September means many things, including back to school if you have children. It also means back to a normal life as well, including less trips and closing down the cottage if you own one. This signifies more time for reading for many, and with this issue, comes over thirty reasons to read books. With something for every reading taste, we hope you will find a book or books to your liking.
Shelf Life recently lost a long-time reader who was a book lover from way back. Conrad Odegaard ask me to bring him half a dozen copies of each issue sho he could take them to his friends he had breakfast with every Saturday morning. He gave them to the friends, so they could decide which books to purchase for the coming month. This was a ritual for years and with his passing, this world has lost a great person who accomplished so much during his seventy-five years. I dedicate this issue in his memory. He will be missed.
Paul Sutter
Editor/Publisher
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*** Fiction Section ***
*** Best September Fiction ***
Redemption
by David Baldacci
(Grand Central – $38.00 – 422 pages)
“(Baldacci) has that knack for taking a story and crafting it into something exceptional.”
Rating: 5 bookmarks
After She’s Gone
by Camille Grebe – Translated by Elizabeth Clark Wessel
(Ballantine – $36.00 – 380 pages)
“…the story becomes very complex, giving it a personal and more urgent touch”
Rating: 5 bookmarks
*** Rest of September Fiction ***
The Stone Circle
by Elly Griffiths
(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt – $39.00 – 368 pages)
“…Elly Griffiths proves yet again why her books are so popular and irresistible.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Never Look Back
by Alison Gaylin
(William Morrow – $21.00 – 343 pages)
“…a tense thriller that shows the effects of murder on a family and the consequences of those who were part of the crime.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Dead If You Don’t
by Peter James
(Macmillan – $25.99 – 420 pages)
Reviewed by John M. Milner
“If there is one overwhelming theme in DEAD IF YOU DON’T, it’s that nothing is what it seems.”
Rating: 4 1/2 bookmarks
Strong as Steel
by Jon Land
(Forge – $36.50 – 332 pages)
“STRONG AS STEEL keeps the Caitlin mystique as strong as ever, thanks to one action sequence after another.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
The Wolf and the Watchman
by Niklas Natt Och Dag
(Atria – $23.00 – 373 pages)
“The author has created a very readable historical novel, filled with a bit of everything but mainly great characters and story.”
Rating: 4 1/2 bookmarks
All the Wrong Places
by Joy Fielding
(Doubleday Canada – $25.00 – 360 pages)
“When it comes to quality mystery and suspense, one can never go wrong with a Joy Fielding book.”
Rating: 3 1/2 bookmarks
The Murder Book
by Lissa Marie Redmond
(Midnight Ink – $21.99 – 303 pages)
“This police procedural has the right amount of intrigue and suspense.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Target Alex Cross
by James Patterson
(Little Brown – $38.00 – 432 pages)
“The book goes beyond traditional Alex Cross fare, making it possibly the most complex and heart-stopping of the series.”
Rating: 4 1/2 bookmarks
Wolf Pack
by C.J. Box
(Putnam – $36.00 – 373 pages)
“Box gives readers one thrill after another with nothing in black and white. ”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Night of Miracles
by Elizabeth Berg
(Random House – $35.00 – 268 pages)
“It is a miracle of a book, written in a style that will have readers riveted to the pages…”
Rating: 4 1/2 bookmarks
Every Breath
by Nicholas Sparks
(Grand Central – $36.50 – 306 pages)
“The book may not be as romantically riveting as past novels, but is still recommended for all who enjoy a great love story written from the male perspective.”
Rating: 3 1/2 bookmarks
Of Blood and Bone
by Nora Roberts
(St. Martin’s Press – $35.99 – 454 pages)
“Roberts narrates the tale with such passion, that you visualize every sentence you read.”
Rating: 3 1/2 bookmarks
Trance
by Adam Southward
(Thomas & Mercer – $23.95 – 330 pages)
“The book turns ghoulish and downright creepy at times…”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
*** Classic Fiction Revisited***
Touch & Go
by Lisa Gardner
(Dutton – $28.50 – 420 pages)
“…this was the first book that kept me reading after one o’clock in the morning.”
Rating: 5 bookmarks
*** Non-Fiction Section ***
*** Best September Non-Fiction ***
Smithsonian Spaceflight: The Complete Story from Sputnik to Curiousity
by Giles Sparrow
(DK Books – $52.00 – 320 pages)
“The book is rich with photos and a thorough overview of space travel.”
Rating: 5 bookmarks
Treasures of Led Zeppelin
by Chris Welch
(Carlton – $59.95 – 66 pages with slipcover)
“…a must-own by any fan of Led Zeppelin.”
Rating: 5 bookmarks
**** Rest of September Non-Fiction ****
The Wisdom of Wonder Woman
by Signe Bergstrom
(Chronicle – $21.50 – 114 pages)
“It is obvious Wonder Woman was ahead of her time, and is little wonder that this character has shown a resurgence not only in the comic world but also was a blockbuster Hollywood movie.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Where You Going With That Gun In Your Hand (The True Crime Blotter of Rock ‘n’ Roll)
by Keith Elliott Greenberg
(Backbeat – $31.95 – 294 pages)
“…the author studies the tumultuous careers of those in the music word and whose death were murder, accident or suicide.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Understanding Northwest Coast Indigenous Jewelry
by Alexander Dawkins
(Greystone – $24.95 – 180 pages)
“…an important book in that it looks at the art, the artists, and traditions for some of the most intricate jewelry ever designed.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Eat Feel Fresh (A Contemporary Plant-Based Ayurvedic Cookbook)
by Sahara Rose Ketabi
(Alpha – $32.00 – 252 pages)
“…he book will open new avenues in life and health, creating better balance, healing and more.”
Rating: 3 1/2 bookmarks
Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia
by Christina Thompson
(Harper Collins – $36.99 – 320 pages)
Reviewed by Tori Levang
“The result is a fully-fleshed, truly multi-dimensional and ultimately stunning portrayal of these mysterious islands.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Jimmy Page: The Definitive Biography
by Chris Salewicz
(DaCapo – $39.00 – 520 pages
“The research is impeccable and the telling of Page’s story in entertaining…”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Majesty: The Illustrated History of Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal House of Windsor
by Rod Green
(Andre Deutsch- $50.00 – 224 pages)
“…a must-read book for those who are royal watchers and those who love the pageantry of royalty.”
Rating: 3 1/2 bookmarks
Before I Was a Critic I Was a Human Being
by Amy Fung
(Book*Hug – $20.00 – 184 pages)
“…draws the reader into Fung’s take on life, where yo could easily get lost within the pages, easily reading this book in less than a day.”
Rating: 3 1/2 bookmarks
The Dinosaur Artist: Obsession, Betrayal and the Quest for Earth’s Ultimate Trophy
by Paige Williams
(Hatchette – $36.50 – 374 pages)
“Dinosaurs may be long extinct but great journalism like this is certainly not.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Fame: The Hijacking of Reality
by Justine Bateman
(Akashic Books – $40.50 – 208 pages)
“FAME looks at the price many have paid for fame.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
For Single Mothers Working As Train Conductors
by Laura Esther Wolfson
(University of Iowa Press – $25.99 – 182 pages)
“The manner in which she relates all the events make this book a true joy to read.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Talking to Myself
by Daniela Rivera Zacarias
(Skyhorse – $22.95 – 220 pages)
“…there is little question that you will appreciate the wisdom and insight of Daniela Rivera Zacarias.”
Rating: 3 bookmarks
*** Classic Non-Fiction Revisited ***
The Opposite of Loneliness – Essays and Stories
by Marina Keegan
(Scribner – $27.00 – 210 pages)
“Each essay seems more profound than the other, and by the time you finish the book, you will feel sadness, but also gratitude…”
Rating: 5 bookmarks
*** Books for Children ***
I Didn’t Stand Up
by Lucy Falcone- Illustrated Jacqueline Hudon
(Clockwise Press – $19.95 – 32 pages)
“The book is magical, one that shows tolerance and treating everyone as an equal.”
Rating: 5 bookmarks
The Magical Forest
by Theodore Beres – Illustrated by Kristy De Guzman
(Magical Forest Press – $7.99 – 36 pages)
“This is a new series for very young children, all centering around some very friendly bears.”
Rating: 5 bookmarks
I am often asked how I choose which books I decide to feature each issue. That is a more than valid question. Basically, I try and select books from many genres with regard to fiction and for non-fiction, picking books that have appeal to various reading tastes. Because there is only space for so many books, that results sometimes in leaving some books out of a particular issue with the intention of placing them in the next issue. It usually works that way, but you know what they say about the best laid plans.
I don’t now what many readers’ happiest memories of summer would be, but when I was out of public school for the two-month vacation, besides going for short holidays with my mother and grandparents, reading was a key activity. My choice of reading material was the Hardy Boys books, of which I read every single title released up until 1968. Another favourite item to read was comic books, of which I had more than a plentiful supply I bought all summer long. Today, of course, my tastes have changed to reading as many varied books as possible, so I can offer Shelf Life readers choices of recommended titles. No matter where your areas of interest lie, I hope summer does not mean straying from books, because summer is the perfect time to sit back, relax, and no matter where you are, open up a book. With this issue, we hope we have made your task that much easier, with over thirty titles to inform, amuse, and excite. Have a safe and happy summer!
The month of June is significant for many things. Of course, it heralds the first day of Summer, longest day of the summer, end of the school year, and this year personally it is significant as well. On June 9, I turn 65, and while that represents the age of retirement for many, it makes me even more determined to find various things to keep me active. As Shelf Life has been a part of my life for 21 years, the furthest thing from my mind is closing up shop here. It is my love of books and getting others to read the latest and greatest titles, that has kept my interest at peak levels. I do not see that changing in the foreseeable future.
Now that the last gasps of Winter have officially gone into hibernation for another eight months hopefully, it is always interesting to look back at the season that was. This past Winter have more time to read and review books as for a six week span, I was saddled with dizziness and lightheaded feelings which kept me more indoors than out. I would have preferred other excuses to stay indoors but this was the best I could muster under the circumstances. The result of this was encountering so many more above average books as you discover in this latest issue. Publishers have a knack for representing some of the best authors out there and whether established authors or the proverbial new kids on the block, the reader is the winner in the great authors sweepstakes.
Well, here we are again at another Shelf Life Anniversary. This issue signifies our 21st anniversary, and each time out I become redundant when I state, “Where did the time go?” The Spring of 1998 was when this publication was started, and through 215 previoius issues has grown in leaps and bounds to a publication I could not be prouder of. No, we are not as big circulation-wise as some newspapers and magazines, but that was never the intent. I simply want to create a publication that tried to inspire people to pick up books and read them. I wanted readers to find books that interested them and even tried to pique their interest in finding books outside their comfort zone. From the feedback, that has happened a lot, which makes me even happier. Some who had not read a book in years were encouraged to do so, and that too is another plus of Shelf Life. In a wold where reading has taken a backseat at times to texting and video games, diehard book lovers still exist and as long as they do, as long as they continue to pick us up, then this mission is far from over. I continue to thank the amazing publishers who have remained faithful to Shelf Life, sending exceptional books to review and promote. And, of course, thank you to the readers, and last but not least the incredible reviewers past and present, who were just as dedicated to books and getting the message across to read these titles.
There are many reasons to celebrate the month of March. The first day of Spring arrives, daylight savings time is observed. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated, but in the world, it begins for many publishing houses with the new Spring arrivals. While the first three items noted are exciting for many, personally the release of Spring titles are what Shelf Life looks forward to even more. Having seen the catalogues and requesting some of the titles, we can assure you there are many great titles arriving soon from many of the authors you can have grown to love, and anticipate new releases from. So all we can say is stay tuned to upcoming issues. Shelf Life has always promised to offer the best in books for your reading consideration, and that is something we vow to honor we hope you enjoy this latest issue.
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