The day an angel ran into my room - Annabelle Valenzuela-Alarcon

Title: The day an angel ran into my room
Author: Annabelle Valenzuela-Alarcon
Illustrator: Sarah Latham
Publisher: Strategic Book Publishing and Rights Co.
Release date: 2012
Pages: 53

 

* Even though you might think that you are a tiny dot in a huge big universe, yet there is only one of you in the entire world. So each one of you makes a big difference *
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Alessandra is a typical six-year-old, who one day meets an angel in her bedroom! Through this encounter, the little girl discovers her own power and magical inner world. This is the story of The Day an Angel Ran into My Room.
At bedtime, Alessandra asks her mother if she can stay up for "only five more minutes." Then she gets an unlikely visitor: her guardian angel, Angelisse. The angel looks very much like a child herself, making it very easy for Alessandra to relate to her.
The angel explains to the little girl how important every person is in the universe, how every action causes a reaction, the importance of visualization, and many other magical things. The story teaches kids that they are never alone, since their guardian angels are always looking out after them, and that children have the power to change their world through their thoughts and actions.
First-time author Anabelle Valenzuela grew up all over the world, including Europe, the United States and her native Honduras. For the past 18 years, she has lived in Miami with her family. She has worked in the communications field for the last 20 years. She was inspired to write this book by her kids.
Sarah Latham lives in North Wales, UK, and has followed her passion to create images that captivate a younger audience. Her illustrations are global.
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* One of the most important secrets is that what you think about grows and grows until you see it. So it's important to think only GOOD things. * 

The day an angel ran into my room was presented as a children’s version of Rhonda Byrne’s book The secret and it is, in my opinion, a rather good description. Annabelle Valenzuela-Alarcon tells the story of six-year-old Alessandra, who meets an angel in her bedroom. In just five minutes, she learns several secrets and important lessons about life.

Written in a simple way, the book will teach children how to believe in their own power and to understand how each action has a reaction. The angel does not look like an adult, which probably makes it easier for children to feel close to her; using the words children can use and understand, the angel explains the importance of each individual in the universe, how each and every one of us can be a teacher, how important it is to visualize good things in order to be happy… and above all, that nobody is ever alone, because guardian angels are always around.

The colours and illustrations perfectly match the tone and the content of the book and give a feeling of quietness and security. Everything is soft, from the pastel tones to the faces of the characters. The balance in the pictures is perfect: enough details, but not too many, in order not to distract the children from the text. The sentences are also rather short and the text split on about fifty pages, which will help keep the children’s attention.

The day an angel ran into my room is a lovely book which will please children, especially as bedtime story. Although it will probably touch girls in the first place –because of the colours and drawing style, but also because most of the characters and the main protagonist are feminine– it will no doubt be enjoyed by any child between four and eight years old.

I would like to thank the author, Annabelle Valenzuela-Alarcon, for providing me with a copy of her book in exchange of my review and I apologize for the delay in publishing it.

 

Partnership with author Annabelle Valenzuela-Alarcon

Organised by Bostick Communication

Kindred Beings - Sheri Speede

Title: Kindred Beings. 
What seventy-three chimpanzees taught me about life, love and connection
Author: Sheri Speede
Publisher: Harper One
Release date: 2013
Pages: 263

 

* As we walked to the Pajero, I stopped and looked back at Dorothy and Nama for a minute or so -from one to the other. Their loneliness and boredom were palpable. I tried to comprehend the aching, crazy-making frustration in such extreme confinement, but I could not even imagine the depth of despair that such a life must bring. How had they maintained their sanity? A painful, burning lump of fury formed and expanded in my chest and burned ma throat, seeking escape. I wanted to sob. I longed for the release that tears might bring, but my eyes were dry. Anything but effective action seemed self-indulgent. My aching fury was as trapped in me as Dorothy and Nama were trapped*
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Enter a world of tender friendships, staunch loyalties, violent jealousies--and enduring love. As a child, Sheri Speede knew that she wanted to advocate for animals in any way she could. But it was not until many years after veterinary school, when she was transporting a chimpanzee named Pierre away from a biomedical facility as part of her job as a conservation advocate in Cameroon, that Dr. Speede discovered her true calling. She began to search for land for a forest sanctuary for captive chimpanzees that were held on chains and in small cages at local hotels.
Dr. Speede eventually founded the Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center, a forested home for orphans of the illegal ape meat trade. One chim- panzee, Dorothy, was rescued by Dr. Speede and her colleagues from a bleak existence imprisoned on a chain and forged a deep friendship with her. Dr. Speede explains how chimpanzees, like humans, are capable of a broad spectrum of emotional behaviors--both hateful and loving. Dr. Speede also candidly reveals her own struggles as a stranger in a foreign culture trying to adjust to rural African village life. And she admits that unlike Dorothy, she was not always kind, gentle, and forgiving.
Dorothy died of old age at the sanctuary, and a photograph of Dorothy's funeral, in which Dr. Speede cradled Dorothy's head while her family of chimpanzees mournfully viewed her body, went viral after being published in National Geographic. The world was surprised at the depth of the chimps' grief at the loss of their friend, but Dr. Speede was not. Through the chimps, she had come to understand the meaning of love, loyalty, and true connection.
While this is a compelling story about the emotional complexity of the chimpanzees she rescued and befriended, it is also Dr. Speede's story. Major events in her personal life, including love affairs, dangerous run-ins with criminals, and the birth of her daughter, unfold as the development of her primate rescue center runs parallel to her own development. Ultimately, Kindred Beings is a story of profound resilience, of both the apes and the woman who loved them.

Kindred beings will give you a different perception of primates, especially chimpanzees. In this amazing non-fiction book, Dr. Sheri Speede describes the numerous steps she had to take in order to protect this particular species of apes. Everything starts by her studying veterinary medicine in the US and realising that she needs more than that. As she is worried by the illegal bush meat trade in Africa, she decides to move to Cameroon to achieve her goal. There, she built the Sanaga-Yong Rescue Center, where abused and orphaned chimpanzees are brought in order to have a better life.

Readers will soon notice that Sheri Speede does not have a lot to start with; Africa is another world and the motivation which animates her is what makes her commitment so valuable and interesting. It is the sparkle which created this amazing story. From the first few lines, I was glued to the pages, expecting to see how each single issue was dealt with until the dream actually came true. The beginning takes place in the US, in rather familiar surroundings. As soon as we are taken to Africa, we discover a completely different culture which offers a strong contrast to the one we know. Without too many clichés or stereotypes, Sheri Speede gives us a good insight of this country and its differences with our occidental society.

As suggested by the title and the genre of the book, the aim is to share a – real – adventure and to raise the readers’ awareness of the problems faced by chimpanzees. Given that the author is a veterinarian, I had expected a lot of technical details – which are of course interesting, but not always understandable for non-specialists. However, I discovered with relief that it was not the case. We are given enough information to understand the challenge of such an important project, but not swamped with scientific comments which would make the reading difficult. Moreover, the writing style is simple and goes straight to the point. Short episodes about Sheri Speede’s private life are also told and all this guarantees a pleasant and balanced reading for anybody interested in chimpanzees and animals, but also for a much broader public.

I had the feeling that the primates were actually the main protagonists of the story: we get to know Jacky’s capacity as a leader, Nama’s sense of justice, Becky’s tendency to mischief, Dorothy’s affection... Through the pages, we discover that they are much more similar to us than we would have thought... and that they are truly an endangered species. As this was one of the aims of the book, I would say it is definitely a success.

Of course, chimpanzees are centre stage, but they are not alone. Sheri Speede is undoubtedly the most important person in building the sanctuary. There is however a number of other people who contributed to it. From America to Africa without forgetting Europe, we get to know many of them who have not much in common at first sight... except, of course, their strong love and admiration for chimpanzees and their desire to make the world a better place.

A delightful surprise awaits the readers. Added to the story, you will find two series of amazing pictures, one of which won a National Geography photography contest and was published in several newspapers and magazines around the world. It is a nice way of illustrating life at the Sanaga-Yong Rescue Center and gives us a more concrete idea of the main protagonists of the adventure.

Kindred Beings is a book that everybody should read. Whether you are interested in animals, in travelling and other cultures or in adventures which first seem impossible to realise, you will be seduced by this story of trust, love and friendship. At a crossroads between Africa, America and Europe, where cultures and languages converge, there is one aim: rescuing this wonderful species which shared our evolution processes for so long. I would like to sincerely thank author Sheri Speede for providing me with a copy of her book in exchange of my honest review.

 

Partnership with author Sheri Speede (founder of IDA Africa)

In Defense of Animals Africa IDA Africa

Organised by Bostick Communication

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Hope rises from the ashes - L.F. Falconer

Title: Hope rises from the ashes
Author: L.F. Falconer
Publisher: Outskirts Press
Release date: 2013
Pages: 268

 

* "You are my destiny, my love. My life." He brings my hand to his lips. "It ain't right for a man to try and fumble through the dark seas of life all by himself, Collie. He needs a guiding light. You are my light. That light might flicker in and out, right enough, but it's the one light I need, and the one light I'll follow 'til the end of my days. It is my light and it shines in you. *
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A broken heart. A shattered dream.
Collie's journey into adulthood was met with tragic consequences when she defied society to follow her heart. In this sequel to "Hope flies on Broken Wings," Collie attempts to escape the haunting memories of the worst night in her young life. Fearing a lifetime of heartbreak and shame, she leaves her seaside homeland of Donnel to seek refuge in Tillaman Realm beyond the eastern mountains. But she soon finds herself wishing she's never left home when she becomes hopelessly entangled in a dangerous game of possession and jealousy between two Tillaman warriors and the women who desire them. Has a reluctance to part with her merman scale charm bound her into a prison of her own making? Or will a gift form the sea be her salvation?

In a Middle-Age world full of fantasy, romance and fights for honour, young Collie learns that being a woman is not easy, especially away from home. After her love died at sea, she flees to another realm in order to start life anew. But with a winged-lion threatening the kingdom, fiery knights duelling for her and jealous young women trying to harm her, her journey is not as she had imagined... and it is only the beginning.

In Hope rises from the ashes, L.F. Falconer continues the story of Collie after she lost Dugan. Although it is the second book of the series, reading Hope flies on broken wings is not required in order to understand the plot. We are given enough hints of what took place before in order to understand the young lady’s motivations to leave her memories behind and look for something else.

The plot itself is easy and everything comes slowly into place. There are a few quicker scenes, but we mostly have time to concentrate on the characters, which are all vividly described: the proud knights Morgan and Thoren, innocent and naive Collie, talkative Giselle, faithful Brother John, mischievous Damile and Lisana, sad and broken Natt... Their psychology is shown little by little, keeping the suspense all through the story.

The contrast between Collie and the other women of Tillaman realm is strong and she quickly understands that being a foreigner is not an advantage. The author raises many interesting questions about the condition of women, the integration of strangers and, above all, about love.

We focus on Collie’s new life, but we are also given an idea of how she used to live in Donnel – her birth realm – which enables the reader to compare the differences in the society and traditions of these two places. We can also feel the historical period through the way characters live and through various other typical things such as the problems of communication and transport between the different realms, the knights who protect the town and the importance of religion for some people.

The writing style is surprising and it is possibly the reason why it took me so long to become immersed in the story. The present tense used to describe the adventures seemed a little strange, especially as it is taking place in the Middle-ages. L.F. Falconer also writes in an oral style, not only in the dialogues, but in the description as well, which is quite unusual. However, after a few chapters, I came to enjoy it because the story seemed livelier and we really feel as if we are experiencing Collies story with her. It is also a contrast with the chapters told by other characters and shows the differences in people’s accents and ways of speaking.

Of course, we all wish for a happy ending, especially after seeing the main protagonist in so many desperate situations. Several twists and turns will keep the reader’s attention until the last pages, in which the rhythm of the action becomes quicker and quicker. Although I am satisfied with the story altogether, I felt that the end was rushed – despite a few welcomed surprises – and a few chronological details were not accurate, or rather not believable.

Hope rises from the ashes is a beautiful tale of love and honour which mixes several genres. Between romance, history and fantasy, L.F. Falconer published an unusual book which will seduce readers from various horizons, whether they are interested in fantasy, history or romance.

I would like to conclude this review by thanking Bostick Communications who made it possible for me to discover this book. Thank you very much to author L.F. Falconer for providing me with a – signed – copy of her book in exchange of my honest review.

 

Partnership with author  & L.F. Falconer

Organised by Bostick Communication

Deadly Passage - Lawrence W. Gold

Title: Deadly Passage
Author: Lawrence W. Gold
Publisher: Grass Valley Publishing
Release date: June 2013
Pages: 334

 

* Andy released the dock lines from Adios, and stepped back onto Prophecy. As the boats drifted apart, Andy thought, two youngsters at sea and, Carlos Mendoza missing; blood in the cockpit and on the lifelines—what in hell happened aboard Adios? *
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Deadly Passage is a multi-layered, high seas, adventure-thriller novel of bioterrorism in a post 9/11 world. The novel operates on several levels not commonly encountered in a high-octane thriller, including insights into the terrorists, their backgrounds, rationale, and subtle conflicts within the communities from which they have been drawn that ultimately condition their decisions and actions. The responses of US governmental agencies mirror these diverse perspectives.
Andy Reiss, a physician, Jesse his registered-nurse wife, and Rachel, their barely teenage daughter, head home on their sailboat, Prophecy, after five years at sea touring the world. They thought they'd dealt with every imaginable experience at sea. When Prophecy comes upon a sailboat adrift, they discover two young Americans, a brother and his sister. After bringing them aboard, both break out with a rash that Andy identifies as a deadly virus. Soon it becomes clear that they've inadvertently rescued two homegrown terrorists intent on bringing a deadly virus to the Miami area. Soon the disease is full-blown, sealing the fates of the terrorists and all those they encounter. Andy, Jesse, and Rachel must deal with the unwanted guests, their disease, the Cuban Navy, an approaching hurricane, and the U.S. Coast Guard turning them away from safety, operating under the influence of conflicting political and operational motivations in the Department of Homeland Security, the Coast Guard, and the oval office. The shocking and unexpected denouements leave us twisting in uncertain winds reminiscent of On the Beach.

After having spent five years living on their sailboat discovering new places, the Reiss family – Andy, Jesse, their daughter Rachel and the dog Reggie – decides it is time for the adventure to end. What was supposed to be a quiet and straightforward return to Florida is however troubled when they rescue two Americans who are not as innocent as they appear. They have to discover their secret... and there is no time for thought as the risk of a hurricane in the area increases every hour.

In Deadly Passage, Lawrence Gold takes us to a terrifying world full of terrorism, politics and natural catastrophes at high sea. Between reality and science-fiction, this thrilling novel will make the readers hold their breath until the last pages.

The story starts slowly as we get to know the Reiss family and their unusual life at sea on the Prophecy. The vocabulary used is specific, but general concepts can be understood easily, even by people who – like me – do not know anything about sailing. The descriptions of the places they visit and their activities are vivid and full of details. We also obtain a good overview of the characters’ nature and background, not only in the case of Andy, Jesse and Rachel, but also of every other person we meet in the book.

This first part offers a strong contrast with the rest of the plot. As soon as the Americans, Ryan and Nicole, arrive on Prophecy, the pace of the action quickens and everything seems to go wrong. Events take a bad turn not only for Andy, Jesse and Rachel, but also for the US, Cuba, and several other nations. As the tension builds up, we hope with the characters that a ‘happy ending’ will be possible, but everything seems hounded by misfortune. The last chapter is a masterstroke; not too cheesy, not too appalling, rather open... A perfect ending!

The plot itself is rather simple, playing with bioterrorism and including several story lines which finally come together. There are however several groups of people included and it is not always easy to understand each one’s interests, especially because many abbreviations are used to make the reading easier. It can therefore be useful to have basic knowledge about History, mainly about the relationship between Cuba and the United Stated of America, the political system of the USA, Al-Qaeda and the Middle-East.

At that point, I must admit I feared that the plot would become too political. Fortunately, it was not the case; although the CIA, the American and Cuban Presidents and several other important organisations are involved in the whole affair, we do not go into too much detail. It does not always appear to be very realistic, but I actually enjoyed this simplification, as it made the main elements clearer and easier to understand and, after all, it is a work of fiction. I also appreciated the fact that the book was no propaganda, as is often the case with such controversial themes. Yes, there are ‘goodies’ and ‘baddies’, but we are offered various point of view and understand easily that nothing is as simple as black or white.

Deadly Passage is a very good thriller dealing with matters that could well happen in the current world. The pleasant writing style, the captivating plot and Lawrence Gold’s obvious knowledge of sailing, ships and medicine make Deadly Passage an amazing read which I recommend to anybody interested in good crime books. I would like to thank the author for providing me with a copy of this book, thus enabling me to discover a great literary world in which I will undoubtedly travel again in the future.

 

Partnership with author Lawrence W. Gold

Organised by Bostick Communication

Y'a pas de prévenance ! - Jean-Charles Hue

Title: Y'a pas de prévenance
Translation: Noura Wedell
Author: Jean-Charles Hue
Publisher: Éditions Aux Forges de Vulcain
Release date: 2012
Pages: 157
Information: Bilingual Edition (French - English)

 

* I can dance and sing, sure, but I've got limits. I'm a gypsy first. I'm an artist after that.*
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Y’ a pas de prévenance ! gathers for the first time Jean-Charles Hue’s texts. The artist created this book as a journey in his artistic world, between the gypsies and Mexico, with Tijuana and its dog fights. To this aim, he put into dialogue his texts with images from his films, videos and photographic series. One of them has been realised especially for the occasion.
We discover the characters and histories from his films and videos, full of humour and epic at the same time. Oral language and slang, which are characteristics for his texts and use tones similar to ancient French, take us to a timeless world. The objects (military flask, gun, knife, car) which keep appearing in his artistic vocabulary are guides in this book which mixes crudeness and sensuality.

Surprising. If I had to choose a single word to describe this work, this would be it. Surprising. As I turned the pages, I went from surprise to surprise until the very end. What is sure is that Jean-Charles Hue’s book is not ordinary. So I will start by thanking the A&M forum for organising this unusual partnership and the publisher Aux forges de Vulcain for providing me with a copy in exchange of an honest review. It was a remarkable discovery and I am glad I seized the opportunity to read something different.

I would like to focus on the appearance of the book first, as I was extremely impressed by the quality. The cover is rather dark, so is the title, and there is no summary on the back cover. These are normally pet peeves of mine. However, as I opened the book, the layout took my breath away. There are pictures, different kinds of texts… all of them very elegant, and it is a bilingual edition (French – English). I suppose that given Jean-Charles Hue’s artistic path, it could be expected, but to be honest, I did not really know what to expect of this book.

About the reading, I must admit I was a little bit confused to start with. Confused about the images, which I did not really understand. Confused about the darkness that showed through the texts and pictures. Confused about the vocabulary, which is familiar and oral. Confused about the bilingual version: should I read English or French first? I was a little perturbed by the unusual aspect of this book. I decided to start reading the French texts, as it is the original language, and then the translation. In reality, I mixed it all. As I went through the short stories, I got used to the style and understood the pictures better.

There are nine different texts, whose length varies between a few lines and twelve pages. They take us on a trip in the author’s universe, recreating important moments of his life. So we discover a few anecdotes from his childhood, his life with gypsies, his travelling in Mexico, various characters… All of them seem rather unconventional and a little bit strange to start with but we get to know them better and at the end, we understand their significance for Jean-Charles Hue. The vocabulary used was certainly my greatest problem: slang, oral expressions, words used in the specific environments I mentioned before. Fortunately, the advantage of the bilingual version was that I could swap from the French version to the English one whenever there was something I was not sure of, which made it easier to have a global comprehension.

Another great strength of the book is the interview we can find at the end. It features questions by the publisher and answers by the author. They give extra information about Jean-Charles Hue’s life, his vision of art, as well as explanations about some of the photographs and their affective importance for him. In these pages, no more slang, the style is elegant, which makes a clear contrast with the stories. I liked that, because we can see the difference between the real world and the artistic world. Slang is the charm of the gypsies’ environment, of Mexico… It makes us feel there.

At the end, there is also a short biography and pictures captions, which is useful to understand the images better. The fact that a few of them come from the films Jean-Charles Hue realised made me want to watch them and, like I liked the book, I liked the extracts I have seen so far. The only criticism I can think of is the darkness of the scenes, which often made it difficult to make out the subjects. I would have liked to be able to see more, to gather details but I think I can understand why dark colours were chosen; they match the texts better and give the pictures a mysterious aspect.

Regarding the target audience for this book, I do not really know who I would recommend it to. One of the most important things, in my opinion, is that the reader has to be open because it is an unusual work. I do not think you have to particularly like contemporary art to enjoy this book, although most of the pictures are in this style. I must admit I am not normally keen on it, but I enjoyed the book. If you want to take a trip in an uncommon world, meet gypsies, Mexicans, and are not worried about slang and oral style, you will surely appreciate Y’a pas de prévenance.

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Partnership with the publisher Aux Forges de Vulcain

Thank you very much for trusting me

 

See French review of the book here.