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height:90px;' data-id='div-gpt-ad-1464370576335-0' data-channel='/19361732/tiny-banner' data-jsclass="googleAd" data-scales="digitopia-medium,digitopia-large,digitopia-xlarge"></div> <div class="leaderboard-banner" id='div-gpt-ad-1410890148399-0' style='width:728px; height:90px;' data-id='div-gpt-ad-1410890261773-0' data-channel='/19361732/leaderboard-BookLife-bottom' data-jsclass="googleAd" data-scales="digitopia-medium,digitopia-large,digitopia-xlarge"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="container-fluid"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-8 col-md-offset-2"> <div id="evaluation-control"> <div class="panel panel-default panel-dismissable"> <div class="panel-heading"> <button type="button" class="close" data-dismiss="panel" aria-hidden="true">&times;</button> <h3 class="panel-title"></h3> </div> <div class="panel-body"></div> <div class="panel-footer"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <!--#animation-stage(data-jsclass="stageManager")--> <!--#animation-restart--> <div id="hijax-content" data-hijax="true"> <ol class="breadcrumb"> <li><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/booklife-reviews">Booklife Reviews</a></li> </ol> <div class="page-header"> <h1 data-id="bookife-reviews-head" class="help-prompt"></h1> <p data-id="booklife-reviews-subhead" class="help-prompt"></p> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-12"> <div style="margin-right:10px;margin-top:1px;" class="pull-left"><a href="/projectid/e0c0fa20-90ad-11ef-8929-547275647911"><img src="/image-factory/http/localhost/project-cover/e0c0fa20-90ad-11ef-8929-547275647911.jpg/w124.jpg" style="width:150px;height:auto;" class="media-object"></a></div> <div style="margin-top:1px;" class="book-browse-synopsis"> <div style="font-size:19px;font-weight:bold;"><img src="/images/editors-pick.png" width=90 height=24> When You Pray, Move Your Feet: How Loving Your Neighbor Can Create True Change </div> <div style="font-size:13px;font-weight:bold;">Tom Logan </div>Logan pens a decisive call-to-action in this inspirational memoir, drawing from his years of experience as a philanthropist both in the United States and abroad to illustrate the biblical principle “love your neighbor as yourself.” He starts with his childhood and moves through his years as an activist during the Civil Rights movement—including memories from attending Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington, D.C.—and eventually delves into his nonprofit company, Marion Medical Mission, that, in the past 40 years, has built over 53,000 wells of clean, safe water in African villages.<br /><br /> <p>Throughout his writing, Logan endorses the need for compassion combined with hard work. "In Africa there is a proverb: When you pray, move your feet,” he writes, encouraging readers to depend on their faith while also putting in the boots-on-the-ground work that is required to make a difference in the world. Logan’s details of his travels—a year spent in Africa at just 18 years old, meeting his future wife while in college, and his many return trips abroad to construct clean-water wells for impoverished communities—unfold through compelling anecdotes and vivid photographs, each telling the story of his constant pursuit of fair treatment for those being oppressed.</p> <p>Juxtaposing American life with the daily activities in rural African villages, Logan describes, with vibrant detail and uplifting words, how Marion Medical Mission is meeting needs around the world —and empowering communities by funneling the majority of its work to the people it serves: “All the wells built by MMM are built by Africans. They are the experts, and they are the best of the best. We truly believe in the people” he writes. That spirit of togetherness permeates this inspiring debut, making it a true exhortation to “right the wrongs of the world… [and] make your love your aim.”</p> <p><strong>Takeaway:</strong> Humanitarian lessons from a boots-on-the-ground nonprofit.</p> <p><strong>Comparable Titles:</strong> John E. Fleming's <em>Mission to Malawi</em>, Juliet Cutler's <em>Among the Maasai</em>.</p> <p><strong>Production grades</strong><br /> Cover: <strong>A</strong><br /> Design and typography: <strong>A</strong><br /> Illustrations: <strong>A</strong><br /> Editing: <strong>A</strong><br /> Marketing copy: <strong>A</strong></p> </div> <div style="margin-bottom:50px;font-weight:bold;" class="book-browse-synopsis">Click here for more about <a href="/projectid/e0c0fa20-90ad-11ef-8929-547275647911">When You Pray, Move Your Feet</a></div> <div style="margin-right:10px;margin-top:1px;" class="pull-left"><a href="/projectid/f29a2d20-90b7-11ef-92a4-547275647911"><img src="/image-factory/http/localhost/project-cover/f29a2d20-90b7-11ef-92a4-547275647911.jpg/w124.jpg" style="width:150px;height:auto;" class="media-object"></a></div> <div style="margin-top:1px;" class="book-browse-synopsis"> <div style="font-size:19px;font-weight:bold;">The Fate of Our Union </div> <div style="font-size:13px;font-weight:bold;">Hildebrand Hermannson </div>Hermannson’s debut entry in the Fate series delivers a thought-provoking blend of philosophy and far-ranging mythologies. Three disparate youths—the Roman Stoic, Rufus; the Sarmatian warrior-priestess, Keresaspa; and the Saxon poet, Sunu—are united by the seven-headed winged stallion, Long Ears, to face a great evil sowing discord and disunity among mankind. The stakes are incredibly high, as “the balance and harmony of the world is in peril,” and the trio, bestowed with seven magical items to aid them, must first overcome their own weaknesses—and in so doing, uncover the commonalities within all of humanity to usher in an age of unity.<br /><br /> <p>Energy and vivaciousness flow throughout <em>The Fate of Our Union</em>, with language and tone more in step with the myth-works of olde than most modern fantasies. Characters wear their philosophies and ideologies on their sleeves here; they are powered by them, desirous of greatness beyond measure and glory that “pleases the soul,” making them more confidently ambitious than relatable. Still, an earnestness lurks in Hermannson’s approach, proving hypnotic despite somewhat inconsistent prose and a lore-heavy backbone that, by the story’s end, leans more toward moral lecturing than a resolute denouement.</p> <p>Inspired by Indo-European literature and Western philosophy, Hermannson “venerates the heroes and philosophers who honorably embraced their fate” and “weaves their stories into new adventures using their inherited style,” which can be felt in the oft-painterly prose—"blood turned the spring forest autumn red”—and deep research undertaken to bring the various tribes of man, their beliefs, and the Stoicism rooted at its center to life. An ambitious undertaking, <em>The Fate of Our Union</em> overshadows mechanical issues with a dazzling refraction of ancient history and mythology through a philosophical prism, revealing compelling arguments for mankind’s inalienable unity—a timely message sure to resonate with readers.</p> <p><strong>Takeaway:</strong> A thought-provoking fantasy epic that unites mythology and philosophy.</p> <p><strong>Comparable Titles:</strong> Poul Anderson’s <em>War of the Gods</em>, A.E. Rayne’s <em>Winter’s Fury</em>.</p> <p><strong>Production grades</strong><br /> Cover: <strong>B+</strong><br /> Design and typography: <strong>A-</strong><br /> Illustrations: <strong>N/A</strong><br /> Editing: <strong>A-</strong><br /> Marketing copy: <strong>A-</strong></p> </div> <div style="margin-bottom:50px;font-weight:bold;" class="book-browse-synopsis">Click here for more about <a href="/projectid/f29a2d20-90b7-11ef-92a4-547275647911">The Fate of Our Union</a></div> <div style="margin-right:10px;margin-top:1px;" class="pull-left"><a href="/projectid/7deaa5c0-90cd-11ef-92a4-547275647911"><img src="/image-factory/http/localhost/project-cover/7deaa5c0-90cd-11ef-92a4-547275647911.jpg/w124.jpg" style="width:150px;height:auto;" class="media-object"></a></div> <div style="margin-top:1px;" class="book-browse-synopsis"> <div style="font-size:19px;font-weight:bold;">Polar Post: An Erutuf National Park Novel </div> <div style="font-size:13px;font-weight:bold;">Kathy Arnold Cherry </div>Brother and sister duo Dean and Reese Walters return in Cherry’s latest Erutuf National Park book (after <em>Bison Blog</em>), and this time they’re trekking through the Arctic, in yet another wild attempt to protect the park from pirates. When the siblings run into Tyler, a polar bear with a penchant for magic card tricks, he tasks Dean, Reese, and their beloved golden retriever, Tutu—who is along for the trip to Erutuf for the very first time—with a critical mission: they must first locate, then conceal, a special Arctic map from dangerous pirates.<br /><br /> <p>Cherry once again builds a unique world populated with talking animals who buzz with personality, making Dean and Reese’s quest educational—and just plain fun. Snowy, an aptly named snowy owl, is surprised to find out that animals don’t talk where Dean and Reese are from, and sled dogs Timber and Patch warn the siblings to be on the lookout for rogue dogs who are itching to help out the pirates. Tutu also gets her fair share of laughs, as she spends the majority of the story incessantly asking for treats at every opportunity.</p> <p>Cherry keeps the adventure lively but informative, covering dog-sled teams at work and lessons on dinosaur life in the Arctic, and even Dean and Reese’s enemies come with a lighter side: this time around, the pirates are a trio of female social influencers, seemingly more focused on taking selfies than on stealing the park’s map. As the siblings try to outsmart them, they must use problem-solving, math, and reading skills to work their way through entertaining activities like ice mazes and virtual reality games, all while Dean seeks to lighten the mood with a dizzying array of jokes and the more level-headed Reese strives to keep the mission on task. Cherry closes with entertaining facts and discussion prompts for Arctic fans.</p> <p><strong>Takeaway:</strong> Educational adventure transports a brother and sister duo to the Arctic.</p> <p><strong>Comparable Titles:</strong> Dan Bar-el's <em>The Very, Very Far North</em>, Gary Paulsen's <em>Northwind</em>.</p> <p><strong>Production grades</strong><br /> Cover: <strong>A</strong><br /> Design and typography: <strong>A</strong><br /> Illustrations: <strong>N/A</strong><br /> Editing: <strong>A</strong><br /> Marketing copy: <strong>A</strong></p> </div> <div style="margin-bottom:50px;font-weight:bold;" class="book-browse-synopsis">Click here for more about <a href="/projectid/7deaa5c0-90cd-11ef-92a4-547275647911">Polar Post</a></div> <div style="margin-right:10px;margin-top:1px;" class="pull-left"><a href="/projectid/5a110a60-9bca-11ef-aa3d-547275647911"><img src="/image-factory/http/localhost/project-cover/5a110a60-9bca-11ef-aa3d-547275647911.jpg/w124.jpg" style="width:150px;height:auto;" class="media-object"></a></div> <div style="margin-top:1px;" class="book-browse-synopsis"> <div style="font-size:19px;font-weight:bold;">The Rubaiyat of Rumi / The Ergin Translations: Volume 1 of 4 </div> <div style="font-size:13px;font-weight:bold;">Quatrains Compiled and Edited by Millicent Alexander with Shahzad Mazhar/ Introduction and Appendices by Millicent Alexander </div>Spiritual, sensual, and relentlessly searching, the ecstatic poems of the 13th-century Sufi mystic Rumi have been shared, studied, and relished for centuries, enjoying a popular vogue in the West in recent decades, especially among seekers exploring the literature of love and divinity. For all that, significant portions of the Persian poet’s extensive work have not appeared in English, certainly not in complete editions. This volume is the first of four compiling Rumi’s complete quatrains (or rubais) in English for the first time, as translated by Nevit O. Ergin (1928–2015), the original translator of Rumi’s complete Divan-i Kebir in 22 volumes and the coauthor of more accessible collections like <em>The Forbidden Rumi</em>.<br /><br /> <p>Ergin’s *Rubáiyát*, compiled and edited by Millicent Alexander with Shahzad Mazha, is invitingly direct in its language, making it edifying for browsers and completionists alike. Quatrain 258 (out of a total of 466) concludes with a heartsick parallelism worthy of Tin Pan Alley lyricists: “I ran from Your traps to the house of my heart. / But, the house of my heart became the trap for me.” Despite that breezy straightforwardness, Alexander’s introduction, appendices, and notably sparse footnotes don’t offer much in the way of guidance for readers eager to plumb the deeper mysteries of Rumi.</p> <p>One quatrain appears twice without explanation, and it’s as good an example as any of the challenges this collection presents to contemporary readers. It runs: “The beguiling beauty of the idol who seized my heart / took me to the tavern of idols. / Those idols appear like pious souls. / But actually, they are blood-thirsty brigands.” This edition offers no guidance for interpreting Rumi’s terms like <em>idol</em>, <em>tavern</em>, or <em>brigands</em>, or insight into how their meanings might have shifted across centuries and languages. Ergin translated from Turkish to English, though Rumi wrote in medieval Farsi; Alexander makes the case that each of Ergin’s quatrains is “matched in its essence” by Rumi’s original. While their ambiguities would benefit from greater illumination, Ergin’s verses still pulse with Rumi’s passion and genius.</p> <p><strong>Takeaway:</strong> English translation of the complete quatrains of Rumi abounds in ecstasy and mystery.</p> <p><strong>Comparable Titles:</strong> <em>The Forbidden Rumi</em>, Rumi’s <em>Divan-I Kebir</em>.</p> <p><strong>Production grades</strong><br /> Cover: <strong>B+</strong><br /> Design and typography: <strong>A-</strong><br /> Illustrations: <strong>N/A</strong><br /> Editing: <strong>A-</strong><br /> Marketing copy: <strong>A-</strong></p> </div> <div style="margin-bottom:50px;font-weight:bold;" class="book-browse-synopsis">Click here for more about <a href="/projectid/5a110a60-9bca-11ef-aa3d-547275647911">The Rubaiyat of Rumi / The Ergin Translations</a></div> <div style="margin-right:10px;margin-top:1px;" class="pull-left"><a href="/projectid/6fe4d820-8cc1-11ef-a77c-547275647911"><img src="/image-factory/http/localhost/project-cover/6fe4d820-8cc1-11ef-a77c-547275647911.jpg/w124.jpg" style="width:150px;height:auto;" class="media-object"></a></div> <div style="margin-top:1px;" class="book-browse-synopsis"> <div style="font-size:19px;font-weight:bold;">Jigsaw &amp; Jane: Thirteen Years of Murder and Mayhem with Badge Number ONe </div> <div style="font-size:13px;font-weight:bold;">Jane Howatt </div>Howatt’s affecting debut is several things at once: a shocking true crime story, a heroic account of a celebrated homicide detective, a memoir of an odd couple friendship, and, most of all, a book about writing a book. Her urgent desire to become a writer takes front and center stage, as she details the unlikely path that led her to convince top Los Angeles homicide detective John “Jigsaw” St. John—a gruff, old-school cop widely acclaimed for his work in high profile murder cases—to share his story with her. Eventually, as Howatt gains St. John’s trust, he opens up about his career, the horrifying events he’s seen, and his deep empathy for the victims.<br /><br /> <p>Once St. John lets Howatt into his world, her instincts as an investigator and observer are quickly sharpened, as she tags along with him to crime scenes, autopsies, and sobering interactions with grieving family members, shaking her emotions but strengthening her resolve to tell his story. And that story has all the makings of a gritty crime novel, with Howatt capturing nights spent in St. John’s Crown Victoria squad car, booths in Denny’s, and interviewing a slew of colorful witnesses. She never shies from sharing the most brutal details from St. John’s investigative beat, crafting a suspenseful narrative that centers on his arrest of “Freeway Killer” Bill Bonin and successful case against serial killer Bill Bradford.</p> <p>Howatt’s pressing desire to write is eventually eclipsed by her disarming friendship with St. John, who, throughout, maintains his unshakable belief in her ability to deliver his story. The pair are as mismatched as they are engaging, but their bond is undeniable—lasting through his retirement and until his death, where, at the end, he whispers to Howatt that “you loved homicide and you loved me. That’s all I ever wanted,” sentiment that will soften even the most seasoned true crime fans. </p> <p><strong>Takeaway:</strong> An unlikely friendship sets the stage for a touching true crime memoir.</p> <p><strong>Comparable Titles:</strong> Janet Malcolm’s <em>The Journalist and the Murderer</em>, Michael Finkel’s <em>True Story</em>.</p> <p><strong>Production grades</strong><br /> Cover: <strong>A</strong><br /> Design and typography: <strong>A</strong><br /> Illustrations: <strong>A</strong><br /> Editing: <strong>A-</strong><br /> Marketing copy: <strong>A</strong></p> </div> <div style="margin-bottom:50px;font-weight:bold;" class="book-browse-synopsis">Click here for more about <a href="/projectid/6fe4d820-8cc1-11ef-a77c-547275647911">Jigsaw &amp; Jane</a></div> <div style="margin-right:10px;margin-top:1px;" class="pull-left"><a href="/projectid/9e2f5f30-8f13-11ef-92a4-547275647911"><img src="/image-factory/http/localhost/project-cover/9e2f5f30-8f13-11ef-92a4-547275647911.jpg/w124.jpg" style="width:150px;height:auto;" class="media-object"></a></div> <div style="margin-top:1px;" class="book-browse-synopsis"> <div style="font-size:19px;font-weight:bold;">Adele and the Whispering Garden </div> <div style="font-size:13px;font-weight:bold;">Polly Richards </div>When young Adele moves to a new home, she’s eager for the adventures that await her. As soon as she arrives, her curiosity is rewarded: outside the towering house sits an abandoned garden, complete with its own gnome, whom Adele promptly names Albert and adopts as her special friend. When she makes a wish one evening that her “garden could be magical again,” Albert comes to life, informing Adele that he was once the head gardener and promising to help her restore the garden to its former glory. <br /><br /> <p>Richards’s love for nature is evident throughout this fanciful debut, in which fairies alight on lush flowers, “leaving trails of stardust in their wake,” and playful spirits with “hearts of gold” cavort through the foliage. Adele has an eye for magic, and her ready willingness to spot it at every opportunity will resonate with younger readers. She quickly picks up on Albert’s gentle nudging that a little bit of hard work and a lot of love can help even a neglected seed spring to life. Together, Adele and her gnome make a marvelous pair as they set off on the adventure of a lifetime: he is thoughtful and wise, while Adele is an enthusiastic learner who finds even the dreariest garden tasks a joy.</p> <p>That winning combination will warm hearts as the story builds to an uplifting restoration. Richards drops plenty of gardening tips for younger readers along the way, who can expect to learn pearls such as lavender’s calming ability, the patience required for composting, and the role different creatures (an earthworm, ladybug, and majestic oak tree, to name a few) play in the garden. Whimsical black-and-white illustrations light up with brilliant pops of color, and Richards dedicates space at the end to sustainability, including a special composting recipe for readers to try at home.</p> <p><strong>Takeaway:</strong> A young girl restores a garden, thanks to a little magic. </p> <p><strong>Comparable Titles:</strong> Pat Zietlow Miller’s <em>In Our Garden</em>, Kate Messner’s <em>Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt</em>. </p> <p><strong>Production grades</strong><br /> Cover: <strong>B</strong><br /> Design and typography: <strong>B+</strong><br /> Illustrations: <strong>A-</strong><br /> Editing: <strong>A-</strong><br /> Marketing copy: <strong>A</strong></p> </div> <div style="margin-bottom:50px;font-weight:bold;" class="book-browse-synopsis">Click here for more about <a href="/projectid/9e2f5f30-8f13-11ef-92a4-547275647911">Adele and the Whispering Garden </a></div> <div style="margin-right:10px;margin-top:1px;" class="pull-left"><a href="/projectid/7a14dbb0-9a3b-11ef-8929-547275647911"><img src="/image-factory/http/localhost/project-cover/7a14dbb0-9a3b-11ef-8929-547275647911.jpg/w124.jpg" style="width:150px;height:auto;" class="media-object"></a></div> <div style="margin-top:1px;" class="book-browse-synopsis"> <div style="font-size:19px;font-weight:bold;">THE FACE OF GOD: WHAT ENOCH SAW IN HEAVEN </div> <div style="font-size:13px;font-weight:bold;">HENRY KAKEMBO, M.D. </div>With an open mind and heart, plus a welcome emphasis on the human need for meaning and purpose, Kakembo examines the biggest of questions: “How did we actually get here and why, and what or who was responsible?” Kakembo’s quest for answers spans millennia, cultures, and academic traditions. He explores creation stories from around the globe, noting commonalities, points of disjunction, the lack of hard evidence for the existence of a god, and how, over the great swath of ages, key mythic elements (like an immaculate conception) repeatedly get woven into new systems of belief. He also offers clear-eyed précis on the many scientific breakthroughs that have shed light on the cosmos and our place therein, from the ancients to the quantum and beyond, plus enlightening (but not protracted) considerations of a host of philosophical approaches, from the Pythagorean school “in 530 BCE” to Kant, Hume, Jung, and more, including spiritual thinkers.<br /><br /> <p>Having been exposed to apocryphal books of the Bible as a young man growing up in Uganda, Kakembo approaches systems of faith with thoughtful skepticism. But <em>The Face of God</em> is always open to the impulse to believe, to the human drive to feel connected to something beyond us. Kakembo points to studies suggesting faith is “an instinct.” An up-to-date survey of the history of our pre-human forebears and the migration of early Homo sapiens serves as a centerpiece; these passages also exemplify Kakembo’s approach, which blends just-the-facts science with context about how each new discovery corresponds (or doesn’t) to the narratives of established religious traditions.</p> <p>Kakembo never suggests that readers should not believe what they believe. Instead, he demonstrates that there’s no compelling scientific or philosophical evidence for the particularities of faith. Likewise, he never discounts the nourishment of belief, prayer, ritual, meditation, or other practices. In fact, he eventually turns his search inward, championing the health benefits of “mystic” experiences, from meditation to music, that remind us “you’re a part of something larger.”</p> <p><strong>Takeaway:</strong> Searching study of the impulse toward faith, rooted in science and philosophy.</p> <p><strong>Comparable Titles:</strong> Nicholas Wade’s <em>The Faith Instinct</em>, David DeSteno’s <em>How Faith Works</em>.</p> <p><strong>Production grades</strong><br /> Cover: <strong>B+</strong><br /> Design and typography: <strong>A-</strong><br /> Illustrations: <strong>N/A</strong><br /> Editing: <strong>A-</strong><br /> Marketing copy: <strong>A-</strong></p> </div> <div style="margin-bottom:50px;font-weight:bold;" class="book-browse-synopsis">Click here for more about <a href="/projectid/7a14dbb0-9a3b-11ef-8929-547275647911">THE FACE OF GOD</a></div> <div style="margin-right:10px;margin-top:1px;" class="pull-left"><a href="/projectid/c99842d0-8e33-11ef-8929-547275647911"><img src="/image-factory/http/localhost/project-cover/c99842d0-8e33-11ef-8929-547275647911.jpg/w124.jpg" style="width:150px;height:auto;" class="media-object"></a></div> <div style="margin-top:1px;" class="book-browse-synopsis"> <div style="font-size:19px;font-weight:bold;"><img src="/images/editors-pick.png" width=90 height=24> A New America: The State of Independence </div> <div style="font-size:13px;font-weight:bold;">Aaron Morell </div>Debut author Morell masterfully delivers a frighteningly plausible dystopian tale in which much of Kansas and swathes of other states in the region secedes from the Union and declares itself a new country called Independence. When journalist Roman Wolfe, who has been chronicling uprisings and secessions across the globe, heads to report on this “new country carved out of the interior states” that claims to embody “the noble belief in the freedom to pursue life, liberty, and happiness,” he leaves a U.S. border crossing in Eastern Colorado to enter a world where the economy and basic services have collapsed. Vigilantes hunt “illegals,” citizens remain dissatisfied with their government, and distrust runs rampant, with the Latino population frequently targeted. Then Independence experiences its first murder.</br></br> <p>The victim is a local named Jesus Criollo. With tensions rising—a spate of burglaries and inevitable further deaths have citizens on a hair trigger—and Roman’s prickly ex-turned-current girlfriend Kat acting strangely, Roman begins to question his extended stay in the bleak nation. Morell’s dialogue could easily be ripped from contemporary political discourse, with Independence citizens railing against immigrants, taxes, the media, and “people inside our country who can’t seem to grasp our ideals.” A Kansas native now living in New York City, Morell skillfully portrays the realities and challenges of rural living, taking seriously the grievances (and diversity of opinion) of his Kansans, and the state’s Free State ethos, while never letting the characters off the hook for their actions.</p> <p>Although many dismiss this nation’s increasingly violent political rhetoric as simply words, Morell’s storytelling demonstrates, with skill and persuasive power, the possible results of irresponsible and reckless speech about secession or civil war. He explores these outcomes with a sharp reportorial eye while avoiding a preachy tone. Instead, he suggests such conclusions rather than stating them outright. A cautionary tale about the extreme outcomes of the worst angels of our national character, this thoughtful work will stay with readers well after the final page is turned.</p> <p><strong>Takeaway:</strong> Bleak, urgent novel of the secession of Kansas is frighteningly plausible.</p> <p><strong>Comparable Titles:</strong> Omar El Akkad’s <em>American War</em>, Craig DiLouie’s <em>our War</em>.</p> <p><strong>Production grades</strong><br /> Cover: <strong>A</strong><br /> Design and typography: <strong>A</strong><br /> Illustrations: <strong>N/A</strong><br /> Editing: <strong>A</strong><br /> Marketing copy: <strong>A</strong></p> </div> <div style="margin-bottom:50px;font-weight:bold;" class="book-browse-synopsis">Click here for more about <a href="/projectid/c99842d0-8e33-11ef-8929-547275647911">A New America</a></div> <div style="margin-right:10px;margin-top:1px;" class="pull-left"><a href="/projectid/7f0295b0-8e6d-11ef-92a4-547275647911"><img src="/image-factory/http/localhost/project-cover/7f0295b0-8e6d-11ef-92a4-547275647911.jpg/w124.jpg" style="width:150px;height:auto;" class="media-object"></a></div> <div style="margin-top:1px;" class="book-browse-synopsis"> <div style="font-size:19px;font-weight:bold;"><img src="/images/editors-pick.png" width=90 height=24> Dear Life </div> <div style="font-size:13px;font-weight:bold;">Shanta Acharya </div>Acharya’s eighth book of poetry is a transcendent blueprint for healing in a ruptured world, drawing on the poet’s experiences with marginalization as an Indian-English woman and the scars of colonization, police brutality, racism, war, the pandemic, and more. In Acharya’s poems, presence is a pillar of that healing; for example, in taking notice of bees, “the peace of wild things descends like a mantle woven with blessings.” Yet this presence also makes space for grief, despair, and uncertainty. “Are there journeys without destinations, // pilgrimages that don’t lead to self-discovery?” Acharya writes. Facing these questions, the poet looks to faith as her guide. <br /><br /> <p>Spirituality appears as both a solitary venture and one of communion in Acharya’s collection. In the heartening “This Is What It Means to Be Human,” the speaker recalls “the warmth of the rasoi” and the congregation of the family kitchen as the spiritual and cultural binding agents that allow humanity to transcend base impulses and strive for the best versions of itself. Some poems, like “Song of Praise,” “If,” and “Grant Us,” invoke the style of prayer and affirmation, addressing the spiritual needs of the present day, including those relating to the existential woes of the climate crisis.</p> <p>In this vibrant collection that touches on so many fragments of global society, one illuminating thread throughout explores the poet’s identity. An awareness of the self, along with spiritual presence, is essential on the quest for healing that Acharya so touchingly describes: “when I reconcile myself to the randomness // of the universe, everything falls into place.” Acharya’s collection is the light in the darkness, a note of hope in the symphony of the world’s sorrow, and it shows readers how to pull themselves from the depths of despair while asking them to “think of what you can do in the face of calamity, // not be overwhelmed by its immensity.”</p> <p><strong>Takeaway:</strong> Rich collection exploring spirituality, oppression, and a path for healing. </p> <p><strong>Comparable Titles:</strong> Mary Oliver’s “Wild Geese,” Joy Harjo.</p> <p><strong>Production grades</strong><br /> Cover: <strong>A-</strong><br /> Design and typography: <strong>A</strong><br /> Illustrations: <strong>N/A</strong><br /> Editing: <strong>A</strong><br /> Marketing copy: <strong>A</strong></p> </div> <div style="margin-bottom:50px;font-weight:bold;" class="book-browse-synopsis">Click here for more about <a href="/projectid/7f0295b0-8e6d-11ef-92a4-547275647911">Dear Life</a></div> <div style="margin-right:10px;margin-top:1px;" class="pull-left"><a href="/projectid/777e7b30-8dcb-11ef-92a4-547275647911"><img src="/image-factory/http/localhost/project-cover/777e7b30-8dcb-11ef-92a4-547275647911.jpg/w124.jpg" style="width:150px;height:auto;" class="media-object"></a></div> <div style="margin-top:1px;" class="book-browse-synopsis"> <div style="font-size:19px;font-weight:bold;">Finding Dad, Paranoid Schizophrenia: An End to the Search </div> <div style="font-size:13px;font-weight:bold;">Amanda LaPera </div>LaPera's raw and resonant memoir, a sequel to <em>Losing Dad</em>, traces the long, winding road to finding her father—a man lost to his family for a decade in both body and mind. After years of unanswered questions and futile exchanges with authorities, Amanda's journey takes a jarring turn when the Orange County Sheriff's Department calls: her dad, presumed lost or dead, is alive. But rather than bringing closure, the news arrives shrouded in the same cold indifference she’s faced from authorities all along. Homeland Security has located him in "a facility," deemed him safe, and crossed him off their list. Her dad, technically "found," is once again missing.<br /><br /> <p>LaPera’s narrative is as much a testament to resilience as it is a pointed critique of the American mental healthcare system. Her father’s journey—shuffled between facilities, denied consistent care, and isolated from family—exposes a bureaucracy that fails those it should protect. Despite her emotional turmoil, LaPera writes with profound empathy, imagining her father's loneliness as she reconstructs his lost years through financial records—the closest she can get to him during his absence.</p> <p>Though the memoir’s pacing occasionally slows with interwoven memories, the pain is palpable as it offers a poignant account of her father's life before schizophrenia, revealing how mental illness drastically impacts family relationships. Despite her father's emotionless demeanor, delusions, and memory gaps, the rare and almost miraculous moments of connection—a shared memory recalled, his recognition of her name, a whispered "I love you"—become precious, fleeting glimpses of truly “finding” him. "It’s amazing how we can take the simplest things for granted. When a family member struggles with their mental health, any little victory can mean so much," LaPera muses. This memoir is a bittersweet reflection on the endurance required to love someone lost within themselves.</p> <p><strong>Takeaway:</strong> A daughter’s touching quest to find her dad lost in schizophrenia’s grip.</p> <p><strong>Comparable Titles:</strong> Jeannette Walls’s <em>The Glass Castle</em>, Elyn R. Saks’s <em>The Center Cannot Hold</em>.</p> <p><strong>Production grades</strong><br /> Cover: <strong>B</strong><br /> Design and typography: <strong>A</strong><br /> Illustrations: <strong>A</strong><br /> Editing: <strong>A-</strong><br /> Marketing copy: <strong>A</strong></p> </div> <div style="margin-bottom:50px;font-weight:bold;" class="book-browse-synopsis">Click here for more about <a href="/projectid/777e7b30-8dcb-11ef-92a4-547275647911">Finding Dad, Paranoid Schizophrenia</a></div> <div style="margin-right:10px;margin-top:1px;" class="pull-left"><a href="/projectid/c5e7cf40-984a-11ef-8929-547275647911"><img src="/image-factory/http/localhost/project-cover/c5e7cf40-984a-11ef-8929-547275647911.jpg/w124.jpg" style="width:150px;height:auto;" class="media-object"></a></div> <div style="margin-top:1px;" class="book-browse-synopsis"> <div style="font-size:19px;font-weight:bold;"><img src="/images/editors-pick.png" width=90 height=24> Red Legion: Into the Red </div> <div style="font-size:13px;font-weight:bold;">FX Holden </div>Blending tech-savvy science fiction with military action that soars, Holden (author of the Future War series, among others) launches this series-starter with the intergalactic adventures of Linus Vespasius, a former deep-sea fishing captain turned reluctant soldier. Facing life in prison for murder, Linus opts for service in the Red Army—as in, the army of Mars—enticed by the promise of freedom after completing his combat hours, a mere 99. But nothing is what it seems on Mars, with those hours exceedingly hard to accumulate, a brutal “Reducation process,” and the shocking revelation that the presumably alien enemy, the Lilin, with bodies “not made from elements known to humankind,” can pass themselves off as human. Demotions relegate Linus to the junior-most rank in Legion Praeda, or Legion of the Prey, infamous for its low survival rate. What follows this seeming death sentence is a surprise: the transformation of a self-interested man thrust into the harrowing Red War and a series of vividly drawn combat situations.<br /><br /> <p>For all its action, described with both vigor and rigor, and its cool revelations about the enigmatic Lilin—a seemingly immortal species whose motives and methods defy comprehension—<em>Red Legion</em> at its heart explores human hubris, especially the lengths to which those in power will go to perpetuate their control. But it also offers hope, as Linus’s fight to survive reveals much about himself, the enemy, and a new future for humanity. The ground-level realities of this war, told through Linus’s journal entries, are deftly juxtaposed against the duplicitous “official history” of the conflict fed to Earth’s population to sustain public support.</p> <p>Lovers of military SF will sign right up, though the military jargon might pose a challenge to some readers. Still, Holden’s meticulous world-building and well-honed action compellingly conjure the unforgiving realities (and imaginative possibilities) of future war, setting the stage for a sprawling, morally complex universe and more high-stakes, thought-provoking storytelling.</p> <p><strong>Takeaway:</strong> Gripping action-packed sci-fi thriller set around an intergalactic high-stakes war.</p> <p><strong>Comparable Titles:</strong> James S.A. Corey, Paul McAuley.</p> <p><strong>Production grades</strong><br /> Cover: <strong>A</strong><br /> Design and typography: <strong>A</strong><br /> Illustrations: <strong>N/A</strong><br /> Editing: <strong>A</strong><br /> Marketing copy: <strong>A</strong></p> </div> <div style="margin-bottom:50px;font-weight:bold;" class="book-browse-synopsis">Click here for more about <a href="/projectid/c5e7cf40-984a-11ef-8929-547275647911">Red Legion</a></div> <div style="margin-right:10px;margin-top:1px;" class="pull-left"><a href="/projectid/2acf04d0-9884-11ef-8929-547275647911"><img src="/image-factory/http/localhost/project-cover/2acf04d0-9884-11ef-8929-547275647911.jpg/w124.jpg" style="width:150px;height:auto;" class="media-object"></a></div> <div style="margin-top:1px;" class="book-browse-synopsis"> <div style="font-size:19px;font-weight:bold;">THE PYRAMID PRINCIPLE: A Battle-Tested Hall-of-Famer Discovers UCLA Coach John Wooden’s True Meaning of Success </div> <div style="font-size:13px;font-weight:bold;">John Vallely </div>NBA star John Vallely shares his belief in the Pyramid of Success, a motivational model given to him by UCLA coach John Wooden, during his early days playing college basketball. When Vallely first hears his coach’s inspiring words—“the only one who will ever know if you’ve achieved your personal best is you”—he’s perplexed but curious. But once he jumps headfirst into Wooden’s material, he’s sold; throughout the rest of his basketball career, into his marriage, parenting, and Christian faith, he returns to Wooden’s principles to navigate a life beset by hardship—his nine-year-old daughter’s cancer diagnosis, his own subsequent diagnosis later in life, legal battles, and more.<br /><br /> <p>“A worthy opponent brings out the best in me,” Vallely writes, and this emotive book takes that wisdom to heart. As he faces challenges both on and off the court, Vallely remains faithful to the tenants of Wooden’s pyramid, ultimately realizing that it led him to God, and that the "search for competitive greatness would lead us to faith.” He breaks the pyramid’s principles down step-by-step for readers, alongside intimate glimpses into how they played out in his own life, always with an uplifting, encouraging tone regardless of the crises he confronts. "When you’re facing the severity of the termination of your life, every affirmation of your survival is invigorating,” he pens—sentiment that will stir in readers a renewed sense of purpose for their own lives.</p> <p>Whether coming up against a seven-foot-tall basketball opponent or a major corporation like the Bank of America, Vallely highlights the importance of maintaining his faith and fighting for just outcomes. His writing is infused with a striking balance of vulnerability and courage, a winning combination that lays the foundation for valuable life lessons, and his inclusion of personal photographs gives the book a close, familiar feel. This moving debut story of endurance, faith, and resilience will inspire.</p> <p><strong>Takeaway:</strong> NBA star shares life lessons passed down from a college coach.</p> <p><strong>Comparable Titles:</strong> David Grunfeld's <em>By the Grace of the Game</em>, David Hollander's <em>How Basketball Can Save the World</em>.</p> <p><strong>Production grades</strong><br /> Cover: <strong>A-</strong><br /> Design and typography: <strong>A</strong><br /> Illustrations: <strong>A</strong><br /> Editing: <strong>A</strong><br /> Marketing copy: <strong>A</strong></p> </div> <div style="margin-bottom:50px;font-weight:bold;" class="book-browse-synopsis">Click here for more about <a href="/projectid/2acf04d0-9884-11ef-8929-547275647911">THE PYRAMID PRINCIPLE</a></div> <div style="margin-right:10px;margin-top:1px;" class="pull-left"><a href="/projectid/55780290-979e-11ef-92a4-547275647911"><img src="/image-factory/http/localhost/project-cover/55780290-979e-11ef-92a4-547275647911.jpg/w124.jpg" style="width:150px;height:auto;" class="media-object"></a></div> <div style="margin-top:1px;" class="book-browse-synopsis"> <div style="font-size:19px;font-weight:bold;">Poetry in Eden </div> <div style="font-size:13px;font-weight:bold;">Felicia Iyamu </div>This spiritually charged debut collection provokes and illuminates humanity's ceaseless search for meaning with a fierce commitment to healing ancestral wounds. Through four elemental sections—Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water—Iyamu grounds her vision for social change, believing that transformation must germinate from within: "We are the portal / To the Earth and the land we walk on" [13]. Her reverence for nature—"God chose me to birth this tree!"—becomes a powerful allegory for movement, urging readers to "Take back your life!" and break free from a passive acceptance that leads to spiritual dormancy. <br /><br /> <p>Iyamu’s verse adopts a rhythmic, trance-like cadence that at times obscures meaning but nevertheless amplifies the voices of those she seeks to champion: the marginalized, the oppressed, and even the voiceless flora and fauna whose fates remain mere collateral damage. Her poems, both a plea and a protest, demand equality in a world "first built so only the privileged could rise." Freedom, or the lack thereof, underpins much of Iyamu's work. In painful, contemplative lines—“What does it give to be at peace? / Your house, your home, your walls, your fears”—she gently exposes the irony of maintaining "peace" through walls and weapons that divide rather than unite. Her regard for God as "God," "Allah," or "Jah" subtly critiques the senseless competition between cultures and nations for supremacy.</p> <p>For all its occasional ambiguities, *Poetry in Eden* confronts, with passion and empathy, the destructive energy humans impose on the world: "But the very root / I cannot compute / What we have done to / The lands we say we love." This same energy, Iyamu suggests, shatters identity and a sense of belonging. At its core, this collection aims to dismantle self-constructed walls, urging readers to rediscover their roots, reclaim their faith, and let the "voices of a shared plight...of a shared right to live" finally be upheld.</p> <p><strong>Takeaway:</strong> Tender, empowering poetry of identity, peace, and collective healing</p> <p><strong>Comparable Titles:</strong> Joy Harjo’s <em>An American Sunrise</em>, Kwame Alexander’s <em>Light for the World to See</em>.</p> <p><strong>Production grades</strong><br /> Cover: <strong>A</strong><br /> Design and typography: <strong>A</strong><br /> Illustrations: <strong>N/A</strong><br /> Editing: <strong>B</strong><br /> Marketing copy: <strong>A</strong></p> </div> <div style="margin-bottom:50px;font-weight:bold;" class="book-browse-synopsis">Click here for more about <a href="/projectid/55780290-979e-11ef-92a4-547275647911">Poetry in Eden</a></div> <div style="margin-right:10px;margin-top:1px;" class="pull-left"><a href="/projectid/0f4922d0-8c23-11ef-87f9-547275647911"><img src="/image-factory/http/localhost/project-cover/0f4922d0-8c23-11ef-87f9-547275647911.jpg/w124.jpg" style="width:150px;height:auto;" class="media-object"></a></div> <div style="margin-top:1px;" class="book-browse-synopsis"> <div style="font-size:19px;font-weight:bold;">The Silent Echo of My Childhood: A story of survival from foster homes and children's prison to business success </div> <div style="font-size:13px;font-weight:bold;">Sylvie Lariviere-traub </div>In this urgent, ultimately healing memoir of resilience, the tragic passing of author Lariviere-Traub's beloved husband, Daniel, triggers repressed memories from her harrowing childhood in the Canadian foster care system, “echoing the abandonment and the feeling of not belonging.” <em>The Silent Echo of My Childhood</em> explores her experience entering the system after a series of tragedies: her mother’s institutionalization with a rare bone disease and her father’s abandonment. Lariviere-Traub's time under government guardianship becomes like a prison sentence as she floats from home to home and eventually different institutions "every two to three weeks,” enduring heartbreak, betrayals, and abuse from those meant to care for and protect her. From 14 to 16, she writes, her life was “whittled down to a series of locked doors and hushed whispers.” Eventually, inevitably, she became a runaway.<br /><br /> <p>Through emotive prose, Lariviere-Traub tells and examines her story, drawing links between experiences in a full-circle narrative. She reflects warmly on the love she shared with Daniel while taking stock of the traumas of her childhood and her first marriage to a man who became physically abusive after the birth of their daughter, Melanie. She writes with welcome frankness about the “belief that my love could change him,” a conviction she now recognizes as rooted in the “power of an abusive man” skilled at “creeping into your mind, making you believe … that you deserve the pain.” Eventually, she managed again to run away.</p> <p>The result is an impactful story of resilience and growth, forgiveness and love, and finding the strength—and, in women’s shelters and other crucial sources, the support—to break cycles of abuse. Reminding readers that "healing is not a destination, but a journey,” <em>The Silent Echo of My Childhood</em> finds “glimmers of hope and new beginnings” in new connections, the act of writing, and, above all, in the strength of the human spirit and the healing power of love.</p> <p><strong>Takeaway:</strong> Poignant memoir of love, grief, foster care, and ending cycles of abuse..</p> <p><strong>Comparable Titles:</strong> Kathleen Glasgow's <em>Girl in Pieces</em>, Beverly Engel's <em>Raising Myself</em>.</p> <p><strong>Production grades</strong><br /> Cover: <strong>A-</strong><br /> Design and typography: <strong>A</strong><br /> Illustrations: <strong>N/A</strong><br /> Editing: <strong>A</strong><br /> Marketing copy: <strong>A-</strong></p> </div> <div style="margin-bottom:50px;font-weight:bold;" class="book-browse-synopsis">Click here for more about <a href="/projectid/0f4922d0-8c23-11ef-87f9-547275647911">The Silent Echo of My Childhood</a></div> <div style="margin-right:10px;margin-top:1px;" class="pull-left"><a href="/projectid/f01c1520-8bd2-11ef-ba90-547275647911"><img src="/image-factory/http/localhost/project-cover/f01c1520-8bd2-11ef-ba90-547275647911.jpg/w124.jpg" style="width:150px;height:auto;" class="media-object"></a></div> <div style="margin-top:1px;" class="book-browse-synopsis"> <div style="font-size:19px;font-weight:bold;">Insignia'er </div> <div style="font-size:13px;font-weight:bold;">Kuzey K. H. Nar </div>Scriptwriter Nar builds a complicated epic adventure of self-discovery about a sick young woman who finds salvation and purpose in a troubled future. Afflicted with premature aging, marked by wrinkled skin and failing organs, sixteen-year-old April has just months to live when Lord Kolbein from the North messages her phone, claiming he can help her. He tells her that a cure for her illness can be found on an iceberg—but he requires her aid in return. She accompanies him on the long trek, where he reveals his noble lineage of warriors from eleven regional territories that participate in symbolic fights intended to prevent war. These fights are initiated by the bearer of each lineage’s insignia, called the insignia’er, a woman with great authority. Kolbein reveals that April is a descendant of an insignia’er and a candidate to become one herself.<br /><br /> <p>This fast-paced tale takes April through encounters with deadly animals, tense border crossings, a literal harbinger of death, and, above all else, a secretive, high-stakes world of politics and traditions, power and gamesmanship. Here, she must master the formalities of the insignia’er and contend with the jealousies of a princess commanding 200 archers. Much of this is energetic and inventive, especially April’s recovery from early aging. However, the pacing is uneven, diminishing the excitement of classic training sequences, while the convoluted rules surrounding insignia fighting slow down momentum and detract from the development of a promising relationship.</p> <p>April is an engaging protagonist, embodying perseverance and honor, and wittily quizzing Kolbein on why he can’t live a normal life. She remains relatable even as she experiences the fantasy of finding a handsome savior who sees value in her despite her ostracization. Her story would shine brighter, though, with another round of polish. The text is often repetitive, told in blunt sentences that often feel wordy despite their brevity. Fundamentals such as the presentation and punctuation of dialogue occasionally falter, getting lost as the story gushes forward.</p> <p><strong>Takeaway:</strong> Teenage hero fulfills her destiny as an overseer of war games.</p> <p><strong>Comparable Titles:</strong> Charlie N. Holmberg’s <em>The Paper Magician</em>, Jeff Wheeler’s <em>The Queen’s Poisoner</em>.</p> <p><strong>Production grades</strong><br /> Cover: <strong>A</strong><br /> Design and typography: <strong>A-</strong><br /> Illustrations: <strong>N/A</strong><br /> Editing: <strong>C-</strong><br /> Marketing copy: <strong>A-</strong></p> </div> <div style="margin-bottom:50px;font-weight:bold;" class="book-browse-synopsis">Click here for more about <a href="/projectid/f01c1520-8bd2-11ef-ba90-547275647911">Insignia'er</a></div> <div style="margin-right:10px;margin-top:1px;" class="pull-left"><a href="/projectid/94378660-8bd0-11ef-ba90-547275647911"><img src="/image-factory/http/localhost/project-cover/94378660-8bd0-11ef-ba90-547275647911.jpg/w124.jpg" style="width:150px;height:auto;" class="media-object"></a></div> <div style="margin-top:1px;" class="book-browse-synopsis"> <div style="font-size:19px;font-weight:bold;">The Loneliness of Horses </div> <div style="font-size:13px;font-weight:bold;">Mari Zoerb Hansen </div>Thalasinos (author of <em>Fly by Night</em>) explores touching and enlightening aspects of the bond between humans and animals with twinned stories of two women, separated by centuries and a continent, maneuvering through lives shaped by their love and commitment to horses. It’s through this passion that Evie, a young single mother whom we first meet near Flagstaff in the 1970s, and Belle MacLeod, the daughter of a wealthy Scottish landowner in 1700s Nova Scotia, face and survive the challenges of their eras. Each discovers, in her own time, what truly matters, as they relish “the scent of animal fur, and the feel of … mane under her hands” and perform edifying work like getting “yearlings ready to encounter the everyday things of life.” Complicating matters, though, are the men in their lives.<br /><br /> <p>Horse lovers who admire stories of independent women will be moved by Evie’s immediate, intuitive bond with a wild mustang that turns up out of the blue—a charming scene that warms the heart and changes the course of Evie’s life. Almost 200 years earlier, Belle, the youngest daughter of “Mr. Mac,” also finds in her love of horses the courage to embark on her own journey toward what she believes will be a new life of freedom. Would that life were so easy, as both women face societies eager to dictate how they should live. A lyrical early description of wild Arizona horses seizes the heart and connects to both protagonists: “Freedom was her fuel, propelling her tirelessly until she reached the tall green mesas that marked the start of the high desert.”</p> <p>The split narrative and fleetly lyrical prose inspire contemplation of perennial needs like safety, compassion, and connection. As the narrative crosses centuries, Thalasinos occasionally leaps ahead over courtships and other human developments without significant dramatization. Instead, the focus remains on the hearts of Evie, Belle, and their horses—and the many subtle and surprising ways these women are linked.</p> <p><strong>Takeaway:</strong> Vital, nourishing story of two women, centuries apart, finding freedom in horses.</p> <p><strong>Comparable Titles:</strong> Maggie Stiefvater’s <em>The Scorpio Races</em>, Elizabeth Letts’s <em>The Ride of Her Life</em>.</p> <p><strong>Production grades</strong><br /> Cover: <strong>A</strong><br /> Design and typography: <strong>A</strong><br /> Illustrations: <strong>N/A</strong><br /> Editing: <strong>A-</strong><br /> Marketing copy: <strong>A-</strong></p> </div> <div style="margin-bottom:50px;font-weight:bold;" class="book-browse-synopsis">Click here for more about <a href="/projectid/94378660-8bd0-11ef-ba90-547275647911">The Loneliness of Horses</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-12"></div> <ul data-jsclass="paginationController" class="pagination center-block"><li><a href="/booklife-reviews/16">&laquo;</a></li><li id="pagination-elipsis-start" class="disabled"><a href="#"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-option-horizontal"></i></a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/1">1</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/2">2</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/3">3</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/4">4</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/5">5</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/6">6</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/7">7</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/8">8</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/9">9</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/10">10</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/11">11</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/12">12</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/13">13</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/14">14</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/15">15</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/16">16</a></li><li class="active pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/17">17</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/18">18</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/19">19</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/20">20</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/21">21</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/22">22</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/23">23</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/24">24</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/25">25</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/26">26</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/27">27</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/28">28</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/29">29</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/30">30</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/31">31</a></li><li class="pagination-page"><a href="/booklife-reviews/32">32</a></li><li id="pagination-elipsis-end" class="disabled"><a href="#"><i class="glyphicon glyphicon-option-horizontal"></i></a></li> <li><a href="/booklife-reviews/18">&raquo;</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div id="user-panel-here"></div> </div> <div class="container-fluid"> <div class="row"> <div style="text-align:center;" class="col-sm-12 leaderboard-bottom"> <div style="display:inline-block;margin:0 auto;background-color:#eeeeee;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px;color:#cacaca;text-align:center;padding:15px;">ADVERTISEMENT<br> <div class="center-block" id='div-gpt-ad-1410890261773-0' style='width:728px; 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