Senior News----May 2012 Column

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