Book reviews April 2009
Reviews of some books recently acquired by the Philipsburg Jubilee Library. These reviews have also appeared in The Daily Herald

Any child can read better
by Harvey S. Wiener
Reading is a complex process that takes years to master. Yet, learning to read in the early stages is not an overwhelming problem for most children, especially with a nurturing home environment in which reading is cherished. Unfortunately very few parents know just what to do.

Now, Dr. Harvey S. Wiener provides an indispensible guide for parents who want to help their children enter the magic realm of words. Dr. Wiener offers practical advice on how to help children make their way through the maze of assignments and exercises related to classroom reading.

A sense of urgency
by John P. Kotter
Change can strike fear in the hearts and minds of businesspeople. Harvard Business School professor Kotter is the master of change. Now Kotter identifies the single biggest factor to successful change: creating a true sense of urgency. In a way that will resonate with those charged with carrying out new corporate strategies or implementing transformation, he details one streamlined strategy with four supporting tactics: bring the outside reality in, behave with true urgency every day, selectively look for upside possibilities in crises, and effectively confront what he calls the no-no’s.

The healthy skeptic
by Robert J. Davis
Most people get their health information from the media: reports on the evening news, magazine and newspaper articles, popular websites, as well as a flood of advertisements from pharmaceutical and health product manufacturers. How is the average person supposed to cut through the marketing hype and get to the truth? According to award-winning journalist Robert Davis, Ph.D.--author of The Healthy Skeptic-- skepticism, closer scrutiny, and some trustworthy resources can go a long way to help us separate fact from fiction about the latest health information and claims.

Boxing for beginners
by Billy Finnegan with Courtney Clark
Perfect for anyone who wants to learn to box and get in shape, Boxing for Beginners guides readers through boxing fundamentals and mechanics, basic boxing drills, acquiring the necessary equipment and more. High-quality, professional photographs and a step-by-step approach make this book highly accessible and easy to understand. Readers will learn to strengthen the mind, sharpen reflexes, form intelligent fight strategies and implement the necessary tactics it takes to be successful.

This book is written by a Golden Gloves Champion, world ranked-fighter and member of U.S. Olympic team.

 
Pleasure
by Eric Jerome Dickey
Born in Trinidad and living in Atlanta after a relationship gone bad, Nia Simone Bijou is an ambitious writer who has it all. Except for the one thing that’ll give her the control she craves: absolute, uninhibited sexual satisfaction. Now, in the sweltering days and nights of summer, the heat is on. Nia’s fantasies will become a reality. She will shatter the limits of erotic love. She will open herself up to experiences she never dared before. And as her fantasies begin to spin out of control, she’ll discover the unexpected price of the extreme.

Never as good as the first time
by Mari Walker
For years Samai Collins has been a faithful Christian, devoted wife and loving mother. But suddenly she finds herself in the middle of a nasty divorce from her minister husband and struggling to find a job, with almost no work skills, in order to support her three children. As Samai tries to get back on her feet, loneliness and the deep longing for a man's touch cause her to stumble in her spiritual beliefs. Then an old high school crush reappears and Samai's life takes a wild new turn.

 
Forgivin’ ain’t forgettin’
by Mata Elliott
Traumatised by two abusive relationships and a haunting secret, Cassidy has shut herself off emotionally from the world. Despite the fact that she has forgiven those who hurt her, she is paralyzed by the memories. Burying herself in church ministry she soon meets Trevor, a widower and single father of two young girls. Forced to interact, Trevor and Cassidy initially have a love- hate relationship but with the passing of Cassidy's beloved Aunt Odessa, their bond grows stronger. They fall in love and marry but then Cassidy has to deal with her past ...

 
Her little black book
by Brenda jackson
It's less than a week before Sonya’s wedding when she decides to pass her legendary black book on to her cousin Courtney Andrews. Courtney, who's fast approaching thirty, thinks every woman she knows has somehow met a man who is husband material except for her. So Sonya’s little black book seems to be just what she needs. That's until Courtney discovers she and her cousin have completely different tastes when it comes to men. But just when she is about to give up and toss the black book into the garbage, she meets Lake Masters...