Book Review: Prairie Dog Blues

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AppId is over the quota

Fiction
Prairie Dog Blues
Mark Conkling
2011
Sunstone Press
230 pages

In his first novel, Prairie Dog Blues, writer Mark Conkling tells the complicated story of the Corley family. With each member of the clan struggling with their own problems, the Corleys decide to sell part of the family land. The hope of the family's matriarch, Mom Corley, is that the money will improve their lives individually and bring all of them closer together. As it turns out, prairie dogs elevate the family beyond their personal concerns to fulfill Mom's dreams of a strong, unified clan.

Mom and Pop Corley (their given names are Janice and Roy, but everyone in the community calls them Mom and Pop) attend the final signing for the sale of fifteen acres of their property in Albuquerque, New Mexico with their three children, Jeff, Ida, and Junior. The goal of the sale is to fund Mom and Pop's retirement and to provide each of their troubled children with seed money that will allow them to restructure their lives. Jeff, the oldest, is a dentist with a gambling problem and all of the debt that goes with that lifestyle. The middle child, Ida, is a nurse who, when not dreaming of earning a master's degree, uses her looks to attract the wrong kind of attention from men. Junior is the youngest and the most troubled with a nearly debilitating drinking problem. Mom believes the multi-million dollar sale of the property to a developer will solve all of their problems. But that dream is threatened by a new city ordinance that will restrict development on properties where prairie dogs live. This news halts the sale and heightens the level of desperation for each of the Corleys.

The initial attempts Pop and Junior make to remove the prairie dogs are awkward and violent. News of the city ordinance and the delayed sale of the Corleys' fifteen acres draws protestors from the Forest Guardians, a group of environmental activists. The Forest Guardians, led by Donald Pressman, fight the Corleys' efforts to remove the prairie dogs by taking legal action and bringing in a prairie dog expert to bolster their cause.

This is a story that takes several unexpected turns, which is fantastic for holding the reader's attention. As each attempt to salvage the sale of the property is initiated, the author reveals more of the inner workings of the main characters. Conkling shares the struggles of each member of the Corley family and the steps they take to save their lives from destruction. While Mom holds on to the hope she believes the money will bring until the very end, her husband and children ultimately find their way to better lives and a renewed sense of family as a result of the crisis the prairie dogs' presence causes.

This is a delightful story. It is well written and ambitious in its display of the human condition. Conkling, a former professor of psychology and philosophy, skillfully applies his knowledge of human behavior to create multidimensional characters that conjure up an array of emotions in the reader.

Prairie Dog Blues is a dynamic read; brilliant. I highly recommended it.

Melissa Brown Levine
for
Independent Professional Book Reviewers

Melissa Brown Levine is a writer, book reviewer and manuscript consultant. She is the author of "I Need to Make Promises: A Novella and Stories." Read an excerpt at http://www.melissabrownlevine.com/.

Perspectives on History - A Division Of The Spoils by Paul Scott

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AppId is over the quota

Start with two major religions, Islam and Hinduism. To a history of one ruling the other, add the complication of a determinedly, in part evangelical Christian colonial administration that lords it over both and in recent memory has massacred innocents. Calls for independence are frequent, but the detail of "from what" remains negotiable. There is civil disobedience in a state whose imperial government can only function by virtue of local cooperation. But should independence lead to a unitary state, religiously mixed, or should it divide along ethnic lines in an attempt to avoid conflict of interest?

Then there's a World War against an invading Japanese army to be coped with. And when a new kind of independence is called for, one that not only politically rejects the colonial masters but also wages war against them, new complications emerge. Those who deserted to fight alongside the enemy risk courts-martial and death sentences for treason, despite their being viewed locally as freedom fighters by those who desire independence at any cost, whilst remaining traitors in the eyes of anyone seeking any form of accommodation with the status quo.

This is India in the 1940s, and as yet there has been no mention yet of the princely states, each with its Nawab or Maharajah at its head, ostensibly independent but land-locked in their geographical and political dependency, surrounded by colonialism that, if anything, has nurtured them. Which way would these august gentlemen lean?

A Division Of The Spoils by Paul Scott is the last novel in his Raj Quartet. It is set against this backdrop of complex social, political, military, even geo-political considerations, all of which interact and thus influence one another. The novel's story features a group of British colonials, perhaps locked in time, adherents of assumptions that no longer apply, who have to cope not only with all the complications of war and changing India, but also of their own lives, their forcibly limited aspirations and their enforced change of identity.

A Division Of The Spoils is such a vast project that a reader might suspect that the pace might flag somewhere within its six hundred or so pages. The reader would be wrong. By shifting the focus from one character to another, by changing the narrative's point of view, the book not only enthrals from first to last, it also brings to life the dilemmas that face these people, often tragically, but never without compassion or empathy.

Paul Scott has not written a novel that reaches, or even tries to offer solutions or analyses. The only end products are history, itself, and the deaths of some of the characters, whom, when deceased, we realise we may not have known very well at any time. Perhaps they themselves did not really know who they were, why they were playing the role of the ruler, acting out superiority whenever a suitable minion or perhaps target might be identified. They might have been sure what disgusted them, but they were never sure of their own motives, or their motivations, even when these ran to an overtly paternalistic, perhaps patronising attitude towards the ruled.

Yet, through all the confusion of politics, war and change, people must live their lives. Hopefully, they are the subjects of this change because, if they are its objects, they are in danger. Just ask Ahmed Kasim, who was never very political, or even very Islamic. Ask Susan Layton, then Bingham, then Merrick. Ask those who stay on or those who leave, those who sign away their independence and power, or those who manipulate events to their advantage. And finally, if you ask me, I would conclude that The Division Of The Spoils, and the Raj Quartet as a whole, represent an achievement in writing through the medium of fiction that has certainly never been surpassed. When piles appear, look for this one at the top.

Philip Spires Author of Mission and A Fool's Knot, African novels set in Kenya http://www.philipspires.co.uk/ Migwani is a small town in Kitui District, eastern Kenya. My books examine how social and economic change impact on the lives of ordinary people. They portray characters whose identity is bound up with their home area, but whose futures are determined by the globaised world in which they live.

A Higher Court, by John L Betcher, Is a Gripping Intellectual and Spiritual Journey

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AppId is over the quota

Bravo to writer John L. Betcher for his outstanding achievement with A Higher Court. Once started, I had a hard time putting it down. After two and a half days pouring through this work, I felt like I had taken an intellectual and spiritual journey from the beginning of creation to where I am today, and even beyond.

Set as a "trial" in a surreal court room with almost thirty jurors, this book puts you in a sort of Twilight Zone, where time and space are put on hold. As a reader, you become one of the jurors in this altered reality. Our judge is unusual, not what one would expect, but he has complete authority and command.

The trial we're all partaking in deals with the question of whether or not God exists. You may be thinking, I've heard this before. Well, most of us have, but probably not like this. Reading this was like watching a full-length and unrestrained conversation at a round table--Richard Dawkins and the late Christopher Hitchens on one side, William Lane Craig and Ravi Zacharias on the other. The dialog was fascinating and it covered just about every subject and approach. Mr. Betcher's research is quite thorough and he covers not just the old contentions of this subject, but everything that is at the vanguard of today's science and thinking.

As we go through this trial, there is a counsel for the existence of God and a counsel for the repudiation of God. Each counsel is given the opportunity to present witnesses, ask questions, and then cross-examine. The witnesses are experts in their various fields and a wide variety of subjects are covered--theology, cosmetology, astronomy, philosophy and even psychology. If you're curious what the latest arguments are for how this universe came to be and how life started and evolved on planet earth, you'll be educated and enlightened with this work.

After a couple witnesses or testimonies, the jurors would gather in small groups and deliberate. I have to give kudos to Mr. Betcher for his balanced approach to this. Among the jurors at this trial we have a Native American, a Muslim, an agnostic, and of course an atheist. These different people give their perspectives on who and what God is to them based their upbringing and experiences. As a whole though, the focus is on the Judeo-Christian faith. Later, the reader will find out why Christianity is very much different from all other faiths.

As comprehensive as it all was, there is one element I thought was missing. At one point in the trial, witnesses came forward and gave their testimonies as to why they chose not to believe in God. Later, more witnesses came forward to tell why they do believe in God. There were two powerful and moving testimonies for each side, and each one dealt heavily on various forms of suffering. As we all know, pain either drives a person away from God in anger, or drives a person to God for comfort. But the testimony that was missing was the one of a totally changed life for the positive. I personally know people who in literally one instant, were radically transformed and healed of everything from substance abuse to physical and emotional trauma. Science will never explain that. It would have been nice to have added this component to the story. I do understand though why the problem of pain was focused on as this is a huge issue with so many.

As the story winds down, we are presented with a nice summary of issues that have plagued the human race and why the dilemma over the existence of God continues. It may surprise you how the trial ends and what it was really all about. There is also a huge and unexpected twist, one that really makes a person think. I highly recommend A Higher Court and wish all readers well on their own journey to finding our Creator.

Kelly Libatique is a professional speaker, technical trainer, and author. He holds a Master's in Education and a Bachelor's in Psychology. He resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife Anne and two sons.

Visit http://www.libatique.com/ or Contact Kelly at: Kelly.Libatique@gmail.com

Deepti Naval - An Indian Author

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Deepti Naval is an avant-garde actor, director, poet, painter and writer. Born on February 3, 1957 in Amritsar, she moved to the United States and studied at the City University of New York. She specialized in Fine Arts and received her degree from the Hunter College at Manhattan. She made her debut in Bollywood with Ek Baar Phir in 1979. Since then she has worked in more than 70 movies! She is famous for the versatile roles that she has played in parallel cinema. She has earned a lot of accolade for her roles in films such as Chashmebaddoor, Kamla, Mirch Masala, Ankahi, Main Zinda Hoon, Panchvati, Leela and Freaky Chakra. In the recent past, her role in Leela was widely appreciated; in 2002, it was screened at the IAAC IFA, Commonwealth IFA in Manchester and Reel World IFA, Toronto. It won the Special Jury Award at the Reel World IFA. In 2007, she was acknowledged as the Tribute Honoree of the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles. She had also taken a break from films as a result of her dissatisfaction of the film offers she received.

Deepti Naval wrote Thodasa Aasman and directed it as a television series. It is a women-centric drama. Lamha Lamha is her anthology of poems that was published in 1983. Recently, she published another anthology titled 'Black Wind and Other Poems'. She also brought out the book, The Mad Tibetan - stories then and now. She is also an avid trekker and she is known for trekking across the Himachal and Laddakh. The television show The Path Less Traveled has been produced by her. Some of her well-known series and collections of fine art have been the Kumaon Series, Landscapes, Nuns, and Reflections. She has also worked on photography. Some of the best collections are: In Search of Another Sky, Shades of Red, Himalayan Road Builders and Images of a Frozen River.

Deepti Naval is also working on cinematic projects directing Do Paise Ki Dhoop, Chaar Aane Ki Baarish starring Manisha Koirala and Sanaj Naval. It has not been publicly released as yet. It is a Bollywood film and it was screened at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival and at the Chicago South Asian Film Festival. It is expected to be released on March 8, 2012 in India. It was recognized as the 2009 Best Feature Film at the Indian Film Festival of Houston, 2010 Best Screenplay at the New York Indian Film Festival (MIAAC) and in 2010, Rajit Kapoor won the Best Actor Award at ImagineIndia.

Anju K Batra is a writer based in India. She like to write on Social and cultural subjects. She has written lots of Articles on the subject of Deepti Naval, Deepti Naval Books.

Underworld Journey: Comparative Study Between Aristophanes' The Frogs and Virgil's Aeneid (Book VI)

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The descent to the underworld is a mytheme of comparative mythology found in a diverse number of religions from around the world, including Christianity. The hero or upper-world deity journeys to the underworld or to the land of the dead and returns, often with a quest-object or a loved one, or with heightened knowledge. The ability to enter the realm of the dead while still alive, and to return, is a proof of the classical hero's exceptional status as more than mortal.

Virgil, the greatest of all Roman poets, modeled his masterpiece, The Aeneid (30-19 BC), on the ancient Greek epics the Iliad and the Odyssey, written by Homer. On the other hand Aristophanes (448-385 BC), Athenian playwright, is considered one of the greatest writers of comedy in literary history. The Frogs is one of his masterpieces. The ingenuity of the plot, incidental extravagances, the fresh and sparkling wit, the delicate literary criticism, the sweet bursts of lyric song, and the unrivalled snatches of parody make Aristophanes' The Frogs the greatest literary satire in any language. The Aeneid is divided into different books. Of them, Book VI is very significant because it gives an account of underworld which is visited and experienced by Aeneas, the Trojan hero after the fall of troy. However, the story of Aristophanes' The Frogs can be related to that of Virgil's The Aeneid (Book VI) regarding journey to the underworld especially regarding theme, characters, places, description of the underworld etc.

The beginning part of these two journeys can be compared. Before starting the journey to the Underworld, Aeneas, the Trojan hero visited Cumaean Sibyl. She in her prophetic vision told Aeneas that very soon he would have fight in a battle in Latium. It was Sibyl who instructed Aeneas to pluck the Golden Bough. Aeneas was escorted by her to Hades through the cave of Avernus. They reached the river Styx, on the one side of which they could see the ghosts of the unburied dead. In The Frogs we see that Dionysus, the patron god of Drama as the hero of the play starts journey to Underworld accompanying with his slave Xanthias. Unsure about the best way to break into the Underworld and ever unsteady in his valor, he devises an ingenious plan. He will put on the disguise of Heracles who in the last and most spectacular of his famous labors forced his way into Hades' realm and stole the watchdog of Hell, the three headed hound Cerberus. Dionysus figures that, if Hades' guards see "Heracles" coming again, they will all run away and let him enter without a fight. However, dressing himself up lion's skin and club complete, as Heracles and accompanied by his slave Xanthias with the baggage, he starts on his perilous journey. If we compare The Frogs with The Aeneid, we see that Dionysus acts as a hero in The Frogs who actually is a god (god of drama) while Aeneas; a human being acts the role of a hero in The Aeneid. The Golden Bough which has a magical effect for rescuing oneself from any danger can be compared to the dress of lion's skin wore by Dionysus.

The main purpose of their underworld journey is to get instruction of building (Aeneid) or saving country (The Frogs) from the dead who were great in their lifetime. We can see that in both journeys there is presence of Charon who is the aged boatman who ferried the souls of the dead across a river separating the world of the living from the world of the dead and brought them to the gates of the underworld. In both pieces protagonists have to request Charon to carry them throughout the river Styx (Aeneid) which is also called the lake Acheron (The Frogs) and the river is same to both journeys though in different names. In Aeneid we can see that Aeneid is suggested about the precondition and procedures of the journey by Helenus. Similarly, Dionysus is suggested by Heracles who is his semi brother.

In both journeys protagonists meets many souls, phantoms, ugly cretures. Cerberus, a monstrous dog is found in both journey. Cerberus, a three-headed, dragon-tailed dog that guards the entrance to the lower world, or Hades. The monster permitted all spirits to enter Hades, but would allow none to leave. Sibyl who gives the guideline and stays with Aeneas as a companion in the journey can be compared to both Heracles (from whom Dionysus gives suggestion before starting journey) and Xanthias. Xanthias is a comic figure who works as a servant of Dionysus. Sibyl is a female prophet who guided the Trojan prince Aeneas through the underworld to visit his father Anchises and her role in the journey was very noteworthy because without her prophecy and assistance.

The experiences Aeneas and Dionysus gathered in their journey to the hell is not same. But in both The Frogs and The Aeneid Hell is described as dark and muddy, ugly and full of dangerous creatures ever seen. Aeneas' experience in the journey is bitterer than Dionysus' experience. In the epic Aeneid the underworld journey performs serious purpose and in the other writing we can find that throughout the comedy seriousness is absent and it is replaced by humor, irony and witty remarks. There can be found many comic incidents throughout the journey made by Dionysus like Dionysus' disguising himself as a slave and Xanthius' disguise as a master which is made because of the fear of Dionysus of Empusa.

We can see that in Aeneid the hero Aeneas acts bravely and remains determined and confident throughout the Journey. On the other hand in The Frogs the hero Dionysus is found coward, self-seeking, carnal, unmanly person and in throughout the journey to the Hades. In Frogs we observe chorus is present throughout the journey and in The Aeneid there is no chorus. We can find that Aeneas is prophesized to establish roman empire and to descend to the Hades to meet his dead father Anchises to get suggestions about what to be done. But in the case of the frogs there is no existence of prophecy about Dionysuss' underworld journey.

A striking difference between the journeys of these two pieces is the difference of the treatment of nature in the description of two journeys. In the Aeneid we can find an elaborate description of the environment and natural scenery of the Hades. For example there is a description of Dis with shadow and light like a wood land in a moonlit night. On the other hand there is no such description in the frogs of the journey made by Dionysus.Another important dissimilarity is that in the description of journey made by Aeneis there is elaborate description of the creatures faced by Aeneas. I Aeneid Charon is described as old man having the vigor of ever young with beard of fiery red color. We can find the presence of song and dance in the journey of Dionysus in the frogs but there is no such item in the journey made by Aeneas in the Aeneid.

Although The Frogs and Aeneid are different type of literary work a number of some similarities between this two pieces regarding journey to the Underworld are noticeable. In The Frogs the situation was very much funny and satirical but in The Aeneid it was serious. Indeed, it is Patriotic zeal which is common similarity in both pieces.

The Time Travel Journals: Shipbuilder by Marlene Dotterer Is a Spellbinding Voyage Through Time

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The Time Travel Journals: Shipbuilder, by Marlene Dotterer, is an entertaining and fascinating voyage through time and beyond.

In this novel, Ms. Dotterer creates a storyline that uses as its pinnacle one of the most famous incidents in history--the sinking of the RMS Titanic. In fact, the story builds itself up to this event with nice suspense. But if you're thinking, I've already seen the movie, know that this book really isn't about that. It's about people, society, and the choices we make.

Set in Belfast, Ireland, our two main characters are an odd couple: an aging male scientist and a young female college student. Quite inadvertently, the two find themselves suddenly picked up and placed backward in time one hundred years.

This work deals with a dilemma of time-travel that story tellers have tinkered with for ages. The quandary and question to unravel is, what would happen if one were to go back in time with full knowledge of certain events that were to occur, but then attempt to make changes? And this raises more questions. How would one's presence in and of itself affect a timeline that has already happened? Does it create more parallel timelines? This subject has been played out in many ways in movies and books but often with the theme of characters scheming to get rich. For example, if one could go back, one could commit robberies where it was known money or gold would be. One could make a fortune making predictions. The list goes on.

But Ms. Dotterer goes about it differently. The main character attempts to make changes motivated first and foremost by love. As soon as we are thrust back in time, things move very quickly as our characters struggle first just to survive, then later to adjust and fit in. Without spoiling it for the potential reader, one of our characters falls in a love with a well-known figure of that day and time. Unfortunately, this person is doomed to perish with the Titanic. But even with this foreknowledge, the two move forward into marriage and starting a family. One result of this is that many elements of a romance novel come to the surface and are woven into the narrative. The other character, who acts often as a voice of reason in various situations, is motivated by the desire to improve the world and help people.

As the story moves along, we're given many lessons in history and it's apparent that Ms. Dotterer has done her research. What makes this book particularly interesting is how real history is combined with fictitious events and decisions as a result of interjected future knowledge. It really does make a person think.

There is one caveat though. This work is also a social statement against the more rigid societal standards of early nineteenth century Ireland, particularly in terms of religion and certain communal issues. One of our main characters is openly atheist, a standing that is almost criminal in this society at this time. While most readers of a God-fearing nature would probably not be offended, you'll notice the Hollywood-like stereotype of a particularly repugnant character who represents religious fanaticism. This character is not only scheming, manipulative and cruel, he's also a bit of a pervert, not to mention a blatant law-breaker. It's unfortunate that characters who represent conservative religious thinking are often portrayed this way.

Some readers may also find it regrettable that little positive credit is given to the moral compass and good standards that religion provides to early twentieth century Ireland, or any given culture. Statistically, after all, it has been the secular movements that have killed countless more people and have done more damage. It focuses only on the negative, and in those days and for many years to come, there was a lot of negative events surrounding religious differences. Proof positive that even with an attempt at maintaining firm standards of behavior, man's wicked nature comes through. The fight against sexism and for equal privileges--another significant element to this story--is far more understandable.

But the work is balanced. Our atheist and socially liberal main character is eventually accepted and loved by a family she marries into who, while religious in nature, are in no way fanatical. As a whole, they are good people with every good intention. Also, there are other nefarious characters in this story that plot evil, but without any religious motivation guiding them. Our other main character is neither religious nor anti-religion, and may even be agnostic.

All in all, The Time Travel Journals: Shipbuilder is an enjoyable read with a lot of interesting ideas to ponder. It will definitely get the mind going on the What if? questions. Even if you're not a history buff, I think you'll enjoy this work. It may even get you thinking about the choices you're making now, and how those choices could affect many generations to come.

Kelly Libatique is a professional speaker, technical trainer, and author. He holds a Master's in Education and a Bachelor's in Psychology. He resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife Anne and two sons.

Visit http://www.libatique.com/ or Contact Kelly at: Kelly.Libatique@gmail.com

The Secrets of Mary Bowser by Lois Leveen: A Review

The Secrets of Mary Bowser is a historical novel set in our darkest hour that packs a punch nation's featuring a slave-turned spy, heroine.

Mary Bowser spends her youth as a house slave in one of the grandest antebellum homes in Richmond. Richmond was "in the north of the south." That meant escape from slavery was possible, but dangerous because of the Fugitive Slave Act; mandating free states to return runaway slaves to the south. A precocious child, Mary grabs any opportunity to expand her knowledge. Visitors to the Richmond house bring a valuable commodity-information. Even so, at age eleven she says, "A slave to the best keep her talents hidden, feigned ignorance being the greatest intelligence in the topsy turvy, the house of bondage."

Outspoken abolitionist, Bet Van Lew, no-nonsense daughter of the deceased slaveholder, encourages Mary to go north to get an education. Mary's forward-thinking mother agrees, noting that Mary has a special calling in life. Mary Bowser takes a train to the free state of Philadelphia a decade before the Civil War begins. After experiencing an unsettling form of prejudice while in Philadelphia, she returns home to be part of a Union spy ring in Richmond. Her courage, resilience, and determination to make a difference are masterfully portrayed. (A) the master of stealth, Mary chooses to do what is right, rather than what is easy.

Author Lois Leveen holds a Ph.D in English from UCLA with a specialty in African American Literature. She came across Mary Bowser's espionage while reading a woman's history book. She gifts us a story about a real woman about whom little is known. The Secrets of Mary Bowser answers these questions:

? Why would anyone leave the North and sacrifice freedom?
? Does Mary choose freedom or her family?
? How did it feel to be educated, but spend her days with people who considered her ignorant?
? Does she have the courage to do what is ethical conduct at the expense of her personal safety?

The book focuses on the urban (as opposed to field) slavery and free black life in Philadelphia. This high intensity historical fiction novel brings to light an important, but yet untold story of slavery. Narrated by Mary, the dialogue rings true to slave culture of the nineteenth century. In a recently researched, the book is full of newspaper Notification Randomizer, the correspondence, the real historical figures, the Underground Railroad stories, and secret codes. This book has the "best seller" written all over it. The Secrets of Mary Bowser is not only fascinating reading, but also historical fiction of the highest caliber.

Harper Collins graciously provided the review copy for my unbiased opinion.

Article originally published by Holly Weiss is a http://www.blogcritics.org/.

Holly Weiss is the author of a historical fiction novel, Crestmont, writer and reviewer of newly-released books. http://www.hollyweiss.com/.

Free reprint of article if entire bio is intact.