Currently Reading – The Murder of the Century

The Murder of the Century: The Gilded Age Crime that Scandalized a City & Sparked the Tabloid Wars

by Paul Collins, Broadway Paperbacks, 2011

 

 

Sleepy Bunny – A Nap Time Tail

By Gregory Isherwood, 2013, MyInkBooks.com

Sleepy Bunny is a story about a bunny that would rather sleep and dream than spend time with his family. The story tells of all the dreams the bunny might have until the dream gets out of control and the bunny finds there is a limit to how much sleeping one should do.

The story is written in rhyme and is perfect for children. It is light and fun to read while having a very good message for all ages. The author’s purpose is to convey the need to balance living with sleeping because too much of one thing can be harmful. The little bunny learns this lesson when one of his dreams leads him to believe his family has abandoned him. He wakes to find his mother consoling him and discovers being with his family, instead of sleeping, would be a good idea after all. Any child who has difficulty getting out of my bed might find this book appealing.

This is offered in an e-book format.

Farkwa and the Ogres of Greed

by Gerard Victor, 2013, MyInkBooks.com

The subtitle of this e-book is “A Mythical African Tale of Change” suggesting this is a book about the transformation of greed. It is a relatively short book that would be mostly suitable for teens although I believe adults would enjoy it as well. It explores themes of loss, transformation, and forgiveness.

Farkwa and the Ogres of Greed includes parallel stories of a young rhino forced to live on his own after his mother is killed by poachers and the evil poacher, who killed her. Through his survival, the young rhino named Dudi encounters a number of mythical creatures, including the title character Farkwa, living in his African homeland. Once they hear of the killing, they protect Dudi as they also attempt to save the mythical Graveyard from the poacher. As the poacher’s greed grows, he possesses greater and greater evil towards his fellow trackers and the animals he hopes to kill. It all converges at the Graveyard where understanding is met with forgiveness in a surprising ending.

The Light Between Oceans

by M.L. Stedman, Scribner, 2012

Would you be willing to compromise your values and character to fulfill a dream?

The Light Between Oceans is a compelling novel by M. L. Stedman that forces you to consider your own choices in light of those of the characters. The book is set in Western Australia primarily during the 1920s to 1930s. The author’s style effectively captures the language that was used during that time. By combining historical aspects of the war and lighthouse keeping, the author conveys a realistic impression of the characters’ lives and how societal conventions and expectations affect them. The protagonist of the story is Tom Sherbourne, who is a decorated war hero, shattered by the effects of the war – the men he killed and the comrades he watched die. He questions his purpose and why he survived while others didn’t. Estranged from his family with no place to call home, he chooses to accept a short-term position as a lighthouse keeper on a remote island named Janus Rock. Before he ships off, he has a chance encounter with Isabel Graysmark, who befriends him. When he returns from his initial stay on Janus Rock, their friendship blossoms into romance, and they marry. Tom accepts a long-term position on Janus Rock, and they start their new life shortly after.