A compelling sampling of insights into the human condition and a fully satisfying read from beginning to end
934489
An eclectic mix of supernatural, suspense and horror, this collection of short stories written by the author throughout her career shines a spotlight on a diverse mix of characters. The theme of the collection, however, repeatedly comes back to the question of how people respond to the fantastic. In true storyteller form, Baily always ties the answer back to the individual.

From a mysterious mirror of questionable origin, to a painting that swallows the souls of those who fixate on it, to houses of ghosts and the night-time drive of a family in the mountains, youll be left unsettled, provoked and rewarded with glimpses into the mysteries that live in the corners of our world.

Whether through the eyes of a woman hiking alone or a young man exploring a haunted house with his friends, you will feel their palatable fear, uncertainty and unease as you explore the worlds that Bailey has created. At the other end of the spectrum, the tales of a short order waitress investigating (and possibly stalking) a creep that she comes across at her job and the pieces of an immortal womans diary as she lives far, far too long will leave you dreading what comes next. The author excels in bringing you to where she wants you, and by the end of each story youll be left pondering the larger mystery and the future of the storys world.

This is the perfect bedside companion for readers who enjoy a good scare, but also like having something to think about in the morning light. Bailey doesnt rely on established tropes and is a master at keeping you in the moment with her characters, whether they are racing through the desert away from the horrors they have resurrected or facing their own internal demons found in a life after death.

Ordinary Souls is a chilling set of stories meant to frighten you a bit, but its also a compelling sampling of insights into the human condition and a fully satisfying read from beginning to end.
70418
The book is certainly entertaining, but what I most enjoy are the insights about human nature in general, and about adolescence in particular.  The author has either an amazing memory or an astounding capacity for observation and empathy.

The characters, their motivations, and their actions are entirely believable.  The pacing is even, and the plot a perfect recipe for absorbing readers' attention.

The humane, respectful, and accessible manner in which Brian Katcher approaches his characters--and his topic--will win readers' hearts.

Several of my students are choosing to read this book, and they admire the way the author describes the events, personalities, and emotions of high school life with accuracy and compassion.

I hear them laugh aloud as they read, and I see their reluctance to put the book away.  This behavior is quite an endorsement.
3802727
I'm not religious; in fact, I confess to having a strong bias against all types of religiosity.

And yet, I found every page of 'Moving Waters' to be filled with touchingly beautiful human moments; moments of discovery, moments of insight, moments of deep pathos and powerful feelings.

Reading Racelle Rosett's collection of short stories is like time-traveling into a vivid present - a present resonating with poetic tradition and filled with modern mysteries and magic.

Highly recommended to readers of every philosophical ilk and inclination.
817388
Truly absorbing and charming real life vingetts that our human minds to the utterly emotional world of animals.  Recommended to me by the author who knew mr trough the scientific treatises of animal consciousness, my appreciation runs deeply as this titles and others have been a pleasure to have read.  Todays culture naturally grasp of animals as feeling and thinking creatures.  As science has come to understand the creature cognition is driven by the stat gleaned by their remarkable perceptual sensations, intently more sophisticated than any human. In 100 years, society has reversed our previous assertion that we humans occupy, sit atop the animal kingdom, in a crowned position, currently viewed as in no way the exceptional creature whose exclusive conscious demonstrates all others as the feeling, carrying, thinking and doing member of the animal family. Each story opens up the emotionally charged interactions of animals with people and each other.
861954
This book was a thoroughly enjoyable read, and touched my heart from cover to cover as I felt everyone's pain and joy as if I, too, were a part of Natasha's family. It was vividly expressed in a way that drew me into the experience as if I had personally known all the characters. They were well rounded depictions, having both strengths and flaws, making her people very real to me. I highly recommend it to not only young readers, but anyone at any age who wants to either sympathize or empathize with a family's struggles to survive and thrive in a world they don't yet know.  Even as a middle-aged woman, I found from reading this book that it's never too late to learn. Natasha's story has had a ripple effect on my life and that of others, as it made me more sensitive when a stranger to this country recently entered my life. The book was entertaining, informative, and touching and I applaud Ms. McCaughan for her contribution to her reader's awareness of the anguish of those who find themselves baffled by a new life in a strange place.
2949652
I found Black, White, Other: In Search of Nina Armstrong by Joan Lester to be an engrossing read with not one false note throughout two interlocking stories of Nina and Sarah.  It's a dark-night-of-the-soul coming-of-age narrative of the contemporary Nina and the slave girl Sarah, each facing and coming to terms with very different kinds of imprisonment.  The writing is concise, tempered, and everything in the narrative is truly balanced, keeping it a human story.  I never once felt preached to but more that windows were opening to the human condition through this empathetic story, and they continue to open, informed by the experience of Lester's book.
4661213
Totally satisfying in describing the shared human experience of struggle and growth. Leaving, staying and trying to return are the major themes
4305782
genuine, relatable, and emotionally stirring-this is a wonderful read!
4058759
Jane Goodall's very personal account of her life, values, convictions and evolving insights results in a compelling case for human spirituality and its role in shaping a better world. Eloquently written, from the heart, and underscored with gems of her poetry, the autobiography compels the reader to introspection and self-reflection, to visualize your own life purpose and become a better person. Because that is what Earth needs, what people, animals and the environment need. In this particular book, it is rather Jane, more than the chimps, who becomes the window to a better understanding of our human nature and its potential to rise above evil. A must-read source of hope.
4807477
I finished this book in two sittings, it immediately drew me in.

There are some exceptionally difficult subjects  handled within this book; motherhood, mental illness, infertility, alcoholism, loss and marriage under the strain of these topics. The author handles these subjects with extreme empathy, thoughtfulness and insight.

The majority of the book is set within a police station as two women are interviewed about an accident, we watch the story unfold from both persepctives as both women try to come to terms with what has happened.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, all of the characters were believable and easy to empathise with. I would definitely reccomend as a quick read unless you are likely to be triggered by any of the topics listed above
3185689
Cup of Dust is easily one of my favorite reads of 2016 so far. Im confident it will remain on my favorites list through years end and beyond. I found so many things to love about this coming-of-age story. The author strikes the perfect balance between the grim reality that the Spence family faced during the Dust Bowl, and the hope that they could still find within each other and a better future.

The first-person narration feels nearly perfect. I was immediately captured by Pearl Spences precocious and endearing voice. She is young, yet possesses a maturity that surpasses her years. Though the harshness of the Dust Bowl has forced Pearl to grow up in many ways, she is still a child, and her outlook matches that. Pearls narration brings freshness and balance to the harsh setting better than I could have imagined. Her naivety and moments of deep insight and clarity blend together in such a skillful way.

The historical details are vivid, and Pearls memories of before the Dust Bowl bring the current state of affairs into sharp contrast. The struggles of everyday life, whether its keeping grit and dust out of your home, eyes and lungs, having enough food to eat, or feeling the constant worry of a sudden dust storm, are all described vividly. The secondary characters are as equally compelling. Pearls parents and grandmother are the pillars that hold up the family, yet Pearl is the glue that keeps them all in place. Their interactions together have such a realness and truthfulness to them. I was deeply moved by this familys resiliency in the face of hard and dangerous times.

The plot held my interest the entire time; some of the chapters reminded me of vignettes, in that they were snap shots of Pearls life and the life of her family. Everything was revealed in a way that felt in keeping with the rest of the story, and I had a keen sense of how Pearl spent her days. Though some might feel it was slow moving, I feel that the plot suited the story and the setting. While the action builds slowly, when it does reach its crescendo, the emotion that goes with it is deep and riveting.

The menacing nature of the antagonist never feels cartoonish or unrealistic. It is truly one of those instances where it's a wolf in sheeps clothing, and Pearl is the only one that sees the wolf. Its one of those moments that I had to pause for reflection, to really remember that everyone has a reason and rationale for the way they respond to life. In Pearls word, people have scars on their hearts, and its the way one chooses to respond that makes all the difference. Susie did an excellent job creating this malignant character, while allowing the reader to see the reasoning behind it.

I haven't read any of Susie Finkbeiner's books other than this one, but you can be sure that I will do so in the future. Any continuation of the Spence family story would be bumped to the top of my to-read list. A Cup of Dust was a complete joy to read. She did not write a feel good story, but rather created something heartbreaking and beautiful, and true. The ending doesnt wrap things up neatly in a bow, but still left me with a profound hope. The story gave me a sense of admiration and respect for those who lived through one of historys worst moments, and a deep appreciation for the real meaning of family and the unwavering, sacrificial love that goes with it. A Cup of Dust is historical fiction at its finest, and I highly recommend it.
4952890
This audio book, read beautifully by the author, is compelling, poetic and sensual. It's a book of the senses, where we hear the katydids harsh and over-loud in the summer night, and feel the humid heat of a time of procreative fullness. The language of the place and the characters lends a rhythm to the whole, which Kingsolver's reading does justice to. The three main stories, interwoven by characters as well as theme, are complex and memorable, and she has brought us the sense of isolation and also community that all of us suffer from. A fascinating and enviable accomplishment.
1287019
David Oates is a skilled, compelling guide through the ecological, political, literary, ethical, and spiritual challenges of our troubled times.  There is hardly anywhere he doesn't take his readers for at least a moment, and, like Garrison Keelor, he addresses "life's persistent questions," with irony, humor and knife sharp intellegence.  This is a book to read through once, as I did, with minimum interruptions, then to be savored a piece at a time.  As he explores intellectually and metaphorically the connections between the human and the non-human worlds, he draws readers beyond despair into hope grounded in what is.  And, by the way, Oates' writing is clean, accessible, and powerful.  I first read Paradise Wild sitting in my garden; the next time I lift a pack and head into the wilderness, I plan to take it along.
2478575
There's a richly layered tapestry of voices inside this anthology, some familiar and others intriguingly mysterious. Their perspectives and their stories are playful and serious, inspiring and inscrutable. The undercurrent flowing through this "diversity of voices" will be familiar to everyone; its timeless quality achieves the book's stated purpose of engaging today's and tomorrow's readers.

The book itself can be sipped and savored, which is how I've been reading it, dipping in and out of the different sections, marveling at how these stories speak to me about relationships, families, and the human experience.
4189813
I started listening to the Audible version of this book the evening It became available and found it so compelling that I had finished by the next evening.  I read the hardcover this past weekend.

Sheryl's personal story of loss, interwoven with the stories of other survivors hardships and tragedies, combined well with Adams in-depth understanding of resilience literature.  It makes for an absorbing read (or, in the case of an audiobook, an absorbing "listen").

Their book includes important facts and strategies, intermixed with thought-provoking quotes, humor, and deeply personal stories -- the latter of which thoroughly held my attention.  These personal stories provide concrete evidence that resilience is not a fixed personality trait and that there is much we can do to promote our own post-traumatic growth.  I am especially appreciative that the authors emphasized there is also much that friends, family members, worksites, and on-line communities can do to promote such growth.

Thanks also to the authors for highlighting the ongoing plight of refugees throughout the world and the resilience they must demonstrate simply to survive in truly horrendous circumstances.

This was far more than a self-help book describing strategies for promoting resilience; there are many such books available and some are excellent. Instead, I view this book as a spark, a catalyst leading to many more critical conversations and initiatives.
1594742
The author writes in the style of a Diary and autobiograhy,w hich gvies a deep sense of immersion and personal connection with the reader.

I found myself being pulled into this book and will apply several of the lessons learned in it, above all the author list every possible angle that covers happiness from science, to one's personal relationship and gives simple means with which to improves your daily life, from listening to your favourite song, to rewarding yourself whenever you do something right.

A great read which I woudl recoment to anyone suffering from depression and hopelessness
3453227
This collection of thoughts shows the reader the vulnerability of the human condition, while adding humor and pathos felt by us all.