Book Review: She's Out. I'm In.

She's Out. I'm In. Solutions to 7 Relationship Problems. Toneal M. Jackson & Dominique Wilkins. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, December 29, 2013, Trade Paperback and Kindle, 95 pages. 

Reviewed by Robert Kingett.

If someone were to ever get into any kind of relationship, they would undoubtedly run into a few snags here and there and quarrel a bit. There are many resources on the web that address this situation, but there's nothing definitive in its own way and in a singular binding that's also conveniently small—until now.

She’s out. I’m in, despite what the title hints at, is a book that a person of any gender can learn from regarding such issues as cheating, self-esteem, money agreements, physical and emotional abuse, blended families, communication, setting boundaries, trust, and many other barriers to a healthy relationship.

Each scenario begins with a fictionalized account, with fictional people, effectively acting out the scenario, much like a self-help video. The fictional characters and situations are centered on the main topic of discussion as referenced in the chapter title. The scenes depict how the couples meet and provide a bit of background on everything from the way they grew up to their history in regard to the overall relationship, making a real nice and even transition into the main discussion and problem at hand.

After the scenario is presented, the following sections provide detailed solutions, looking at the fictional scenarios to point out key aspects of rhyme and reason and building up to many effective solutions. There are different facets that unravel the fabric of a healthy relationship, some within bigger issues, and the solutions provide a basis for solving many possible problems. Everything is described in a naturally calm style that will have every reader effectively understanding the problems and solutions. Excessive medical jargon is not used, so it would appear that the book serves its purpose: to act as a stable foundation where people can begin the journey to discovery and improvement.

The book definitely delivers what it promises, but the fact that every problem started with a fictional event kept pulling me away from the message that I was supposed to hear and grasp. The characters in the fictional scenes acted in ways that I would have handled differently, so when the solutions appeared a few pages later, I constantly compared myself to the characters portrayed and felt that I’d never do what they did or that I would have acted in a different way entirely. Because the reader is supposed to learn from the character’s mistakes, rather than analyzing their own possible mistakes, I couldn't really feel as though the solutions were for me to behold. As a result, I was left with a definitive disconnect throughout the book, thereby ruining the author’s intentions completely. It was as if I had stumbled into a private psychology session only to eavesdrop, and this technique didn't hold the weight as it might for other readers.

Even though I didn't feel a connection or feel as if this book really “understood” where I was coming from with my line of thinking, the vast array of resources provided throughout the text and the solid solutions to the given problems make this a very usable book. The book is suitable for individuals who want to glimpse some very small and yet effective solutions to situations they—or someone they know—may be going through. This book didn't leave me feeling a sense of resolve but there's a lot of substance behind every page, clearly defined and outlined in a book that is just right for readers who will benefit from it.

Book Review: Red Clover

Red Clover. Florence Osmund. CreateSpace Independent Publishing: February 22, 2014, Trade Paperback and Kindle, 248 pages.

Reviewed by Ray Paul.

Lee Winekoop is the youngest member of a wealthy, suburban, Chicago family. He is consumed by how different he is from his two older brothers—Nelson and Bennett—in terms of looks, abilities, and interests. While his brothers are comfortable with the parental demands required to maintain a wealthy lifestyle, Lee is constantly in therapy to remake him into a young person comfortable with his surroundings. In the eyes of his demanding father, a son should have an interest in making money and playing and following team sports, neither of which appealed to Lee. However, by the time Lee had left home and had some university experiences under his belt, he found that his choice of study was horticulture and specifically the genetic modification of plants for medical research. In addition, his sport of choice was karate. Both choices further distanced him from his family, When an uncle he had never met died and left him a substantial inheritance, including a large parcel of farmland, Lee had the means to separate himself from his family, work in an area that held his interest, and associate with people who enhanced him and furthered his self-esteem. For the reader with a rooting interest in Lee, the trip is certainly worthwhile.

There are many wonderful facets to this story. First, the characters are all well-rounded. They can be weak at one moment and strong at another, overbearing in one setting and accommodating at a different time. Lee, the hero character, has his flaws, while most of the less worthy characters still have their redeeming qualities, and all except one, who I hated all the way through the book.

Another strength of the book is that it takes place in a number of settings: lavish homes in large cities, lake homes in upscale resort areas, farms, small town bars, research laboratories, police station cells, and court rooms. A pleasant surprise for me was the inclusion of a number of references to places in my hometown of Rockford, Illinois, and a number of surrounding small towns of which I'm familiar.

Technically, the author's descriptions are concise and clear and her dialog is realistic though lacking in attribution at times, which on occasion made it difficult for me to know who was talking. That being said, in my opinion, Florence Osmund has written a wonderfully detailed story about a man overcoming his upbringing and becoming his own man. The finished product, both the man and the story, are exemplary.

Book Review: From God's Monster to the Devil's Angel

From God's Monster to the Devil's Angel. Luther Butler. CreateSpace: January 17, 2014, Trade Paperback and e-book, 166 pages.

Reviewed by Jessica Cage.

From God's Monster to the Devil's Angel is an autobiography of the life of author, Luther Butler. It maps his growth from childhood to adulthood and provides a graphic look into the life of someone who has suffered a lifetime of abuse and neglect but manages to overcome it. I have to say that this book wasn’t at all what I expected. It is shocking and touching and heartbreaking. Butler wrote this book to inspire the at-risk teens that he mentors and the story he portrays is truly inspirational.

While reading this tale of hard knocks, you want to imagine that it isn’t real, that the characters were fictional because to know that such acts occur is difficult to digest. However, it is the truth and it reads as such. Luther tells this story as if he is sitting down with a friend recounting the trials of his life. What I appreciated about this story was that it wasn’t written to be overly pleasing or overly aggressive. It is written in a way that takes you through all the emotions from sadness to triumph.

The shock factor of this book has to be the celebrity aspect of it. Butler’s life was entangled with the lives of some high profile people and you want to think that they, anyone, would have stepped in. It just goes to show that being a celebrity doesn’t make you any better or any less blinded to what is going on around you. People like to take the stand of “It ain’t my business.” This one thing really needs to change in our society. I do believe that by reading this book, at-risk youths and adults will find solace in knowing that things can get better. Butler portrays some of the lowest points of his life openly and honestly to show that there is a way out of the fire.

At some points, I did find it hard to follow along with the timeline. I attribute this challenge to the conversational style of writing employed. Also, there were some points where I found myself mentally saying “Wait, say that again . . .” I did enjoy the descriptions of inner city Chicago, especially being so close to where I grew up myself. It allowed me to have a personal connection to the book as well.

From God's Monster to the Devil's Angel is a powerful story with an important message.

Book Review: Give Me Chocolate, A Kelly Clark Mystery

Give Me Chocolate, A Kelly Clark Mystery. Annie Hansen. Published by Weaving Dreams, May 11, 2013, Trade Paperback and e-book, 261 pages.

Reviewed by Roxe Anne Peacock.

Give Me Chocolate is set in a quaint town along the Fox River in Geneva, Illinois, one hour west of Chicago. Kelly Clark has left California to start anew. She turned her husband, Steve, into the authorities after he tried killing his pregnant mistress. He had already served three years of his thirteen-year sentence when she left penniless to live with her younger sister, Nikki, above the old Victorian which housed the specialty bakery. After several emails from someone in her past and several break-ins within the last month in the historical neighborhood, Kelly wondered if her past didn’t follow her. And when someone she grows found of is found murdered at Chocolate Love, she looks for clues as to who the killer is before she becomes the next victim.  As the story progresses, the suspects—as well as bodies—begin to stack up.

When Kelly Clark arrived in Geneva, she had no plans on ever dating again. But Nikki had other ideas, which included yoga in Batavia. Along with the yoga, Nikki hoped Kelly would rekindle a relationship with an old flame. Kelly’s only interests these days were to work on her antique murder series for her editor and continue her jogging in the morning.

Kelly’s older sister, Adelle, and her husband, Mike Stefano, seemed to have it all: three children, large home, and a construction company. Guess who needed a babysitter? But not all was cozy with the Stefano family. They seemed to be having marital problems.

Author Annie Hansen truly weaves the reader through her cozy mystery somewhat in the same sense as Jessica Beck. Lately, it has taken me days to read books, but Ms. Hansen’s descriptive writing kept me turning pages. I finished the book in one sitting. I am looking forward to the next book to see how the author continues the series. There is a bonus recipe at the end of the book for chocolate lovers.

Annie Hansen was a recipient of the Mystery Writers of America 2011 Helen McCloy/MWA Scholarship. After reading Give Me Chocolate, I understand why she won the award. Ms. Hansen is a graduate of the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Biology and lives in the suburbs of Chicago.

Book Review: Death by Children

Death by Children. Bull Garlington. Everything Goes Media, Chicago, October 2013, Trade paperback and e-book, 169 pages.

Reviewed by Ed Marohn.

“There were times I wasn’t sure my son belonged to me. I worried perhaps there’d been a mix up in maternity, like maybe one of the nurses held my actual son in her arms, his cherubic mug illuminating the entire ward, then looked at me and thought, ‘This can’t be right. Give him the trucker baby!’”

The quote from Death by Children highlights author Bull Garlington’s humorous bent about his children, and he carries that humor throughout his compiled series of essays. Those who have had children and then shooed them off into the world, or who still have children at home, will find solace in these writings. Garlington’s book is funny and descriptive of parents and their kids interacting in a modern family of a stay-at-home dad and a working mom pursuing her legal career. The reader will be entertained while reading many of the crisp stories, and it is a book easily read in one sitting. It’s also a book to enjoy and relish by reading one essay a day as a funny anecdote to help unwind from a hectic day at work—a daily dose of humor if you will. After all, who hasn’t struggled in a conversation with a teenager, asking, “What did you do at school today?” and often getting the standard flat answer of, “Nothing.” Even dumb parents know that something had to occur at school. Really!

The book doesn’t stop with revelations about the author’s son and daughter. It goes beyond to the pets. Read this to whet your appetite: “I love our dog. I love the fact that he’s mildly retarded, that he thinks every command means beg, that he has an uncanny, nearly supernatural ability to sock me in the balls every time he jumps up into my lap, and that eats watermelon and popsicles. He is unbearably cute and truly remarkable and I’m going to miss him—but he has to go.”

Thus, the author uses his sarcasm to educate others who may not know kids and pets and, as you finish reading the book, you begin to understand why his book’s subtitle exists: “I had kids so that you don’t have to.” He is on a comical crusade to warn others about kids and pets while at the same time trying to rationalize his parenting. Let’s face it, we do not become parents through formal education on parenthood but through trial and error and hopefully from sound advice from others such as our own parents—that is, if they were good teachers. It is no wonder that when our children reach the teenage years they become formidable in countering our attempts to parent at every step of the way. This books serves to enlighten us about life, to show it isn’t perfect out there. Maybe we should chuckle about it.

The author is a syndicated humor columnist whose works appear in Chicago Parent and NY Parenting. He co-authored the popular foodie compendium, The Beat Cop’s Guide to Chicago Eats (Lake Claremont Press). Garlington won a Gold Award for best humor article from the Parenting Media Association in 2014. Check out his Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/christopher.garlington.