For some time now I have been
writing a monthly book review column for the Senior News
newspaper. The Senior News is aimed to the 50 and over crowd with
news relevant to seniors regarding various issues, humor pieces, and my review
column among other things. The newspaper is a giveaway at doctor offices,
stores, etc. and can be received by via a paid subscription. There are multiple
editions across the state of Texas and therefore there is some fluctuation in
content in each area.
My column every month focuses on
books of interest to the Texas audience. Therefore books selected for the
column, fiction or non-fiction, are written by Texas residents, feature Texans
in some way, or would have some other connection to the Texas based readership.
At least two books are covered each month in the short space I am given.
Below is/was my May 2012 column with
the addition here of the relevant book covers……
THE
TERRITORY: A Mystery
Tricia
Fields
A
Thomas Dunne Book (Minotaur Books)
October
2011
ISBN
# 978-0-312-61378-5
Hardback
278
Pages
Deep in southwest Texas where the closest town on
the United States side is the distant Marfa sits the small town of Artemis,
Texas. The remoteness, amidst the harsh desert beauty of southwest Texas, makes
the townspeople vulnerable to the escalating drug war violence spilling out of
Mexico. Something Police Chief Josie Gray knew long before that fateful summer
evening when she watched violence explode across the river in the small Mexican
city of Piedra Labrada.
Unfortunately for her and her town a cartel leader
is now in route to the hospital in Artemis via ambulance for emergency medical
care as he holds dual US and Mexico citizenship. Despite being outnumbered and
out gunned, somehow Chief Gray and her small force, are supposed to keep him
and the medical team alive. The resulting attack on the hospital brings
violence to the US side of the border in ways not seen before.
Despite the occasional travelogue feel, this is well
written and engrossing book. Police Chief Gray and her small force are detailed
complex characters and interesting as are many of the local residents. The
setting plays a major role in the story from the first page to the end as
expected with an author who captured the “2010 Tony Hillerman Award for Best
First Mystery” with this novel. Filled with strong storylines, interesting
characters, and a hint of romance for Chief Gray, and plenty of violence, this
book is a powerfully good read.
Nora
102 ½: A Lesson on Aging Well
June
Shaw
CreateSpace
(division of Amazon)
October
2011
ISBN#
978-1466382701
Paperback
(also available via Kindle)
170
Pages
A certain author wrote long ago about how one should
not go gently into the good night. Nora Shaw, mother of the author June Shaw,
certainly did not go gently into that good night. “Nora 102 ½: A Lesson on
Aging Well” tells the story of Nora with special emphasis on her life after 60.
For Nora, life got really good in terms of energy and spirit after sixty and
that keep her going for decade after decade.
Filled with memories and reminisces Nora
102 ½: A Lesson on Aging Well chronicles the life of one family and the
family matriarch who became more and more active as she got older. She took
each health setback as another minor hiccup to be overcome and just kept on
going. More than anything, the 170 page
read is the heartwarming story of one woman and the family that loves her.
Kevin R. Tipple © 2012
1 comment:
Terrific reviews. They both sound like great reads. Thanks!
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