Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves by Author: Anonymous and Albert Seligman (Editor)

February 25, 2026 By 3 Comments


Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves by Author: Anonymous and Albert Seligman (Editor)
Publisher: Dulacebooks
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

The story is about two brothers whose father died and left them little. Ali Baba married a poor woman and lived frugally, but Cassim married a woman who soon inherited a fortune and lived in luxury. One day while Ali Baba was in the forest cutting wood to sell he saw a great cloud of dust approaching and the sound of many riders. He feared for his life, so he hid his three donkeys and hid himself in a tree. The band of forty riders and their leader stopped in front of a cave. When the leader said “ Open Sesame” the door of the cave magically opened. The whole troop went inside while Ali Baba stayed hidden. When he was sure they had gone, he approached the cave door and said “ Open Sesame” himself as the cave door magically opened to his command. Inside the cave he saw vast riches and golden coins, which he liberally took for himself and returned home with his donkeys, remembering to properly close the cave door with the “Shut Sesame “ command.

His wife was astonished at all the gold coins he brought home and wanted to count them before Ali buried them in his yard. As there were too many to count, she borrowed a measuring cup from her sister-in-law. She was curious as to what they might have to measure something, so she cleverly put some suet on the bottom to see what would stick. After the cup was returned with a gold coin stuck to the bottom, she called her husband Cassim to tell him what happened.

Cassim went to Ali’s house and demanded to know how he got a gold coin, and Ali told him everything, including the magic password. Cassim was very greedy, so the next day he set out with many donkeys to find the cave and removed as much treasure for himself as possible. In his haste, he forgot the magic words to open the cave and was trapped inside when the robbers returned. They killed him and cut his body in pieces.

When Cassim didn’t return, Ali feared the worst and returned to the cave to find him. He found his brother’s body and returned to town. He knew the robbers would find out if anyone had been murdered in such a fashion, so they sewed Cassim’s body back together and pretended he died a natural death.

The robbers sent scouts to town to determine if anyone had died and discovered Ali Baba’s house. The captain of the robbers disguised himself as an oil merchant and hid his band in leather jars planning to murder all the household. When Morgiana, Ali Baba’s clever slave girl discovers the ruse, she murders all the robbers. The captain flees, but soon returns in another disguise to take his revenge. Again she discovers him, plunges a dagger into his heart and saves her master.

Moderation is the key to survival.

I once again loved the way this tale transported me to a time and place in the past that I would otherwise know very little about. This is part of the reason why I continue to give new instalments in this series such high ratings. It’s not always easy to make a reader feel immersed in what they’re reading, much less give them a taste of what life was like for some people in the far east over eleven hundred years ago, but Mr. Seligman had all sorts of intriguing ways to close that gap for his modern audience that new fans should discover for themselves.

Many old legends are sanitized for modern audiences, so I appreciated the fact that not every character remained safe from harm and that there were choices made here that are less common in modern adaptations. That is to say, this is something I’d particularly recommend to readers who enjoyed the older versions of fairy tales before The Brothers Grimm began collecting and softening up their sharp edges for younger audiences.

It’s not necessary to know anything about the plot in advance, but readers who do might notice some interesting twists that often seem to be left out of more recent translations of Ali Baba’s life. I thought I knew exactly what to expect going in, but I was still pleasantly surprised by a few things I didn’t realize were part of this universe in at least some retellings. The editor excels at this sort of thing which is yet another reason why I try to read as much of his work as I possibly can. There’s nothing like learning new facets of old favorites thanks to fairly recently uncovered versions of them.

This is part of a series that does not have to be read in any particular order.

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves was a fantastic and beautifully illustrated adventure.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

Ghost Town by Dr. James R. Gregory

February 23, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Ghost Town by Dr. James R. Gregory
Publisher: Morgan James Fiction
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Romance, Historical
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

In the isolated coal mining town of Sulphur Creek in the late 1800s, young Sammy Murphy’s world is a blend of shadowy tunnels and unspoken secrets. Born into solitude and pushed into reclusion, Sammy’s quiet life starkly contrasts with the booming industry that surrounds him. But as he searches for connection in an era of ruthless expansion, he finds himself at odds with forces far greater than he imagined.

Enter Barry Bacon, an ambitious industrialist who fancies himself a peer to magnates like Andrew Carnegie. Driven by unbridled ambition, Bacon’s dreams stretch far beyond the soot-covered rooftops of Sulphur Creek. But as the weight of his empire bears down, his unchecked arrogance threatens to unravel everything he’s built.

As Sammy faces an unexpected awakening brought forth by a fleeting love, and Bacon’s empire teeters on the brink of collapse, both men must face truths that transcend time—true love extends beyond mere attraction and real power is more than forceful arrogance.

A little intrigue goes a long way.

The strong, steady pacing kept my interest levels high from beginning to end, and this was accomplished while including characters who tended to have quiet, reflective personalities and a preference for avoiding conflict when possible. These are the sorts of folks I love to read about and don’t get to meet in fiction nearly as often as I’d prefer to. I appreciated the fact that the plot, while sometimes rightfully given precedence over character development in the most dramatic moments, never overshadowed the gentle souls who inhabited this world. Having such a natural ebb and flow to what or who was being described worked alongside the pacing even if some scenes did temporarily veer a little further into one direction or the other. As someone who has been writing book reviews for many years, this doesn’t happen as often as I’d like to see, and it’s made me incredibly curious to see what the author writes next.

There were a few memorable plot twists that kept me wondering what might happen next. I especially appreciated the fact that not every aspect of the storyline was tied up neatly by the final scene. There was enough of a resolution to make me feel comfortable saying goodbye to these characters while still having a few things left to mull over that could make for a reasonable starting point for a sequel if the author ever chooses to write one. I have no way of knowing if that will occur, of course, but I enjoy having that possibility, however faint, dangled in front of me all the same.

Dr. Gregory did an excellent job of balancing the thriller, romance, and historical fiction themes here. It isn’t necessarily easy to write something that includes multiple genres, especially with a plot that already filled with so many different types of conflict, from quiet internal struggles for some characters to life-threatening events such as natural disasters in other scenes. They were all blended together so seamlessly that I’d need to pause for a moment before deciding which genre to mention first while describing this tale to someone else. It truly was a little of everything in the best sense of that term.

Ghost Town made me feel as if I’d stepped into a time machine to visit the past. What a ride!

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Charlie-Man by Thomas Cullen

February 20, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Charlie-Man by Thomas Cullen
Publisher: Brandylane Publishing
Genre: Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), Historical
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

It’s August 1994, and Charlie Stewart begins his final year at St. Mark’s Episcopal School, a prestigious all-boys school in Richmond, Virginia. Charlie, an undistinguished student by St. Mark’s standards, faces tough odds as he seeks to rekindle his relationship with Katy Hendricks, a beautiful tennis star, and gain admission to a highly selective state university.

Through it all, Charlie relies on Beau Miller, his best friend and the top student athlete in their class. Despite Beau’s movie-star looks and infectious charm, he has a darker side, which becomes more apparent as the year progresses.

Charlie endures his trials with wry determination and ultimately emerges with a renewed sense of purpose. This is a heartrending but hopeful story of one boy’s journey toward manhood in the American South.

Innocence never lasts forever.

Mr. Cullen had a smooth writing style that I deeply enjoyed reading. He seemed to intuitively know precisely how many details to share about a scene to make it come alive in my imagination without ever slowing down the pacing of the plot in the process. I especially enjoyed his descriptions of the various locations in Richmond, Virginia where Charlie and his friends experienced their final year of high school. They were as vivid as they were achingly honest.

One of the things that puzzled me about Charlie for the first half or so of this novel involved his muted reactions to things like his father’s death or his traumatic experiences at summer camp that I would have expected him to have much strong feelings about. Figuring out why these scenes were written this was what propelled this to a five-star read for me. The author knew exactly what he was doing here, and a few twists later on in the storyline not only explained why Charlie behaved the way he did but gave me an opportunity to get to know this character on a much deeper level than I previously had.

I also loved the complex friendship between Charlie and Beau, especially as it related to Beau’s character flaws impacted both of these teenagers. One of the most challenging parts of growing up can be seeing how childhood friendships permanently change as everyone involved in them transitions into adulthood and begins making choices that cannot always be undone. These were the moments that made me wonder if this was a memoir in disguise due to how skillfully Charlie’s mixed emotions about his oldest and closest friend were woven into the storyline. They genuinely felt real to me.

Charlie-Man made me yearn for more.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , ,

TV Show Review: Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Season 2)

February 2, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Season 2)
Distributed by: Disney+
Writers: Rick Riordan and Jonathan E. Steinberg
Starring: Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries, Aryan Simhadri
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.)
Rating: 5 stars (10 stars on IMBDB)
Reviewed by Dicentra

Demigod Percy Jackson leads a quest across America to prevent a war among the Olympian gods.

I just finished the second season of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians tv show on Disney+, and this is the adaptation that my forever Percy Jackson fan heart has been waiting years for.

It is obvious how much the showrunners and writers put into this book, especially with the easter eggs they dropped for die hard fans. Clarisse’s (Dior Goodjohn) storyline this season was also particularly impactful compared to the books, as you actually got to see some of the scenes that were only hinted at, such as when Ares (Adam Copeland) gives her the ship that they head to the Sea of Monsters on. I connected more to her portrayal of Clarisse emotionally than I did to the Clarisse from the books. Daniel Diemer’s portrayal of Tyson this season was excellent, and I really loved his brotherly relationship with Percy (Walker Scobell). It was a really impactful choice from the production team to never show Tyson with two eyes, as in the words of producer Dan Shotz everyone in the audience is a demigod now.

While I’m sad that some monsters from the book didn’t make the cut (the Hydra in particular would have been a CGI budget black hole), all of the changes they made from the book made sense. I especially appreciated more appearances from Sally Jackson (Virgina Kull).The contents of the last episode are almost entirely different from the book, but I think it worked out well and I’m excited to see how they take the adjusted storyline into future seasons (with season 3 set to premiere before the end of 2026). The show will resonate the most with fans of the book, but I highly recommend it to viewers of all ages who enjoy adventure, friendship, and Greek mythology.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Musings, Movie Review, Television Show Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Enchanted Horse (A Tale from the Arabian Nights) by Albert Seligman

January 9, 2026 By 2 Comments


The Enchanted Horse (A Tale from the Arabian Nights) by Albert Seligman
Publisher: Dulacebooks
Genre: Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

The Enchanted Horse, also known as ‘The Magic Horse’ or ‘The Ebony Horse’, is one of the most loved of all the Arabian Nights tales. It is also an early example of stories about flying machines, which have been contemplated since stories were first recorded.

The Tale begins with a Persian king who has a son and three beautiful daughters. During a New Years’ festival, three sages bearing gifts present them to his majesty. One is a golden peacock which kept the time of day by fluttering his wings. Another was a trumpet which would blast if an enemy approached. The third, and best of all, was an ebony horse, whose rider could ascend into the clouds and ride anywhere on the earth in an instant.

The King greatly desired to own the magic horse, but wanted to verify that not only the sage could command it, so his son, Prince Firouz, took to the saddle and took off. He didn’t know how to control the horse, so he rose into the sky and was not seen afterward. The sage was thrown into the dungeon.

He finally gained control and descended into a strange land, where, naturally, he meets the beautiful Princess of Bengal. Her father was not too keen on a sudden relationship, but the Prince said he would prove his worth by fighting the king’s entire army at once.

The army was unprepared for an aerial assault, and the Prince and Princess escaped together and returned to his own kingdom triumphant. Prince Firouz hides her in the summer palace while he visits his father and prepares for her entrance. But here the story takes a bad turn. The sage is released from jail, but demanded the king’s daughter in marriage in return for the magic horse. He manages to escape, but with the Princess of Bengal as his prisoner instead . The sage forces her to mount on the magic horse and they fly to a far away land.

He immediately begins mistreating her, but is seen by a hunting party of the Sultan of the land where they landed. He imprisons the sage and decides to marry the beautiful Princess of Bengal himself. She doesn’t like the idea, preferring her young Prince Firouz, and feigns madness to delay the wedding.

Meanwhile, Prince Firouz is roaming the land looking for his Princess, and hears rumors of a flying horse and a mad Princess. He disguises himself as a doctor, and offers to cure the Princess. She recognizes him immediately and they devise a plan of escape. He tells the Sultan that he can cure her and destroy the spell she is under by lighting a great fire. In the confusion, he escapes with the Princess and the magic horse and returns to his own land.

And they live happily ever after, and he eventually ascends to the throne.

This Tale is illustrated with the finest artwork of the 19th and 20th century. Illustrators include Edmund Dulac, William H Robinson, Thomas H Robinson, Eric Pape, William Harvey, HJ Ford, Frances Brundage, John Hassall, George Sopor, AB Houghton, AD McCormick, Helen Stratton, Anne & Janet Johnstone, Walter Paget, René Bull, Monroe S Orr, JD Batten and JC Clark.

Adventures can be found anywhere.

This tale was originally told at a time when women had few rights, so some scenes were completely at odds with how I’d expect female characters to be treated in a contemporary times. While some of those moments were hard to read due to those individuals having virtually no say in the course of their own lives even when it came down to something as simple as where to live or whom to marry, I’m glad they were left in because of how important it is not to sugarcoat the past. The historical genre is at its best when it acknowledges such things in my opinion.

The plot twists were imaginative and kept me guessing. I especially appreciated seeing how certain personality flaws of some characters were used to push the storyline forward while also giving those individuals a chance to reconsider their ways. This is exactly what legends and fairy tales are supposed to do, and it was a great deal of fun to see how that trope played out this time as the characters were faced with one surprise after another.

There’s something to be said for an ending that fits the tone of a piece perfectly. I chuckled as I read it and thought it couldn’t have been done better. Not only were all of the most important plot threads tied up neatly, the fates of the main characters matched both their personalities as well as their stations in life. Given how important social rank was in this society, it made total sense for it to also affect that final scene the way that it did. I know I’m being a little vague here, but this truly is one of those times when readers should have a few hints as possible about what is to come so hopefully they can be just as entertained as I was.

The Enchanted Horse – A Tale From the Arabian Nights made me yearn for a sequel.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

Scheherazade (A Tale from the Arabian Nights) by Albert Seligman

January 5, 2026 By 2 Comments


Scheherazade (A Tale from the Arabian Nights) by Albert Seligman
Publisher: Dulacebooks
Genre: Young Adult (14-18 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Dulacebooks’ new Arabian Nights series presents these tales decorated with the illustrations from the original editions of the Victorian and Golden Age. Over fifty different illustrators’ versions of these stories are reproduced here, fully restored and many in full color. These are the finest examples of the artists and illustrators of the Arabian Nights, including-

Arthur Rackham, Edmund Dulac, Kay Nielsen, René Bull , Maxfield Parrish, William H Robinson, Thomas H Robinson, Charles Robinson, Thomas Mackenzie, Walter Crane, Louis Rhead, Helen Stratton, Virginia Frances Sterrett, Elizabeth Mackinstry, John Gilbert, HJ Ford, Edward J Detmold, Eric Pape, AE Jackson, Willy Pogany, Milo Winter, Monroe S Orr, Charles Folkard, Walter Paget, William Stang, JD Batten, Frances Brundage, Gustav Dore, FOC Darley, William Harvey, the Brothers Dalziel, and many others.

The first book in the series is how the 1001 nights begin, with Scheherazade and her sister weaving the tales to her new husband Schahriar, the Sultan. The Tales in this edition are:

The Sultan and his Vow

The Fable of the Ass, the Ox, and the Laborer

The Story of the Merchant and the Genie

The History of the First Old Man and the Hind

The History of the Second Old Man and the two Black Dog

Words are one of the most powerful weapons that exist.

One of the many reasons why I’m always excited to read Mr. Seligman’s latest work is that it gives me the opportunity to explore older or ancient cultures and other pieces of the past that are rarely if ever covered in the average history class. I loved reading these legends and stories and poring over the beautiful artworks that were created to illustrate important scenes in them. One can learn so much about a culture by pay attention to the values shared in their literature and how their characters respond to the usual, and in some cases not so usual, challenges in life.

The relationships between the various characters were nuanced and fascinating. As the social conventions of this culture were rarely if ever spelled out clearly, I had to read between the lines to understand why certain characters behaved the way they did or what they hoped to accomplish by telling stories that often ended with cliffhangers until it was time to share the next instalment in that series.

I also adored the story within a story format of this piece. The beginning and end described a character who decided to tell these tales in an attempt to convince his daughter to change their mind about a potentially deadly life decision. Other readers should find out for themselves exactly what that choice was, but I thought it was a clever way to explain why someone would suddenly want to tell so many old legends in a row.

Scheherazade – A Tale From the Arabian Nights was truly magical.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

Framed for Murder by Marla A. White

December 17, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Framed for Murder by Marla A. White
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Snowdrop

After a life-changing injury, Mel O’Rourke trades in her badge for bed sheets, running a B & B in the quirky mountain town of Pine Cove. Her peaceful life is interrupted when an old frenemy, the notorious and charismatic cat burglar, Poppy Phillips, shows up on her doorstep, claiming she’s been framed for murder. While she’s broken plenty of laws, Mel knows she’d never kill anyone. Good thing she’s a better detective than she is a cook as she sets out to prove Poppy’s innocence.

The situation gets complicated, however, when the ruggedly handsome Deputy Sheriff Gregg Marks flirts with Mel, bringing him dangerously close to the criminal she’s hiding. And just when her friendship with café owner Jackson Thibodeaux blossoms into something more, he’s offered the opportunity of a lifetime in New Orleans. Should she encourage him to go, or ask him to stay? Who knew romance could be just as hard to solve as murder?

Once a cop always a cop or it seems to be that way for Mel who is now running what you might call a family-owned B&B in Pine Cove. When the head of a big oil corporation is found dead and it is rumored that he had the magic potion to clean up oil spills, many suspects came to light, but Poppy was certain the cops would be sure it was her. She went straight to the honest cop she knew to help her out. Thus began the friendship/frenemy-ship Mel never thought could happen.

This is the first book I have read by Marla White. It was cute. It reads fast and I will tell you first-hand the characters and their antics will win you over immediately. There’s Poppy with her British accent, Grandma O insulting every customer that comes into the B&B, an adorable brother, and a handsome restauranteur and chef. Well, you get my drift. They are all a bit quirky and somehow it all falls together to make an easy-to-read, pleasant cozy mystery. I sure hope there will be more action in Pine Cove.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

December 8, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Publisher: Grove Press
Genre: Holiday, Historical, Fiction
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Snowdrop

It is 1985 in a small Irish town. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and family man faces into his busiest season. Early one morning, while delivering an order to the local convent, Bill makes a discovery which forces him to confront both his past and the complicit silences of a town controlled by the church.

Sweet and yet thoughtful or short and sweet. That would be my description of this little book. Not much needs to be said about this delightful book. It’s a perfect read for the Christmas holidays. It needs to be shared with all of your loved ones.

Small Things Like These was chosen as an Oprah’s Book Club Pick in 2024. It’s a novella, only 114 pages. It’s based in Ireland. A story composed of hardworking, faith-following religious folk and a man who sees he must do what has to be done. But even though he can “see the right-thing” that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have to consider all the consequences to his loved ones and those around him.

A deep and yet poignant story. A beautiful tale to read. What a wonderful Christmas gift this would be.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher

December 1, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher
Publisher: 47 North
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

With only a few dollars to her name and her beloved dog Copper by her side, Selena flees her past in the city to claim her late aunt’s house in the desert town of Quartz Creek. The scorpions and spiders are better than what she left behind.

Because in Quartz Creek, there’s a strange beauty to everything, from the landscape to new friends, and more blue sky than Selena’s ever seen. But something lurks beneath the surface. Like the desert gods and spirits lingering outside Selena’s house at night, keeping watch. Mostly benevolent, says her neighbor Grandma Billy. That doesn’t ease the prickly sense that one of them watches too closely and wants something from Selena she can’t begin to imagine. And when Selena’s search for answers leads her to journal entries that her aunt left behind, she discovers a sinister truth about her new home: It’s the haunting grounds of an ancient god known simply as “Snake-Eater,” who her late aunt made a promise to that remains unfulfilled.

Snake-Eater has taken a liking to Selena, an obsession of sorts that turns sinister. And now that Selena is the new owner of his home, he’s hell-bent on collecting everything he’s owed.

Selena has nothing to lose. Ditching her partner and taking nothing but the clothes on her back and her ever-faithful dog, Copper, she chooses to start a new life and find whatever it is that she’s been missing. But when she arrives in Quartz Creek, she discovers her only connection to the town has died. Does she stay and try to make it work? Or does she go back to Walter and admit defeat?

Since this was my first T. Kingfisher novel, I honestly had no idea what to expect. What I got, however, was a dark fantasy bordering on horror at times, with more humor than you would imagine. Copper, the black lab, is the source of most of this humor, as labs often are. Grandma Billy, also, is good for a chuckle just when things start to get intense. Thankfully, we had the calming presence of Father Aguirre for when things got truly crazy.

Selena was one of the more interesting characters, in my opinion. Her ex, Walter, was controlling and constantly made her doubt herself. Watching her deconstruct and discover the truth was something special. That moment when she began to realize that Walter’s reality and hers were two different things really stood out.

As someone who has spent most of her life in the desert, everything about this book appealed to me. The bleakness and beauty of the southwest, the native beliefs, and of course, that a road runner was at the forefront of the story. These little birds have fascinated me since I was a child, and it makes me sad that I rarely see them these days. Quartz Creek might seem like a dying town, but there is absolutely more to this sleepy little village than meets the eye. I look forward to reading more of T. Kingfisher’s books in the future. This one certainly lived up to the hype for me.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Pits: Life Literally Bit Me in the Ass (a memoir) by Cheryl Edwards

November 17, 2025 By 1 Comment


The Pits: Life Literally Bit Me in the Ass (a memoir) by Cheryl Edwards
Publisher: Huber House Press LLC
Genre: Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Cheryl Edwards’s life takes a terrifying turn when she is viciously attacked by three pit bulls, and nothing goes according to plan when it comes to escaping, finding help, and recovering.

Once a happy dog-loving gym rat who swam with sharks and skydived, she’s now afraid of skiing, snakes, and senior schnauzers. With her life in the pits, she copes like any other Gen Xer and the only way she knows how: with pigheaded determination, sarcasm, and humor. Needless to say, the results vary.

Cheryl wants nothing more than to be normal again, but after therapist number three informs her that she hadn’t been normal to begin with, she’s forced to confront her past in order to make the most of her future.

This gripping memoir isn’t just a cautionary tale for dog owners and pet sitters; it’s a thank-you letter to her husband, a guide to treating victims, and a testament to friendship.

Courage comes in many forms.

Ms. Edward’s conversational writing style was the perfect fit for this memoir. Even though I’ve never actually met her, in some ways it still felt like I was sitting down with an old friend to get a detailed update on her life as I read. Her warm and easy-going narrative was occasionally punctuated by funny moments that I never would have expected to read in a book about a vicious, unprovoked attack by three dogs.

My favourite passages were the ones that described the parts of recovery that might not be the first thing to cross someone’s mind when they think about the practicalities of healing from so many bites. For example, the author had a terrible time convincing her insurance company to cover many of the bills that resulted not only from her attack but also from the physical therapy and other medical costs in the weeks, months, and years to follow. Her mental health was negatively affected in completely understandable ways as well as she dealt with the horrific trauma of that day. These sections were an excellent reminder of just how long healing can take as well as how much of it involves things that outsiders might not understand. Compassion is key whether someone is the victim of such an attack or a friend or loved one who is trying to help. I’ll leave it up to other readers to absorb the rest of the lessons she learned as a result of these experiences, but there was plenty of material here to work with for people from every walk of life.

The author’s reactions to the dogs who attacked her was what ultimately encouraged me to give this a glowing five-star read. That is to say, I was impressed with how she responded to the thought of discussing their future once the danger was finished and she’d received appropriate medical care for her many injuries. That isn’t a topic I can go into great detail about without sharing spoilers, but it was what solidified this into a must-read for me.

The Pits: Life Literally Bit Me in the Ass overflowed with hope, forgiveness, and kindness. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »