The Years Of Zero by Seng Ty

"I remember seeing young boys returning home on the backs of their water buffaloes and hearing the music of cowbells in the evening. Frogs croaked and crickets chirped. It was pure innocence on our big land..." Thus begins the story of Seng Ty, youngest child of 11, the son of a doctor and kindly mother in Cambodia on the brink of civil war.

This is an AMAZING book. No, it's not always easy to read, war is traumatic and what the author and others experienced during those "Zero years" will break any feeling person's heart in two. But what a beautiful storyteller! While I was reading this I couldn't help but bookmark passages that especially spoke to me. When the Khmer Rouge took over, the author was just a boy. These are his words,

""What are the Khmer Krahom, Mother? " "They are revolutionaries, " she said. The word "revolutionaries " sounded strange. I knew that krahom meant red, so I thought maybe they were red skinned Khmer, like the farmers who worked in the sun all day."

His descriptions were so perfectly apt and observant: "One of my sisters and I went around gathering scraps of wood and leaves for a fire. We noticed that some people had hanged themselves in the trees because they couldn't take it anymore. Their dead bodies hung like some strange fruit from poisonwood trees. I can still see them in my sleep."

""Mother, look there!" I said, pointing. The Khmer Rouge were coming like crows and ravens, all black with their red beaks (they wore red hats) pecking into our fearful hearts. Their dark eyes pierced us."

By now we were so used to seeing dead people that we weren't afraid. There were skulls and bones everywhere. Beyond the bodies there was rice in abundance, enough to bring all those dead people back to life."

"Suddenly we were caught up in a flood of people on this destroyed highway littered with bomb craters. No cars had been seen driving on it for four years. Now [people] came looking for their missing relatives. It was as if everyone was emerging from a grave, like zombies in search of daylight."

I felt like I was there, holding the author's hand while I read his words. This isn't a book about atrocities. yes, there are atrocities described but primarily it is a message of hope. Although bad things happen, we don't have to let those things change our own humanity and compassion. We can turn the tables so to speak on our enemies. Listen to this interview between Seng and a Time Life correspondent:

""Do you believe in revenge? " "Yes," I told him. "Do you want to kill those who killed your parents and siblings?" "No, " I told him. "My only revenge is to be the best person possible, and to be as good a man as I can be.""

What can I say, you just have to read this! Don't dismiss it as just another book about war, it's not. It's a book about a person. A little boy and an even more amazing survivor.

On a side note, I also liked that the author gave the reader a solid peek into his life once he arrived safely in the States with his adopted family. His first impressions were of incredulity. The wealth. The beauty. The food available in one's cupboards. But things weren't always fair sailing. There were misunderstandings, the food tasted nasty, there was culture shock (his toilet stories were hilarious!) and flashbacks (especially when his adopted family decides to take him on their annual camping trip).

Wonderful book! 5 Stars easy!

CONTENT:

SEX: None. Rape is mentioned but not described
VIOLENCE: Strong. Civil War is ugly and the author doesn't spare us from all the sights.
PROFANITY: Pretty Mild. Some "potty profanity" at end while discussing toilets.
PARANORMAL ELEMENTS: A woman reads tarot cards and Seng's "future" is told.

MY RATING:
SUITABLE FOR HIGHSCHOOLERS AND UP

*I received a free signed book from the author in exchanged for my honest opinion

If You Were Me and Lived in Australia by Carole P. Roman

It seems I have missed something that other reviewers who gave this 5 stars saw. I don't want to be mean or critical, just honest. According to my Goodreads 2 star rating, the book "was ok". I just can't go higher than that and still be honest.

If you were 8 years old, sitting in the classroom and the teacher says, "you all need to read a non-fiction book and write a report on it", than I have to say that this is book is as any to do it. But seriously, if I'm being painfully honest... it's dry as dust.

Wikipedia-type facts and trivia about Australia are assembled into a storybook with pictures. There are pronunciation keys on every page. I thought these were distracting and unnecessary, especially when the story is interrupted to teach you how to pronounce such words as Jack, William, Mummy and Daddy. Interestingly, there is a page at the back of the book in which the pronunciation key is reproduced and I thought that that was a more reasonable place to put it. Why both? I'm puzzled...

So it's ok. Just know what you're getting.

I'm going to pass this onto my two nephews (age 6 and 8) who homeschool and I'm sure this will be useful for some class study.

*I received a free book from the author along with fun little bits and bobs- pencils, keychains, a blow up globe and Australian flag in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!

Whistle On The Wind by Nan Shipley

3 1/2 Stars

I'm rating this based on how much I enjoyed it, not on the quality of the writing which is 5 star.

Basically, a young woman gets on a train to join her new husband on his job assignment: a rail road boss stationed at Mile 210 in the wilds of Canada. The "settlement" is merely a few boxcars housing railroad workers and their small families. Her job is to find what satisfaction she can in a bleak, stark, and barren world. Her husband, more married to his work than to her, is a strong, unbending perfectionist who expects all railroaders to have his same worth ethic. There is no room for sentimentalism or fellow feeling and definitely no room for mistakes. If workers are suffering in their personal lives than they can "snap out of it" or he'll find someone else to take their place. Obviously an essential man for the railroad but should he have married? Personally, I say no.

Do you remember in the old Disney adaption of Oliver Twist when Nancy sings that song about Bill Sykes 'As Long As He Needs Me"? (*insert finger down throat*) Well, I felt that they could have started the music to that song around page 186. The sad thing is, He doesn't need her. So while I applaud her heroics, it's all seemed...rather... pointless.

Whistle On The Wind has many of the same elements as Mrs. Mike. Arctic cold, accidents, typhoid,a forest fire, grief, marital unhappiness, good and bad neighbors etc. But if you were to choose Mrs Mike or Whistle On The Wind, I would absolutely say grab Mrs Mike. Which is a good thing since this book is pretty rare!

While this book is well written, it's not as detailed or as exquisitely executed as Mrs Mike. And it is a bit depressing. The ending is ok,(for those who need a HEA) but there is far more closeness between Mrs. Mike and her Canadian Monty husband than there ever was or would ever be between Lyn and Don in this story.

Bottom line: Good but not awesome

CONTENT:

SEX: None, but an infidelity is alluded to.
VIOLENCE: Mild
PROFANITY: Very Mild

MY RATING: PG

Making and Using Vinegar by Bill Collins

So, who wants to read a book about vinegar?

I'll admit that it's not something that "grabs" most people right off, but actually, its not as dry as it looks. Anyone who enjoys "homesteading ", pickling, canning, or just cooking in general will want this cookbook in their collection.

Its not a diatribe on the history of vinegar (although it touches on vinegar's beginnings),  nor is it a health book (but if you want to get into it,  vinegar does have its uses). Primarily, this is a book to teach you how to make your own vinegars from 'mother' and alcohol. There's also a section on herb infusions if you like the idea of getting fancy without the "boil and trouble".

And then there's tons and tons of recipes from pickles to chocolate cake to barbecue. All in all a well rounded book.

Recommended.

*I received this ebook free from NetGalley

No More A Roving by Sylvia Thorpe

3 1/2 stars
Another fun romp by Sylvia Thorpe!

In this story the heroine finds herself betrothed to a man she grew up with from a neighboring plantation in Barbados. He loves her in his own way but is controlling and jealous. Meanwhile a convict ship comes in and Bethany's father goes to check out the slaves for sale. He finds a tall man of arrogant stature and cool gray eyes and buys him along with a few others...need I say more?

What follows is accusations of insubordination, a flogging, Bethany's virtue is called into question, there is a show down, a shipwreck, pirates, a slave uprising and a mystery involving a 'royal' birth. Sounds like a lot but somehow Sylvia works it all out.

It's not my favorite Thorpe but it's still a good solid 3 stars and I can recommend it to others who like a clean romantic adventure set in another time and place.

CONTENT:
SEX: None
VIOLENCE: A flogging (not graphic) and muted talk of rape among pirates
PROFANITY: Mild to None
PARANORMAL ELEMENTS: None

MY Rating: G to Mild PG

The Story of the Unlucky Teacher and Her Koalas by Nina Johnson

This is a cute story with a positive message.

It encourages children/students to "tap into their inner strength" and realize their potential despite even horrific limitations and the prejudice of the village.

In the story, the obstacle was an "impossible" one: participating in the village's 'Big Mountain Climbing Contest' why was this such a problem? Because the 'unlucky teacher's ' students are disadvantaged. They have no arms or legs. No one knows why. Villagers suspect that its because these koalas are malnourished or were born on the wrong side of town and were so violent they maimed each other and were best left alone.

If the unlucky koalas listened to all the gossip, they probably would have given up before they started. But with the support and encouragement of the 'unlucky teacher' read how the impossible becomes possible, obstacles are surmounted and dreams are reached.

Recommended for both teachers of special needs children and all children in general.

*I received a free copy of this from the author in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you!

Tex-Mex from Scratch by Jonas Cramby

I've never eaten authentic Tex-Mex. And yes, three IS such a thing. I've always considered Tex-Mex as Americanized Mexican food, you know, like breaded jalepeno poppers dipped in barbecue sauce. It's not.

In the author's own words,"Real Tex-Mex is...the result of a culture clash. German immigrants brought their smoky sausages and creamy potato salads to Texas, and these food traditions were soon merged with the cowboys' simple prairie grub and the Mexicans' beautiful food culture- which in turn was a fusion between the Spanish and American Indian cuisines. The result became simple food that is easy to like and makes you happy."

Living in the Southern USA (and having a Mexican brother in law) we eat our share of authentic Mexican food and I enjoy making buckets of pico de gallo in the summertime and I have to say, my sister's tostadas and enchiladas are to die for. But we never go to Mexican restaurants (ore rarely) because they are simply not authentic. If you've had the real thing, imitation doesn't satisfy. So this book attracted me because it's Tex-Mex FROM SCRATCH. Yes, please.

I love all the salsa and pickle variations and for those who've never made their own corn or wheat tortillas there's recipes for that as well. There's drinks, desserts and of course tons of meat barbecuing tips. I'm vegetarian so I skimmed those recipes but the spice combinations and cooking suggestions for these look really good, and a couple I want to try and vary for vegetable or fish dishes.

Funny enough, the author is a Brit (While visiting Texas he fell in love with the cuisine)and he's written this book for a British audience so there are substitutions suggested for things like Queso Fresca and Tomatillos.This would probably help any reader who doesnt live near a Latino community, even in the States.

Highly Recommended

*I received an ecopy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.