I requested to review this book because, as an Eppie nominee, I was intrigued by the title TURTLE MEDICINE which brings to mind native American Indian mythology. After I read the book, as I prepared to write this review, I learned that Jean Staley is the penname of author Aliske Webb. No wonder I had been mentally comparing the similarity of writing styles and quilting motifs. The introspective, reflective style surely defines Aliske Webb's work as she never hesitates to flaunt current expectations of style in order to encourage the reader to think, thereby encouraging the reader to challenge attitudes previously taken for granted, resulting in spiritual growth.

It is this theme of spiritual growth that dominates the Aliske Webb's work, especially with TURTLE MEDICINE. Indeed, TURTLE MEDICINE tracks the growth of two women, both the first-person narrator Susan and her great-grandmother Emily. The narrator Susan inadvertently reveals her own spiritual journey as she actively traces the life of Emily, who's turtle quilt has left a puzzle that Susan is determined to solve. This mirroring between narrator and Emily highlights the similarities of the paths despite the years and vastly different lifestyles that separate them. Likewise, a second mirroring occurs between Emily and the native American Indian woman Morning Cloud. Beneath the differences of this mirroring, the reader discovers the sisterhood that unites all women.

Susan crosses the vast expanses of space and time to recreate Emily's life. Like the tradition of the Native Indian giveaway ceremony, Emily's letters, journals and quilts have been spread among her many descendants therefore forcing Susan to travel great distances to assemble each precious piece of the past. Following her great-grandmother from girlhood onward, the author recreates pioneer life and the changes this great country has endured.

The passage of Emily through the journey of life, from the maiden, to the mother, to the wizened crown reveals a journey all women share. As our personal visions of the world expand to embrace not just our tiny pieces of life, but all life, so does TURTLE MEDICINE reflect the spiritual paths that result in growth and change. I highly recommend TURTLE MEDICINE.

TURTLE MEDICINE by Ida Jean Staley, is a celebration of women; of their lives, their loves, and their talents. Ms. Staley stitches the fabric of three inter-twined tales to create a colorful patchwork quilt of birth, love, marriage, death, and rebirth. Like the endless tiny stitches of a handcrafted quilt each word in TURTLE MEDICINE takes the reader on a journey through history, politics, and a blending of Irish, Euro-American and Native American cultures. The reader follows Susan and Luther's journey as they travel from Connecticut to Montana in search of the history behind her great-grandmother Emily's turtle quilt. Patched into Susan's journey is Emily's story as the reader follows her growth from a young girl in Connecticut, her mis- marriage to the philandering Charles Davis, her time in Idaho as a widow then a new bride when she marries her true love John Powell, and finally on to Montana where she marries Nate Beauchamps and dies a wise old grandmother. The third and final story is Susan's solitary ride into the Montana mountains where trouble plagues her, and through her own spirit guides finds herself. A recommended read for anyone.

This early reader by Katrina Picard speaks from every child's wonderment of the amazing and unlimited possibilities in life. Young Tommy wonders how he will know what he'll be when he grows up. He plays with his toys while his dad makes some suggestions. Each possibility is a rhyming option for Tommy, definitely the best choice, until another choice is presented. How will he ever decide?

Katrina's answer is the best, and the ending makes this read-aloud story perfect for bedtime and the world of safe and comfortable dreams. The fun story is for the child, the lesson is for dad

NOTE: I was initially drawn to this novel after reading about the author through list service I belong to. Bonnie is the executive director of Unicorn Haven, a free, in-residence counseling for teens and females. All profit from the book goes to support that service. But in the last year Bonnie has fallen victim to her medical problems, and is no longer able to work, therefore leaving her unable to support herself or her beloved program. With such a beautiful cause at stake, I requested a copy of the book.

For true lovers of a the romantic tale, especially those seeking a unique blend of old fashioned morals combined with the fantastic, this tale is for you.

The novel follows Karen Jackson's tale of self-discovery. When she takes Bill Norrbin home, her father harshly refuses to allow the young man on his property, and orders his daughter never to see him again, or be disowned from the family. Karen's loyalty to family and her deep spiritual beliefs cause her to break up with Bill. But after three months apart, she finds she can no longer keep her word.

Karen's confusion at being raised in a loving Christian home, that warmly welcomed everyone within its midst, forms the central theme. The novel deftly confronts issues of race and bigotry, and when Karen's eventually holds an old fashioned picture in her hand, the moment the last of her self-definitions crumble. What she does with the knowledge she's gained determines if she remains with her soul-mate.

Interestingly, Bonnie introduces elements of the paranormal in the form of visions, and treats Karen's migraines with holistic remedies. Such a montage of eclectic elements, both the ordinary and the fantastic, gives the novel its greatest strength.

Bonnie is obviously a new writer, and there are some weaknesses in the novel. Yet I thoroughly enjoyed her old fashioned approach to passionate sexuality, as she carefully balances it with Christian morals. I find the story very positive, interesting, and different from the ordinary love tale.

Oscar winning actress Leila Addams returns with her daughter Robin to Caulderville, Massachusetts, the home of her childhood, following the shocking suicide of her husband. She has inherited the entire estate of Ravenwood, including the family home at 93 Crane Street, under the condition she live in the ancestral home for six months. Leila can't help wondering why her Aunt Charlotte would leave her so much; after all, Leila left home at sixteen and never looked back. Attributing the gift to an old aunt's eccentricity, Leila little suspects the significant role waiting herself and her daughter.

Hoping to achieve some measure of anonymity while she recovers from the loss of her husband, Leila is distressed when a reporter recognizes her. Choosing to outflank his inquisition, Leila persuades the newspaper editor to hire her as an investigative reporter, promising an exclusive interview in six months. She soon finds herself drawn into a hunt for a serial killer that stalks red headed women, framing the husbands of his victims for his crimes.

If you love the supernatural, 93 CRANE STREET fills the bill with flair. Demonology, satanic cults, murder and tarot cards keep the pages turning in this fast paced occult mystery. In the traditional dance of good verses evil, author Toni LoTempio follows in the steps of Clive Barker and Stephen King to present a fascinating tale of murder and evil. While a bit derivative, the clean writing style and heat stopping pace will hold the reader's attention rapt. Recommended.

I'm not much of a reader, but I really liked this book. It was suspenseful and interesting. Ms. Lo Tempio has a clean writing style, and I found the information on tarot fascinating. Great Book and a good one for people who are "iffy" about supernatural suspense.....

Toni Lo Tempio, takes the reader to a place unfamiliar to most of us, a place of magic and mystery. The characters, the vehicles for this ride, are very real and strong enough to bring this story to life. The suspense begins immediately with the murder of a young woman, whom the killer believes is the reincarnation of a girl he framed as a witch over two hundred years ago, a girl, who had denied him power of the tarrot cards. It's not the first woman he killed and he'll continue until he's found the right one.

At sixteen, Robbin Addams wants to deny the family legacy that she is the reincarnation of Megan morgan, but evil is searching her out. Only by accepting her destiny and understanding the power it brings, can she save not only her own life, but also turn back the forces of evil about to be unleashed upon the earth.

This novel is not only fast-paced, but spine-tingling. Toni Lo Tempio makes you believe in tarrot cards, reincarnation, and evil, and with the surpise ending, you'll continue to wonder.

Eighty-three years after his death, Jack London's work remains in print throughout the world, and his popularity abroad vastly exceeds the accord he is given in America. Over twenty biographies have been written, yet the man behind the persona perpetuated by the press has remained elusive. Jerome Lofgren, however, brings both London and his wife to life with remarkable perceptiveness and intensity in his novel IN SEARCH OF JACK LONDON.

As Lofgren's personal life disintegrated around him, having come through divorce, bankruptcy and blindness, his spiritual life opened to new possibilities. As his questioned his purpose in life, he began a spiritual journal that led him to conclude that he is Jack London reincarnated.

Lofgren recounts his work with hypnosis, visions and research, drawing a web of intimacy seldom matched by most biographers. Interestingly, Lofgren focuses on the loving relationship between Jack and his second wife, Charmain Kittredge. Most biographers have overlooked the significant role Charmain provided as both a partner to London and a preserver of his work, journals, photographs, and so forth. Further, Lofgren seeks to correct many of the misconceptions of London, often perpetuated by other biographers.

Rather than a typical biographer, Lofgren's goal is to write "about different subjects, different matters, but there will be the essence of the strength from the London lifetime." Indeed, he succeeds in creating a reflective work filled with the emotional insight sadly lacking in most biographies.

Regardless of personal beliefs, this contemplative, thought provoking view of America's most published author will provide unique insight into the life of Jack London.

This is a quirky, individualistic, passionately eccentric book in
which fiction, fantasy, and fact are inextricably mixed up. I enjoyed
it.

There is no way for me to ask Jack London about the truth of
this book, but Jerome V. Lofgren was kind enough to answer some
questions I had, and to give me permission to quote them.

(DPBS)
"The Search for Jack London" is told in first person by a
narrator who claims to be Jack London's reincarnation. Is this simply
a literary device or (as the blurb material suggests) do you truly
believe this?

(JVL) What I personally believe is not the issue
here.. From the onset in my prologue and in the text itself I put
forth that if you believe in reincarnation read it right from the tap.
If you don't believe in reincarnation at least accept it as a literary
technique to tell a beautiful story (Such as The Star Rover).. This
is not a dissertation on reincarnation but an effort to understand
Jack and Charmian London.

(DPBS) The story is framed by "the
annual banquet celebrating Jack London's birthday... the Jack London
Foundation gathered as they had each year in the Sonoma Country
Club." Is your description of this meeting intended to be:
factual? A dramatized version of real events? Fictional?

(JVL) A
dramatized version of real events. However, the actual confrontation
with Clarice Stasz took place on September 30, 1987 at a BBQ hosted by
Russ and Winnie at their Glen Ellen home with Earle Labor, Milo
Shepherd their spouses and Clarice. It was a very foggy night when
Clarice hoved to out of the fog to launch her broadsides at
me.

(DPBS) In the portions of the story which are told in Jack
London's voice, I can, here and there, pick out actual quotations from
Jack London's works (a snippet from "To Build a Fire" first
Klondike episode, a snippet from "The Cruise of the Snark"
in the passage where he meets Ernest Darling, etc.) Are the parts
told in London's voice _largely_ pastiches of quotations?

(JVL) As
Russ Kingman commented repeatedly, anyone who gets immersed into Jack
will encounter the, "Dreadful Parallels." My question to you
is what other voice would Jack speak in?

(DPBS) The narrator quotes
the late Russ Kingman repeatedly and at length as having very definite
opinions on various controversial aspects of Jack London's life. Are
these actual quotations from Russ Kingman's writings? If not, do you
represent them as factual and as being accurately representative of
his views?

These are Russ' actual words. Russ went over this
manuscript several times and gave his approval of my actual
representation of him. As Russ commented, "I come off as a
Southern Baptist Preacher, as of course, I was."

(DPBS) In
places, you mention events in Jack London's life that are not
well-known to his biographers (his affair with the Native American
woman, Ruth). Are these actually buttressed by material you found in
your researches?

(JVL) Russ asked the same question in the book.
And I answered by pointing out how it came to be in the story. Jack
never wrote of or spoke of that period from January to May when he was
alone in the cabin, "a time when he came to himself." No
matter how Charmian tried to weasel it out of him he wouldn't tell. By
the way Russ was satisfied with my answer.

(DPBS) Is there a reason
why you do not provide notes or explanations to make it easier for the
average reader of this "biography" to pick out which things
can be considered recognized facts, and which are imagined, guessed,
dramatized, invented, or received via occult methods of
communication?

(JVL) This piece was written as a historical novel.
Irving Stone used this style in his "Sailor on Horseback"
without notes or explanations. There are over 20 biographies of Jack
London with Stone's the most popular. Most died a quick death. Why?
That puzzled Russ and me. So I set out to write a different
"biography" where the world, past and present, are viewed
through Jack's eyes. Not only is the old Jack revealed more fully but
the present world of the friends of Jack London is revealed so that
the general public can visit Glen Ellen and appreciate the Ranch and
the Jack London Foundation.
ÿ

Setting aside all personal beliefs and preconceptions about how life "really is" is a prerequisite for journeying with J. V. Lofgren not only through elliptical parts of his own life, but through the life of the famous American writer, Jack London. To experience the numerous stories and people in this book is a unique reading adventure. The twists and turns are fearsome as Lofgren brings himself and Jack London to life with panache in an eloquent and passionate gallop into strange times and places. Lofgren believes himself to have been Jack London in a previous life and sets out to inform us of his experiences alaong the way. To quote Lofgren, "Whether my soul ever energized the body of Jack London or not is important only for my personal understanding. That was then. Now is now. I'm satisfied that my soul once lived a life as Jack London not because of what others have said, but because of my own personal remembrances." This book contains an enormous cast of diverse and strange characters all of whom interact with Lofgren himself and Jack London as Lofgren's reincarnation. There are spirit people and mediums, professionals of every stripe and color with their own beliefs and conceptions few of which they are willing to give up in favor of the author's basic contention, "...that my soul once lived a life as Jack London." And all, he adds, are "subjective elements for which I cannot provide objective proof." He also insists that this work is not creative fiction or a product of his imagination. The southwestern writer Carlos Castanada comes to mind when reading Lofgren's work with all its psychic nuances and far-flung reachings into the "great unknown." Jack London was born on January 12, 1876 in San Francisco at 2 p.m while Lofgren was born November 29, 1933 in Isle, Minnesota at 7:52 p.m, and as we travel through Lofgren's world, it is clearly the journey that matters, not the destination, which is indiscernible. In the end, Lofgren seems to believe, with Carl Jung, "...that there were two truths, scientific and psychic, and the great tragedy of the 20th century was the over-emphasis upon scientific truth and the supression of psychic truth." As for one character's suggestion that the book is a "love story," referring to Jack London's relationship with his last wife, Charmian, in fact the real love story is between Lofgren and Jack London and Lofgren and Lofgren, a kind of triangle. So fly away into this good night if you dare, but expect to meet a few