MY BOOK REVIEWS

Book Review – The Shoebox Effect By Marcie J. Keithley

 

About the Author

Marcie J Keithley traded in her securities license to become an author when the universe shifted in her closet with the rediscovery of a 30-year-old shoebox. Armed with a powerful, dramatic story, which has been reported globally on major networks and newspapers across America, she is now known as the ShoeBox Sherpa, helping others find the freedom they desire by unpacking their own shoeboxes and stepping into truth and wholeness.

Marcie is also a Life Story Coach and national speaker. In her downtime, she loves to read historical fiction of the Elizabethan era.

Keithley, a native-born Hoosier and “Lady of Dunans,” resides on the Sunnyside of Louisville, along the Ohio River in Southern Indiana with her Golden Doodle, Murfee. A personal development junkie, she can be found most days with her nose in the latest non-fiction book with a tall glass of iced tea, no matter the season. She believes life is always better with a

The Synopsis of the Book

Many of us have one–a place where we store mementos that remind us of an earlier period in our lives–either happy or sad. Those ties to our past are commonly found in a similar place, hidden in a shoebox buried at the back of a closet shelf. It’s called The Shoebox Effect–where you “forget”, intentionally or unintentionally, about the contents of the box and what they represent.

Marcie Keithley’s shoebox contained a secret, one she kept for decades, one released when her shoebox was unexpectedly revealed in a moment of grief. A flood of memories and emotions was unleashed when the lid was knocked off. No longer able to deny what she had sequestered away in her closet and in her spirit, the revelation created challenges for Marcie, but it also did something positively unexpected.

Releasing the truth began a cascade that resulted in a freedom Marcie did not know was possible. The dramatic story of this long-kept secret, which has been reported globally on major networks and in newspapers across America, will intrigue and enthrall you.

But Marcie Keithley doesn’t just make her story all about her. Now known as The Shoebox Sherpa, she helps people unpack their own shoeboxes, and teaches us how to face our truths, heal our pasts, and find the freedom we deeply desire. Be prepared to consider Marcie’s question to all of us, “What’s in your shoebox?”

My Review

I read this book a few months ago and today I still find myself thinking about it.  Keithley leaves no stone unturned when it comes to revealing the items in her shoebox and why she kept them. It reminded me of peeling away the layers of an onion as the author reveals her heart-wrenching story of putting her child up for adoption and finding a way to heal and come to terms with the decisions she had made throughout her life.

This is not only the author’s story but a guide and self-help book with questions at the end of each chapter for readers to help them understand themselves better and the reasons for their actions. (I love this addition to the book.)

It is a raw emotional account that many will relate to and I can see the book helping so many people and not only those that were adopted. I want to thank the author for sharing her story and opening my eyes to mine.

 

 

Book Review The Wife Between Us

COVER DESIGN – 5 STARS – The cover is perfect for the book and intriguing It makes you wonder what the book is about.  

CHARACTERIZATION – 5 STARS – Keithley described everyone in the book with such detail that I felt like I knew them all very well.  

STORY & PLOT 5STARS – This is an easy read that had me turning the pages quickly anxious to see what happens next. 

OVERALL RATING – 5 STARS – An excellent read that I highly recommend.

Other News

I’m thrilled to announce that the publication date for Jill is August 3rd, 2021
You can now preorder the ebook for the discounted price of $1.99. That is 50% off the regular price.
Preorders for paperbacks will be coming soon.
Jill is the fourth book in the Sabela Series but can easily be read as a standalone.
A sizzling suspense romance with a grand finale ending and where the power of friendship shines.

MY BOOK REVIEWS

Book Review – The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba

Book Review The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Book Review - The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba
Buy the book from Amazon

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba. This was my book clubs read last month and it was discussed last week. Unforchantly I was sick the night of the meeting and was unable to attend. But I did receive feedback and wanted to share our review with you.

About the Author

Kamkwamba was profiled on the front page of The Wall Street Journal December 8, 2007, as well in major articles in The Malawi Daily Times, The Sydney Morning Herald, La Repubblica, and myriad blog posts such as Boing Boing, and his blog has been featured on the front page of news aggregators such as Digg and Reddit. He is featured in a special Africa issue of L’Uomo Vogue.
Find William’s blog at http://www.williamkamkwamba.com

 

The Synopsis of the Book

William Kamkwamba was born in Malawi, a country where magic ruled and science was a mystery. It was also a land withered by drought and hunger. But William had read about windmills and he dreamed of building one and it would bring to his small village a set of luxuries that only 2 percent of Malawians could enjoy: electricity and running water. His neighbors called him misala – crazy. But William refused to let go of his dreams. With a small pile of once-forgotten science textbooks, some scrap metal, tractor parts and bicycle halves; and an armory of curiosity and determination, he embarked on a daring plan to forge an unlikely contraption and small miracle that would change the lives around him.

Our Review

Book Review - The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba

I’m going to give you mainly my review of this book because I wasn’t at the meeting. First of all, this is not a book that would normally appeal to me if I was browsing in a book store. The subject matter is not a genre I would read. But with that said, I must say the story captivated me from the very beginning and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

It was an easy read and I was intrigued right away. I loved how the book put me smack bang in the middle of Africa. I felt like I was right there with William. We’ve all heard about the struggles and the horrific stories of starvation affecting all ages in Africa. Well, this book opens your eyes to just how devastating the conditions are. Every day these people live to survive and will do anything to accomplish it including eating goatskin which really grossed me out but made realize just how little these people have and what desperate measures they are willing to take to simply stay alive.
The book was sad in many ways, reading about the many deaths of children and the sufferings many endured on a daily basis. But it was also very uplifting when William set out on a dream to make his and his family’s life better. He didn’t give up and succeeded and to my surprise and joy, the rest of the world soon learned about his amazing achievements. I love how he now travels the world and gives back to his small town and many of the other struggling communities in his country. He is a great inspiration for many.
 The only time I found my mind wandering was when he went into details about how he made the windmill and what parts he used and what each part did. I learned a little about electricity, but most of it went over my head. I understand why it was included in the book because it’s the root of his story.
The book was well-received by the rest of the group. I believe there was one person who did not enjoy it and gave it a low score.
Since reading the book I’ve watched some clips of him on YouTube and the videos are very uplifting.

The author is currently on tour and will be visiting my part of the world on October 30th in Bakersfield which is only forty-five minutes away so I may attend. Here is a link if any other locals are interested in going.

https://www.facebook.com/events/california-state-university-bakersfield/author-visit-book-signing-the-boy-who-harnessed-the-wind/2231500180473985/

Our Overall Rating

BBook Review - The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba

COVER DESIGN – 5 STARS – The choices of colors and font are perfect – easy on the eyes and bold print.

CHARACTERIZATION – 4 STARS – Being a memoir the characters were well developed and described well. 

STORY & PLOT 3 STARS – Parts of the story were drawn out and when he talks about building the windmill, it gets a little too complex for my taste.

OVERALL RATING – 4 STARS – I absolutely enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. 

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Book Review – Look me in the eye, my life with Asperger’s by John Elder Robison

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Book Review – Look me in the eye, my life with Asperger’s by John Elder Robison& Bonus Questions for Your Book Club

My book club read this last month – as always, I like to share our review with you 🙂

About the Author

John Elder Robison grew up in the sixties before the Asperger diagnosis came into common use. After dropping out of high school, John worked in the music business where he created sound effects and electronic devices, including the signature illuminated, smoking, and rocket firing guitars he built for KISS. Later John worked on some of the first video games and talking toys at Milton Bradley. After a ten year career in electronics, John founded Robison Service, a specialty automobile company in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Today in addition to running the car company, John is the Neurodiversity Scholar in Residence at the College of William & Mary, and advisor to the neurodiversity program at Landmark College. He is a member of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee which makes the Strategic Plan for Autism for the US government.

In addition to his autism advocacy work, John is a lifelong car enthusiast, an avid hiker, a photographer, a music lover, and a world-class champion eater. He lives in Amherst, Massachusetts.

The Synopsis of the Book

Ever since he was young, John Robison longed to connect with other people, but by the time he was a teenager, his odd habits – an inclination to blurt out non sequiturs, avoid eye contact, dismantle radios, and dig five-foot holes (and stick younger brother, Augusten Burroughs, in them) – had earned him the label “social deviant.” It was not until he was forty that he was diagnosed with a form of autism called Asperger’s syndrome. That understanding transformed the way he saw himself – and the world. A born storyteller, Robison has written a moving, darkly funny memoir about a life that has taken him from developing exploding guitars for KISS to building a family of his own. It’s a strange, sly, indelible account – sometimes alien yet always deeply human.

Our Review

Book Review - Look me in the eye, my life with Asperger's by John Elder Robison

This was a well written and at times a funny book that we all enjoyed immensely.  For some, like myself it was an eye-opener. I knew nothing about Aspergers and the author did a fantastic job of bringing me into his world.  For others, it was a book they could relate to because of family members that have Aspergers. They said he was spot on with all the struggles he experienced during his childhood.

The most fascinating part of the book was reading about what he has achieved in his life. He didn’t look at his condition as a failure but as an asset. He has accomplished so much including having a family and this brings hopes to others suffering from Aspergers’ I think it’s a wonderful message that will help many families.

It’s a story that is beautifully written, easy to read with no fluff. The author tells you exactly how it is and you can feel it through his writing.

Our Overall Rating

Our rating Look me in the eye, my life with Asperger's by John Elder Robison

COVER DESIGN – 5 STARS – Like his writing, his cover is spot on and grabs your attention. 

CHARACTERIZATION – 5 STARS – Being memoir he did a great job describing all his characteristics from childhood to adulthood.

STORY & PLOT 4 STARS – Even though everyone loved this book some felt a five star was too generous

OVERALL RATING – 4 STARS – Overall we gave this book 4 stars and highly recommend it.

Questions to ask at your book club

Questions-Book Review - Look me in the eye, my life with Asperger's by John Elder Robison

Click on the link below for questions to ask at your book club.

Book club discussion – Look Me In The Eye

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Did you know I now have a Facebook Readers’ Group?

It’s a place where you can interact with other readers that are following me. I host weekly giveaways, do live video chats and talk about on-going projects.

You can join by clicking on the link below.

Read More Books – Tina Hogan Grant – Readers’ Group