Category: Book Reviews

Posted in Book Reviews

Kid’s Book Review- The Shadow Children Series

Posted on by Susan St.Pierre

I’ve finished this first book in a gripping series suggested for 8–13-year olds.

<THIS IS NOT A SERIES I WOULD RECOMMEND TO CHILDREN>

Although the topic was compelling to me, it would be criminal to suggest it to kids younger than 18.
If you care about childhood innocence, then please accept this as a warning.

It doesn’t delve into the usual topics that cause alarm. I even liked its well-written thought-provoking topic.

It is a 1984-ish fiction about a futuristic totalitarian government imposing terribly intrusive and cruel policies on the population. So far (I’ve ordered the next 2 books.) it is somewhat stomach turning in its plausibility.

It’s not a good or proper thing to frighten kids for any reason, IMHO. That goes for all the climate crisis stuff too. It’s clearly a pollutant to innocence and peace-of-mind. Children are powerless in affecting change but more importantly understanding complex problems.
By intentionally imposing “adult” topics on kids, you’re committing a deliberate theft of children’s childhoods for some adult political selfish service later on.

I DO suggest that adults read the series. There’s quite a bit of a warning in it that adults might want to consider.

Posted in Book Reviews

The Psychology of Totalitarianism: A Book Review

Posted on by Susan St.Pierre

I chose to experience this book in audio form and I’m glad I did. As someone who tries to grasp every morsel of a book, I may have become bogged down in it otherwise.
Unless you’ve had an excellent liberal arts education, the frequent world historical references may cause you to be Googling and/or refreshing your knowledge at the expense of the deep and well-described essence of the text. Within every reference is a clear explanation of the time period so you don’t have to recall all your own facts.
I’m blown away how (somewhat scarily) this book describes the intrinsic human tendency to drift toward totalitarianism and draws an undisputable correlation to our experiences before, during, and since, the Covid-19 pandemic. It’s been a perfect storm for our self-destructive behavior.
The book does not point fingers or make judgements but simply explains Mass Formation Psychosis.
In fact, I felt relieved that there isn’t likely organized malicious wrongdoing on a large scale, but instead, this phenomenon is arising from widespread fear and uncertainty. It’s dangerous and destructive just the same. But there’s actually a hopeful thread that makes our future seem less grim… yet still uncertain.
More than explaining just a psychological phenomenon, the book offers many reference-based cases and gets to the center of defining our humanity and human limitations in general.
[spoiler alert] Poets, artists, and Nature lovers just may be closer to the ‘truth’ of our existence than the dogmatically logic-based scientists.
I’m going to re-experience this fascinating book soon because all the enlightening and affirming information could not possibly be absorbed-to my liking- in one dose. You’ll definitely feel more educated once you read it.
If you’re curious, logical, anxious, or find yourself just shaking your head every day, this book is for you!

Here’s a short clip of the author explaining a sliver of his findings:


BTW-the audio version is not read by the author so if you find his Belgian accent distracting, it’s more clearly understandable.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=mass+formation+psychosis&&view=detail&mid=4A9D029B0483AC21D4724A9D029B0483AC21D472&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dmass%2520formation%2520psychosis%26%26FORM%3DVDVVXX

Posted in Book Reviews

Book Review- So B. It by Sarah Weeks

Posted on by Susan St.Pierre

I happened on a thrift store last weekend and gravitated to… the book nook.
My mission was to find a few books to offer my 15 year old granddaughter.
This book had a Scholastic label and an interesting synopsis.
<So I bought it… brought it home and… I READ IT>
It was a delightful read! I loved it!
Thirteen year old Heidi was living a nontraditional life with a mentally disabled mother and a caregiving neighbor who had her own baggage. Then, one day, she needs answers to “who she is?” and “where she came from?”. Her trek to find answers and her innocent approach to life’s toughest themes made this tale both gripping and heartwarming.
I highly recommend it to kids age 13 to 100!

It was made into a movie in 2017. I had no idea until I looked for the Amazon image for this post.



Posted in Book Reviews

A reblog: Book Review: Embrace Your Weird — Dave Williams

Posted on by Susan St.Pierre

Embrace Your Weird: Face Your Fears and Unleash Creativity by Felicia Day I’ll begin this review with a quote from the book’s introduction: “Simply put, this book is about uncovering, unblocking, and letting loose FEELING. And then activating ways to SHARE THAT FEELING.” Simply put, this book is wonderful. It’s not a “how to” book […]

Book Review: Embrace Your Weird — Dave Williams
Posted in Book Reviews, Writing Prompts

Mason wants to know…

Posted on by Susan St.Pierre

What’s your favourite book? Make a post to tell me about that book. Put this link in your post to create a pingback or simply share the link in the comments. Don’t forget to come back and read some of the posts if you share. Most importantly have fun my friends.

A wonderful blogger has asked us to write a post about our favorite book.
That is a really hard question?!
My first love of a book was The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling.
I discovered it in my teens and it was also the first book that I reread.
Adventure…Nature…Animals… I was hooked!



Then came my discovery of the short story!
Ray Bradbury’s Illustrated Man blew my mind!
That is likely my choice for all time favorite.
Short stories are my favorite genre.
That’s why I enjoy flash fiction so much. Every word counts quite like poetry. I’m a ‘get to the point’ person in general so, although there are some dandy long novels, the short story works its magic well for me.


Thanks Mason, for this opportunity and prompt!



Magic of Books – Masons Mind Menagerie (wordpress.com)

Posted in Book Reviews, In my humble opinion...

Defining Sanity and Humanity

Posted on by Susan St.Pierre

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I’ve been away from my blog for some time. Knowing it exists, and that I would return, was always a comforting thought. I am pages from completing a fascinating, enlightening, true story and could wait, no longer, to share it.
I am grappling with the term “forever changed” by this book. Instead, I think it is more accurate, in my own case, to say “finally aware” or “forever defined”.
This is a firsthand story of a brain scientist’s stroke. There is a wealth of science about symptoms and perceptions, from the victim’s view. It is an essential part of the story and, really, not hard to learn and appreciate but the overall message and “insight” into the human psyche will “blow you away”!
We are a single being which operates, through our world, by using two separate, yet connected, brain hemispheres. The story exposes the purpose and function of those hemispheres in enlightening detail. The author’s conclusions about the necessity for both to function in unison in order to offer a life “rich” in a common conscientiousness are extraordinary, possibly, life changing.
As I read this book, I was thankful for my years with children for my primarily hopeful perspective about living “in the moment”. Jill Bolte Taylor hits the “nail on the head”, in my opinion, about how much of our own happiness is a matter of how we CHOSE to perceive the world. Embracing how ordinary events make us “feel” (emotionally and physiologically) just may be the biggest tool in the counteracting of everyday depression and sadness.
The author does not disregard the fact that our mental health is subject to chemical reactions beyond our control. The awareness that we CAN control much of it, though, (beyond brain damage and illness) offers a primer in a more fulfilling, happy, existence.
Incidentally, the carefree, forgiving, nature of man’s best friend seems to further explain why our Left Brains (containing speech and ego) can be our worst enemy if left to control too much of our time. On the other hand, who wants children, or dogs, making critical decisions?
As with everything we learn about life, balance is the best medicine.
I’ve barely scratched the surface of the wisdom between the covers of this book!

  • How to recognize a stroke.
  • How to treat stroke victims.
  • The recuperative power of sleep.
  • How our brains interpret the world.
  • The importance of patience and kindness.

I give this book 11 stars out of 10.

Posted in Book Reviews

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks…Book Review

Posted on by Susan St.Pierre

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An amazing story that needed telling!

This book is a non-fictional glimpse of scientific advances and the horrid racial inequality in our “not very distant” past. It is a riveting read. The story chronicles the struggles of poor black folks during the 50’s and 60’s, in a way, that will leave you forever changed. The sacrifices of those who advanced medical research are present, along with, the greed which always follows the money.

Many of the legal, and ethical, dilemmas, exposed in this text, are unresolved to this day. The author does not attempt to decide the “right” from “wrong” but, very effectively, invites the reader into the lives of real people. I laughed, I cried, and I feel enlightened by this book. A must read for those who endeavor to be educated and informed.