Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Mr. Smitty Notes: Genesis 1-11 by Mr. Smitty

An older mentor writes to a boy named Sammy to explain why and how our views of morality and spirituality have changed since the founding of America, basing his case on the biblical creation story, in Mr. Smitty Notes: Genesis 1-11.

The author introduces this lively viewpoint by explaining to the reader that Mr. Smitty, the “author” of the narrative, would be someone with whom Sammy has “an important relationship,” expressing his concern for the boy’s future by acquainting him with elements of the past with which Sammy may not be entirely familiar. He reminds the reader that the […]

SPR2021-04-21T08:34:58+02:00March 12th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Religion|

Review: The Second Arrow by Sahli A. Cavallaro

With a pervading air of mystery and curiosity, poet Sahli A. Cavallaro probes the puzzles of life, love, connection and meaning in The Second Arrow: A Book of Illustrated Poetry, an exploratory and experimental collection.

With poems that range from the whimsical and musing to the heavy and emotionally vulnerable, this gathering of work is linguistically unique, and buttressed by detailed illustrations that break up the experience for readers. One could argue that this is a dark collection, but it is more varied than that, with plenty of existential weight mixed with splashes of playfulness and intrigue.

In “Comfort […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-03-11T06:01:30+02:00March 10th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Poetry|

Review: Beowulf: A Verse Translation from the Anglo-Saxon by Andrew B. F. Carnabuci

More than 1,000 years after the epic poem of Beowulf was first penned, Andrew B. F. Carnabuci continues a long tradition of demystification and offers up his own take with Beowulf: A Verse Translation from the Anglo-Saxon.

What remains unchanged in this accessible and unbiased translation is the story itself: the tragic and triumphant life of Beowulf, a great Scandinavian warrior whose bravery and leadership has become the stuff of legend. Beginning with his youthful battles in Denmark against the infamous monster Grendel, and Grendel’s even more malevolent mother, it doesn’t take long for the Beowulf to demonstrate his […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-04-08T11:27:24+02:00March 8th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Classics, Poetry|

Review: Growing Pains: Volume 1 (Raw Mind) by Evan McMillan

Evan McMillan releases a torrent of biographical poetry in his raw and unabashed collection Growing Pains: Volume 1 (Raw Mind).

Notably, there is a clear autobiographical story woven through these bursting lines of passion and vulnerability. The poet is a man who has faced numerous heartbreaks and disappointments, he’s been failed by multiple systems, and he has even been betrayed by his own body’s desires, so the collection often feels like a cry of rage into the void.

As he explains in his introduction, there is “… no trying to say the right thing. It’s pure expression, spilling out […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-04-28T04:39:35+02:00March 3rd, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Evan McMillan, Poetry|

Review: Beezie the Baby Bumble Bee by Dr. David Florence, Illustrated by Jesse Maloney

Dr. David Florence pens a whimsical and colorful tale for children in Beezie the Baby Bumble Bee, a tender and message-rich tale.

Being a little bee who gets tired on long flights makes it hard to get a full belly of pollen every day. Young Beezie takes an eye-opening adventure, aided by a number of other helpful creatures – and a human honey man – in an effort to get ahead and find some pollen. The wisdom of owls and the generosity of eagles help save the day for this adorable little character.

The subtly beautiful (and occasionally silly) […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-04-06T08:11:01+02:00February 25th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Children's Books|

Review: Your Next Big Idea by Samuel Sanders

With drawings, diagrams, and dynamic brain teasing techniques, author and entrepreneur Samuel Sanders presents new ways to look at our habits and problems and create new patterns and solutions, whether in professional or personal life, in Your Next Big Idea: Improve Your Creativity and Problem Solving.

Sanders cites four skills to be examined and developed in the course of his interactive book: innovation, creation, problem solving, and ideation – being “an ace at coming up with ideas.” He asserts that once a reader completes his guide, s/he will be able to come up with 100 meaningful ideas to incorporate […]

SPR2021-04-06T04:18:24+02:00February 25th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Business, Self-Help|

Review: Beyond the Rainbow by James S. Bergquist

James S. Bergquist delivers a devastating novel of tragedy, deceit, and resilience with Beyond the Rainbow, a heartbreaking tale of perseverance.

After discovering a terrible secret about his troubled ex-partner and young daughter, Ethan does his best to move forward in the relationship and mend some very dangerous wounds. However, he also wields the dark secret like a weapon, or at least a looming threat, and consequently has his life ripped away by a cruel lie. Following the dramatic, stage-setting opening chapters is an in-depth peek at the criminal justice system, as well as the circuitous, time-intensive nature of […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-02-25T08:13:07+02:00February 24th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Contemporary Fiction, James S. Bergquist|

Review: Operation Oversex by Anthony Robinson

Anthony Robinson envisions a bizarre female-fueled future in Operation Oversex, an updated homage to sexy and dystopian sci-fi literature of the past.

When Chad O’Connor and Tyrone Jackson sign up for a groundbreaking experiment in cryotechnology, they hardly expect to overshoot their wake-up window by more than five decades. They re-emerge in 2083, amidst a post-nuclear landscape, unaware that this new world is completely barren of men, though their strangely stoic caretakers immediately hint that something has gone terribly wrong.

After slipping free from the clutches of the all-powerful Union, Chad and Tyrone encounter the resistance army – battle-hardened […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-04-01T08:03:37+02:00February 21st, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Anthony Robinson, Satire, Science Fiction|