Parlor Poetry-A Victorian Versification Abecedary by Lori Alden Holuta


Parlor Poetry-A Victorian Versification Abecedary by Lori Alden Holuta
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Non-Fiction, Historical
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

An illustrated A-to-Z (plus an ampersand) poetry collection celebrating Victorian life.
From Ada Lovelace to the Zoetrope (plus a bonus ampersand), this alphabet of verse captures the innovations and oddities of the Victorian era in poetic form. A witty, whimsical celebration of one of the most imaginative eras of all time. Includes color illustrations by Olivia Wylie.

Sometimes the past is a wondrous place.

There was a nice assortment of topics included here, from people like Lewis Carroll who are still well-known and well-read today to reticules which were an early form of what we’d now call a purse that I wasn’t actually aware of until I read this book. Even when I did already have knowledge on a specific subject, I still sometimes found myself surprised by new or additional details about it. This kept me on my toes as I read and made me glad I gave this title a try.

It would have been nice to have more attention paid to the diets of Victorians given how much medical knowledge and advice evolved during this century. Tea was mentioned, but there was a lot else going on in the 1800s when it came to early scientific research about how food impacts health and the various scandals involving tainted milk, rotten meat, or additives in food that weren’t actually safe for human consumption. Had this been given more space, I would have happily gone with a higher rating!

I enjoyed the fact that none of the entries took up more than a few pages. They were meant to provide a jumping-off point for readers to do further research on the various highlights, or, in a few cases, low points, of this era depending on which specific inventions, people, or social conventions one might find most entertaining. There is definitely something to be said for offering this sort of sampling platter, especially for the sections that covered events that aren’t typically taught in school.

Parlor Poetry: A Victorian Versification Abecedary was a versatile and amusing introduction to this time period.

The Chaos That Is Me – My Journey Through A Lifetime of Trauma, Abuse, and Depression by Shawna K. Whaley


The Chaos That Is Me – My Journey Through A Lifetime of Trauma, Abuse, and Depression by Shawna K. Whaley
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Non-Fiction, Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

The Chaos That Is Me: My Journey Through A Lifetime of Trauma, Abuse, and Depression is a memoir by Shawna K. Whaley, born in 1979, in Southeast Ohio. Her life story is a powerful testament to survival and resilience amidst relentless adversity. Shawna’s childhood was marred by abuse, neglect, and homelessness, compounded by addiction and violence. Despite severe back issues and depression, she remained determined to create a better life for herself and her daughters; although she knows she hasn’t succeeded, she hasn’t given up yet.

The memoir details Shawna’s life in an abusive childhood to an abusive marriage, to finally living on her own, and her strength in rebuilding her life. With raw honesty, she shares the defining moments of her journey, offering a narrative that resonates deeply with anyone who has faced life’s darkest challenges.

Freedom can be found in telling the truth.

One of the things I liked about this book was how deeply it dove into the multitude of ways that abuse still affects people years or even decades later. If someone is taught that certain behaviors are normal, it can be difficult to unlearn those ideas later on in life or to notice some of the early red flags of an abusive person in future relationships. This is not to say that victims should ever be blamed for their abuse, of course, only that they can be at higher risk of being harmed again and should be given special consideration so they can learn what healthier relationships look, sound, and feel like.

I had trouble keeping track of all of the people in Ms. Whaley’s life. There were quite a few friends, relatives, coworkers, and acquaintances to remember, and not everyone was described in enough detail for me to immediately recall how she knew them. It would have been helpful to either have a reference list of who everyone was or for more time to be spent on talking about what they were like and how they were connected to the author.

The ending was realistic and made me wish for a sequel. Unlike how things often unfold in fiction, healing in real life doesn’t have a clearcut beginning or ending. The author’s recovery from her abusive childhood and marriage is ongoing, but I saw some promising changes in her life as a single adult. I wanted to give her a hug or a kind word as I read about the challenges she is still going through. It felt like I’d gotten to know her well as I read her memoir, and I’d love to read a sequel someday that shows how she managed in life and maybe even found a way to thrive from 2025 onwards.

The Chaos That Is Me – My Journey Through A Lifetime of Trauma, Abuse, and Depression was memorable.

The Resilient Soul: Meditations on Inner Strength, Growth, and Balance by Tay Robinson


The Resilient Soul: Meditations on Inner Strength, Growth, and Balance by Tay Robinson
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Non-Fiction, Inspirational (Buddhism/Stoicism), Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

In a world filled with distractions, uncertainty, and relentless pressure, “The Resilient Soul” offers a sanctuary for those seeking clarity, wisdom, and personal growth. Blending the timeless philosophy of Stoicism, the disciplined path of martial arts, and modern reflections on life’s challenges, this collection of essays serves as both a meditation on inner strength and a guide to finding balance in the midst of chaos.

Through deeply introspective reflections, the author explores themes of resilience, mindfulness, and the pursuit of personal mastery, all while acknowledging the inevitability of suffering and the beauty of life’s transience. Each essay invites readers to confront the struggles they face—not with fear or avoidance, but with acceptance, grace, and a deeper understanding of what it means to truly live.

From stories that touch on the dangers of rushing through life in search of peace, to reflections on the ultimate confrontation with death, this book challenges you to rethink your relationship with pain, success, and time. Through the author’s unique lens as a martial artist and philosopher, you’ll find a blueprint for cultivating the inner fortitude needed to navigate life’s inevitable highs and lows.

Perfection isn’t possible, but progress is.

Some of the most memorable sections were the ones that explored the meaning of suffering and why it is such an important part of the human experience. This can be a difficult subject to think about, but the author’s sensitive and methodical approach to his ideas made a great deal of sense to me. I also liked the fact that he included so many stories in this book to help illustrate his points, including one about what happens when a character wishes they would never suffer again. That’s a thoughtful way to get one’s point across and to help the audience understand why pain isn’t necessarily something to run away from.

It would have been helpful to expand on many of the points that were made in this book as some of the sections were as short as a single paragraph. There were moments when I wished for more details and examples of the points that were being made as some of them could be vague at times. If these sections had been longer, I would have happily chosen a higher rating as the advice itself was wise.

I appreciated Mr. Robinson’s concerns about the ways in which social media and celebrity culture can distort our understanding of how the world actually works. If most people are trying to show their lives in the best possible light, this leaves too much space for the difficult stuff to be downplayed or ignored entirely and for everyone to begin to wonder if they’re the only one who is privately struggling with something. There were other layers to his argument that are too lengthy to include in my review, but I nodded along as I read his thoughts about how these diversions aren’t always as harmless as some people might assume they are. This wasn’t a polemic, simply conversational sections that talked about why beautiful photos or well-produced videos shouldn’t always be taken at face value when thinking about how to live.

The Resilient Soul was thought provoking.

Letters to an Embryo by Jasna Kaluđerović


Letters to an Embryo by Jasna Kaluđerović
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Letters to an Embryo is an autobiographical novel that explores the deeply personal journey of Jasna Kaludjerovic as she grapples with the aftermath of a painful divorce. Left with a frozen embryo from the final IVF attempt, she feels torn between the responsibility of giving it a chance to live and the emotional weight of her past.

Over the course of many letters, Jasna writes to the embryo, reflecting on motherhood, identity, and the complexities of letting go.

The novel touches on themes of loss, hope, and the quiet resilience of the human spirit, offering readers an intimate exploration of one woman’s emotional and psychological struggle. With honesty and vulnerability, Kaludjerovic invites readers to walk with her through a personal crisis that many can relate to, yet few are willing to speak about.

Does it have the right to life?

How will it fit with her new role now?

What does it take to make a decision?

Some decisions are too important to make swiftly.

One of the most interesting things about this epistolary

memoir was that Ms. Kaluđerović spoke to her frozen embryo as if he or she were a fellow adult. The letters in it included references to dates, career decisions, occasional money problems, and more. It made me smile to see how deeply connected she already felt to her possible child and how willing she was to talk about sensitive or complicated subjects. Those are good signs in a parent or potential parent in my opinion! So much suffering can be prevented or reduced if a mom or dad is happy to talk about anything and never makes their child feel embarrassed for wanting to know how the world works.

While I enjoyed learning so much about the author’s life, I struggled with the slow pacing of this memoir and had trouble keeping my interest levels high as I read. There were many details that were included that didn’t seem to have anything at all to do with the decision of if or when to implant her final frozen embryo. Even once she knew which option was best for her, there were still many delays along the way that I thought could have been trimmed down or left out.

The ending was well written and matched the tone and themes of the earlier letters beautifully. I ended up searching for the author online to see if there were any additional updates to her journey because I felt like I’d gotten to know her well and was so curious to find out what happened next. There is definitely something to be said for memoirs that dive so deeply into both the positive and negative moments in someone’s life. While I don’t want to spoil anything for other readers, this is definitely something I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre and is even slightly curious about how in vitro fertilization and similar fertility treatments can work.

Letters to an Embryo was thought provoking.

The Unholy Silence – A True Account of a Haunted Idaho Home by Doug Owen


The Unholy Silence – A True Account of a Haunted Idaho Home by Doug Owen
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Non-Fiction, Paranormal, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

The Unholy Silence is a harrowing true account of one family’s descent into spiritual warfare after moving into a seemingly ordinary home in Idaho. What began as a fresh start quickly spiraled into a nightmare of ghostly apparitions, shattered mirrors, demonic voices, and eerie manipulations that targeted their children, faith, and sanity.

Told with raw honesty and emotional depth, this memoir follows the author—a devoted husband, father, and Catholic—as he battles unseen forces that twist reality, test his beliefs, and slowly dismantle the life he built. From a terrifying mockery of his daughter to unholy rituals discovered in the shadows, every chapter peels back another layer of haunting.

But perhaps the most chilling aspect of all is the silence—the silence of the Church, of friends, of reason—and the silence that falls when the attacks stop… after he gives up fighting.

This is not a tale of victory. This is a reckoning.

Evil can find a foothold anywhere.

I was impressed by the amount of documentation Mr. Owen had collected about the haunted house he and his family lived in. It was organized neatly and included detailed information about the multitude of ways that experience traumatized not only him, his wife, and their two young daughters but a long list of visitors who had the unfortunate experience of visiting that property. Their stories repeatedly corroborated each other and often added new layers of meaning to what the Owen family already knew or suspected about their beautiful but menacing property.

This book would have benefited from another round of editing. I noticed multiple sentence fragments, run-on sentences, punctuation errors, and compound words that should have been written as two individual words. It was distracting and sometimes produced phrases or sentences that I had to reread in order to understand what the author was trying to communicate. As enticing as the storyline itself was, these issues happened frequently enough that I didn’t feel comfortable giving the higher star rating I would have otherwise chosen.

It was so unnerving to learn about the spirits in this house that I was only able to read this tale in broad daylight. This was not a case of someone jumping to conclusions after hearing one strange noise at night without investigating what caused it. The primary entity the author described was intelligent, dangerous, and chillingly methodical in the steps it took to attempt to destroy everyone who crossed its path. Few things are more horrifying than true life experiences with something evil, after all.

The Unholy Silence was terrifyingly scary in a good way.

Being Broken – Tales and Essays of Survival and Death from Narcissistic Parental Abuse by Geoffrey R. Jonas


Being Broken – Tales and Essays of Survival and Death from Narcissistic Parental Abuse by Geoffrey R. Jonas
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Non-Fiction, Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A young woman dies alone in a hotel room, her fentanyl-poisoned cocaine still on the desk. She had been missing for nearly 2 weeks. Social Services had been trying to find a place for her to live with her 3-year-old son, whom she had left with her parents. Six months later her father fights for his life in intensive care, but succumbs to his illness because of a lifelong use of alcohol and tobacco. A month after his death her mother is assessed by doctors to be unable to care for herself because of her Alzheimer’s and mental health issues brought on by benzodiazepine and alcohol addiction.

The son, brother, stepson is the only one left to pick up the pieces. He begins a journey of the self and finds out the truth of his family. After going over letters, notes, emails, videos, and text messages, he uncovers a disturbing picture of the abuse his sister suffered at the hands of their parents. He also begins to better understand his own struggles with mental health and substance addiction because of the trauma and abuse he also suffered from their parents.

Follow the son as he looks through his family history to discover the generational abuse that trickled down through the years. Learn about how parents who suffer from narcissistic personality disorder emotionally abuse and manipulate their children. See how the abuse and trauma becomes mental illness in the abused, and how they fall into vicious traps of addiction, eating disorders, self-harm, and complex post-traumatic stress disorder. Witness the transformational change of the son as he works on the recovery of his inner child and tries to become the man he was meant to be.

Every choice has consequences, and some terrible choices echo through families for generations.

I appreciated the author’s thoughts about how medical providers and society in general could improve the way they treat people who are struggling with mental illness, domestic abuse, trauma, and Substance Use Disorder. His ideas were sensible and included plenty of straightforward advice on everything from changing the way one thinks of someone who is struggling with these challenges to ideas for legislation that could make treatment and recovery easier for this population as well. These are not easy problems to fix by any means, but there are things people from every walk of life can do to make the world slightly better for everyone affected by the sorts of things that Mr. Jonas experienced as a child, teen, and young adult.

While I loved this book in general, my all-time favorite scenes were the ones that showed how people who have Narcissistic Personality Disorder can manipulate nearly any conversation or situation to their own benefit, especially in cases when their victims are not already well-versed in how this disorder can destroy relationships. This isn’t always an easy topic to talk about, so I appreciated the care the author took in describing what his childhood was like without demonizing anyone or downplaying the deep trauma this mental illness caused in his life. It was a delicate balance to maintain, but it added extra layers to his story that were necessary in order to understand why everything unfolded the way it did.

One of the most remarkable things about this memoir was how brutally honest Mr. Jonas was about his faults. He shared multiple stories about things he had done that hurt other people or, in a couple of cases, animals without making any excuses for his choices or softening the blow by passing the blame to others. This is a difficult thing for many people to do, especially for someone who had such a traumatic start to life, so I have to commend him for doing all of the hard work that is necessary in order for a person to not only face up to their worst moments in life but also to genuinely apologize for them. He is a talented writer, and I hope to read more of his work in the future.

Being Broken – Tales and Essays of Survival and Death from Narcissistic Parental Abuse was exactly what it needed to be in order to tell this tale.

On Two Legs and Three Wheels – The Travel Adventures of a Couple Overcoming Age and Disability by Cary D. Lowe


On Two Legs and Three Wheels – The Travel Adventures of a Couple Overcoming Age and Disability by Cary D. Lowe
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Genre: Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Can you continue traveling as you get older or if you are disabled? On Two Legs and Three Wheels answers that with an emphatic, “Yes!”

Multiple sclerosis disabled the legs of the author’s wife twenty years ago, making her rely on a mobility scooter, and now both the author and his wife are in their seventies. But none of that stopped them from traveling. On two legs and three wheels, they have traveled to twenty countries and twenty states. Perseverance, ingenuity, and flexibility have enabled them to overcome virtually all obstacles. These characteristics are on full display in the two dozen tales of their travels to locales as diverse as Alpine peaks, Caribbean beaches, desert canyons, and urban boulevards, via planes, trains, cars, buses, and ships.

Their adventures will inspire disabled and older people to keep traveling, while engaging in activities that thrill fully abled partners, as well. And their travel tales will delight and entertain readers of all ages and physical conditions.

A little help goes a long way.

One of the quietly difficult parts of having a chronic illness or disability is figuring out what one’s new limitations are. Sometimes what can be accomplished on a good day is impossible on a bad one, while at other times the restrictions are permanent. As someone who has personal experience with this issue although not with Trish’s specific diagnosis, I loved Mr. Lowe’s descriptions of how he and his wife figured out what she was capable of and adjusted to her new realities as multiple sclerosis slowly changed the rules of what her body could and couldn’t do. They had such creative and playful approaches to finding new ways of enjoying their trips together, including activities like scuba diving that at first glance might not seem like very accessible hobbies for someone who has limited mobility.

There were times when the descriptions of the places they visited felt a little repetitive due to the focus on wine and food. I found myself wishing that more time had been spent talking about what made their various destinations unique as I haven’t been to most of those locations myself. Of course, there were areas of many places that were not wheelchair accessible, but I would have liked to know more about their climates, cultures, historical places, museums, music, friendly locals, and other things that the author may have strong memories about.

Some of my favorite scenes were the ones that explored how Cory and Trish responded to other people’s curiosity about her illness and assistive devices and other accommodations she needed on her travels. Striking a balance between educating strangers on things like assistive devices, what it feels like to be disabled or chronically ill, and why some people need certain accommodations while also protecting one’s privacy isn’t always easy. The frustration they occasionally felt was understandable, but there were also empowering moments when a brief conversation with a stranger may have permanently changed that person’s mind for the better about these topics. It’s a delicate balance to strike at times but based on this memoir they sure seem to be doing a fantastic job of living their lives to the fullest and also educating the public about topics the average able-bodied person might not know much about.

On Two Legs and Three Wheels was a beautiful adventure.

No Bass No Party by Gary Shea


No Bass No Party by Gary Shea
Publisher: BWL Publishing
Genre: Non-Fiction, Auto-Biography
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Poppy

An outstanding account of the music business, A riveting story of determination and focus, Musical teenage dream come true, Against all odds musical ups and downs, Defying logic following your heart, Climbing the musical ladder of success, Fearless journey on the road to stardom, (You won’t read about the heads of chickens being bitten off or mounds of drugs being snorted from the naked bodies of sweaty groupies. No, what you will read about on these pages is the deep and intense journey into the very heart of rock and roll and what it takes to come out the other side. Gary Shea took that ride and has survived to tell his thrilling tale and there is no need for embellishment nor hyperbole—the truth is more unbelievable than fiction.

Gary is the bassist and co-founder of New England and Alcatrazz, two bands that burned very brightly during the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. Along the way, Shea walked amongst giants including Steve Vai, Paul Stanley, Todd Rundgren, Yngwie Malmsteen and a slew of others. He guides us through the machinations, madness and magic of the music world, beginning with his early fascination for bass players and rock and running all the way through to standing on big stages in big arenas in front of big crowds. For every step forward, the industry took two bites of his soul but owing to perseverance, passion and no little amount of pigheadedness, he endured and now reveals all his secrets. No Bass, No Party: Sketches of My Life in Music are masterfully told stories of what lies in the corners and ‘neath the bright lights of the music business. A rock and roll memoir you must read.

Steven Rosen, Music Journalist for Guitar Player Magazine and author of eight biographies including Tonechaser- Understanding Edward: My 26-Year Journey with Edward Van Halen.)

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book. Honestly, I’ve never heard of Gary Shea or the bands he was part of (I’ve since remedied that and looked them up on YouTube and listed to some really amazingly good music). But even though I’d not heard of him, or his bands, I was sucked right into this book.

The author shares his musical journey from the very beginning. He was exceptionally driven and determined and, boy, did he have to believe in himself to get through. His road was bumpy and unsure much of the time, but he persevered through it all and seems to have retained his joy in playing music despite the numerous setbacks.

This book was so easy to read and get involved in. The tone is quite conversational, as if he and I were just sitting down and having a chat. I really enjoyed that about the book. Only two things kept this from being a solid five-star book. First, there were quite a few grammatical and editing errors that I noticed. To be fair, I do editing as a second job, so am primed to find them. Many readers may not even notice them. And second, the book is ONLY about Mr. Shea’s music journey. I truly wish there had been just a little more personal details included. I was truly interested in him and just wished for a little more so I could get to know him a little better.

Still, this was a book I didn’t ever want to put down due to annoyance or boredom or any of the other things that make a reader stop reading. I’m glad I had a chance to read and review this book (and add some new music to my Spotify lists).

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Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives by Naguib Sami Kerba


Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives by Naguib Sami Kerba
Publisher: BWL Publishing
Genre: Non-Fiction, Photo Biographies
Rated: 5 stars
Review by Rose

Everyone has a story. A picture is worth a thousand words, but sometimes one needs words as well. “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives” does just that. I’ve combined a portrait with asking people four thought provoking questions about themselves. The portrait and their answers are a compelling read about life, its challenges and each individual’s journey. At the end of each chapter, each person makes one final observation learned from their journey.

This book is inspiring… and calls each of us to examine our own lives. The author takes ordinary people and asks them to reflect on their lives, then he shares those reflections with us. He asks these questions:

1. your biggest challenge and how you overcame it
2. the fork in the road that changed your life
3. something you’ve learned on your journey.

I love the format… the book is set up so you can go to anyone’s story and read at your leisure. To be honest, I’ve not read every story in preparation for this review because this isn’t a book to be rushed through, but I know it’s a book I’ll come back to again and again.

I enjoyed the pictures the author included with the chapters. It was a further glimpse into the subject’s lives. And I especially like that, in the epilogue, the author provides a link to his website and his photography (which is magnificent… just sayin’).

I highly recommend this book… not to hurry through and get finished with it, but to savor as a fine wine… dipping into it now and then when you want a break from the busy-ness and negativity we are sometimes surrounded with. And definitely something you’ll want to revisit regularly.

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The Spiral’s Edge by Michael Boss


The Spiral’s Edge by Michael Boss
Publisher: Schular Books
Genre: Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Spiral’s Edge is more than poetry-it is a journey through unseen moments, a reflection on resilience, and homage to extraordinary individuals who navigate life’s complexities. I have witnessed in my 25 years of teaching, courage, creativity, and perseverance in ways that have shaped my perspective. This book is for those who exist on the margins, for voices often unheard. It captures the tension between fragility and strength, isolation and understanding. To the reader: may you find meaning, connection, and perhaps a reflection of yourself in these pages.

Some battles never end.

The metaphor of war was used in multiple ways, from describing cruel illnesses that gradually sap students of their strength to the never ending to-do lists teachers struggle with to non-educational stressors in life like a parent losing their job or a family not having enough food that can make it incredibly difficult for any child to pay attention to their lessons. I enjoyed taking note of the various ways in which this theme was explored as Mr. Boss talked about the difficult aspects of his profession. Teachers are on the front lines of all sorts of tragedies, both big and small, that often must be kept in mind no matter what else the class is studying that day.

Everyone has unconscious biases. “Her World of Touch and Sound” gently explored the narrator’s – or maybe the author’s – experience confronting their own assumptions about and unexamined biases against people who are blind. This was not a topic I was necessarily expecting to see covered, but it fit in perfectly and reminded me that we all have blind spots even on topics we might think we have all figured out. It takes a strong character to confront this, and the willingness to do so was one of the many reasons why this was an automatic five-star read for me.

I loved the level of detail that was included in this collection, especially in the poems that were shorter in length. If the right words are selected, it doesn’t take many of them to paint a vivid picture of what life can be like in special education classrooms. Some of my favourite moments included descriptions of students who rarely or maybe even never spoke but who still found all sorts of creative ways to communicate with other people. What beautiful and thought provoking scenes those were.

The Spiral’s Edge overflowed with compassion and joy for people who have special needs as well as for those who teach them.