I remember the first time I saw Meredith Monk perform; anyone who’s seen her in concert does. It was at the National Sawdust in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, on November 17, 2016, less than ten days after Donald Trump was elected president—the beginning of a nightmare from which we’ve yet to awake, the sort that Monk has […]

Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2023/11/22/cries-and-whispers-meredith-monk/

In Alan Priest’s gripping novel, The Lost Family Robinson, a seemingly mundane family vacation pivots sharply into a spiraling odyssey through the threads of time. The Robinson family, initially bound by a thread of normalcy, becomes unwillingly untethered when Fred introduces a time machine into their journey. Soon, they find themselves ensnared in a tempestuous wormhole, hurling them into a temporal loop: six seconds, six hours, and six days into their own past, presenting a twisted challenge which places them on the brink of peril.

Not merely a tale of chronological entanglement, Priest intricately weaves a narrative with deep examinations of familial bonds, particularly amidst the four Robinson brothers. Splintered by loss and yet joined by dire circumstances, they navigate a treacherous terrain that demands unity amidst their fractured relationships. Their journey, though fraught with jeopardy, subtly illuminates the potential rekindling of brotherly love and understanding.

Priest doesn’t merely indulge in the typical exploits of sci-fi time travel but innovatively integrates scientific concepts—such as the Earth’s rotation—into the mechanics of temporal navigation. His thorough exploration into the theoretical underpinnings of time travel doesn’t just serve the plot but enriches it, crafting a narrative that is as intellectually stimulating as it is emotionally resonant.

Engrossing from the first page, Priest balances intricate scientific theories with rich, character-driven storytelling. Readers will find themselves hanging onto every word, eagerly anticipating the next twist in the Robinsons’ journey. The characters, vibrant and authentically crafted, navigate through a plot that expertly marries compelling science and emotional depth, ensuring a balanced and riveting read.

The Lost Family Robinson is not only a commendable addition to adult science fiction but an essential read, exploring intellect, emotion, and the inexorable march of time. For fans of the genre and newcomers alike, this novel promises a journey through time and emotion that is bound to linger well beyond the turning of the final page.

Pages: 274 | ASIN : B0CK18Z98J

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/11/22/the-lost-family-robinson/

Conversations With My Daughter: How to Have a Healthy Baby is Dagmar Ganser’s solution for women worldwide to raise healthy babies. Based on extensive research and lived experiences, Ganser collects the most significant elements that’ll aid women, alongside their partners, in adopting an all-around healthy lifestyle that, by default, will blend into their own children, creating a purposeful, positive impact.

Filled with details, the book is divided into chapters to guide women through the many steps that should be taken to guarantee a healthier life for their children. Each chapter covers a particular topic following the timeline of pregnancy: from conception until childbirth and even sometime after that. The book’s structure makes it perfect to follow through the whole child-bearing journey. The first step towards developing a healthier life with healthier children starts with being aware and attentive to the problems: your own actions could be the main ones needed to guarantee their health.

Readers will find the main theme quite a compelling one. Each point the author exposes is backed up by evidence, adding weight to the warnings provided. In the book, readers are shown how to recognize the way in which our modern lifestyles directly and unsuspectedly impact our health. Because of this, particular attention is given to what we eat, breathe, and surround ourselves with. Every toxic particle in our immediate environment will have the potential of not only affecting us. Still, it can also be transferred to our future offspring, negatively affecting their physical and mental health. Even though at first all of the modern problems exposed will seem overwhelming, by the end, each chapter will have fully wrapped up possible and feasible solutions to deal with them. The only thing necessary will be cultivating a strong will to remain on the path toward a healthy lifestyle.

Conversations With My Daughter: How to Have a Healthy Baby is a well-researched and deeply impactful book with key medical advice that will lead you and your children on a healthier path. Even though the book mainly focuses on women, current mothers, and mothers-to-be, anyone can find useful tips in it, given that the overall solution for nurturing healthy babies comes first by having a healthy life.

Pages: 179 | ASIN : B0CJM7QX6D

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/11/22/conversations-with-my-daughter-how-to-have-a-healthy-baby/

Shipwreck in Paradise presents a riveting tale featuring Nick Diamantis, a marine investigator of Greek-Norwegian descent. The story takes a turn for the dramatic when the Norwegian cruise ship World Discoverer meets with a disaster in the Solomon Islands. Diamantis, joining forces with the Australian Navy and a dedicated research team, dives into a high-stakes quest to unearth the truth behind this calamity. As the narrative progresses, layers of secrecy unravel, propelling Nick into an enthralling journey marked by peril and mystery.

The novel stands out for its dynamic homage to traditional adventure literature, maintaining a brisk and engaging pace. Konstantinos Gustad Padazopoulos’s vivid descriptions effectively transport readers from Oslo’s bustling streets to the enchanting landscapes of the Solomon Islands. The author’s meticulous attention to environmental detail creates a tangible, absorbing world for the reader.

A key strength of the book is its depiction of crafty antagonists and nail-biting suspense, ensuring a consistently engaging read. Nick Diamantis emerges as a resilient and inventive protagonist, adept at navigating formidable obstacles. The novel skillfully intertwined maritime mystery and action elements, enriching the plot with multiple layers. While the narrative occasionally takes its time to build suspense, these moments enhance the depth of the otherwise tightly woven storyline. Some plot points may resonate with readers as familiar tropes, adding a sense of comfortable predictability to the unfolding adventure.

Shipwreck in Paradise is a captivating adventure narrative that adeptly captures the spirit of classic adventure literature. It skillfully merges action, intrigue, and vivid settings to offer an appealing read for enthusiasts of this genre.

Pages: 183

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/11/22/shipwreck-in-paradise-2/

Banning Santa, by Mikael Carlson, is a novel that brilliantly marries the joy of Christmas with the absurdity of political maneuvering. Imagine a scenario where a festive mall Santa’s viral misadventure sparks a political frenzy to ban Santa Claus himself. Carlson masterfully orchestrates this uproar, pitting political parties, public opinion, and the very essence of Christmas spirit against each other in a humorous yet thought-provoking battle.

The book’s unique premise and intriguing title immediately capture attention, sparking a blend of curiosity and intrigue from the first glance. I feel the initial chapters, with their rapidly shifting points of view, each unfolding in brief, standalone segments, might challenge conventional narrative preferences. Yet, this unique storytelling approach sets the stage for a rich and engaging narrative tapestry. As the story unfolds, the characters become increasingly relatable–their struggles and reactions to this bizarre situation are almost palpable. Comedic moments are woven throughout each chapter, yet there’s a subtle layer of earnestness beneath the laughter, adding depth to the narrative. While the ending might not surprise seasoned readers, it brings a heartwarming resolution that transcends political divides, celebrating a moment of unity and shared humanity. The concluding chapters encapsulate a blend of emotional and comedic elements, leaving readers with both tears and laughter.

Banning Santa takes readers on a rollercoaster ride, quickly gathering momentum to pull you into its captivating plot. The story’s engaging nature left me longing for longer chapters and a more consistent narrative perspective, elements I feel would have further enhanced an already captivating tale. Mikael Carlson’s Banning Santa is a delightful read, especially for those who enjoy a fusion of satire, humor, and holiday cheer.

Pages: 364 | ASIN : B0CM9L62PD

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/11/22/banning-santa/

Fabulous Female Musicians is a collection of twenty-one stories from top female musicians and the remarkable journey they have had in a male-dominated industry. Why was this an important book for you to write?

When I wrote my first book All That’s Jazz, commissioned by Tomahawk Press, I interviewed many musicians and people involved in the music industry. I found few women in top positions at record labels, music publishing, and other important roles. I was then commissioned to write ‘Women In Jazz’ by 8th House Publishing in America and Canada, and I found writing about the female musicians of the past and present inspirational. I also realized how hard they found it, not only because of their gender but sometimes due to racism, and many of them were supported by – and some fought against – dominant male characters. I interviewed many women for the book and realized there were many things in the music world that weren’t right in terms of equality. With an American editor, I wrote about gender in the UK jazz industry and found, even though it was a few years after the first book, that things had not moved very much. So I decided to write a book with female musicians having their say, giving their voice and relating their experiences. I found it uplifting because while a few of the female musicians featured in the book experienced misogyny, many did not and it feels like this is a reflection of how things are changing in the music world for females. Music education, young people and their values and campaigns like Me Too and the creation of the F-list and other initiatives have helped. People can now find female musicians for any event – so no excuses! While we are not quite at equality yet, we are certainly further along even since I first wrote a book just a few years back. The important things, however, is telling the personal stories of these incredibly talented musicians, the love of music and how music unites us all on many levels.

How much research did you undertake for this book, and how much time did it take to put it all together?

It took a long time because, firstly, I asked musicians who they felt were the most important and influential female musicians today. As you can imagine, I got a lot of names and finally I had a list of 58 female musicians, all important, all influential and whose stories I felt were diverse, might be different due to the different cultural backgrounds and who readers would like to get to know more about.

I eventually got to my final list of 25 musicians and asked each of them about being in the book. Twenty one agreed and these were my final list. Luckily, I managed to include the rest in articles for Readers Digest and The Jazz Report, so each of the musicians named as important today got a mention somewhere, if not a full interview in the book. Then I researched again, finding areas that I could use to scaffold similar questions to all of the musicians so readers could see a true comparison with each journey. Then I asked the questions and waited for the responses. The feedback was incredible and all of the women were really cooperative and helpful in their responses, so I felt a real insight into each journey was being created. I was lucky to find my editor for previous work, Richard Sheehan, was available, so I booked him and he started to edit interviews as they came in. Vick Bain wrote the foreword and I was so pleased, as she is prominent in music and gender studies.

Then came the cover choice. My cover artist came up with several ideas, I put these to the women in the book and it seemed there was something not quite right with every idea – either the depiction of the female frame, the colour of the women used, the way they held their instruments (being models, they did not get it right always) and eventually, I went back to the drawing board and someone created a short tune, we put that on the cover and we were there. Then the edits, the checks, the double checks, proof reading, typesetting, formatting and finally, finally, the book was ready.

What were some goals you set for yourself as a writer in this book?

Firstly, I wanted true accounts of the journeys women make in the music world. Speaking to women over the years, I have heard many accounts, all different, all worthy and some are positive, some negative. There are many wonderful initiatives supporting female musicians, yet when you look at festival line ups (which I did, literally counting up artists) and venue line-ups, there are still way more men than women. Venue managers told me they are now using the F-list and finding great female musicians, which is a huge leap forward. I also did not want the book to feel like a bewailing of the fact women are on the rise rather than, as of yet, at the top of the music industry (with some exceptions of course). I wanted first hand, open accounts of female musicians’ journeys. I did not want to sway readers’ opinions but rather present them with different stories and they can make their own minds up as to whether things are good or need a bit of work still. Not only that, I wanted the musicians in the book to be from different countries and backgrounds. Luckily, I got that in the 21 incredibly talented women who agreed, much to my delight, to be in the book.

Secondly, I wanted readers to immerse themselves in the stories, the journeys of these women and understand how the passion for music unites us all and these women bring that passion to life with their diverse styles and genres. I wanted readers to enjoy the journeys, to share the funny asides, the disappointments, the rejoicing, the triumphs, peace and dilemmas the women have experienced. Again, I was lucky because the musicians in the book tell brilliant stories and truths.

Thirdly, I wanted to celebrate their art, creativity and talent and I think we managed that too.

Even in the few months since I wrote the book, the women have journeyed on, some of them winning Grammy nominations, awards, releasing new albums and singles, selling out top venues and much, much more.

What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Fabulous Female Musicians?

That music, and musicians, offer a way to unite people. They are musicians, just that. I want readers to take away the joy of journeying in music, an understanding of possible pitfalls but also a sense that with passion, business sense and determination, so long as you have talent there is a place for you in music. I want them to want to know more about these and other musicians. About music and the power it has.

Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/11/22/telling-womens-stories/