Great Biography!

Over this past weekend, I wasn't feeling well, so I decided to take it easy and postpone the spring cleaning, even though the house really needs it and I have been preparing for it all winter long, and read a biography that I received not too long ago.  It seems a little offbeat to me when I first came across it, but once I read it, I was glad that I did.
This book focuses on a young boy as he grows up in New York.  He eventually becomes a very successful psychologist, and marries and has children.  While the story covers many years, it progresses very nicely, making my weekend in bed more bearable that I thought it would be.  The book is called The Life of Sosat Silacay by Tasos Yacalis.  While it is a biography, it is told by someone other than the man it is written about.  While he knows the man, he does not follow him closely and get all of the stories from first hand experience.
This book tells the tale of a young man making his way on the streets in New York City.  It begins when he is just a small boy, and follows him from childhood all the way until he is older and a successful psychologist.  This story progresses rather quickly throughout his life, but also tells his story through his eyes and his experiences with marriage, and his career choices.  It also shows what a large influence his mother was on his life throughout the years and how he learned very valuable lessons that helped to shape him into the empathetic person that he became as an adult.

Very Interesting Story!

Throughout this week, I have found myself with some free time. While a lot of it has been on Pinterest trying to find solutions to my organization issues, I also had time to read a new book I was sent by the author in exchange for a review.  This book reminded me a lot of watching episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but with a lot more going on in the story.  The book is called The Therions by Esme Autumns.
This book has a lot of twists and turns, but it is very entertaining.  It reminds me of watching episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  As the story progresses, Jake realizes that he is surrounded by therions and a lot of people that he thought that he knew he does not, and people that have disappeared are still alive and well.  The story progresses into a final battle royale in the school gym that has good versus evil both fighting for control.  I really liked this book, it was hard to put down.

Great story set in the future!

Over the weekend, I decided to stay in a read a book I have had for a while, but had not read yet.  It is set in the future, and reminded me a lot of The Hunger Games and Divergent at first glance.  I had a lot of time to sit and read since it rained all weekend here in Ohio.  I am glad that I chose this one because it was a great story that followed three different people in a society that was plagued with anarchy and violence, not a safe place for anyone.  The book is called Othella (Arcadian Heights) by Therin Knite.
This book is written from the point of view of three different people, all having a very different role in the book.  It is set at the end of the 21st century, and it seems like the anarchy is leading to the end of the world as we know it.  When a secret society is exposed for what it really is to others that are not a part of it, things get dangerous.  This book is a great one for those who are into Divergent and The Hunger Games, and I enjoyed following the three different stories all wrapped into one!

I Read an Inspirational Story That I'm Excited To Share!

Over the last few weekends, the weather here in Ohio has been less than ideal for going anywhere outside unless necessary, so I did a lot of cleaning and reading.  While I did not clean anything that could qualify for spring cleaning--just the normal wipe down of surfaces, cleaning the floors and bathrooms, etc.--I did read a book that I absolutely loved and think will help many people that read it.
It is called Touching His Robe:  Reaching Past the Shame of Anger and Abuse by Leslie G. Nelson.  This book tells the author's story as a survivor of abuse and how she was once a true religious Christian who came to a place so dark that she questioned her faith in Him.  Not only does she struggle with that in the story, but she also explains how she was able to work with the little faith that she had to get her back to a place of hope and survival.
This book is a great inspirational book that can come a long way in helping survivors of abuse.  The author goes into great detail in how her faith was tested and she endured many dark days to help her realize that she was not able to be as faithful as she once was, but was able to see that she was still able to use the faith that she had to help her heal.  This book can help someone that has been abused realize that it is not their fault and they can one day learn to accept what has happened and use it to heal and restore their faith in God as well as humankind.
I have not read a book this inspirational in a long time and I am glad I did.  Not only is a refreshing break from the love stories and horror stories that I usually enjoy, I know that it will help almost everyone that reads it, even if you have not necessarily been abused.  People who have had dark days for most any reason can relate to this story and the author's struggle with faith.

Very Funny Book, I Loved This One!

While waiting for the snow to stop outside last weekend, I decided to read a book that I would not have normally read, a parody on a book written by a baseball player about baseball.  Steven Lookner, a writer on shows like Saturday Night Live and MadTV, did a great job with The Closer by Mariano Rivera.  His book is called The Relief Fisher, and turns every aspect of the original book into a joke about fish.  All of the baseball aspects of the game are about fish, made of fish, or related to fish in some way.
This book was very funny.  I thought that way that the author was able to make a joke out of almost any situation that was mentioned throughout the book was awesome, and takes some great skill!  This book made me laugh over and over again and I will definitely be telling my friends about this one so that they can get a bunch of laughs out of it too.

Great Story from a great time in American history!

Another book that I read over the holidays was one about the time during the Vietnam war.  This story is told through the eyes of an American soldier that is not well liked by his commanding officers, and they try their best to get him on the next ride to the war.  The book is called My Psychic War with Uncle Sam by E. Alexander Scianna.
This book is narrated by Dennis, a young army recruit who does not understand the Army or the war in Vietnam.  While he discusses his life in the barracks, waiting to hear if he will be in the next bunch of soldiers to be shipped out, he tells a story of helping distribute a newspaper that denounces the war and the trouble he gets in as a result.  As the story progresses, we learn of his friendship with Marcel, a fellow soldier who shares his opinions about the war and other political topics.  When he gets home, he tries to fit back in with his family, and watches his brother die of a drug overdose.  This story is not only interesting, but it tells a sort of inside story of Dennis and his life as a soldier who does not agree with the war.  It is insightful, and progresses at a steady pace without getting boring.
If you like stories told during this time period, or if you are a history buff, this would be a great read for you.  I like history a lot, and there are many facts throughout this story that can fascinate people of many different interests in history or American life in general.

Great story from the 70s, I loved it!

Over the holidays, I had a chance to read a book called Hippies in the Andes/Freedom Pure Freedom:  Sex, drugs and rock and roll in the Andes by Jeffrey Marcus Oshins.  At first, I was unsure about this one because I am not normally drawn to books about hippies, sex, or drugs, but I gave it chance anyway.  I am really glad I did, it went smoothly with no gaps of boredom in between, and the story was very interesting.  It is a true story about the author and two of his friends who decide to travel to Latin America and back in a time of civil unrest in many parts of the world.
This book was a great story about three young men who decided to travel to Latin America in the 70s.  While traveling, they encounter many people, some of who they stay with for a short time, and they have fun while doing it.  This is a great adventure story that actually happened, and these young men not only get there and back alive, they avoid any major trouble at all, oblivious to the danger that is all around them while they travel.
Some of the people that they meet or reconnect with is very fascinating, and they even stop and stay with some of them for a few days to get some rest and catch up.  I am glad that I read this book, and will be more open minded to a lot of books that I would not normally pick up because I read this one.