The Biography Shelf

Emperor Septimius Severus: The Roman Hannibal
Ilkka Syvanne
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
9781399066655, $52.95, HC, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Emperor-Septimius-Severus-Roman-Hannibal/dp/13990666=
5X

Synopsis: Lucius Septimius Severus (11 April 145 - 4 February 211) was the = Roman emperor from 193 to 211. He was born in Leptis Magna (present-day Al-= Khums, Libya) in the Roman province of Africa. As a young man he advanced t= hrough the customary succession of offices under the reigns of Marcus Aurel= ius and Commodus. Severus seized power after the death of the emperor Perti= nax in 193 during the Year of the Five Emperors. (Wikipedia).

One ancient source called Severus the most warlike of all men who had lived=
up to that moment in time. The rise of Septimius Severus to power started = the dominance of the military in Roman affairs and it was because of this t= hat Septimius's advice for his sons was nothing less than: 'Be harmonious, = enrich the soldiers, and scorn all other men!'

With the publication of "Emperor Septimius Severus: The Roman Hannibal", hi= storian and biographer Ilkka Syvanne explains in detail how the African Sep= timius Severus achieved his position, how he won his wars and battles and h=
ow he used his newly gained power to secure his family's position. He revea=
ls how he reformed the state and its military, and how he used these remode= led forces in wars of conquest to prove his worth as emperor to both the so= ldiers and the populace.

This biography offers the first complete overview of the policies, events a=
nd military campaigns of Severus' reign in the fullest detail allowed by th=
e sources. It also explains how and why these contributed to the military c= risis of the third century and discusses the legacy he left for his son, Ca= racalla, who followed him in both his good and bad traits.

Critique: Impressively, exhaustively, and expertly researched, organized an=
d presented biography, Professor Ilkka Syvanne's "Emperor Septimius Severus=
: The Roman Hannibal" brings out of relative obscurity on of Rome's particu= larly interesting emperors in a particularly violent and politically unstab=
le periods. If there is any message arising from ancient Rome and still rel= evant today it is that the game of thrones is a blood sport. A fascinating = and informative read, "Emperor Septimius Severus: The Roman Hannibal" is en= hanced with the inclusion of plates, maps, diagrams, a list of abbreviation=
s, two appendices (Arrian and Roman Battle Tactics; Frontinus and Combat Ta= ctics on Land), thirteen pages of notes, a four page Select Bibliography, a=
nd a twelve page index. While highly recommended as an addition to personal=
, professional, community, and academic library Roman Biography/History col= lections, it should be noted that "Emperor Septimius Severus: The Roman Han= nibal" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $24.99).

Editorial Note: Ilkka Syvanne (https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Ilkka-Syvann= e/a/2164) gained his doctorate in history in 2004 from the University of Ta= mpere in his native Finland. Since then he has written extensively about an= cient and medieval warfare and his publications include: 'The Age of Hippot= oxotai, Art of War in Roman Military Revival and Disaster 491-636' (Tampere=
UP 2004), 'The Reign of Gallienus' (Pen & Sword, 2019), the multivolume 'M= ilitary History of Late Rome' published by Pen & Sword and the critically a= cclaimed Caracalla. He is the co-author with Professor Katarzyna Maksymiuk =
of the 'Military History of Third Century Iran' (Siedlce UP, 2018) and the = 'Military History of Fifth Century Iran' (Siedlce UP, 2019). He was Vice Ch= airman of the Finnish Society for Byzantine Studies from 2007 until 2016. H=
e has been an Affiliated Professor of the University of Haifa since 2016. H=
e lives in Kangasala, Finland.

Man of the People
Robert Garcia
Arte Publico Press
University of Houston
4902 Gulf Freeway, Bldg 19, Rm 100, Houston, TX 77204-2004 www.artepublicopress.com
9781558859630, $18.95, PB, 160pp

https://www.amazon.com/Man-People-Autobiography-Congressman-Robert/dp/15588= 59632

Synopsis: Robert Garcia (January 9, 1933 - January 25, 2017) was born in th=
e South Bronx of Puerto Rican parents. He became a US Congressman after ser= ving in the New York State Assembly and Senate. "Man of the People" is Robe=
rt Garcia's personal memoir and follows his life of struggle and achievemen=
t, from the rough streets of the South Bronx to the cold muddy fields of So= uth Korea, the New York Senate and ultimately the US House of Representativ= es.

Critique: Of special note is the Prologue by Bill Richardson and the Epilog=
ue by Jane Lee Garcia. "Man of the People: The Autobiography of Congressman=
Robert Garcia" is unreservedly recommended for community, college, and uni= versity library Hispanic and Latin American Biography/Memoir collections an=
d supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for personal re= ading lists that "Man of the People" is also available in a digital book fo= rmat (Kindle, $8.99).

Editorial Note: Robert Garcia was a United States representative who repres= ented New York's 21st district (South Bronx). He was elected to the New Yor=
k State Assembly in 1965 and the New York State Senate in 1967, and then se= rved in Congress from 1978 to 1990 and is listed on Wikipedia at https://en= ..wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Garcia_(New_York_politician)

Man of Treacherous Charm
Candace Wellman
Washington State University Press
PO Box 645910, Pullman, WA 99164-5910
www.wsupress.wsu.edu
9780874224221, $32.95, HC, 319pp

https://www.amazon.com/Man-Treacherous-Charm-Territorial-Fitzhugh/dp/087422= 4225

Synopsis: In 1857, coal mine manager Edmund C. Fitzhugh killed a drunken tr= espasser in his garden. Though Fitzhugh was under indictment for murder and=
only marginally qualified for the position, U.S. president James Buchanan = made the stunning decision to appoint him to Washington Territory's Distric=
t and Supreme Courts.

The blue blood Virginian lawyer had migrated to the California gold rush in=
1849. After Fitzhugh's San Francisco law partner and others invested in a = new Bellingham Bay coal mine, he moved north to open it. During the next te=
n years (including a few as Democratic Party chairman) he built and exploit=
ed his political network.

In addition to serving on the federal bench and managing the militarily str= ategic mine, he was a county auditor, became Governor Isaac Stevens' Treaty=
War military aide and Indian agent, and helped Stevens run the 1860 Brecki= nridge for President national campaign.

During the Civil War he returned home and was Confederate General Eppa Hunt= on's staff officer. After the war, he practiced law in a small Iowa town. F= itzhugh devastated the lives of four wives and six children, and eventually=
died alone in the fleabag remnant of a once prestigious San Francisco hote=
l.

Critique: Author and historical researcher Candace Wellman spent more than = two decades researching Fitzhugh's life and contributions (both the good an=
d the bad) to Pacific Northwest history. Although the court system played a=
large part in the region's future, "Man of Treacherous Charm: Territorial = Justice Edmund C. Fitzhugh" is the first full biography of an early Washing= ton Territory justice. This detailed and documented biography offers unique=
insights into the people, personalities, politics, and practices of the te= rritory and the American West in the 19th century. Informatively enhanced f=
or the reader with the inclusion of a Fitzhugh genealogy, an Edmund C. Fitz= hugh chronology, twenty-six pages of notes, a twelve page bibliography, and=
a twelve page index, "Man of Treacherous Charm: Territorial Justice Edmund=
C. Fitzhugh" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to per= sonal, community, college, and university library 19th Century American Bio= graphy collections.

Editorial Note: Candace Wellman (https://wsupress.wsu.edu/product-author/ca= ndace-wellman) won the 2018 WILLA literary award for scholarly nonfiction f= rom Women Writing the West, a national organization, for her book, Peace We= avers. She attributes much of her success to the generous assistance of men= tors and over 200 contributors.

David Bowie Rainbowman: 1967-1980
Jerome Soligny
Monoray
c/o Octopus Books
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781800960633, $39.99, HC, 704pp

https://www.amazon.com/David-Bowie-Rainbowman-Jerome-Soligny/dp/1800960638

Synopsis: With the publication of "David Bowie Rainbowman: 1967-1980", Jero=
me Soligny presents a uniquely exhaustive work focused upon Bowie's 1967-19=
80 albums and drawing on over 150 interviews with the musicians, producers = and friends who knew Bowie best, including Robert Fripp, Hermione Farthinga= le, Lou Reed, George Underwood, Mick Ronson, Carlos Alomar, Trevor Bolder, = Mike Garson, Woody Woodmansey and many, many others.

With an essay by Soligny on each album followed by oral histories from the = most trusted and influential figures in Bowie's musical life, "David Bowie = Rainbowman: 1967-1980" is the definitive guide to a singular and mercurial = genius -- the Rainbowman himself.

Critique: This massive and detailed biography of the life and work of music=
legend David Bowie includes an informative foreword by Tony Visconti, as w= ell as an introduction by Mike Garson and cover photo by Mick Rock. Packed = from cover to cover with iconic photographs and with striking cover design =
by Barnbrook, the edition of Jerome Soligny's "David Bowie Rainbowman: 1967= -1980" from Monoray publishing is a 'must' for the legions of David Bowie f= ans. While unreservedly recommended for community and academic library Rock=
Band/Musician biographies and histories, it should be noted for the person=
al reading lists of academia and non-specialist general readers with an int= erest in the subject that "David Bowie Rainbowman: 1967-1980" is also avail= able in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).

Editorial Note: Jerome Soligny is a musician, writer and journalist based i=
n Le Havre, France. Over the course of 25 years, Jerome spoke with Bowie ma=
ny times, and interviewed him on numerous occasions for Rock&Folk magazine.=
He was made Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in 2019 and is described by = Bryan Ferry as 'one of the great French authorities on contemporary music'.=
(https://www.discogs.com/artist/276977-J%C3%A9r%C3%B4me-Soligny)

The Face Laughs While the Brain Cries
Stephen L. Hauser, M.D.
St. Martin's Press
https://us.macmillan.com/smp
9781250283894, $29.00, HC, 304pp

https://www.amazon.com/Face-Laughs-While-Brain-Cries/dp/1250283892

Synopsis: Stephen L. Hauser is an acclaimed physician and neuroimmunologist=
who has spent his career performing cutting-edge research on multiple scle= rosis (MS), a devastating brain disease that affects millions of people wor= ldwide. His work has revolutionized our understanding of the genetics, immu= nology and treatment of MS, and led to the development of B cell therapies =
-- the most effective therapy for all forms of MS and the only therapy curr= ently in place for progressive MS patients.

"The Face Laughs While the Brain Cries: The Education of a Doctor" is a riv= eting memoir that follows Dr. Hauser from his unorthodox upbringing among t=
he colorful cast of characters responsible for his development into a tenac= ious and innovative researcher, to the life-changing medical breakthroughs =
he has made against extremely long odds. Along the way, readers will learn = the incredible stories of many of his patients, whose bravery, strength, an=
d optimism in the face of a debilitating illness were instrumental to the p= rogress that has been made in the fight against MS.

Critique: "The Face Laughs While the Brain Cries: The Education of a Doctor=
" is a fascinating and inspiring memoir that is thoroughly 'reader friendly=
' in style, organization and presentation. Of particular relevance to reade=
rs with an interest in the diagnosis and treatment of nervous system diseas= es, as well as medical biographies, "The Face Laughs While the Brain Cries:=
The Education of a Doctor" is a highly recommended addition to personal re= ading lists and community/academic Contemporary American Biography/Memoir c= ollections. It should be noted that "The Face Laughs While the Brain Cries:=
The Education of a Doctor" is also available in a digital book format (Kin= dle, $14.99).

Editorial Note: Dr. Stephen L. Hauser (https://profiles.ucsf.edu/stephen.ha= user) is a Distinguished Professor of Neurology at the University of Califo= rnia, San Francisco, and Director of the Weill Institute for Neurosciences.=
His research as a physician-scientist has led to a powerful new approach t=
o the treatment of multiple sclerosis, a disabling neurologic disease. His = work has received numerous honors, such as the Jacob Javits Neuroscience In= vestigator Award, the John Dystel Prize, the Charcot Award, the Taubman Pri=
ze for Excellence in Translational Medical Research, and the Scientific Bre= akthrough Award from the American Brain Foundation.

Boyhood Among the Woolies
Richard W. Etulain
Basalt Books
c/o Washington State University Press
PO Box 645910, Pullman, WA 99164-5910
www.wsupress.wsu.edu
9781638640073, $19.95, PB, 150pp

https://www.amazon.com/Boyhood-Among-Woolies-Growing-Basque/dp/1638640076

Synopsis: Like many Pacific Northwest sheep herders, Sebastian Etulain emig= rated from Europe's Basque country. He arrived in Yakima in May of 1921, co= nvinced that hard work could overcome a lack of formal education and other = shortcomings. It became his doctrine, and he advanced to ranch owner before=
marrying Mary Gillard Foster.

The Etulain sheep ranch lay among rock ridges, carved out coulees, rounded = hills, and rich grasslands twenty miles east of Ritzville and almost sevent=
y miles south of Spokane. Isolated and sprawling across nearly ten thousand=
acres, it included a sturdy ranch house surrounded by hay barns, a water p= ump house, corrals, and pens for sheep, goats, dogs, and pigs. The spread a= lso had a milking parlor and creamery, as well as a blacksmith shop.

The Etulains adopted seasonal rhythms. For about one third of the year, the=
ir own abundant pasture grasses provided sufficient fodder. In the summer t= hey moved most of their animals up to mountains around St. Maries, Idaho, t=
o feast on rich grasses there. But from November to March the sheep and cat= tle needed purchased feed, and plenty of it.

Growing up on a sheep ranch afforded Sebastian's boys a magical upbringing = with magnificent memories -- despite the demanding work. With the publicati=
on of "Boyhood Among the Woolies: Growing Up on a Basque Sheep Ranch", his = youngest son, Richard Etulain, reveals the family's story, while providing =
a rare look at life on an early eastern Washington sheep ranch. He recounts=
endless chores related to supplying feed and water, lambing season, sheep = shearing, keeping animals safe, and fighting one of the largest dangers -- = grass fires. Richard also describes family activities, relationships with h= ired staff, favorite dogs, brotherly pranks and shenanigans, schooling and = church in Ritzville, Basque history, and more.

Critique: A fascinating life story that is as inherently interesting and it=
is impressively informative as to what growing up on an American sheep ran=
ch was like. Illustrated with black/white historical photographs, "Boyhood = Among the Woolies: Growing Up on a Basque Sheep Ranch" is unique and especi= ally recommended addition to personal reading lists, as well as community a=
nd academic library American Biography/Memoir collections.

Editorial Note: Glowing reminiscences aside, author Richard W. Etulain neve=
r fell in love with ranching. He became a town and city dude, an award-winn= ing historian who specializes in the history of the American West. He has g= iven more than two hundred presentations on western and United States histo= rical, literary, and cultural topics. He is the author or editor of over si= xty volumes, and his books and essays have won several major prizes. Recent=
titles include Thunder in the West: The Life and Legends of Billy the Kid,=
and Abraham Lincoln: A Western Legacy. (https://history.unm.edu/people/faculty/profile/richard-etulain.html).

I Hate You, Mary Sullivan
Barbara J. Williams
Cape House Books
9781939129154, $18.95, PB, 204pp

https://www.amazon.com/Hate-You-Mary-Sullivan-Inherited/dp/193912915X

Synopsis: Only in Ireland is Barbara Williams able to unlock the secrets of=
her late grandmother's troubled personality -- as well as her own anxiety.

Their Kenny ancestors were farm laborers who had endured famines, violent u= prisings, and forced eviction threats. Her Nana, Mary Sullivan, had never b= reathed a word of it.

As Williams uncovers this painful past, she calls forth a love that heals h=
er relationship with Nana fifty years after her death. Their intertwined st= ories, infused with Celtic spirituality and scientific insight, help unrave=
l the mysteries that bind us all to our ancestors.

Critique: A simply riveting read from cover to cover, "I Hate You, Mary Sul= livan" by Barbara J. Williams is an extraordinary blend of biography, memoi=
r, and history. Exceptional eloquent, poignant, and memorable, "I Hate You,=
Mary Sullivan" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal rea= ding lists and community/academic library Contemporary Biography & Memoir c= ollections.

Where the Shadows Dance
Dana Killion
Amplify Publishing
https://amplifypublishinggroup.com
9781637556412, $24.95, HC, 280pp

https://www.amazon.com/Where-Shadows-Dance-Dana-Killion/dp/1637556411

Synopsis: It would be easy to say "Where the Shadows Dance" is a memoir abo=
ut a marriage -- but marriage is simply the setting. In her memoir Dana Kil= lion dives deep into what we do for love, what we do because of love, how l= ove can break us, how love can save us, and how the most important love is = the love we feel for ourselves because, without it, no other kind can ever =
be as rich.

A raw, vulnerable exploration of the damage that secrets and lies inflict, = "Where the Shadows Dance" is both a deeply personal and yet universally rec= ognizable story for every woman who has set herself aside because someone e= lse's needs seemed greater.

In the words of Dana Killion -- He got sober. I got broken.

Critique: A deftly written and candidly presented true life story of love, = loss, and alcoholism recovery, "Where the Shadows Dance" is a riveting read=
from cover to cover and will prove to be an especially welcome addition to=
community library Contemporary American Biography/Memoir collections. It s= hould be noted for personal reading lists that "Where the Shadows Dance" is=
also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: Growing up in Wisconsin, Dana Killion (https://www.danakill= ion.com) developed a curiosity for the world beyond the confines of small-t= own life, finding inspiration in the intrepid explorer, Nancy Drew. Dana's = thirst for more exhilarating pastures led to a career in the apparel indust= ry, and eventually, back to her love of story. She created a mystery series=
based on the long-lived desire to shed light on shadows. The series render=
s a journey through crime and corruption countered by her protagonist's abi= lity to confront deceit. Dana currently resides in Tucson, Arizona with her=
kitty, Isabel, happily avoiding snow and mending her heart.

Rising
Graci Harkema
Page Two Books
https://pagetwo.com
9781774582510, $26.95, HC, 216pp

https://www.amazon.com/Rising-Mud-Boardroom-Back-Again/dp/1774582511

Synopsis: "Rising: From a Mud Hut to the Boardroom - and Back Again" is the=
inherently fascinating memoir of Graci Harkema, who revisits her experienc=
e growing up as an adoptee from the Congo in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She tr= aces her path to claiming and living her own story, becoming a successful c= onsultant on diversity, equity and inclusion, racial justice, LGBTQ+ equali= ty, and women in business.

Born amid civil unrest in a mud hut in the Congo and weighing a mere three = pounds, Harkema was left at an orphanage, where she was not expected to liv=
e another day. But that afternoon, a visiting American missionary saw her s= leeping in a doll's bed and heard a voice inside her say, "This is your dau= ghter."

Her childhood was spent wishing to be lighter and blonder, like her sibling=
s and classmates. Out of fear of standing out even more from her peers, Har= kema kept her sexuality a secret, only coming out of the closet years later=
-- during a job interview! Eventually, she learned to see her identity as = her superpower, instead of her shame.

Today, Harkema helps embrace diversity and drive inclusion to ensure open a=
nd safe work environments. She is committed to empowering employees to perf= orm to their potential as their authentic selves - setting an example as sh=
e continues to live her own story, journeying to meet her birth mother, to = discover one more piece of herself.

Critique: Candid, informative, compelling, "Rising: From a Mud Hut to the B= oardroom - and Back Again" is the extraordinary life story of an extraordin= ary woman and will be of special appeal to readers with an interest in an u= nusual LGBTQ+ biographies and memoirs. Exceptionally well written and prese= nted, "Rising: From a Mud Hut to the Boardroom - and Back Again" is highly = recommended for community and academic library Contemporary American Biogra= phy/Memoir collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that = "Rising: From a Mud Hut to the Boardroom - and Back Again" is also availabl=
e in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: Graci Harkema (https://www.graciharkema.com) is the owner o=
f Graci LLC, a consultancy providing training and speaking on diversity, in= clusion and implicit bias for Fortune 500, small businesses, and non-profit=
organizations. The Grand Rapids Business Journal has named her a 40 Under =
40 Business Leader of West Michigan, and one of the 200 Most Powerful Busin= ess Leaders of West Michigan. Graci received national media attention in 20=
19 for publicly resigning from a prominent Diversity & Inclusion leadership=
role to make a stand for racial equity and justice. Passionate about servi=
ng her community, she volunteers her time on LGBTQ+ non-profit boards and c= ommittees. She is also an avid supporter of her parents' faith-based non-pr= ofit, Heart for Central Africa, in her hometown of Bukavu, Democratic Repub= lic of the Congo.

One Reason to Live
Christine Rose
Blue Moose Press
9781936960705, $14.95, PB, 360pp

https://www.amazon.com/One-Reason-Live-Memoir-Surviving/dp/1936960702

Synopsis: After a series of traumatic events (including the end of a 15-yea=
r marriage and multiple sexual assaults), Christine Rose discovers she must=
face the reality of her life, or end it. On a scrap of paper she writes "R= easons to Live." It stays blank for days. Then, she remembers her old dream=
: move to Europe.

By pet-sitting in exchange for lodging, Christine made this dream a reality=
, finding solace in exploring new landscapes and spending time with animals=
.. Against a backdrop of fur-filled adventures and cultural revelations, she=
battles the demons of C-PTSD and grief as she attempts to rebuild her iden= tity and her life.

"One Reason to Live: A Memoir About Surviving Trauma" by Christine Rose emb= odies a visceral experience of living with psychiatric injury, combined wit=
h the power of radical acceptance, sweetened by the healing quality of anim=
al companionship and the joy of embracing self-love.

Critique: An eloquently written, deeply personal, yet universally recogniza= ble personal life story of trauma and recovery, "One Reason to Live: A Memo=
ir About Surviving Trauma" by author, nomad, and survivor Christine Rose is=
a significant and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professio= nal, community, and academic library Biography/Memoir collections. It shoul=
d be noted for the personal reading lists of anyone with an interest in tra= uma recovery for themselves or a loved one that "One Reason to Live: A Memo=
ir About Surviving Trauma" is also readily available in a digital book form=
at (Kindle, $7.99).

Editorial Note: Christine Rose (https://christineroseauthor.com) is a tech = nomad and international pet sitter who straddles life between Portland and = London, the city of her soul. She's published twelve books, including the c= ritically-acclaimed memoir One Reason to Live, the award-winning 5-book fan= tasy series Rowan of the Wood, and the bestselling Steampunk romance Avalon=
Revisited. She holds both a BA and MA in British Literature, which helps k= eep her professional, but copious amounts of dark chocolate, frothy mochas,=
and silent solitude keep her sane.

Roses and Thorns
Michelle Goni, M. D.
New Degree Press
9798885042833, $28.99, HC, 194pp

https://www.amazon.com/Roses-Thorns-memoir-esque-compilation-beautiful/dp/B= 0BHT72284

Synopsis: With the publication of "Roses and Thorns: a memoir-esque compila= tion of a beautiful and messy life", Michelle Goni presents a collection of=
raw, emotional, and empowering prose poetry in which she shares honest, he= artfelt, sometimes gut-wrenching stories of fear, failure, and pain as well=
as warm, inspiring, and relatable poems of love, evolution, and transforma= tion. Her deftly crafted memoir gives the reader permission to embrace a pe= rfectly imperfect life.

Michelle's personal journey invites the reader to share their own stories b=
y deeply connecting with her written words, thoughts and feelings. Her poem=
s are humbling and they normalize vulnerability, a tool she uses to overcom=
e shame and fear.

"Roses and Thorns" will spark introspection, inspire empathetic relationshi= ps, and help the reader discover authentic self-acceptance.

Critique: Eloquent, sensitive, insightful, thoughtful and thought-provoking=
, In "Roses and Thorns: a memoir-esque compilation of a beautiful and messy=
life" is an inherently fascinating, uniquely presented, and ultimately ins= piring life story -- one that will linger in the mind and memory of the rea= der long after the book itself has been finished and set back upon the shel=
f. While also available for personal reading lists in a paperback edition (= 9798885045865, $17.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99), "Roses=
and Thorns" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community and a= cademic library Contemporary American Biography/Memoir and American/Hispani=
c Prose Poetry collections.

Editorial Note: Michelle Goni, MD (https://www.facebook.com/mgonimdauthor) = uses the written word as a powerful voice for her soul. She was raised by a=
n immigrant, Renaissance-like, often stoic father who labeled her creativit=
y as distracting. His rigid parenting and control led Michelle to a limited=
and perfectionist mindset. While this helped keep her focused on becoming =
a medical doctor, it took years to learn to love herself as she was and ful=
ly appreciate her journey.

All the Memories That Remain
E.M. Liddick
Warren Publishing
www.warrenpublishing.net
9781960146090, $29.95 Hardcover/$16.95 Paper

https://www.amazon.com/All-Memories-That-Remain-Alzheimers/dp/1960146092

All the Memories That Remain is E.M. Liddick's memoir about returning from =
a tour of duty in Afghanistan to a life in shambles. The realizations about=
his life that hit him when he returned were there all along when he left, = but became unavoidable as absence and return resulted in life inspections h=
e could no longer deny. He no longer loved his wife of eleven years. His fa= ther, who suffered from early-onset Alzheimer's, was there only in spirit a=
nd history, but lived on. These and other life-changing experiences were br= ought home, ironically, by his role as a soldier: "...my involvement in Afg= hanistan, my participation in administering death, was to be the force that=
overcame inertia. And when I came back and heard the first ominous whisper=
s of change within me, that ability to breathe without noticing fell away, = and I suddenly came face-to-face not only with post-traumatic stress and mo= ral injury but also unresolved grief over the loss of my father.

This is a life story with many threads, wrapped around a skein of hope. A h= ope found in rediscovered letters and exhumed memories." The raw, emotional=
quality of Liddick's inspection translates to a fluid form that moves back=
and forth in time to pursue memories and experiences of grief and healing.

Memories and interactions that cement the experiences of and relationship b= etween father and son create a moving testimony to the power of transformat= ive thinking, adaptation, and life changes: "Dad is everywhere and in me: b= uried in the memories, the stories, the words - in the love that never dies=
.. I want a return not to the hearthstone of a town but to the hearthstone o=
f the heart. With this observation, I feel Dad close. A warmth slowly sprea=
ds through my body, and for a moment, I feel less hollow; the homesickness = disappears. Dad can't forget me if I don't forget him. And so long as the m= oon continues to rise, I won't. Maybe, just maybe, that some thing I've bee=
n searching for out there has been in here the entire time."

At stake in these memories are the circumstances of coping with life, love,=
and loss which juxtapose a military experience and perspective with the la= sting impact of emotional storms occurring at home.

As Liddick traverses the field of memories and experiences that brought him=
to new realizations, readers follow his foray in and out of service, his h= ome life and shifting priorities, and the relationships that experienced tu= mult and disconnection through many different circumstances.

The memoir could have been labeled 'Metamorphosis' because the hard, gritty=
blend of recollections and interpersonal encounters and clashes results in=
a special form of revelation and hard realizations that are not recommende=
d for the faint of heart, but readers who can absorb and appreciate the dua=
l lessons of trauma and emotional containment. Vivid inspections and intera= ctions pull no punches in capturing the milieu of military and civilian lif=
e and the long-term impact of observing the results of military actions: "S= ometimes the body will twitch. The person is dead, but the body still twitc= hes."

The result is a powerful tribute to veterans, families facing the hurdles a=
nd impossible circumstances of aging parents, and those interested in the p= sychological process and life incarnations of redemption, healing, and chan= ge. Its powerful family recollections and interactions will ideally spark i= nterest not just in libraries strong in veteran biographies and family stor= ies of aging, but in reader discussion groups interested in books and stori=
es that guide the heart towards better understanding, resolution, and heali= ng: "I can find my dad's essence in every moment that brings me happiness, = peace: his singing in the birdsong; his mystery and hard exterior and hidde=
n emotions in the heavy fog and icy edges and black rock; his playfulness i=
n the otters; his seriousness in the calm lake; his love of rain in the mis=
t; his twinkle in the golden glow on the mountain's slope - his entire life=
, his entire being, captured in the ups and downs, the mountains and valley=
s, the light and dark."

On Old 67
Steven Clark
Independently Published
9798353357964, $16.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Old-67-Missouri-Memoir/dp/B0BGNHF6LW

On Old 67 is a memoir of coming of age in Missouri, and captures the milieu=
of bygone eras and pathways as Steven Clark traverses the "asphalt river" =
of Highway 67 and chat dumps of its geography and life.

The first thing to note about On Old 67 is the rich, revealing tone of life=
's progression that leads readers through unfamiliar territory. Steven Clar=
k does not assume that his audience either knows Missouri in general or the=
se small rural towns in particular. Thus, he lends an explorative and expla= native hand to his memoir that blends historical and cultural examination i= nto the story of his life's progression.

Events are channeled through this funnel of first-person experience in an e= vocative manner to bring the events, the region's culture and politics, and=
his family to life: "Dad was one of those urging its implementation. He me= ntioned fair to poor ambulance response from his Highway patrol days. (Once=
, he told me and Gary, two rival ambulances came to an accident, and the at= tendants got into a fistfight. Dad had to jerk the fist-swinging attendants=
loose...while the victims were still moaning and bleeding). It was fun see= ing him on TV, in his usual white shirt and dark tie, confident and explain= ing the need for a new system, his authoritative voice deep and pleasant. I=
was proud seeing him on the news. Mother and Ebie refused to watch. 'Him t= rying to be a 'big man' like always,' sneered Mother. Ebie, arms folded, no= dded. 'He walked out on his family. That'll never change.' At times, Gary a=
nd I wondered...aloud to ourselves, as we did, plinking off rounds ...if Da=
d had done the right thing after all." On Old 67 represents a road trip thr= ough bygone years, influences, and culture.

Readers who take a back seat car ride through Steven Clark's life and times=
receive vignettes about small-town life that impart a sense of growth and = change that sweeps the author and his family into altered lives: "We drove = north on highway 67, passing Old 67 on the west side of the new highway; tw= isted, plugged up with asphalt here and there, cracks of black spread out t= hat I wrote of at the beginning, recalling Rorschach tests. The old road's = scraps of habitation are often hidden in high, uncut weeds and wild bush co= mpeting with formerly inhabited houses now abandoned with their rotting woo=
d, or single-room sized service stations with broken windows and rusting si= gns whose brown creep ate away at formerly cheerful or functional lettering= .." In the end, the remnants of these byroads and choices of the past, captu= red in memoirs like On Old 67, are all that's left to point out milestones =
of the past and methods by which it transforms into new environments and pe= rceptions.

Libraries and readers seeking memoirs steeped in stories of survival and ch= ange will find that On Old 67 brings these times to life. It will attract m= emoir readers from all walks of life who are interested in dysfunctional fa= mily makeups and the process of integrating and surviving them as time pass=
es and people and places change.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promo= ting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no fund=
s from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these=
reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, inte= rnet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested indivi= duals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "Califo= rnia Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwat= ch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available=
for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview=
(dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugal= muse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publish= er, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number=
, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review

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