Over the years, SHELF LIFE has used different phrases to try and catch the attention of the reader. “Read them and reap, reviews you can use,” and “books worth a look,” are but a few. The latest “Experience the need to read,” came as a result of discussion with a friend. He askes me after publishing and editing Shelf Life for twenty years, why I continued to do so. My response initially was because it is challenging and I love books. Then I said, “I want people to experience the need to read.” He nodded vigorously and said “I like that.” He even picked up a pen and paper and wrote those words down. Words like this have been my mantra in a manner of speaking. Having been a constant reader since age 10 and now in my sixties, I continue to find joy within the pages of books no matter what the subject. But there is an even greater reason for people to “experience the need to read.” Research has noted that because dementia and Alzheimer’s have become so prominent, we must find ways to keep the brain stimulated. Reading they said was one of those ways. I endorse this heartily. It may not halt the onset of diseases, but anything to give you the fighting chance is paramaount and certainly a positive. In this issue are more than thirty reasons to read, and surely there are topis and books that must pique your interest. Hopefully, we are dong our little part to encourage people never to just sit and do nothing. Reading a book is a memorable experience, one that hopefully this publication will encourage people to do for many years to come.
Enjoy this issue!
Paul Sutter
Editor/Publisher
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*** Fiction Section ***
*** Best October Fiction ***
Bellevue Square
by Michael Redhill
(Doubleday Canada – $32.00 – 262 pages)
“It is a quirky, delightful book that grows on you the more you read.”
Rating: 5 bookmarks
The Cutting Edge
by Jeffrey Deaver
(Grand Central Publishing – $36.50 – 448 pages)
“Deaver offers the usual thrills and suspense that comes quickly and consistently.”
Rating: 5 bookmarks
*** Rest of October Fiction ***
Hold Back the Dark
by Kay Hooper
(Berkley – $36.00 – 292 pages)
“It is not your typical thriller because there is so much happening, mainly of the bizarre and unexplained variety.”
Rating: 4 1/2 bookmarks
The Chalk Man
by C.J. Tudor
(Doubleday Canada – $24.95 – 278 pages)
“The mystery deepens by the page…”
Rating: 4 1/2 bookmarks
Blame
by Jeff Abbott
(Grand Central Publishing – $34.00 – 375 pages)
“…another classic tale that you won’t want to put down.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Glimpse
by Jonathan Maberry
(St. Martin’s Press – $34.99 – 338 pages)
“…has elements of horror, along with mystery and suspense.”
Rating: 4 1/2 bookmarks
Shoot First
by Stuart Woods
(Putnam – $37.00 – 360 pages)
“…a book you should read first, and ask questions later.”
Rating: 3 1/2 bookmarks
The Outsider
by Stephen King
(Scribner – $39.99 – 563 pages)
“THE OUTSIDER is classic King, a book most mesmerizing.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties
by Camille Pagan
(Lake Union – $21.95 – 246 pages)
“We happily follow (Maggie), along with the other characters as Maggie learns from life and adversity, not letting it define or defeat her.”
Rating: 3 1/2 bookmarks
The Rooster Bar
by John Grisham
(Doubleday – $37.00 – 354 pages)
“…focuses on scams and rip offs, making for an interesting read as you cheer for the underdogs …”
Rating: 3 1/2 bookmarks
The Late Show
by Michael Connelly
(Little Brown – $36.50- 408 pages)
“…has a definite winner with Renee Ballard, and we cannot wait to see what happens next to this feisty and lethal lady cop.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Operation Down
by Brad Taylor
(Dutton – $36.00 – 450 pages)
“…the same intensity of all past books, with the usual life-threatening moments tossed in for good measure.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell
by Robert Dugoni
(Lake Union – $21.95 – 430 pages)
“…a book with a message of hope, that something good will eventually come from bad…”
Rating: 4 1/2 bookmarks
The Shepherd’s Hut
by Tim Winton
(Picador – $30.99 – 267 pages)
“… a most intense and gritty tale of survival and coming to grips with realities that cannot be changed.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
The Woman Who Ran
by Sam Baker
(Harper Collins – $21.99 – 406 pages)
“…a book we should definitely not run from, but stay intently reading until we arrive at the moment of truth and beyond.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
The Evil That Men Do
by Robert Gleason
(Forge – $36.50 – 432 pages)
“It is complex and very well crafted, a book with so many elements playing into the story.”
Rating: 3 1/2 bookmarks
In the Hush of the Night
by Raymond Benson
(Skyhorse – $37.99 – 316 pages)
“Benson’s writing style (takes) us for an unstoppable ride to the last pages.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
The Dark Angel
by Elly Griffiths
(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt – $36.00 – 345 pages)
“…has the same elements that have created a strong fan base for the author.”
Rating: 3 1/2 bookmarks
The Ruinous Sweep
by Tim Wynne-Jones
(Candlewick Press – $21.00 – 388 pages)
“There is a mystical quality to the passages both in fantasy and reality.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
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*** Non-Fiction Section ***
*** Best October Non-Fiction ***
The Official NHL Hockey Treasures – Centennial Edition 1917-2017
by Dan Diamond with Eric Zweig & Craig Ellenport
(Thomas Allen – $34.99 – 100 pages)
“No serious fan of the sport should be without this ultimate tribute to 100 years of incredible hockey history.”
Rating: 5 bookmarks
Girl, Wash Your Face
by Rachel Hollis
(DK Books – $28.50 -220 pages)
“…will cleanse your body with inspiration and candor.”
Rating: 5 bookmarks
**** Rest of October Non-Fiction ****
Paul Simon: The Life
by Robert Hilburn
(Simon & Schuster – $39.99 – 438 pages)
“…everyone a biography should be, filled with heart and soul and what has made Simon one of the greats of the music world.”
Rating: 4 1/2 bookmarks
Star Wars: The Visual Encyclopedia
by Tricia Barr, Adam Bray, & Cole Horton
(DK Books – $37.00 – 202 pages)
“…another one of those things fans need to add to their collection…”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Operation Robot: A Century of Science Fiction, Fact, and Speculation
by Terri Favro
(Skyhorse – $38.99 – 231 pages)
Reviewed by: Tori Levang
“This creates a well-rounded view and examination of robots in general, and what it might mean for humans in the future.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
The Big Break
by Stephen Dando Collins
(St. Martin’s Press – $38.99 – 252 pages)
“…relating the graphic details, showing triumphs of the heart and spirit…”
Rating: 3 bookmarks
The Man Who Could Be King
by John Ripley Miller
(Little A – $21.95 – 294 pages)
Reviewed by John M. Milner
“…eventually the knowledge Miller is trying to impart bods down the story he is trying to tell.”
Rating: 3 bookmarks
Girl, It’s Not You (It’s Definitely Him)
by Megan Edwards and Janet Reynolds
(Self Publishing Agency – $19.95 – 190 pages)
“…offers even more disturbing stories of men who created some of the worst possible dates for the women with them.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Giada’s Italy
by Giada De Laurenitis
(Potter – $47.00 – 290 pages)
“This is certainly a book for lovers of Italian food and the many variations that can be expertly created.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
The Vault of Horror – The EC Archives Volume 1
(Dark Horse – $65.99 – 220 pages)
“Story after story, we are captivated…”
Rating: 4 1/2 bookmarks
Spindrift: A Canadian Book of the Sea
by Michael L. Hadley & Anita Hadley
(Douglas & McIntyre – $36.95 – 337 pages)
“…an excellent job of creating a book that is reflective of the expansive waters around us.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
A Frenchwoman’s Guide to Sex After Sixty
by Marie De Hennezel
(Greystone – $22.95 – 200 pages)
“This is an important book for those entering older years, a starting point for discussions about intimacy and love”
Rating: 3 1/2 bookmarks
125 Nature Hot Spots in Alberta
by Leight Mcadam and Debbie Olsen
(Firely – $29.95 – 224 pages)
“…a book that can serve as a travelogue for anyone wishing to head out to the Prairie provinces.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
Honest to Goodness
by Christine Tizzard
(Whitecap – $29.95 – 202 pages)
“…a recipes book filled with tasty clasics.”
Rating: 4 bookmarks
The world is obsessed with cell phones, that is a given. As someone who does not own a cell phone, I feel a sense of relief that I do not have one that holds me prisoner. People cannot walk or sit with their heads up, as they are too busy looking down at their phones and texting. People almost bump into you walking down the street because their head is buried in the phone. Earlier in the summer when I went for morning walks, I began noticing a young man in his twenties down the block coming towards me, head lowered. I thought “Here comes another cell phone fanatic.” But lo and behold when I was within five feet of him, I saw he was not looking at a cell phone but he was reading a book while walking. That really was quite the sight. For a month, I noticed him weekday mornings walking and reading. I am sure it was not the same book but at least he had taken the initiative to do the unusual: read a book on his way to wherever he was headed. I thought maybe there is hope for the world and that not everyone is obsessed with cell phone banter. I have not seen him since, as perhaps he is taking a different route. I wish I had stopped him and congratulated him, but he always looked so engrossed in his book. It takes one person to start a revolution, and hopefully others will take up the literary crusade like this gentleman, laying down their cell phones and picking up an actual book. And that is where we come in, hoping to offer inspiration and ideas for your reading choices, no matter where you decide to open the book.
Shelf Life would not have succeeded without many factors. They include faithful (and newer) readers, along with our terrific reviewers. But there is another aspect to the publication which, of course, revolves around the publishers of the books themselves. These 208 issues over the past twenty years would not have been possible without the companies who release an impressive amount of books year in and year out. But there is even more, the fact that publicists who publicize the books go out of their way to make sure their books are in our hands. Shelf Life has worked with so many terrific people who have come and gone along the way. One of those publicists is Karen Blair who worked for Penguin Random House Canada. She has been sending books for the two decades Shelf Life has been in operation. But as of May 2018, Karen has decided to retire. She was a publicist for forty-three years, and truly dedicated to books. It goes without saying she will be missed, along with her love and enthusiasm for the books she oversaw. Shelf Life wishes her a long, happy and healthy retirement, and a massive thank you for sending along one great book after another. We remain in debt to every publicist, past and present.
If you grew up in the 1970s, you should be familiar with the Alice Cooper song “School’s Out.” Now that July is upon us, school is definitely out for children, meaning travel time with them if they are young enough to be at home. Whether you have children or not, though, Summer signifies more leisure time, which is often where reading comes into the picture. Whether you enjoy fiction or non-fiction, the July issue is filled with great books that we recommend for your reading pleasures. Maybe you would like to step outside your reading comfort zone and pick up a book you might not usually consider. Why not? Be daring. You might be pleasantly surprised. Enjoy this issue and most of all enjoy Summer because we all know it goes way too quickly.
June has always been a favourite month personally, one of the reasons being it is my birthday month. But as well, Summer officially arrives on the twenty-first of the month, and we enjoy the longest day of the year. Summer signifies freedom, the ending of the school year and thoughts of vacation. It is also a time when many people read more books, either in the backyard, beach and on vacations. It is a great excuse to read and if you are not inclined to open a book, why not make this a Summer project? You have more than thirty-five books to choose from here, giving you perfect ideas for your reading pleasures.
No matter how long Shelf Life has been in existence (20 years), it always is gratifying to receive comments from people who have picked it up recently for the first time. Of course, we have many readers who have been around since issue one, the faithful who look for us every issue. We are glad they have remained on board, as much as those who have just joined us, and hopefully will be around for many years to come.
Welcome one and all to our 20th Anniversary issue. Time does go by quickly when you are having fun, as they say. Creating and publishing Shelf Life has been more than fun, it has been an honor to bring faithful readers the best in books. A lot has happened in the past twenty years and life can be more than defined in two decades. Medical issues, loss of a parent an other events have happened, but through it all, life truly goes on As does Shelf Life.
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