I’m happy to return from my blogging break and report that my mother has recovered and is progressing well. My heartfelt thank you to those who kept in touch with emails and messages. Love is the backbone of existence, and I’m so grateful for its presence in my life.
I’m still in catch-up mode, so it will take me a few days to get back in sync with visiting your lovely blogs and dealing with my social network pages. The nearly 700 emails that greeted me have slowed me down a bit 🙂
Although I had no time to be online and visit blogs during my break, I did read and review several books while traveling cross-country by train. I found all of them delightful, compelling, and enlightening. I can’t think of a better way to re-enter the blogging world than by featuring the following reviews.
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YELLOW HAIR by Andrew Joyce
My 5-Star Review
A Native Truth Unveiled
In this gripping historical novel, Andrew Joyce threads the fictitious tale of a White man’s life-changing events through the factual tapestry of the devastation suffered by the Plains Indians at the hands of the American government. The White man is Jacob Ariesen, who becomes known as Hin Zi or Yellow Hair.
It is Spring of 1850 in North America. Imagine you are a member of a wagon train of one hundred and forty-four White people going West in search of a better life. You encounter overwhelming hardship and are rescued by Indians. You are treated well and with respect.
Now imagine you are a Plains Indian. Soldiers invade your land at the behest of their government. They do not ask your permission. They do not treat you with respect. They look upon your people as savages and presume all you hold dear is theirs for the taking. They force you to sign their treaties, by which they trick you into selling acre after acre of your land in exchange for gold. You tell them you have no use of the yellow metal, but they deceive you into trusting you can use it to barter for horses, tools, food, and other necessities. They employ deception time and again when their Congress rewrites the treaties – without your knowledge or consent – and drastically cuts the agreed-to purchase price. They literally steal your land, upon which soldiers build forts and settlers build houses. The Wasichus (Whites) trap and hunt indigenous wildlife into near extinction, forcing you to become dependent on the American government for your very existence. You once were proud, fierce, and free. You now are demoralized, displaced, and angry.
In this sober and eye-opening tale, Joyce strips away the facade of righteousness brandished by White military and political figures, people whose names appear dominant in American history. He lays bare the greed and fear that fueled their ignorant beliefs and heinous deeds, not the least of which was the bloody slaughter and mutilation of women, children, and old ones.
Noted Native American figures, presented as one-dimensional savage people in White history books, become fully developed animated characters under the pen of Andrew Joyce. They jump off the page, grab and captivate the reader. Among these are Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, who pull us into their world and show us first-hand the effects of severe hardship coupled with dehumanization.
This was the perfect book to read while traveling across the United States by train and following the Colorado River for 230-plus miles. I imagined covered wagons caught in deadly currents that drowned all life forms as they carried them downriver. I imagined the battle at Wounded Knee Creek. I imagined the Battle of the Little Bighorn fought on the banks of the river that lent its name to this historical event. But most of all, as the train moved through mountain gorges and territories not traversed by automobile or person, I imagined a time when life was lived by the seasons, close to Mother Earth. My heart broke as distant memories of such a life played across my mind like a slide show.
This book is a page-turner that kept me glued from beginning to end. It is very well-written and chock-full of engaging characters, be they honorable or deplorable. I appreciated the humor Joyce attributed to the Indians, which he sprinkled throughout the novel. This added an inherent humanizing dimension to the indigenous peoples of whom Americans learn so little in school.
I also appreciated that the author intermittently but consistently focused on Native American spiritual beliefs. My favorite line was: “It is a good day to die.” In what way is that spiritual? you ask. Well… You’ll just have to read the book and figure it out for yourself. Hoka hey!
P.S. I FORGIVE YOU by D.G. Kaye
My 5-Star Review
A Courageous Revealing
Parenthood does not come with a user manual. Children learn parenting skills from the adults in their lives. They generally emulate what they see and experience. If their lifelong experience is a negative one, they might be inclined to perpetuate it. But this does not have to be so.
In her compelling memoir, P.S. I Forgive You, D.G. Kaye reveals the habitual neglect and abuse she and her siblings suffered at the hands of an envious, threatening, narcissistic, and deceitful mother.
It takes courage, strength, and determination to prevail over hardship, especially when it is a constant in childhood; especially when a parent perpetrates neglect and abuse. But it is not impossible to overcome adversity when one focuses their intention.
Kaye shows us how to take the energy consumed by feeling mistreated, hurt, fearful, and guilty, and instead make it work for us by directing that energy toward building self-esteem, fortitude, and positive intention. She tells us how she reacted as a child, and then shows us how, as an adult, she turned a negative into a positive. Acceptance, compassion, and forgiveness are major players in this scenario, a dynamic that tested the author’s resilience, challenged her conscience, and ultimately allowed her to triumph over the all-consuming adverse conditioning perpetrated by her demanding narcissistic mother.
I highly recommend this book to anyone whose childhood was hijacked by a neglectful and abusive parent, and who would like to learn how to break free and live a happy healthy life.
SAM: A SHAGGY DOG STORY by Sally Cronin
My 5-Star Review
Do You Speak Dog?
Sam: A Shaggy Dog Story is one of the most delightful books I have ever read. Sally Cronin gives her Rough Collie a voice, allowing him to narrate his own tale.
A few of the things Sam tells us about are his friends (cat, dog, and human alike), his favorite things (sausages, cheese, ice cream, snow), his job as security consultant, car rides while singing along with Sally, and walks along the beach.
Sam is very observant and intelligent. He learns to understand both cat and human vocal sounds. He also learns to speak a few human words! Mawgh is more; heyoo is hello; and Orh, Ee, Va is Oliver. ‘More’ and ‘Oliver’ are interchangeable, as they both indicate he would like ‘mawgh’ of a delicious treat he had just enjoyed.
Sam’s introduction to cats is very positive. When he is still a puppy, Sally and her husband David – the alpha humans in Sam’s pack – adopt a feral cat whom they dub ‘Henry.’ Henry teaches Sam many worthy things about life, and they become great friends. Also, a feral mama cat has kittens on Sam’s property, and he dubs himself their guardian. These experiences prepare Sam for when Sally brings home two kittens. He readily steps up to the plate, nurturing and protecting them.
Sam’s story is heartwarming and humorous, sure to amuse and delight adults as well as children. I read this book in one sitting and was disappointed when it ended. I wanted more, and so will you.
What I appreciated most about Sam’s story is that it leaves the reader with a heightened respect for nonhuman animals. They think and feel as we do; and anyone who thinks otherwise will be hard-pressed to hold on to that opinion after meeting Sam. I would like to see this book offered for sale through animal rights and humane organizations around the world. And for me, that is the highest praise…
ON TRYANNY by Timothy Snyder
My 5-Star Review
“It can’t happen here.”
In his eye-opening book, On Tyranny, Timothy Snyder draws parallels between Nazism/Fascism/Communism and what is occurring now in the United States of America. It is a small book, quickly read but packed with relevant data.
The road to tyranny can be subtle, drawing people in with false or exaggerated claims of terrorism from homeland or abroad. Real news is purported to be fake and is consistently repeated as such, gradually moving people to mistake falsehoods for truth. Free thinkers become the enemy of the State, and the exercise of free speech becomes a criminal act.
The author suggests that truth dies in four modes: (1) open hostility to verifiable reality; (2) endless repetition that makes the fictional plausible and the criminal desirable; (3) open embrace of contradiction; (4) misplaced faith. Snyder states we have witnessed all of these with the current U.S. President. (1) During the 2016 campaign, the candidate vehemently repeated lies as facts; 78% of his factual claims were found to be false. (2) Repeating “Build that wall” and “Lock her up” served to reinforce the connection between him and his followers rather than describe what he actually planned to do. (3) He promised to cut taxes and erase the national debt while also promising to increase defense spending. These promises were mutually contradictory and encouraged people to abandon reason. (4) “I alone can solve it” was a self-deifying claim that made truth “oracular rather than factual” and made “evidence” irrelevant.
Snyder details the progression to tyranny in Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Communist Russia, showing how small and often subtle changes serve to lure the people, little by little, into accepting the dogma of tyranny and, thus, tyranny itself. He warns us to be wary of one-party States, paramilitaries, and dangerous language.
Entrancing words can mesmerize and entice people into blindly accepting the prelude to tyranny. Once the prelude is established, totalitarianism slides into place with ease. It would behoove those of us living in democratic countries to remain vigilant to this slippery process. Tyranny is a beast with many tentacles. We need to recognize them and prevent their institution. We need to dialogue with each other and realize that differing opinions are healthy and necessary to democracy. We need to pinch ourselves daily and remain alert to subtle changes that would erode democracy (e.g., The Patriot Act trades freedom for a false sense of safety). We need to get involved in the democratic process and not fall prey to the mistaken belief: “It can’t happen here.”
Tyranny can gain a foothold anywhere people are drawn in by a charismatic leader whom they follow blindly. In remaining alert, aware, and vigilant, we are our own best allies.
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Thank you for reading my reviews, and I’ll see you soon on your lovely blogs. The beautiful featured image is courtesy of Terri Webster Schrandt ❤
Welcome back. Great news about your mom! ❤
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Thank you, my lovely friend. We’ll talk soon ❤
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Good to see you here again, Tina.x
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Thank you, Judith. It’s good to be back ❤
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Welcome back. So good to hear, that your mom is better. ❤
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Thank you, Gigi. I appreciate your good wishes for my mum ❤
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Tina, i thought i let you know, in case you haven’t seen it, that i got the “Book excellence Awards” from Book excellence awards. I am so overwhelmed and so happy, that i have to let you know. sorry about it.
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Congrats, Gigi! I sense your excitement and am so happy for you. Feel a congratulatory hug ❤
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Thank you so much.
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Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
As I shut down for the evening, I will leave you with very good news. Tina Frisco is back from an extended absence looking after her mother.. who is making a good recovery. Lovely to see Tina and as well as that good news, Tina spent her time on trains across the country reading with wonderful reviews for Debby Gies, Andrew Joyce, Timothy Snyder and for my book Sam, A Shaggy Dog Story.. a lovely end to the day.. a friend back home and a great review.. #recommended
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Terrific news about your mom Tina.. so pleased. Lovely to have you home. ♥♥
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Thank you for your good wishes and reblog, Sally. Hugs ❤
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Welcome back Tina. And what great reviews.. that’s the way to comeback with a bang!
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Thank you, Paul! ‘Bang’ is my middle name 🙂
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You might want to rephrase that one Tina!!!!
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Haha! That wouldn’t be any fun, Paul. I might get a lot of mileage out of keeping it 🙂
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I admire your spunk Tina… and now that is something I might want to rephrase!!! If you got it flaunt it I say!!!!
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Thanks for the laughs, Paul. Much needed and appreciated 🙂 ❤
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My pleasure! Hugs x
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Welcome back Tina darling. Glad your mum has recovered. xxxxxxxxxx
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Thank you for all the love, sweet Shey ❤
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Welcome back, Tina… and glad the news is good 🙂
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Thanks so much, Sue ❤
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Soooooooooooooo glad you are back T. And thank you so much for reading and reviewing my book on your time away. All these books look fantastic. And I’ve already read On Tyranny, as you know. Spot on review. And of course I’ve read Sal’s Sam too. Must get to Andrew’s books soon! Welcome back my friend. ❤ xxxxx
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Thanks, Deb. Soooooooooo glad to be back. And you’re most welcome. Your books are so inspiring ~ and witty. They’re a pleasure to share. You’ll enjoy Andrew’s books; he’s a terrific writer. Hugs, my friend ❤ xoxo
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I have no doubt I’ll enjoy Andrew’s books. Really nice to have you back my friend. You were missed. xoxoxo
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Adding my “welcome back” to all the others, Tina! Missed you, great to hear your mother is recovering. I have to say…if I had a novel out there, I would BEG you to review it for me!
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Thanks so much, Em, for the greeting as well as the compliment. So nice to reconnect. I missed you while away. Hugs ❤
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I’m so glad the news on your mother is good. Nice to see you back Tina.
xxx Huge Hugs xxx
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Thank you, dear David. I’m feeling your mega hugs and am very appreciative of them ❤❤❤
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Hi Tina, so glad you are back and that your mom is better! Lovely reviews! When I first clicked on your page, I thought that photo looked rather familiar! Glad you could use it and thanks for the mention! Big hugs to you!
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Thanks so much, Terri. I love your photos and appreciate your allowing us to use them. Big hugs back to you ❤
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Wonderful news about your mom, Tina. Glad you are back. xo
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Thank you, Patricia. Feel a hug ❤
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Reblogged this on firefly465.
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So happy to hear your Mum is recovering and to have you back. I missed you my friend. xxx
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Aaaw, thank you for the good wishes, Adele, and for reblogging. I missed you, too, sweet friend. So nice to see you here. Hugs ❤
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Big hugs back to you. xxx
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Wonderful reviews, Tina – bang indeed! I am so happy that your mom is recovering, and that you are ready to come back.
Don’t wear yourself out worrying about catching up – moving forward from here is more than enough. At least it is for me my dear and spiritual friend. (loved that comment in your review of Andrews book).
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
ADD/EFD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
“It takes a village to transform a world!
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Thank you, Madelyn. I told my mum about all the good wishes from my friends, and she was very moved and appreciative. So glad you gave me permission simply to move on from here. We put so much stress on ourselves, and it’s wonderful to have friends who remind us to chill. Feel a big hug, girlfriend ❤
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lol – I always told my coaching students was that their most important skill was “human permission slip.”
Sad how effective it is when somebody seconds what we know we really need to do – and how “selfish” we tend to feel until they do. (Me too, btw – it’s either a human being thing or a girl thing, I’m never sure which).
Tell your mom that she had lots of people praying for her – in one way or another.
Welcome back!!!
xx,
mgh
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I sure do like the “human permission slip” and am so glad you issued one to me 🙂 I know lots of guys who need them, so it must be a human thing. I posted a prayer request on my FB page before I left and told my mum about it. She was taken aback by the number of people praying for her ~ people she didn’t even know. Our online community is indeed a blessing ❤
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The WordPress writing community is AMAZINGLY supportive – what I’d dreamed for the coaching community that hasn’t come to fruition, unfortunately. 😦
As for the permission slip – ANY time. 🙂
xx,
mgh
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Hold the vision. Things turn on a dime these days 🙂 ♥
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Wonderful reminder, Tina (even though I have been holding that vision for over 20 years now). Here’s to dimes and turning!
xx,
mgh
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And to ordinary miracles ❤
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WONDERFUL!
xx,
mgh
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Good news about your mother – hope she continues to do well.
Enjoyed reading your reviews.
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Thanks so much for your good wishes, Mary. Lovely to see you here ❤
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Great to have you back, Tina ❤
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Aaw, thanks, Chris. I was beginning to get jungle withdrawal. So nice to be back ❤
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You were getting FROND memories, Diana? 😀
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Great to have you back, and good news about your mum. If I wasn’t such an all around macho guy, I would have thrown one of them “heart thingies” at the end of this missive.
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Thanks for the good wishes, Andrew. And I’ll throw a couple of those “heart thingies” for the both of us ❤❤
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I’m so glad to hear about your mother, Tina. I’ve missed a lot as I’ve been in hospital for a couple of weeks!
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Thank you, Sarah. And sorry to hear you’ve been in hospital. I do hope you’re recovered and all is well. Sending lots of good energy your way ❤
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I’ve been better! It will take a while to get the energy back.
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Don’t rush it. Just listen to your body ❤
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Welcome back, Tina! You’ve been missed. It’s so wonderful to know your mom is doing well. XO
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Aaw, thanks, Natalie. I appreciate your good thoughts and have missed all of you as well. Feel a big hug ❤
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❤️
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Welcome back, Tina. Great news about your mom. I love your reviews. Yes, when we can disconnect from social media, we actually have more time to read. It’s a balancing act. I particularly loved your review of Yellow Hair by Andrew Joyce. I have had this book on my Kindle for quite some time. I think I need to move it up my long TBR list. Hugs, sweet soul.
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Thank you, my sweet friend. Reading your comment warmed my heart. Sending hugs back to you ❤
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Welcome back. I have to agree Sam is a wonderful book and yes I can speak dog… after reading it.😂😃 You probably need a break from your break., now your Mother doesnt need all of you, you can have you back. Happy Autumn.
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What an enlightening thing to say, Ellen. I do need a break from my break. All I have to do is remember to breathe 🙂 Happy Autumn back to you ❤
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Such an uplifting season how can we be anything but happy.
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Happy to see you back, Sis – great news about your Mom too!
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Thanks so much, Bro! I sure have missed all of you. I’m getting back into the saddle slowly, but it feels so good to be home. Hugs ❤
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You have been sorely missed. Glad you’re going about your re-entry gradually. Hugs!
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It is wonderful to see you back, Tina ♥ Truly I have missed your smiling face! I’m SO happy to hear your mom is feeling better. Sharing love with you both. Take your time slogging through the emails and no rush to visit the blogs as we understand if it takes a while… Big hugs
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That’s so sweet of you, Christy. Thanks so much for your lovely comment. Big hugs back to you ❤
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Thanks so much for sharing, Sally ❤
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welcome back Tina! We all missed you!
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Thank you, Wayne! I missed all of you and was beginning to go into withdrawal 🙂 It’s good to be home 🙂
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I am so pleased to hear that you mom is doing better, Tina. It is such a worry went our family and friends are ill. Lovely reviews. I also loved Sam and need to get to some of these other books.
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Thank you for the lovely comment, Robbie. And you’re not alone there with a portly TBR 🙂
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Welcome back to the blogging world, Tina. So good to hear that your mum is feeling much better.
Wishing you a lovely weekend.
Hugh
x
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Thanks so much, Hugh. Hugs ♥
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Welcome back! So good to see you on your blog–and everyone else’s again. LOL. 🙂 Happy to hear about your Mom, too.
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Aw, thanks so much for your lovely comment, John. Feel a ‘happy to be back’ hug ❤
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I’m so glad things are better for you and your family now, and it sounds like you fit in some great reads on your break. 🙂
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Thanks so much, Cathleen ❤
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Glad you’re back, Tina. So glad your mom is better, too.
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Thank you, my lovely friend ❤
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You are most welcome, Tina. Best to you, my lovely friend! 😍
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Most of these books are on my TBR list. Your reviews are great! Nice to have time to read, isn’t it. So pleased to hear your mom is doing better.
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Thank you for your kind thoughts, Darlene ❤ I need to leave town more often! 🙂
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