John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

Rotten Fruit in an Unkempt Garden by Michael Nanfito

A raw, unusual, and unforgettable memoir, Rotten Fruit in an Unkempt Garden by Michael Nanfito is a collection of personal essays, poetry, art, quotes, and reflections that encapsulate a remarkable life and an inspiring worldview.

Exploring outlaw living, alternative perspectives, and universal themes of lost love and opportunity, this patchwork offering of thoughts and memories is powerful and intimate. The opening section focuses heavily on religion, and Nanfito’s experience with patriarchal betrayals, both psychological and physical, and closes on a damning note: “We’ve yet to evict these faithless landlords / from the spaces that were always ours.” The writing then […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-01-14T06:49:16+02:00January 14th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews, Poetry Book Reviews|

Oh No…Hacked Again! by Zinet Kemal

A charming, relatable, and colorful introduction to cybersecurity and general online safety, Oh No…Hacked Again!: A Story About Online Safety by Zinet Kemal is an important read for children in today’s gadget-filled, tech-driven world. The story of Elham, Imran, and their clever mom touches on potentially risky situations online that kids face all the time, even if they don’t realize it, and offers advice on how to stay safe and protect your privacy. Quick, simple, inclusive, and educational, this vibrantly illustrated book will leave readers with plenty to think about next time they jump online, regardless of their age. While […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-01-12T03:27:39+02:00January 12th, 2022|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Miss. A and Johnny’s European Escapade LONDON by Silver Vixen

Saved by a mysterious woman one day and bought by her the next, Johnny finds himself tangled up and fumbling through the enigmatic worlds of art and event planning in Miss. A and Johnny’s European Escapade LONDON by Silver Vixen. However, books aren’t the only thing bound in leather in this exotic, newly-revealed realm of decadence and desire. Boasting prose that blushes, titillates, and teases, this pulse-pounding novella from the Femme Fatale Rescue Diaries is smart, steamy, and charming – the kind of high-end romance that will leave readers satisfied in all the best ways.

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John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-01-11T03:45:34+02:00January 10th, 2022|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Post-Bliss by Jay Honeycomb

A raw and savagely contemporary novella, Post-Bliss by Jay Honeycomb taps into the fears and existential angst of today through tangential, subtle, and compelling storytelling. An actor with nothing to lose slips into the confounding worlds of alternative medicine – new-age, natural, psychological, and artificial – while another plotline leaps around Australia on an abstract, reality-adjacent adventure. Mingling storytelling forms, playing with time, exploring dreams, and injecting the prose with powerful personal philosophy, this visionary read is dense with intention, allegory, and thoughtful commentary on the increasingly strange times of the present day.

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John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-01-10T09:31:46+02:00January 10th, 2022|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

The Living Wound by Shamir Kali Griffin

A stirring collection that feels both ancient and contemporary, The Living Wound: Conquering Hope and Loss (Urban Poetry & Soul Book 4) by Shamir Kali Griffin is a testament to resilience and healing, for individuals and for the world.

Like other books in this powerful series, this is a kaleidoscopic memoir in verse and experimental storytelling. As the title implies, these pieces reveal a myriad of griefs, both great and small, physical and abstract, societal and psychological. Painful confessions and nakedly honest revelations abound: “Today I took a breath praying to die / Hoping that this last one would be […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-01-07T07:20:40+02:00January 7th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews|

I Celebrate My Skin by Nonku Kunene Adumetey, Illustrated by Mary K. Biswas

A book that simultaneously highlights what makes people unique and what unites us, I Celebrate My Skin by Nonku Kunene Adumetey, with illustrations by Mary K. Biswas, is an inspiring and easy-to-read children’s book focused on identity development. Brightly colored illustrations accompany the bursts of positive prose and inclusive language, making this a vibrant and meaningful addition to any child’s bookshelf. More text would be welcome in the middle section of the book, but the activities at the end of the book are engaging and thought-provoking. Boasting modern illustrations and timely themes of acceptance and cross-cultural sensitivity, Adumetey has crafted […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-01-05T04:43:28+02:00January 5th, 2022|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: Broken Promises: The Story of a Jewish Family in Germany by Bonnie Suchman

Unearthing an astonishing family history from the dark heart of the 20th century, Broken Promises: The Story of a Jewish Family in Germany by Bonnie Suchman is a revelatory and powerful read.

In an effort not to let a valuable story be lost, the author dove into the annals of Heppenheimer family history, from their humble beginnings to their industrial accomplishments, as they fought and struggled for their identity, security, and place to call home. From the first decade of the 1700s, once Jewish people were “allowed” to return to Germany, all the way to the decades following World War […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-02-14T07:49:12+02:00January 4th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Biography Book Reviews, History Book Reviews|

Review: Dutch Preacher Boy by Tuna Fisch

From the life of an immigrant in Western Michigan to the overwhelming allure of Los Angeles and the sweat-soaked streets of Latin America, Dutch Preacher Boy: Coming of Age in Grand Rapids, Taking Wing Beyond* by Tuna Fisch is an unpredictable and deeply compelling memoir.

The author’s unforgettable childhood in the beauty of Holland and his exciting journey to the “New World” sets the tone for the story, summoned by a razor-sharp memory and the ability to paint rich and immersive scenes, even from five decades ago. His sense of childlike wonder and excitement is everywhere in the prose, which […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-02-14T04:39:17+02:00January 3rd, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews|