Book Reviews Adults

Book Review

By Jill Smith©April2012

Title: Me & Her – A Memoir of Madness

Author: Karen Tyrell

Published: Digital Future Press

  This book begins in a motel, with the door being knocked on by police and Karen being very confused about why they are there. They are asking Samantha to come out. That’s not her name. Even more distressing, Karen is taken away and put into a psych ward. What has she done to cause this? She doesn’t understand.

The following chapters explore the process Karen goes through to find herself again. To banish, the other ‘Her’, full of manic behavior which tempts her to become high on being creative. At the time, she sees herself, ’Her’, as enlightened, intuitive, and productive. Karen discovers that the rambling notes, exploration of the bipolar disorder, through interviews with fellow psych ward patients, doctors, her family and friends, is in fact abusive manic behavior. How did it all begin? Karen is a teacher, a good one. She is facing a nightmare family, who create a great deal of anxiety in her life. The child is abusive and uncontrollable. The parents join in the attack verbally and physically presenting them-selves in her classroom, in her rear-vision mirror when leaving school, even popping up at the supermarket and standing uncomfortably close while she makes a purchase at the deli counter. This causes Karen’s already severe insomnia to get worse. This is one of the triggers.

The effect on her family and friends is catastrophic. They stand by her and encourage their Karen to return home. The self-analysis with the help of doctors, relaxation therapy, and the honesty of her husband and children, help her formulate a plan to escape. What triggered these events is the clue to her rehabilitation. Creativity does become her salvation when she addresses the warning signs and keeps the ‘Her’ at bay. Karen should be applauded for writing this book. It shows her darkest days researched by herself. After having had two bipolar attacks, and losing her short-term memory, it must have been confronting and cathartic to complete this project.

This is a must read book, as an insight into how easily life can change from normal to abnormal, and how many people around us, go through these difficulties without the world taking much notice. Karen’s battle against ‘Her’ is a tribute to her recovery.

Book Review

By Jill Smith©Feb12

Title:     The Darkest Hour 

Author:     Katherine Howell

http://www.katherinehowell.com

Publisher:  Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Ltd

Lauren Yates is a busy paramedic, trying to hang on to her job. Alone in her ambulance she stumbles across a stabbing victim in a lonely back street and calls for back up. What she doesn’t tell the police or her colleagues is that the murderer was there too, he’s her sister’s psychotic ex Thomas Werner, who threatens her life along with her sister and niece.

She goes on with life thinking no one will know and she’s safe, that is, until she’s called to another stabbing, the victim yells out ‘Thomas Werner killed me’ which is heard by Lauren and her driver. Thomas renews his death threats after he discovers through corrupt police that she passed on this news to the police.

Detective Ella Marconi thinks this is her break into her much longed for career in Homicide, until Lauren tries to retract her statement. The investigation runs into dead ends literally, one more body and a disappearing family. Is Thomas Werner a serial killer? Is he even in the country? What is this all really about? Ella realizes that Lauren is the key. When Lauren is attacked in her home they realize just how real the threat is. Ella notices strange things happening at her home, she tries not to believe that the investigation is getting close to finding answers to puzzling questions raised, and the whereabouts of Thomas Werner. Both she and Lauren have their lives on the line.

Katherine has produced another crime thriller that has readers turning the pages quickly to settle the suspense in their hearts. From the start this is a story that can’t be put down.  This was the second book after FRANTIC, and Katherine has four more in her book list now, I’ve already read and reviewed COLD JUSTICE.  I’m looking forward to reading VIOLENT EXPOSURE and soon to be launched SILENT FEAR. For more details go to her website http://www.katherinehowell.com.

Book Review

By Jill Smith ©May2011

Title: Fragments from a Life a memoir

Author:  John Litchen

http://www.johnlitchen.com

Publisher: Yambu – John Litchen

This is a truly fascinating portrait of the life of Spiros Kiriakou Litsis, through the eyes of his son. The historical recollections of the old man in between the events of his youth, makes the journey all the more interesting.

The history of the little village he grew up in being in the middle of political turmoil throwing a whole area previously in Greece, with the villagers being Greek, into Albania rule. This made what had been a difficult life, working for the new regime, with little or no reward. The already poor community struggled even more. The village had relatives in nearby Greek villages they could no longer visit. Their world changed, the line had been drawn on the map, and it wasn’t changing, the people were still Greek but living in Albania.

His older brother Christos had left to live in America and Spiros went there too, he learned to speak English and worked hard but, not in his trade as a tailor. Both young men returned to their village, Christos missed the simple life in the hills as a shepherd and on occasions, illegal trader. Spiros bowed to pressure and married a local girl, they had a daughter, although he was never settled in the small village, he had tasted the world outside he needed to leave. He left with his brother George for Australia, as America no longer took immigrants, and they started a whole new adventure. Spiros and George both were welcomed into the Greek community in Melbourne and discovered a country where they could, with hard work, achieve anything. George started a restaurant and Spiros met Mary there. His own marriage to the Greek girl did not stand the separation. Spiros longed to bring his daughter to Australia though and when he married Mary and started his own Dry Cleaning business things looked up. They worked long and hard and had children of their own. Then he did manage to get John’s half sister Verga to come to Australia.

Later in life Spiros and Mary returned to his home village, he saw how small it was and how much had changed.  The whole book is a fitting tribute to this remarkable life, and being published in Greek also would reach many who could learn from the life lessons Spiros endured. I’ve read many memoirs and this is a very masculine account of a very proud man’s life. Spiros had a lot to be proud of. He accomplished a great deal and grew old to see his family grow. I enjoyed this book and suggest you purchase it to gain insight into our history and the plight of people coming here from Northern Greece at that time.

Book Review

By Jill Smith ©April 2011

Title: The Lavender Principal…an outback murder mystery

Author:  Julie Baythorpe

Publisher: Self Published

I found this book wonderfully written, highlighting the uniqueness of Australia. The rugged outback and its equally stoic communities and people spread out in a vast landscape make this murder mystery all the more tantalizing. With the school activities the social focus of the community, the school principal is an important, if transient, community member.

The relationships between families and the local school Principal are unbalanced, when Reid Devron, starts asking questions. The dialogue in the local vernacular really draws the reader into the drama. Who did murder Neil Addison, and why?

At Somerset Literary Festival this year, I was disappointed to hear one prominent international author say she despaired for those who wrote from an Australian view-point. I disagree with this and say that Australia is a setting, a character in itself, so why should we not write about this country and its people, as they are what we know.

I loved this unique Australian story and feel that it has a place in any bookshelf. Like Lillian Beckwith, her stories are based in small communities in the isolated New Hebrides, people around the world may not live in the climate or community described, but, they can read and enjoy the human experience there. Julie Baythorpe, was born in Sydney and grew up in Brisbane, she moved to the Gold Coast in 1985. She has been writing all her life. She has taught creative writing both as a teacher and a principal in classrooms across Queensland. Clearly she draws from her experience in outlining the daily running of a small rural school.

Book Review

By Jill Smith ©March2011

Title: Love, Lies, Laughter And a Few Little Tears Authors: Southern Short Story Group http://southernshortstorywriters.blogspot.com/

Publisher: Self published

This is a delightful compilation of thought provoking, memorable and emotive stories crafted by eight talented authors who are members of the Gold Coast Writers sub group Southern Short Story Group. George Lewis provided a disturbing look at cultural differences and excesses in ‘Photo of Nei-enja’.  Faye O’Neill delivered several heart rending stories, I especially liked ‘Zanthe’.  Julie Baythornpe wove wonderfully entrancing tales of love and loss, my favorites being ‘The Family Tree’ and ‘True Love’.  Doug Fraser offers memorable recollections and life lessons as in ‘The Thimble’. Joan Songaila wrote a tale about fortune teller predications coming true in ‘Gypsy Palm Off,’ and a great story of love in ‘Lucky, Just this Once.’  John Clark has the reader wondering about how a loving family could allow a little boy to walk into a very ‘Scary Story’, his other stories were more witty and social commentaries.  Owen R Clement, added a unique story of true soul mates finding one another, in ‘Serendipity.’ Julie Boyd wrote a wonderful story about living every minute of life to the full in ‘Another Chance.’

This is just as glimpse of the depth and range of stories delivered in this book. The pictures scattered throughout enhance the stories and make the book even more enjoyable. The cover painting by the talented Julie Baythorpe is a wonderful way of wrapping this collection in blue sky, sand and sea views. For anyone looking for a way to escape the daily chores of the world, or, looking for a gift for a friend or family member, this book would be perfect.