Category: Book Reviews

Video calling, computer tablets, communicator watches, A.I. assistants—all of these technological advancements were once unimaginable, but now they are fairly commonplace thanks to companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Google. These breakthroughs did, however, appear in one place before they became a reality: science fiction. The genre has a knack for predicting the future—or making it happen—and that is why we must watch it carefully for signs of what might come. These kinds of warnings are the heart of the book featured in today’s review, The Exigent Earth by Beverly Knauer and Murray Rosenthal.

The year is 2039, and the Earth is suffering from mismanagement by humans. Earthquakes. Hurricanes. Volcanic eruptions. And that’s just the tip of the apocalyptic iceberg. Only one man can read the signs and warn the rest of mankind of these upcoming disasters: Zac Sparkman, son of renowned scientists Nikolai and Virginia Sparkman. With his parents’ scientific curiosity and his own extraordinary powers coursing through his veins, Zac is the exact balance of science and spirituality needed to save humanity. He has spent his entire life trying to heal the Earth and uncover the truth behind his abilities and his father’s research, leading him to become one of the most respected scientists of his time. Yet when the U.S. government gets wind of his unique abilities, it will stop at nothing to access the secrets which lie within Zac’s mind. Kept prisoner by his home country and made into the enemy for powers he doesn’t fully understand, Zac fears that time is running out for him and all of mankind. Can he escape in time to warn of the next disaster? Will the dread and doom of his premonitions come to fruition? And can the answers Zac seeks be found on Earth—or beyond the stars?

I have fairly varied tastes when it comes to science fiction and other categories which fall under the umbrella genre of “speculative fiction” (fantasy, science fantasy, dystopian fiction, supernatural fiction, etc.). I like to sample a little of everything from the science fiction of Ray Bradbury and Anne McCaffrey to the young adult urban fantasy of Eoin Colfer and Rick Riordan. For these reasons, I started The Exigent Earth with a mixture of excitement and high expectations. In general, the book did not disappoint. The Exigent Earth has a little something for every kind of speculative fiction fan out there: advanced technology, genetic manipulation, seemingly-supernatural abilities, interstellar travel, and much, much more. Knauer and Rosenthal dip into almost every trope available to the modern science fiction writer from space exploration to climate change and psychological drama, and they weave all these elements together into one unified, nearly-seamless plot which both entertains and delivers a powerful message.

Even more impressively, however, Knauer and Rosenthal infuse this story with as much spiritual and mystical knowledge as it does scientific principles. Through indigenous characters like Olivia and Gus, the authors pass on the esoteric wisdom of Native American tribes to Zac and the readers, showing how the ideas of honoring Mother Earth and recognizing the unique energies of everything in nature work with modern science, not against it. There are, of course, moments when the Native American wisdom and Western scientific principles push back on each other and cause tension, but it is this simultaneous harmony and disharmony which makes the presence of both schools of thought so compelling. The tension piques the reader’s interest, and the synchronicity opens their eyes to new possibilities.

In addition to the intriguing concept and crucial themes, The Exigent Earth contains engaging plot twists and diverse—in race/ethnicity/nationality and personalities—and relatable characters. Not a single plot point is introduced without a purpose nor is any character. Everything and everybody serves an important role, even if said role seems minor at first, and it all ties together very nicely by the end of the story. The book uses a mixture of subtle-but-impactful plot twists and major, jaw-dropping turns, thus keeping the reader interested without overwhelming them with too much chaos and confusion. To me, there are still many questions raised by these characters and their exploits which could be explored further but, in a way, that’s part of the point: there will always be questions left unanswered and problems that need to be solved, so it’s best not to ignore them.

That being said, the book is not without its faults. In the first couple sections of the novel, a lot seems to go too smoothly and/or falls into place too easily. This makes these sections feel rushed and, at points, borderline cliché, a fact which is not helped by characters mentally noting how coincidental/serendipitous certain aspects of their lives are. In particular, Nikolai and Virginia’s romance occurs far too quickly and easily. While their love is sweet and clearly true and it is not the focus of the novel, everything goes their way too often, especially when dealing with the Russian and American governments and the restrictions these governments place on their lives. I could have also done without Nikolai’s mentally reassessments of whether love-at-first-sight is possible or not. There are other plot points which are executed too quickly or neatly, causing a lack in real tension until later in the book, but I will not mention them here for fear of spoilers.

While the characters are diverse and typically relatable, some moments—namely thoughts and dialogue—feel unnaturally stiff. This makes sense when they are characters like Nikolai, whose second language is English, but with characters whose first language is English, it does not sound real. Olivia, for example, is supposed to be a teenager when she is first introduced, but I would have pegged her to be in her twenties or maybe even her thirties based on her thought and speech patterns. This could be a result of her being wise beyond her years, but the way which it is depicted makes the character feel more rigid early on, something which is less of a problem as she gets older and grows into this voice. In the first two or three sections of the novel, the thoughts and dialogue also have a tendency of trying to provide too much foreshadowing which, in some cases, muted the effects of plot points further in the narrative. This technique could be a result of wanting to show how some people can have inexplicable insights into the future, but it usually just subverts otherwise excellent plot twists.

Overall, The Exigent Earth by Beverly Knauer and Murray Rosenthal is a well-written and captivating read. It is very insightful and intelligent yet also uses language which is simple enough for the average reader to easily follow along. The plot is engaging although, in the scheme of things, fairly typical for speculative fiction. The treatment of the subject and the combination of elements, however, makes this work very unique and I highly recommend it for readers who are scientifically-curious, environmentally-conscience, and/or fans of science fiction, science fantasy, and/or psychodramas. Still, those who do not like to read about secret scientific advancement, climate change, distrust of the government, or interstellar interactions might want to pass on this one.

The Exigent Earth by Beverly Knauer and Murray Rosenthal is available in paperback and as an eBook on Amazon. You can learn more about Beverly Knauer and her other books on her website.

Do you know of a book I should read? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com and let me know!

Happy Monday, everyone! It’s the start of a new week and, in a few days, the start of a new month. I must apologize for the long absence. Editing, beta reading, my master’s dissertation, it’s all caught up to me past the couple months, some of which I’ll be sharing with you in upcoming posts. First, however, I want to bring you a new book review, this time for a how-to guide called Lean Mastery: A Study Guide for Lean Six Sigma, Scrum, Kanban and Agile Management (Inc. Certification Training for White, Green, Yellow and Black Belts with 300 Test Questions and Answers) by Michael Craig.

Lean Mastery is a beginner’s guide to Lean Six Sigma, a statistics- and analytics-based approach to making a business more efficient and more functional. (For more on the basics of Lean Six Sigma and what it is, you can check out this Wikipedia article.) The guide takes readers through everything they need to know when preparing for Six Sigma Certification, including the pros and cons of utilizing Six Sigma; the five basic steps of Six Sigma, which are also known as DMAIC; the different belt levels of Six Sigma Certification and their roles; the incorporation of Scrum, Kanban, and Agile Management; and much more, all culminating in practice questions and answers for each level of Six Sigma Certification. By the end of the book, readers should know what Six Sigma is, the benefits, and how to apply it either to their own personal businesses or workplaces.

Michael Craig provides everything the full title promises and more. He gives a complete, detailed guide on Lean Six Sigma that even includes some easy-to-follow examples as to how the approach might make a business better for its customers and employees alike. Craig even takes this information a step further by admitting to the potential cons of this process and how they can be turned from negatives into positives. I do wish that Craig had explained the general concept of Lean Six Sigma more clearly and explicitly during the introduction for readers who are just getting started in business and business management, but it is cleared up as the process is described in detail throughout the rest of the book.

My favorite part of the guide—and, I would argue, one of the most crucial parts—is one Craig discusses organizing and using the data gathered earlier in the Six Sigma process. I am a very visual person, so being able to put data into a visual form such as with the value stream map which Craig describes makes more difficult concepts both easier for me to grasp and more enjoyable. While not a fully-visual concept, visual learners will still appreciate the idea/use of a value stream map when trying to understand how Six Sigma leads to a more efficient and functional business.

I can’t say that Lean Mastery is an easy read. While Craig uses plain, straightforward language in his writing, the information is dense and a lot is thrown at the reader in 521 pages. Craig is thorough, seeming to cover everything one could possibly need in order to take the certification exams, but that also means readers will have a lot to process and might need to read this book multiple times, especially since Craig could have been more concise in his approach to the subject. I also do not recommend it to readers not already familiar with statistical terms and some degree of business management. Otherwise, you will spend a lot of time looking terms up and will not get all that you can out of the guide.

Overall, I think that Lean Mastery by Michael Craig does a good job in conveying the process of Lean Six Sigma and how it can help businesses while also preparing readers for certification. However, it is not something to read lightly. It requires some knowledge of statistics and business management in order to follow along, so even if you’re starting a business and want to know how to apply this method to your new venture, you should wait until you have a better understanding these concepts before attempting to read this book or learn the Six Sigma process. If you already have this knowledge, time to read the guide carefully, and a true desire to become Six Sigma certified then Lean Mastery is definitely for you.

You can buy Lean Mastery by Michael Craig as an eBook or in paperback on Amazon.

Do you know of any books I should read? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com and let me know!

Hello, readers and writers! It seems that the hectic holiday season has finally come to an end, and the world has already rung in the New Year. I normally don’t put much stock into a new year bringing a lot of change, but I’d be lying if I said that a lot hasn’t been changing on my end. At the very least, I’m getting even more work than usual and one book for which I served as editor (Natir Whitebridge: A Grain of Respect by Ameel Koro) has finally been published. But that’s for another post. Today I want to focus on one thing that hasn’t changed: my book reviews. In particular, I want to review Michael B. White’s Mastering Java: An Effective Project Based Approach Including Web Development, Data Structure, GUI Programming and Object Oriented Programming (Beginner to Advanced).

Mastering Java—much like White’s other programming language book, Mastering Python—is a thorough guide introducing readers to Java, how it works, and how to use it. White uses a hands-on teaching method mixed with typical textbook/how-to writing to take readers on the complete journey from installing Java and learning the basics to exploring complex concepts as web development and GUI programming. From explanations on how to create your first program to a list of Java-related interview questions and their answers, this book contains a little something for both the more beginning-level programmers to advanced users.

After reading Mastering Python, I have to admit that I still understand very little about programming. Frankly, I don’t have the time or the patience to devote as much attention as is needed to learning it; I might not even have the mind for it. However, I was interested in checking out how Java works as well because it is the most-used programming language out there. While I will need to re-read both of these books multiple times in order to proceed any further, I do think that Mastering Java will be useful for those with more of a mind for programming.

White’s writing continues to be just as comprehensive here as it is in Mastering Python. The more casual voice makes it easy to follow along with his explanations and instructions, although the terminology is still a lot for someone entirely new to programming to process. It feels as though White is in the room with you, like a college professor trying to lead a workshop on Java programming. That also means that this book is not a passive read. Instead, as the title implies by calling it a “project-based approach”, you have to follow along with White’s instructions for using Java to create your first project. Given the nature of the subject, this is the best way to learning how to program using Java—hands-on—but that also means that you must more actively engage with this book and it will take a while to get through each section.

With the level of interaction this book requires and the fact that it includes interview questions, Mastering Java is not really for those with casual interest or vague curiosity in programming. Those with absolutely no knowledge of programming and Java might also find everything a bit overwhelming at first and will need to re-read the book several times in order to fully absorb the information. For these reasons, this guide is probably best for those with at least a basic understanding of programming and/or Java who are looking to do something significant with what they learn, especially those who want to pursue a career in this area. The most novice of programmers, such as myself, will want to try something more concise and basic and then pursue the more in-depth information provided here.

Overall, just like with his Mastering Python book, Michael B. White’s Mastering Java is not for everyone. It is very detailed and covers just about everything that can be covered in a book like this, which can either confuse and/or frustrate novice users or initially feel repetitive for advanced programmers. Nevertheless, it is a good place to find almost everything you would need to know about using Java or to brush up on the knowledge you’ve already gained. At around 687 pages, the length of the book can be intimidating, but every bit of it is useful and necessary for the purpose of this guide. If you have some knowledge of Java that you wish to expand or you want to review what you already know in preparation for an interview, this guide is the book for you.

You can buy an eBook of Mastering Java by Michael B. White on Amazon.

Do you know of any books I should read? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com.

Often, our feelings about a character are pretty straightforward: we love them, we like them, we dislike them, or we hate them. Successfully creating a mixture of these emotions can be a challenge, although many of the best authors seem to pull it off. Within this challenge, one of the hardest things for a writer to accomplish is making a character which we love to hate. It’s even harder to change our feelings about that character over the course of a novel, yet that is exactly what William H. Coles does with the protagonist of McDowell. That is why today’s review will be focused on this novel.

McDowell by William H. Coles follows the rise and fall of Hiram McDowell, a renowned American surgeon and philanthropist. McDowell has spent years meticulously building his career and life. He has founded a hospital for the underprivileged in Nepal, has climbed some of the world’s tallest mountains (including Mt. Everest), and has navigated the world of healthcare politics with hardly a scratch to his reputation. All of this and he manages to financially provide for an ever-growing family. However, everything is not what it seems. Beneath his public persona, McDowell is not the saint he would like everyone to believe. Adultery, broken promises, weakened family ties and friendships, McDowell seems to have sacrificed every relationship in his life in favor of his own pleasure and career advancements. Little does McDowell know, karma has a way of catching up with everyone.

At the beginning of the novel, McDowell is rapidly approaching the peak of his career. He is nationally recognized and considered to be one of the best, if not the best, in his field. He can travel all over the country and the world,fulfilling his lust for adventure and women while also using his skills as a surgeon to help the less fortunate. Now the ultimate honor is in sight: a seat on the President’s cabinet. Then disaster strikes, ripping his entire family apart and leading McDowell toward financial ruin. Thus begins McDowell’s slide down a slippery slope into anger, deceit, and even felonies. Can anything redeem this ambitious, self-centered man? Or is he doomed to forever be ignorant of his own wrongdoings?

I can genuinely say that I have never come across a novel quite like this one Coles has written. Coles has created something incredibly complex, not only inits plot and characters but in the emotions which it evokes. I began the novel absolutely despising McDowell and, for much of the book, I remained that way. However, little by little, Coles complicates my feelings for the character, sometimes thinking that there is a slim possibility for redemption and other times thinking that a man like him can never change. By the end, my feelings for McDowell landed somewhere in between like and dislike. He started as a character I loved to hate and ended a character I truly cared about, although I know he is not innocent of all wrongdoing and would not want to socialize with someone like him real life.

The outstanding character development does not end with McDowell. Almost every character, including secondary characters, are well-rounded with extraordinary depth. Coles even hints at backstories for characters which only appear for a handful of chapters, and many of these characters are not what they seem to beat first glance. From Paige, the hard-hitting and truth-focused journalist, and Sophie, McDowell’s artistic and bisexual daughter with a heart of gold, to Rosenthal, Paige’s sexist and ageist new boss, McDowell has a wide cast of characters which seems to include samples of people from every walk of life. No one is perfect, and only one character can be considered “pure”. Everyone else is fueled to some degree by self-interest and, in some cases, revenge; even those characters with the best of intentions cannot be considered completely innocent.

At 472 pages long, one would think that the story would run into superfluous events or lagging in the storytelling. However, the plot proves to be both gripping and intricate, weaving events and characters together so tightly that one change or omission could cause the whole thing to fall apart. Everything Coles writes contributes directly to either character development or plot—usually both—and is all necessary for the novel to have such a powerful impact on the reader. Fortunately, Coles’s style is so compelling and crisp that one can read through a hundred pages without realizing how much time has passed. If it had not been for other commitments, I probably would not put the book down until I was finished.

It is only fair to warn my readers that McDowell covers some issues which are politically sensitive, especially right now. The book features sexism, questionable morals, members of the LGBT+ community, characters of multiple ethnic and racial backgrounds, depictions of poverty, emotionally abusive relationships, and murder. Essentially, Coles incorporates as many of modern society’s issues as is possible in a single novel. Surprisingly, each of these issues fits naturally into the narrative and is handled in a way which leaves it up to the reader to decide how they feel about it.

Overall, McDowell by William H. Coles can be considered a modern masterpiece. It is well-written, gripping, and provocative. The characters are realistically flawed and complex, and you are likely to find at least one character to whom you can relate. I noticed a few incredibly minor proofreading errors, but they are no reason at all to miss this book. In my opinion, it’s no wonder that it was a finalist in the William Faulkner Creative Writing Competition two years in a row.

You can buy a physical or eBook copy of McDowell by William H. Coles on Amazon. Also make sure to check out the McDowell website and Coles’s website and podcast.

Do you know of any books I should read? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com and let me know!

In the modern era, aging is one of the most dreaded parts of human life. From Alzheimer’s and dementia to social isolation and deteriorating bodies, mainstream media depicts aging as unnerving at best. Add on top of that the concerns about being able to fund retirement and/or losing our contemporaries, and aging sounds like one of the worst things to happen to us. What we tend to forget, however, is that just as many wonderful things happen when we get older: we have more free time, our families grow with the welcomed addition of grandchildren, and, overall, we get a new lease on life. If approached with the correct mindset, our golden years can truly be our golden years.

In his latest book, Rejuvenaging: The Art and Science of Growing Older with Enthusiasm, psychotherapist Dr. Ron Kaiser chooses to view aging in a much more positive light. He argues that advances in healthcare and science have extended the average life expectancy to the point that our retirement years will outlast our working years, so why not enjoy them? To help readers do just that, Dr. Kaiser presents them with a thorough, insightful guide which covers everything from shifting our view of life to maintaining our health and minds as we grow older. By the end of this book, older readers will have the tools to combat the effects of aging and younger readers will have a plan for enjoying the remaining stages of their lives.

Dealing with the aging process has been thoroughly discussed over the years. However, Dr. Kaiser approaches this topic from a very unique angle. While he does outline ways in which to counteract how aging has already affected someone, he mostly focuses on a proactive approach. He reminds readers that aging is not a spectator sport. Rather, we must work to keep ourselves feeling youthful and happy as we get older or else we really will waste away. As an experienced psychotherapist, the founder of The Mental Health Gym, and the creator of a branch of positive psychology dubbed “Goal-Achieving Psychotherapy”, Dr. Kaiser has the knowledge and first-hand experience to help people become active participants in their aging instead of bystanders.

All of Dr. Kaiser’s advice has roots in his psychotherapy practice, scientific research, and his own experiences as he gets older. He is even kind enough to provide a list of his sources in a bibliography at the end of the book, several of which I plan to read for myself. Nevertheless, Dr. Kaiser does not bog down his writing with too much medical jargon or statistics. Instead, he utilizes plain language and personal anecdotes from his clients and his own life to illustrate his points while keeping the reader engaged. In fact, this book is quite the page-turner, and readers will find themselves simultaneously wanting to continue reading and wanting to try out recommended exercises and websites.

Admittedly, a lot of Dr. Kaiser’s advice seems obvious, such as reading more and taking small steps in order to accomplish a larger goal. Regardless, these are also tips that people either don’t think about because they seem so obvious or simply don’t follow. Dr. Kaiser reminds readers of these concepts, encouraging them to pick and choose what works for them, and gives them ways to keep themselves accountable for executing these concepts.

Overall, Rejuvenaging by Dr. Ron Kaiser is a wonderful read for people of any age looking to enjoy their retirement years. He helps prepare readers mentally, physically, and emotionally for growing old happily and highly encourages people to start this process young to make the most out of life later. Fortunately, Dr. Kaiser’s advice works for those who choose to “start growing old early,” to put it in the psychotherapist’s words, as well as those who are already at retirement age. So, if you’re worried about getting older, need help enjoying your retirement years, or just want to make sure you make the most out of life, I highly recommend Dr. Kaiser’s work.

You can buy a print copy of Rejuvenaging by Dr. Ron Kaiser on Amazon.

Do you know of any books I should read? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com and let me know!

When it comes to achieving one’s goals, I am a strong advocate for the “baby steps” concept. After all, one word leads to one sentence, one sentence leads to one paragraph, one paragraph leads to one chapter, and one chapter leads to an entire novel. The smallest actions can be the start of big things. The effects might not be obvious at first or might be slow to take off, but with effort and resilience, every little thing pays off in the long run. Just ask Wes Berry, successful business owner and author of Big Things Have Small Beginnings: Learn to Play in the Great Game.

Big Things Have Small Beginnings shows readers how to recognize and take advantage of the small things which will help them successfully play not just the great game of business but also the great game of life. Berry advises potential entrepreneurs on every aspect of running a business: setting and achieving objectives, making connections, helping the business grow, finding extraordinary personnel as well as an extraordinary product/service, and even channeling the ambition which comes with running a business in a productive manner. All the while, Berry tells the story of his own successes and failures in order to demonstrate how the small changes and initiatives can add up. By the end of the book, readers will know the value of the little things in life and business and have some helpful tips for launching and running a business that you won’t find in traditional business books.

There are thousands of books and websites out there for helping people start a business. Most of them have very useful information and some can be entertaining as well, but Berry’s work has clicked with me in a way that the others have not. The emphasis on paying attention to the smaller things to reach the bigger goals really resonated with me. I also found Berry’s personal success story to be inspiring and helpful; it demonstrates a level of creative, out-of-the-box thinking that everyone should aspire to, especially if they want to make an impact on this world. The stories about trading products/service for airtime and the section on learning about franchising were particular informative, unique, and, in the case of the franchising, chuckle-worthy.

Those are the most engaging aspects of this book: the unique perspective, the humor, and the optimism. I felt as though I were having a genuine, face-to-face conversation with the author himself. While it might not be considered the most “professional” approach, this tone really kept my attention and put me at ease enough to actually absorb Berry’s advice. It adds a personal touch which too many business resources lack and, when combined with the photographs and other visual aids, prevented the writing from becoming too dry. At times I felt this approach bordered on rambling, but Berry always returns to his point and ties everything together by the end of each chapter.

Berry’s personal history of growing up with a small family business, briefly attending a military school, and involvement with the Freemasons and other organizations perfectly supplements his business and life advice. His experience provides solid examples of how his tips do—and, sometimes, do not—work out. It also creates a connection between Berry and his readers and gives the readers a few laughs. I particularly got a kick out of him mentioning his Freemason membership, both because I thought it included great ideas for leadership building and because I have a few ancestors who were also Freemasons. There seems to be a little something that any reader can relate to in Berry’s experiences, and that alone makes this book worth the read for aspiring business people.

Overall, Big Things Have Small Beginnings by Wes Berry is a great tool for those looking to start or struggling to maintain their own businesses. While Berry covers a lot of ground, this book is not a complete, comprehensive guide to business. Nevertheless, the topics that it does cover are key to succeeding in business and in life, and there are very few business resources that will so clearly demonstrate the importance of focusing on the small things as Berry’s work does. If you are trying to break into business and feel like something is missing from your approach, give Big Things Have Small Beginnings a try. You never know, the Devil might just be in those small details you’re overlooking.

Big Things Have Small Beginnings by Wes Berry is available in print on Amazon.

Do you know of any books I should read? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com and let me know!

Happy Hump Day, everyone, and happy Halloween! I hope everyone is enjoying their week so far. If not, just remember: you’re already halfway done with it. I’m personally having a great time vacationing at my favorite place on Earth, Disneyland! However, I still wanted to take the time to bring a new back to you by one of the authors I have reviewed on here before, Jim Lindsay. The subject of today’s review is Swerve: The Little Bastards 2, sequel to Jim Lindsay’s The Little Bastards.

In Swerve: The Little Bastards 2, The Little Bastards are back and growing up. They’ve traded in bicycles for hot rods, high school for college, summer jobs for full-time work, and casual dating for serious relationships filled with love and talks about their future. As their lives take them down their separate paths, Sonny and his friends both relive the glory days and roll with the punches, making the best of the bittersweet lemons the world throws at them. After all, the only thing in life that’s guaranteed is change.

Jim Lindsay starts Swerve right where The Little Bastards left off: Sonny Mitchell has saved a drunk driver and his passengers from a brutal death on the train tracks. One of these passengers is the lovely Marylyn, and romance between her and Sonny seems inevitable, but life never lets things go exactly as planned. When Marylyn’s father, the rich banker J.R. Swanson, catches onto the mutual attraction between his daughter and the boy from “the wrong side of the tracks,” he puts an end to the relationship before it can even begin. This rebellious and lovesick young man realizes that, for once in his life, no amount of risk-taking or rule-breaking will get him what he wants this time, and he must trudge forward as though nothing has happened. As life goes on, so must the heartbroken Sonny. Yet even through his daily routine, car repairs, catastrophic street racing, and a damaging financial mystery at the mill, Sonny can’t help but wonder: what will it take to change the banker’s opinion of this Little Bastard?

Lindsay does not disappoint with this sequel to his classic coming-of-age novel. He has preserved the engaging, colloquial tone of the first novel while still allowing the narrator to age, a feat which can be difficult when writing a sequel in first-person narration. Of course, this preservation means that there are some phrases which modern readers might not understand. However, these phrases are essential to taking the reader back to this time period and are easy enough to look up if there is any confusion. More importantly, the voice is uniquely Sonny Mitchell. He is no longer the boy-turned-teenager from the majority of the first novel, but he is still the smartass, rebellious, and kind-hearted Little Bastard that readers fell in love with. Sonny’s storytelling is what kept my attention most and drew me back to the book even when I had a mile-long list of work to get done.

While the unique and historically-accurate voice is my favorite part of the book, a close second has to be how Lindsay handles the romance in Swerve. Marylyn is often on Sonny’s mind, slipping back in at the most inconvenient moments and causing him reevaluate every aspect of his life. However, the romance is not the focus of the novel. Rather, it is one of many elements which make up the true focus of Swerve: Sonny’s adolescence and young adulthood. We see him grow up and have many of his firsts; we watch as his emotions mature, as he struggles with fears and insecurities, and as he grows into the man he was meant to be; we witness him and his friends move beyond their “Little Bastards” phase and prove that moving on does not have to mean drifting apart. Sonny is able to care about a young woman without losing himself to empty-headed romanticism, a portrayal that I think even adults can learn from.

Sometimes this wide spectrum of growing-up stories causes the book to lose its thread. Some of these stories, while they fit where Lindsay has written them, led me away from the main plot to the point that I would forget about it until I reached the end of that particular mini-story. Oddly, though, I did not mind getting sidetracked like that in Swerve. I would become so wrapped up in the events and Sonny’s storytelling that I usually did not notice that the thread had been lost until I found it again. Furthermore, Lindsay always ties the flashbacks to the narrative present eventually and everything resolves fairly well by the end of the novel, so even if the plot swerves every now and then, it does not detract from the overall quality.

I feel I should warn my readers that there are several heart-wrenching moments in Swerve. Because it involves a major event from the first book, I cannot go into too many details here. However, I can say that Lindsay does well in portraying the effects of a tragic event from the first novel in this second novel. He shows how it has stuck with the characters, changed them—for better or worse—and how it influences their decisions. I could feel their sadness and loss but also the glimmer of hope and determination, the hope that things will get better and the determination to never let that tragic event repeat itself. When an author can make me tear up at the mere memory of a character’s loss, I know his/her writing is powerful.

Overall, Swerve: The Little Bastards 2 by Jim Lindsay exceeded my expectations. It is exemplary both as a coming-of-age story and as historical and literary fiction. The characters are just as well-rounded as in the first novel, and the emotional connections between them and the reader have not faded. The mini-stories could have presented a more united front, but I think something would have been lost from the realistic, colloquial feel of Sonny’s voice if the thread had carried entirely intact throughout the whole book. If you like coming-of-age stories and historical fiction with a splash of literary fiction, action, and mystery, you’ll definitely want to give Lindsay’s work a try. Just remember to read the first book before this one—you’ll find they’re both better that way and that it’s certainly worth your time!

You can buy a physical copy of Swerve: The Little Bastards 2 by Jim Lindsay on Amazon.

Do you know of any books I should read? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com and let me know!

Biblical fiction exists at the intersection of historical fiction and supernatural fiction. The line between fact and legend becomes blurred, and, often, we are made to look at the classic stories we thought we knew through a new lens. Such is the nature of works such as Anne Rice’s Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, and it is such a book I am reviewing today: The Leper Messiah by Rob Levinson.

Most of us—especially those raised in a Christian environment—know the story of David and Goliath. Many of us also know David as King David, successor to King Saul and father of King Solomon. But what do we know about his childhood? About his life before he became a king, before he slayed Goliath, before he was revealed to be a great warrior or even a skillful lyre player? That is where the details get fuzzy, and it is these details and gaps which Levinson has used to weave the tale of The Leper Messiah.

David has always been an outcast. Even within his own family, he only seems to have decent relationships with his mother, his brother Shimea, and his mother’s father, Obed. Everyone else, including his own father and his other brothers, seem to fear and avoid him. David is left to feel utterly alone this world, but he does not let that deter him; he knows he is destined for greater things, he can feel it, and he is determined to make everyone else see his potential, too. How far will David have to go to prove his worth? How will the path to his destiny as King of the Israelites be paved? And what sort of connections—human and divine—will he forge along the way?

As I have mentioned in other posts, I am not Christian. If anything, I am agnostic. However, I have been exposed to the religion, including studying the Bible as apiece of literature and the historical bases for its stories. Due to this background, I find biblical fiction absolutely fascinating, and Levinson’s work is no exception. The writing style in particular caught my eye as it reminds me of the style I have encountered in English translations of the Bible. While more detailed and engaging than biblical passages, Levinson’s writing utilizes the same simple language and slightly distant, storyteller tone. Reading this book, I felt as though I had been pulled into the Bible while still being entertained.

The Leper Messiah captured my attention from page one. Levinson throws readers right into the middle of the action by starting the novel with supernatural action and intrigue. Despite being based on a well-known biblical character, this book does not lack in mystery and twists. New characters and locations are constantly added, and one of the greatest incentives to finish the story is to see how everything ties together. Admittedly, though, these additions sometimes confused me. Many of the transitions within the chapters do not occur smoothly and are often so vague that it takes readers a few sentences to realize which characters are involved. Regardless, Levinson’s compelling plot and fast-paced writing will pull readers right back into the story.

I am also impressed with how well Levinson has developed relatively flat biblical figures into well-rounded, very human characters. Most notably, he turns David from a revered king whose only memorable scandal is adultery with Bathsheba into a boy—and, later, young man—with emotional vulnerabilities and desires to both succeed and be loved. However, he is not my favorite character or, oddly, the one I find most compelling. Those titles belong to two other characters: Arlemay and The Scorpion. In my opinion, they have the most captivating stories. They are true lepers by the definition which means “a person who is avoided or rejected by others for moral or social reasons”. Along with David,they enhance the theme of the need to heed outcasts, a lesson which I think a lot of people in modern society still need to learn.

Levinson’s extensive research of biblical stories and figures is evident. Still, the historical side of the book seems less-than-accurate. I am no historian, and I know nothing about this time period for certain, but I still have a sizeable bone to pick here. Namely, at least one of the characters makes clear references to Islam. In particular, she mentions the pilgrimage to Mecca and the Ka’bah, which is the most sacred mosque in Mecca. Historians generally believe that the Islamic religion was established in the 600s CE, whereas David existed around 1000 BCE. Even the belief of the Muslims—that Islam is the original religion for all the prophets—does not explain this mix-up as David has the religion explained to him and, if Islam were the original religion for all the prophets, David’s religion would have been Islam. Theological beliefs aside, the timeline does not match up and caused a lot of headaches for me as I tried to straighten everything out in my mind.

Overall, The Leper Messiah by Rob Levinson is a very entertaining novel with relatable characters, each with compelling stories of their own to tell. I normally do not recommend Christian fiction to non-Christians, but I feel that this book is worth the read for people of any background for the story alone. The elements of mysticism and the involvement of more supernatural events might rub hardcore Christians the wrong way, while others will find that they align perfectly with the traditions of biblical tales. History buffs and historical fiction fans should definitely take all of it with a grain of salt but for the most part, Levinson really transports readers back to David’s time and keeps them there until they reach the end. I recommend it for those with an open mind that like biblical fiction, but keep in mind that this book plays on the darker side of biblical stories and so there are some moments of grotesque imagery, violence, and—yes—lepers.

You can find The Leper Messiah by Rob Levinson on Amazon.

Do you know of a book I should read? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com and let me know!

Happy Monday, everyone! I hope your weekends went well. I’ve had quite the doozy myself, scrambling to get stuff done before I go on vacation. I foolishly pulled an all-nighter this past weekender and still have not recovered, but at least I received good news from an editing client! So, what do I decide to do when my brain is fried from lack of sleep? Discuss high-end programming languages, of course! Today I have a book I want to bring to the more tech-savvy among us looking into the best programming language for create web and desktop apps, Mastering Python: Machine Learning, Data Structures, Django, Object-Oriented Programming and Software Engineering (Including Bonus Programming Interview Questions) by Michael B. White.

Mastering Python is a detailed guide not only introducing readers to one of the more popular programming languages in the world but also explaining how machine learning works and using Python which such programs as Django and ArcGIS. Readers learn everything from how to install Python onto their computers to sorting algorithms to software development and testing. While it certainly cannot cover every part of this subject imaginable, this book goes in-depth into learning how to use Python and some of its more practical applications, giving novice programmers a solid foundation for their growing knowledge.

I have to be upfront about something: I know absolutely nothing about programming. It is the most foreign of foreign languages to me; I know more about Greek and Russian than programming languages. That’s why, when Michael B. White’s Mastering Python was brought to my attention, I decided to give it a try. I figured that I could at least get a feel for the complex issue in the first reading and then come back to it to help grow my understanding.

White’s writing is to easy follow for most of the book, even for those very new to programming like me. The terminology can be rather daunting, but such is to be expected from this subject matter. However, that does not necessarily make learning this programming language a passive act or entirely easy. This guide is very hands-on, requiring readers to have access to Python to the point that White uses part of the beginning to instruct readers on where and how to download Python depending on the operating system their computer uses. The tasks require practice to master, but White’s guide shows readers which steps they need to take to be successful while using Python for this wide variety of tasks.

My favorite part of Mastering Python, though, is the sheer variety of uses for Python that it covers. As the author says in the introduction and synopsis, Master Python is not just an introduction to the basics of this programming language. For me, the most interesting section is on the integration of Python with ArcGIS, a geographical software program which I learned about in a one-unit college course during high school. However, the depth and range of White’s coverage does necessitate a long book. In fact, it is over 600 pages long. It is not a light read and could take quite some time to read on its own, let alone read while actually trying to practice the advice given. Many will find this length intimidating, which is why I wonder if this book would’ve been better as a series of guides, but those dedicated to learning how to program probably will not be deterred.

Overall, Mastering Python by Michael B. White is not for everyone. The writing is easy to follow, but the book requires participation on the reader’s part in order for its knowledge to truly be imparted. If you have the patience for a book 600+ pages long and truly want to be able to make your own web and/or desktop applications, this book is for you.This is especially true if you already have intermediate knowledge of programming, more particularly Python. However, if you know nothing of the topic or are only dabbling in it, you will probably want to start out with a more basic guide and then move onto this book if programming with Python still piques your interest.

You can buy an eBook copy of Mastering Python by Michael B. White on Amazon.

Do you know of any books I should read? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com and let me know!

Happy Hump Day, fellow writers! We’re halfway through another week and only seven days away from my favorite holiday, Halloween. Today I’m stepping pretty far out of my comfort zone and reviewing a book on a topic which I’ve never given much consideration: certified personal trainers. In particular, this book is for people wanting to become certified personal trainers. The subject of this post is the CPT Test Prep Team’s  NASM Exam Prep: The Certified Personal Trainer Study Guide Including 200+ Test Questions and Answers for the National Academy of Sports Medicine Exam.

NASM Exam Prep is an in-depth study guide for those looking to take the test to become a certified personal trainer. It explores every kind of question that you will find on the certification exam, from knowledge on human anatomy to training instruction and even how to grow your business. The book is divided into nine sections: the introduction, a brief “about” section regarding the guide and the exam, one section for each of the six domains covered in the exam, and a conclusion. Finally, each of the domain sections includes questions on that domain which are based on questions found in the NASM exam as well as their answers. Almost everything you need to prepare for the certification exam can be found in this book.

I must start by acknowledging that NASM Exam Prep is definitely a highly specialized book. Those readers who pick it up should already have an interest in becoming a certified personal trainer or, frankly, it will bore you. The length (253 pages) and sheer amount of information might also discourage those whose hearts aren’t already set on becoming CPTs. After all, this guide discusses everything that someone would need to know in order to pass the exam. Think of it as the CPT equivalent of the GRE exam practice books.

However, you do not need to have much—if any—knowledge of the profession in order to understand what the CPT Test Prep Team has written. The writing is very straightforward and flows smoothly. While scientific terms are necessary in the anatomy section, the language overall is also easy to understand. Better yet, there are little to no proofreading errors. It is just best to have already researched the career some so that you can have emotional investment in the read and you can get the most benefit from this book possible.

Despite the thoroughness of its information and the helpful sample test questions, NASM Exam Prep could have done more to help readers prepare for the test. Pictures and other visuals, for example, would have been very helpful. Visual learners such as myself would do a lot better with diagrams showing how different parts of the body interact or how to guide clients through certain exercises. These kinds of visuals would make it easier for potential CPTs to retain this information, and they would serve as useful tools to return to throughout the person’s career. A list of additional resources would also help readers be as prepared as possible to take the exam. This book talks about everything you need to know, but some people still like the option of being able to explore other resources if they are not entirely sure they understand something.

Perhaps the most unique and useful part of this book is the section on running your career as a CPT. Most guides for topics like these stick strictly to what is required to complete the job on a day-to-day basis. NASM Exam Prep, though, gets readers to look at the bigger picture and reminds them to figure out why they are taking on this career and how to maintain it before taking the big leap into certification. This section also refreshes readers’ memories of the ethics and safety issues involved with being a CPT, both from the CPT’s end and from the client’s end. While this part is not unique to this book, it is still essential that a guide like this includes such information and readers will want to go over this section very carefully. All of this information will both prepare readers for the test and save them a lot of trial-and-error and costly mistakes in the long run.

Overall, NASM Exam Prep by the CPT Test Prep Team is a must-read for those looking to become certified as personal trainers. It’s a useful study guide and can redirect you if you feel that your CPT career has gotten off-track. If you’re only curious about the profession and are still undecided on whether or not to pursue it, you will want to put off this book until you make a definitive decision. However, if you are ready and dedicated to becoming a CPT, read this book thoroughly before taking the exam. You will not regret it.

You can buy NASM Exam Prep by the CPT Test Prep Team as an eBook on Amazon. If you want to learn more about becoming a certified personal trainer or just want to know what it takes to break into this profession, visit the NASM and ACSM websites.

Do you know of any books I should read? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com and let me know!