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 Book Review Column---May 2014

Those who follow the blog on a regular basis know that I have a running column in the Senior News Newspaper covering books written by Texans, set in Texas, or of interest to the newspaper’s Texas demographic of over fifty readers. Below was/is my May column with the addition here of the relevant book covers….

Outrage at Blanco (Ellie Taine)

Bill Crider

Self Published

ASIN: B00DHM0B2U

E-Book

240 Pages

Originally published in 1998 by Dell Books, Outrage at Blanco is now available as an e-book from talented Texas author Bill Crider. A trip to town and back for Ellie Taine has gone very wrong as this western from author Bill Crider begins. Just outside of the small Texas town of Blanco she had made the mistake of stopping for the two men who seemed friendly. As it became clear they had something else on their minds, she thought they only meant to rob her.  Unfortunately for Ellie, robbery wasn’t what they wanted. Ben Atticks and Jink Howard wanted something much more personal to Ellie than the few items she had purchased in town at Roger's Mercantile.

When they were done with her they left her alive. That was another mistake in a long line of mistakes in their criminal careers. What happened to Ellie is just part of a complicated tale of vengeance and redemption for several characters results in a book that moves forward at a rapid pace despite the many players and almost as many agendas.

Marcia DeCoster’s Beads In Motion: 24 Jewelry Projects That Spin, Sway, Swing, And Slide

Marcia Decoster

Lark Jewelry & Beading (Imprint of Sterling Publishing)

ISBN# 978-1-4547-0335-8

Workbook

128 Pages

As the subtitle of 24 Jewelry Projects That Spin, Sway, Swing, and Slide makes clear Marcia DeCoster’s Beads In Motion is a beading book that is all about the motion. According to the introduction by the author, in addition to the motion present in each piece there are designed to make sure the pieces complement each other.

Covering everything from the tools and materials you will need to the stiches and knots you will use to the projects themselves this is a book that encourages creativity and exploration. The heavily illustrated pages take the crafter through various necessary skills as a refresher for experienced pros or as a how to do guide for new crafter while also providing colorful inspiration.

Projects for necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and more are found in this nearly 130 page book from “Lark Jewelry & Beading Bead Inspirations.” The projects and styles in Marcia DeCoster’s Beads In Motion: 24 Jewelry Projects That Spin, Sway, Swing And Slide are colorful and varied and are ones that over time a reader can learn to do. The projects here will provide hours of inspiration that can be used for one’s own wardrobe or to create personal gifts for others.

Kevin R Tipple ©2014