The Supreme Court’s decision in June 2022 to overrule Roe v. Wade and erase the constitutional right to abortion was the culmination of a half-century-long campaign by activists, politicians, scholars, lawyers, and judges that began almost as soon as Roe was decided in 1973. That campaign had many components, but at its jurisprudential core was […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2022/11/24/originalisms-charade-worse-than-nothing-chemerinsky/
In my cabinet I have a cream-colored soup plate, purchased in the early 1990s at an antique store in Greenwich Village. For me it was rather expensive, despite two chips on the rim, but I had to have it. When I pick it up, the potting feels surprisingly thin: earthenware, fired at a low temperature, […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2022/11/24/clay-genius-josiah-wedgwood/
There are empty spaces we makeand empty spaces we grow accustomed to, as though they were alwaysthere—a gold mine you can descend an hour into by elevator before reaching its networkof tunnels—or always will be, as in the photosynthetic capacity of treesto absorb carbon dioxide into their diameter, their height. As a forest is torn […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2022/11/24/empty-spaces-christopher-kondrich/
John Donne was a contemporary of Shakespeare. This is strangely difficult to remember, for they had contrary relationships to poetic traditions and trends. Like other English writers of the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, Shakespeare works fluidly with formal and emotional vocabularies inherited from the Italian poet Petrarch and his followers. His Dark Lady […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2022/11/24/a-vivisectional-style-john-donne/
In the heyday of colonialism decades ago, when the British Empire controlled so much of the world, it was tempting to think of it as more benign than its rivals. Surely those civilized Brits did not turn their African or Asian subjects into forced laborers, as the Belgians did in the Congo, or wage genocidal […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2022/11/24/the-cruelties-of-empire-legacy-of-violence/
Deadbeat Druid by David R. Slayton is the third Adam Binder novel narrated by Michael David Axtell. Adam is determined to save Vic and he’ll travel to the realm of the dead to do it. Come along for this final urban fantasy adventure. You won’t be disappointed.
Deadbeat Druid
by David R. Slayton
Series: Adam Binder #3
Narrator: Michael David Axtell
Length: 9 hours and 31 minutes
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Source: Purchase
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Rating: 
Narration: 5 cups Speed: 1.3x
The living cannot be allowed to infect the dead.
Adam Binder has lost what matters most to him. Having finally learned the true identity of the warlock preying on his family, what was supposed to be a final confrontation with the fiend instead became a trap that sent Vic into the realm of the dead, where none living are meant to be. Bound by debt, oath, and love, Adam blazes his own trail into the underworld to get Vic back and to end the threat of the warlock once and for all.
But the road to hell is paved with more than good intentions. Demons are hungry and ghosts are relentless. What awaits Adam in the underworld is nothing he is prepared to face. If that weren’t enough, Adam has one more thing he must do if he and Vic are to return to world of the living: find the lost heart of Death herself.
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I have enjoyed the Adam Binder trilogy. It’s been a fun, refreshing urban fantasy from its openly gay protagonist to the magic and realms. The characters are all unique, realistic and I rooted for them.
In this last novel, Adam sets out to save Vic, who ended up in the realm of the dead after events in , Trailer Park Trickster, involving a nasty warlock. I love Adam’s determination and the tale that unfolds has us dealing with demons and ghosts. Along the way, Adam and his brother will make peace with their past and perhaps Adam finds happiness.
The trip to the realm of the dead was fantastic and aided by Death. It kind of made me think of Supernatural (the TV series) as Adam drove his dad’s old car, now painted black, into hell. He doesn’t travel alone. His brother and friend the elf are riding shotgun. The trouble they encounter along the way kept me listening into the wee hours. Demons,psychopomps and perhaps even the devil himself.
We learn about Adam’s bloodline and confront the Warlock. It was all that I love in urban fantasy laced with messages about family, love, acceptance and friendships.
Slayton did a great job wrapping up threads and giving us closure, all while leaving the door open for more adventures.
Michael David Axtell’s narration enhanced this well-written tale while bringing voice to Adam and secondary characters. The trilogy lends itself well to the audio format and is one I highly recommend.
I am excited to see what David brings us next. He’s got To Catch a Geek and Dark Moon, Shallow Sea coming in 2023 and Rogue Community College in 2024. This should be interesting!
Amazon | Audible
Deadbeat Druid by David R. Slayton delivered as #AdamBinder and company travel to hell to save his boyfriend. #UrbanFantasy #audiobook #NewRelease #MichaelDavidAxtell #audiobookreview
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David R. Slayton grew up in Guthrie, Oklahoma, where finding fantasy novels was pretty challenging and finding fantasy novels with diverse characters was downright impossible. Now he lives in Denver, Colorado, with his partner, Brian, and writes the books he always wanted to read. White Trash Warlock is his first novel. In 2015, David founded Trick or Read, an annual initiative to give out books along with candy to children on Halloween as well as uplift lesser-known authors or those from marginalized backgrounds.
Michael David Axtell currently lives in New York City with his wife and dog. He works as an actor, singer, narrator and pianist. He is a passionate performer and storyteller and is fascinated by communicating to audiences through different mediums. For a time after college, he pursued music and toured with the Grammy Award-winning vocal ensemble, Chanticleer. However, he realized he craved a more theatrically based performance path, so he left Chanticleer to pursue my MFA in Acting from The New School for Drama (’17). He also began recording audiobooks for ACX which opened up an entire industry of exciting possibility and opportunity! He currently has twenty credits to my name available.
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Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2022/11/%f0%9f%8e%a7-deadbeat-druid-by-david-r-slayton.html
Grief: The Beacon of Love is a collection of 12 notes which provide insight into how to cope with the loss of a loved one. The text relies heavily on personal experiences but strives to be universal. The author, Carolyn Begley Daley, mentions medical solutions such as seeking a therapist’s help or taking medication are valid and sometimes needed. That said, this inspirational book focus on the use of faith and religion in order to deal with grief.
The last few notes focus on the grieving process many felt during the COVID-19 pandemic and how much it has changed people’s coping mechanisms. The author believes love is the answer to finding a path through all kinds of grief. As long as one loves God and the little things in life, one can push through anything.
Grief contains some beautiful ideas and will have the reader highlighting or underlining many sentences that will accompany them in their journey. I believe even a reader who is not grieving could learn from this book. The two main takeaways are that community is essential to people’s healing and that ignoring one’s feelings will eventually lead to anxiety and depression.
The 12 notes that his book revolves around are centered around Christian beliefs. Even if it appears as though the book is meant to be universal, all the notes’ conclusions refer back to scriptures and one’s relationship with God and Jesus. Additionally, many of the arguments are repeated throughout the whole book. I felt that it could be more concise and still give out the message it wanted to give.
Grief: The Beacon of Love by Carolyn Begley Daley is an inspirational self-help book that focuses on the reader’s relationship with God and Jesus. This relationship is the foundation for overcoming grief. It is an excellent book for someone who needs to understand that they are not the only ones going through this pain or looking for what steps to take in order to go forward.
Pages: 78 | ASIN : B0B7M47WXZ
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/11/03/grief/
Cotton Candy is on the hunt for her friend, Peppermint. As she goes from one neighbor to the next, she gets the same response and even less hope of finding Peppermint. No one seems to know where her friend has gone. As she knocks on doors and travels all day long, she questions everyone she encounters, but there is no help to be found. Every food, animal, and object–Cotton Candy tries them all. Will she ever find her friend? Is there anyone at all who can help her?
La Aventura de Algodòn de Azùcar (The Adventure of Cotton Candy), by Tara Giri, tells the story of Cotton Candy, who is on the search for her friend, Peppermint. Each and every character responds to her question with an emphatic “I don’t know.” The book features both Spanish and English text and is a wonderful example of repetitive text. Young readers will benefit from seeing and hearing the same question and answer on each page. Whether they are English or Spanish readers, they will find themselves quickly absorbing the corresponding translation.
Perhaps the most striking feature of Giri’s work is the focus on the use of adjectives. As an elementary teacher, I am glad to see a children’s book focusing on a specific part of speech. It is difficult to find trade books that offer multiple opportunities to practice with adjectives. Giri has given parents and teachers a wonderful teaching tool. The only thing that I did not love about this book was the formatting. On some pages, the text can be somewhat difficult to read where it is layered over the illustrations.
La Aventura de Algodòn de Azùcar is a magical bilingual picture book that will captivate and entertain children as they go on an adventure searching for their missing friend. I recommend Giri’s work to any parent or teacher looking to introduce their children to a second language.
Pages: 37 | ASIN : B0B33YTYS3
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/11/03/la-aventura-de-algodon-de-azucar-the-adventure-of-cotton-candy/
A Time to Lead: Mastering Yourself so You Can Master your World is a well-researched and rational book with tips that can equip any potential leader. The author writes with enthusiasm and is open to sharing his experiences with readers that are passionate about leading. The information found in the book works not just for contemporary leaders but also for future leaders. Craig Dowden has penned a profound book that will enlighten the reader on being a people-oriented leader, among other things.
One of the best things about this book is how realistic the author is. Craig Dowden is not just theoretical but shares what works and how it works. Living in a world full of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity require one to have principles. The author shares plenty of rules to live by, and as a leader, the approach to take to be effective in your role.
Even with the challenges, Craig Dowden remains positive in his messages. There has never been a better time than now to lead. The author writes extensively about why leadership today is crucial. He expounds profoundly on how you can master the inner game of leadership and gives legitimate examples of leaders while giving details. Together with his master class instructor Alan Mulally
Alan Mulally’s lessons on mastering our mindset are priceless. Your mindset will set the pace for everything you do, including leadership. Paying particular attention to one’s mindset will be crucial to growth. On mastering our emotions, the reader is advised that as much as emotions are critical in decision-making, they should not get the better of us. This lesson will be helpful in every reader’s future endeavors.
One thing I loved about this book was the notable quotes. There are dozens of wise quotes with life teachings and good advice for both young and seasoned leaders. A favorite excerpt from the book was, “Difficult conversations are a part of life, personally and professionally.” This quote is important as it will enable the reader to be more open to uncomfortable conversations and welcome different perspectives and ideas not initially subscribed to.
Craig Dowden uses tables to make the point more comprehensible. The author also shares concluding thoughts, which perfectly summarize topical discussions. Major lessons in the book are resilience, receiving feedback, decision-making, and being an authentic leader. Knowing one’s strengths, dealing with obstacles, and showing flexibility are other great qualities the author broadly discussed. I recommend A Time to Lead… Mastering Yourself so You Can Master your World‘to young and hopeful leaders, as there is a wealth of knowledge that will be useful in their leadership.
Pages: 241 | ASIN : B09MR2R74S
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/11/03/a-time-to-lead/
The door is open, but you swear you closed it. Something – one small thing – is moved into your house, and you know it wasn’t you or anyone you know. You feel a chill across your body that notifies your brain – danger!
Author Miguel Angel Hernandez Jr. knows how to recreate this feeling for the reader and delivers a hair-raising suspenseful thriller. Hernandez Jr. takes his audience on a ride as the main character, gruff and gritty Griffin Knight, attempts to find the murderer of New York City’s District Attorney Natalie Costa. The evidence and another similar murder point to the reemergence of a serial killer returning after 10 years. Known as “The Judge,” he’s handing out death sentences to people he feels did nothing when justice needs to be served. Griffin has help from the previous detective on the cold case and a mysterious benevolent hacker. It points to a negligence lawsuit where a significant corporation bribed witnesses to make one man fall for the company’s illegal practices.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel as the plot moved along quickly, and the character-hopping chapters kept me engaged as I figured out who this was and how they fit into the story. However, I would’ve liked Griffin Knight to have more character development. As a reader, I want to fall in love with the main character, and with very little background information on Griffin, we only see him as he is now. Detectives in stories like these are either the new hotshot or the seasoned and jaded type. I’m not sure where Griffin falls in this spectrum, but as the reader, I would have liked a chance to get to know him and care more about him when he is fighting for his life. Overall, the story was entertaining, fun to read, and still has me looking over my shoulder in a dark room.
Do Nothing is a thrilling hard-boiled mystery that will have readers in suspense from the opening pages through the exciting conclusion. This short police procedural novel is perfect for a weekend read when you want to get your blood pumping.
Pages 76: | ASIN : B0BDJ8LZY8
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/11/03/do-nothing/