writing and when will it be published?
At the moment I have taken a break from writing to focus on advertising and getting the word out about my books. As a self-published author, I don’t have the resources of a traditional publishing house to introduce my novels to the public.
Having spent the better part of the past 8 years researching and writing the Janusz Soltani trilogy, I am learning about marketing and publicity, which is a huge and complex profession in and of itself. I am hoping to get back to writing once I’ve learned more about marketing and how my books are received by potential readers.
Author Links: Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
“Author MJ Javani has created a compelling conspiracy thriller that becomes more engrossing with each chapter.” – BestThrillers.com
The time is the present. A group of anarchists is planning to attack the White House. They are supported by a rapacious billionaire with a secret agenda. Across the Potomac River, someone is systematically killing members of a private intelligence company. Known as Unit 81, this group is not subject to the debilitating political correctness that shackles the federal bureaucracy.
A trusted liaison points the finger at the Russians. But all is not as it seems. When the Unit’s top operative, Janusz Soltani, discovers the truth about their enemies, his wife is mysteriously kidnapped. Time is running out to rescue her from a horrible end.
Fans of Robert Ludlum, Vince Flynn, and Brad Thor will enjoy this action packed series
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/30/my-own-experiences-in-the-us-intelligence-community/
Adventures in Local Politics by Jeff Perlman shares the inspirational and enlightening journey the author embarked upon as he became mayor of Delray Beach, Florida. The author provides readers with an up close look as to what it takes to be Mayor of a city, detailing the good and the bad.
I enjoyed the moments where we got to learn about the authors personal life. It was like I was having a conversation over lunch and catching up with an old friend. This helps endear you to the author and makes the story much more engaging and personal. While this is ultimately an inspiring story, the author does share his traumatic experience battling COVID and how surviving it changed his perspective on life.
The author covers twenty topics on various subjects throughout the book such as the kind of leadership that it takes to be a mayor, having a clear vision, the ability to execute a plan, and partnering with the community. I also appreciated how deep we dive into each topic. The author shares his experiences and the outcome of his actions. This helps to show readers how to implement the ideas that are presented in the book.
This is the perfect book for readers who want to make a positive change in their community or want to learn what it takes to be in local politics. The author shares valuable information with readers, and I appreciate that he doesn’t sugar coat his bad experiences. Perlman has made big changes in Delray Beach and it shows as the city is now know for its tourism. The author comes off as personable and the tone throughout the book is that of a mentor. I think this book would be beneficial to read in a political studies class as there is a wealth of information shared by the author and lots of topics to discuss. Adventures in Local Politics is a fascinating story that is infused with practical and actionable advice that makes this illuminating book both entertaining and educational.
Pages: 182 | ASIN: 1457538938
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/10/30/adventures-in-local-politics/