Book Review
Among the Okapi
by Mari Carlson
Quiet symbols and fragile but enduring relationships populate the dramatic novel "Among the Okapi", a modern parable about securing inner peace. John S. Taylor’s novel "Among the Okapi" juxtaposes a professor’s experiences at a...
Book Review
Zen and the Art of Starship Maintenance and Other Stories
by Mari Carlson
The stories of Tobias S. Buckell’s "Zen and the Art of Starship Maintenance and Other Stories" explore relevant earthly topics in science fiction settings. Fantasies are used to reflect on real atrocities, like the loss of collective...
Book Review
Dinner Party
by Mari Carlson
Halloween meals mark the anniversary of a twin sister’s death in Sarah Gilmartin’s novel "Dinner Party". Growing up, Kate thought that people either wore their emotions on their sleeves or suppressed them. Her melodramatic,...
Book Review
Spiritual Energy Explained
by Mari Carlson
Examining the chronology, practices, and successes of spirituality, "Spiritual Energy Explained" is a diverse and engaging philosophical introduction. Walter E. Broach’s metaphysical survey "Spiritual Energy Explained" places...
Book Review
The Yin and the Yang of It All
by Mari Carlson
"The Yin and the Yang of It All" is an energetic musician’s memoir about the acceptance of one’s origins. John Kim Faye’s memoir The Yin and the Yang of it All chronicles his long, lasting relationships with music and his mother....
Book Review
Porch Music
by Mari Carlson
Strong bonds carry a family through their contrasting dramas in the historical novel "Porch Music". In Kathy Maresca’s debut novel "Porch Music", members of a tortured Florida family support each other through dramatic shifts. Bessie...
Book Review
Out of Wedlock
by Mari Carlson
The searching novel "Out of Wedlock" is about people’s overlapping and conflicting allegiances and committed relationships. A man discovers his true identity with the help of friends and lovers in Larry Lockridge’s novel "Out of...
Book Review
Into the Darkness
by Mari Carlson
The historical novel "Into the Darkness" follows a proud leader through the timeless glories of his warrior lifestyle. In Richard Hampton’s historical novel "Into the Darkness", a governor-general of the Egyptian army works to defeat a...