Senior News Newspaper Book Review Column--- October 2014

For my monthly newspaper book review column in the Senior News Newspaper, I usually make sure to choose one fiction and one nonfiction book in the hopes of interesting more readers. For September I went with Half In Love With Artful Death: A Dan Rhodes Mystery by Bill Crider. If you have not read his Sheriff Dan Rhodes series set in East Texas you are really missing out. For the non-fiction book I went with The Knitted Slipper Book: Slippers and House Shoes for the Entire Family by Katie Startzman. Seemed appropriate since winter is allegedly coming.  Longer reviews of both were run here on the blog earlier this year and can easily be found by clicking on the above book titles.

Included below are the relevant book covers for my October 2014 column…  

Half In Love With Artful Death: A Dan Rhodes Mystery

Bill Crider

A Thomas Dunne Book (Minotaur Books)

ISBN #978-1-250-03967-5

Hardback (also available in e-book form)

272 Pages

Burt Collins is just one of those difficult folks that Sheriff Dan Rhodes has to deal with on a daily basis. He has a very narrow view of the world and lots of complaints. He has also been known to do a few things. While it may not have been good enough for a court of law folks know he's behind some of the petty vandalism and crimes that have gone on in the area. So, after a number of paintings by the visiting artists are vandalized isn't surprising that Burt Collins in the number one suspect for nearly everyone.

It also isn't surprising that Burt Collins is soon very much dead thanks to having his head bashed in. It is also pretty clear that in all likelihood the murder weapon was a bust of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Find the bust and Sheriff Dan Rhodes might just find the killer.

Half In Love With Artful Death: A Dan Rhodes Mystery is another very good read in a great series. All the usual suspects readers love along with Rhodes are present in this latest tale set in East Texas. A member of the “Texas Literary Hall of Fame,” this award winning author has done it again.

The Knitted Slipper Book: Slippers and House Shoes for the Entire Family

Katie Startzman

Stewart, Tabori & Chang (imprint of Abrams)

ISBN# 978-1-61769-058-7

Paperback

160 Pages

The Knitted Slipper Book: Slippers and House Shoes for the Entire Family is primarily organized in two parts--materials and the projects. Designed with projects for every member of the family and beyond the book represents the author’s lifestyle and how she views the world. As explained in the several page introduction, author Katie Startzman prefers to live life as simply as possible and to be as self-sufficient as possible. By following her directions and making your own footwear you can create something more special than store bought and maintain a low impact lifestyle.

After taking readers through by way of text and photographs how to choose a style, yarn, felting, sizing, shaping, and more it is on to projects. While the pictures as well as the typeface tend to be small, the information is extensive and detailed for the newcomer as well as the experienced crafter. The 160 page plus book provides plenty of ideas as well as detailed instructions so that you know how to go about creating some treasured footwear for your family.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2014

Senior News Newspaper Book Review Column-- September 2014

For my monthly newspaper book review column in the Senior News Newspaper, I usually make sure to choose one fiction and one nonfiction book in the hopes of interesting more readers. For September I went with The Contractors by local area resident Harry Hunsicker who I have been a  huge fan of since reading his first book, Still River. For the non-fiction book I went with Playing with Stencils: Exploring Repetition, Pattern, and Personal Designs by Amy Rice. For a number of years before Sandi had cancer she did a lot of stencil work. These days her eyes as well as her hand/eye coordination won’t allow it, but she still looks at the books when I bring them home for use in the column and on the blog. Longer reviews of both were run here on the blog earlier this year and can easily be found by clicking on the above book titles.

Included below are the relevant book covers for my September 2014 column…  

The Contractors: A Thriller

Harry Hunsicker

Thomas & Mercer (Amazon)

ISBN-13: 978-1477808726

E-Book (available in paperback and audio)

514 Pages

Anyone who has read the Lee Henry Oswald series by Harry Hunsicker knows that the author does not write the Dallas Chamber of Commerce ad copy type of books. Bad things happen to all on the streets of Dallas in his books. The Contractors: A Thriller raises that bar to all new levels.

While nearly everyone has heard of the private contractors working in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere overseas, they also are working here at home. Jon Cantrell and Piper are contractors for the DEA as well as being romantically involved. As the book opens, they are on the trail of Lisa, a missing 14 year old teenager. Hired by a retired crooked cop named Sinclair they need to find the girl and get her back home. Not only will that get them paid, it will allow them to focus on another job where their violent skills will be put to the test.

Those who expect a serious mystery in the style of the excellent Lee Henry Oswald series will be disappointed in The Contractors: A Thriller. This is a fast paced action orientated novel where nearly everyone has very few redeeming qualities. A thriller in every sense of the word where character development is limited and told in occasional bursts of backstory to give readers a break from the frenetic forward pace. The Contractors: A Thriller by Harry Hunsicker takes readers on a violent and bloody rampage from one end of Texas to the other in a read that constantly twists and turns in ways that should keep readers hooked to the very end.

Playing with Stencils: Exploring Repetition, Pattern, and Personal Designs

Amy Rice

Quarry Books (Quayside Publishing Group)

ISBN# 978-1-59253-829-4

Paperback

144 Pages

Playing with Stencils: Exploring Repetition, Pattern, and Personal Designs by Amy Rice features variety in design of others while teaching readers how to go about creating their own personal touches in various projects. Along with plenty of information there are a number of photographs depicting the various ideas covered in the book.

Broken into three main sections along with several resource sections the book features projects that go from floor to table and runs the gamut. While skill level is not addressed in this 145 page book it is clear that like any other art form patience and practice will be needed to perfect the image you are trying to create. This is a good resource featuring plenty of colorful projects to help you get started while also providing plenty of inspiration.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2014

Senior News Newspaper Book Review Column--August 2014

For my monthly newspaper book review column in the Senior News Newspaper, I usually make sure to choose one fiction and one nonfiction book in the hopes of interesting more readers. This month I went with The Splintered Paddle by Texas resident Mark Troy (highly recommend this book and anything else has done) and When Your life Is Touched By Cancer: Practical Advice and Insights for Patients, Professionals and Those Who Care by Bob Riter. As anyone who has read the blog knows, cancer continues to dominate our lives over everything else. Longer reviews of both books are available here on the blog. Included below are the relevant book covers for my August 2014 column…  

The Splintered Paddle

Mark Troy

Five Star Publishing (division of Cengage)

ISBN# 978-1-4328-2859-2

Hardback

304 Pages

Private Investigator Ava Rome has no idea in the beginning that she is being hunted. She has no idea at all a man from her distant past is in the islands watching her every move. Fantasizing over and over again what he is going to do to her once he finally gets her alone. His name is Norman Traxler and he is coming for her--- after he eliminates whatever she cares about a chess piece at a time.

That situation is just a small part of what is going on in this complicated mystery featuring multiple story lines. Written by Texas author Mark Troy who spent a number of years in Hawaii before moving to Texas, this complex read features four separate and distinct story lines that gradually interweave as readers are slowly filled in on Ava's often difficult past.  A Second place winner at the 2012 Claymore Awards at Killer Nashville, The Splintered Paddle: An Ava Rome Mystery is one of those rare books that pulls you deep inside a world far from home right from the beginning. It isn't all sundrenched beaches, cool waters, and happy days in paradise. Ava, also seen in the very good novella The Rules, knows something about the dark undercurrents at work in the 50^th state in the union and is more than ready to protect the defenseless.

When Your life Is Touched By Cancer: Practical Advice and Insights for Patients, Professionals and Those Who Care

Bob Riter

Hunter House Publishing

ISBN# 978-0-89793-679-8

Paperback                    

145 Pages

Around here we know something about cancer and its impact. More than we ever wanted to know. So does Bob Riter, cancer survivor. He is also the executive director of Cancer Resource center of the Finger Lakes in Ithaca, New York. The nine chapters of this book are made up of various columns he wrote for the Ithaca Journal newspaper about his cancer as well as cancer in general. He wrote about, not only his experience, but the various cancer questions he has heard from patients or their loved ones over the years. The short chapters are designed to be read here and there as the mood or need strikes.

All I can say is When Your life Is Touched By Cancer: Practical Advice and Insights for Patients, Professionals and Those Who Care by Bob Riter is an incredible book. I hope and pray you will never need it, but if you ever do, it’s good to know it is out there and can help ease everything just a little bit.

Kevin R Tipple ©2014

Author of Mind Slices and contributor to the Carpathian Shadows, Volume II Anthology

Senior News Newspaper Book Review Column--July 2014

For my monthly newspaper book review column in the Senior News Newspaper, I try to make sure to choose one fiction and one nonfiction book in the hopes of interesting more readers. Since it was Texas based, I went with Cold In July as my mystery offering and an outdoors resource book for my nonfiction offering. Longer reviews of both are available on the blog. Included below are the relevant book covers for my July 2014 column…

Cold In July

Joe R. Lansdale

Tachyon Publications

ISBN# 978-1-61696-161-9

Trade Paperback (e-book available)

288 Pages

Crime just doesn't happen in the small east Texas town of LaBorde. It certainly doesn't happen to respectable people like Richard Dane and his family. Until that July night, Richard's toughest job was dealing with his young toddler son and his penchant for always spilling his milk. Then, that one night, he killed a man and everything changed.

For the police it is an open and shut case of self-defense. For the local residents who learn of the shooting in the coming hours the event is open to discussion and speculation. The shooting of an intruder is the biggest thing to happen in the area in quite some time. While Richard feels incredible guilt and remorse other folks can’t shut up about it. Things are about to get much worse. For Ben Russel, an ex-con and Freddy's absentee father, the death of his son is an injustice that will be avenged.

Originally published in 1989, the book is now published by Tachyon Publishing as a tie in to the movie starring Michael C. Hall, Sam Shepard, and Don Johnson. The read is incredibly good. If the movie closely follows the book, and one gets the idea it will from the forward written by film director Jim Mickle and the afterword from the author, it should be one heck of a movie. Cold In July is one heck of a read and very much worthy of your time.

The Total Outdoorsman Manual: Updated & Expanded (10^th Anniversary Edition)

T. Edward Nickens and the Editors of Field & Stream Magazine

Weldon Owen Inc. (division of Bonnier as is Field &Stream Magazine)

ISBN# 978-1-61628-639-2

Hardback

320 Pages

The Total Outdoorsman Manual: Updated & Expanded by T. Edwards Nickens and the Editors of Field & Stream Magazine is designed to be a one stop resource for the outdoorsman whether he be a novice or experienced. Developed from publishing the magazine for decades, the information contained in this hardback book covers just about everything one would need for any outdoor endeavor. The detailed color coded sections of this book cover camping, fishing, hunting, survival skills, and are designed for folks that want to go to the backcountry far from people and assistance.

A four page index along with information on the magazine, credits and acknowledgments bring this book to a close. The clear and concise information and illustrations, as well as the many photographs, make the book worth your time and an important resource for you and others on your next trip to the great outdoors.

Kevin R Tipple ©2014

Author of Mind Slices and contributor to the Carpathian Shadows, Volume II Anthology