The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander #Book #Review

The New Jim Crow 
by Michelle Alexander 
(The New Press 2012)

How do you feel about Federal penal sentencing guidelines? Have you given any thought to the composition of our prison population? Have you wondered what happens to a person having served her time for a drug charge when she re-enters society?

In The New Jim Crow, Michelle Alexander addresses all of these topics. Her point of view, as the title suggests, is that our penal system has created a new racial barrier applicable to African Americans.  The author traces the history of slavery and segregation in our country, as well as the end evolution of the post-Brown v. Board of Education world in which there was promise of an end of “separate but equal” and related means of segregation. The election of Barrack Obama could have heralded further progress.

The promise of those times, in author’s view, has been buried beneath the War on Drugs, Federal sentencing guidelines, indifference of U.S. Presidents, a Civil Rights movement focused in other directions, and even the U.S. Supreme Court. All of these elements have erected “extraordinary racial disparities” and a “system of  mass incarceration.” Policies of color-blindness are described as having been “catastrophic” for African Americans.

I read through this easily readable explanation with eager anticipation of the solution. I have personally come to favor legalizing and taxing most so-called victimless crimes. I anticipated an evaluation of such a solution, or others, perhaps even a something new.

 Unfortunately, my anticipation was disappointed. Instead, The New Jim Crow, after laying blame at the feet of essentially all elements of government, Civil Rights, and society, ends with a thoughtful comment from James Baldwin but no solutions.

 If you are interested in social justice, and food for thought about policies perhaps gone wrong, you will enjoy The New Jim Crow. If you are looking for insightful, thoughtful solution to perceived problems, you will have to await a hoped for the sequel to this tome.

Warms, Cym

Amazon
New York Times Books

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#Book #Review Link-Up Party Starts NOW!

<a href="http://cymlowell.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="CymLowell" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/3960797566_f11cfb2f41_o.jpg" /></a>

Welcome to Book Review Party Wednesday.

It is real simple. Link up any (old or new, any genre) book review that you have
written to the below MckLinky.

A couple of things to remember while you're linking.

1. Add a permalink to your specific post, not the main page of your blog (only one review per blog will be included in the giveaway). Permalinks from Amazon & other Book Review Sites are permitted.
2. Add my Book Review Wednesday Badge or a simple link-back to the party at the end of your review post.
3. List the name of your blog, Title of Book or Genre. Be sure to use spaces and limit characters to 50. For example: The Lost Symbol, thriller - or whatever you want to say!

4. Visit the other linked up reviews and leave comments....it's a party, have fun!
5. I will announce the winner in a weekend post. The winner is chosen from the linked up reviewers using Random Number Generator. All included.

I am so excited to be reading all the reviews! This is always so much fun and gives me the opportunity to add new books to my list. Last week's winner will be announced this weekend!

-CYM

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What's the 3-Step Process to Marketing Your Book?

What’s the 3-Step Process to Marketing Your Book?

MAY 16, 2013 BY RACHEL THOMPSON 

I’m often asked, ‘When is the ideal time to start marketing my book?’ It’s a good question, but let’s go a bit deeper today.

The question should not only be that, but also: how do I ensure I get the most sales when I do release?

Sales vs. marketing. Marketing vs. sales. In corporations, they are often diametrically opposed in technique and vision. As authors, we are both, and it’s that inherent conflict that can create issues.

Today we’ll look at your book release from a marketing perspective. Part Two will focus on sales. Part Three will combine the two.

Let’s deconstruct....

Click the LINK to continue to the article from bad redhead media.

-CYM

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The Key by Simon Toyne @wmmorrowbks #bookreview

The Key 
by Simon Toyne 
(Wm Morrow 2012)

Do you enjoy stories that take Biblical passages and put them into a current world context of intrigue, thrills, and thought-provoking events? If you savor any of these elements, you will enjoy the world created by Simon Toyne in the Sanctus series.

In The Key, we are treated to a group of heroes who have found the key to historic sacraments that must be followed to save the world from a triggering of the denouement of Revelations. Liv, Kathryn, and Gabriel have found their way into the secret mountain caves of the Citadel, the keeper of the secrets of the Catholic Church from the beginning of time. Gabriel is son of Kathryn, both seeking to fulfill the work of husband/father who was apparently killed on his hunt for Eden and other elements of Genesis in the Iraqi desert, from which life is believed to have begun.

Thrilling intrigue comes from competition between the forces of the Church, the Citadel, a Ghost, and our heroes as they converge on the potential triggering of Revelations. The convergence of dragons, fire, plague, the Tau, sacraments, Starmaps, selling of sacraments to the highest bidder, and murderous competition between the forces of good and evil (each side believing it to be the former and the competitor the latter) provides a thrilling ride through history and how the world could come to an end.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the story-telling of The Key. The writing style is heavily narrative in structure, with the story being told by the omniscient narrator. This approach moves the story along at a thrilling pace. On the other hand, several of the characters are compelling. For example, Liv penetrated the Citadel and experienced the Sacrament. It then dwelled within her, which will trigger Revelations if she does not, in essence as Eve, get to the Garden of Eden in time. How does she feel about all of this? How would we feel in such a position.

I was, frankly, frustrated that there was so little insight into their emotions and identity, because they were not allowed in this story-telling format to express themselves in such a way. In the absence of such expression, a reader cannot see into them and understand their inner needs and conflicts. For example, I am almost inevitably bored by television series for the same reason. On the other hand, the Showtime Homeland series, recently reviewed here, provides viewers with a compelling insight to the core of the characters, which makes the overall story come alive as we can feel and internalize in ourselves their conflicts, wondering how we would handle the horrible situations into which they are immersed.

I hope in the next installment of the Sanctus series, Mr. Toyne will treat us to insight into the continuing characters, which are framed at the end of The Key. Simplification of storyline, insight into the characters, and narrowing of the list of actors on stage could make this series into a riveting best seller for a long time.

Warms, Cym 

AMAZON

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#Book #Review Link-Up Party Starts NOW!

<a href="http://cymlowell.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="CymLowell" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/3960797566_f11cfb2f41_o.jpg" /></a>

Welcome to Book Review Party Wednesday.

It is real simple. Link up any (old or new, any genre) book review that you have
written to the below MckLinky.

A couple of things to remember while you're linking.

1. Add a permalink to your specific post, not the main page of your blog (only one review per blog will be included in the giveaway). Permalinks from Amazon & other Book Review Sites are permitted.
2. Add my Book Review Wednesday Badge or a simple link-back to the party at the end of your review post.
3. List the name of your blog, Title of Book or Genre. Be sure to use spaces and limit characters to 50. For example: The Lost Symbol, thriller - or whatever you want to say!

4. Visit the other linked up reviews and leave comments....it's a party, have fun!
5. I will announce the winner in a weekend post. The winner is chosen from the linked up reviewers using Random Number Generator. All included.

I am so excited to be reading all the reviews! This is always so much fun and gives me the opportunity to add new books to my list. Last week's winner will be announced this weekend!

-CYM

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Should You Self-Publish? 15 Questions #janefriedman #ornaross #selfpublish

This great article is from Jane Friedman's blog. 

Are you self-publishing?

Should You Self-Publish? 15 Questions

By Orna Ross

Self-publishing is not for every writer. In order to succeed, you need to have or develop specific traits, along with certain ways of approaching the publication of a book. Consider the following questions.

1. Are you positive and proactive?

Many writers wait for permission from an agent or publisher to say they are fit for publication—or for a PR campaign to explain why somebody should buy their book. The flip side of this passivity is chronic complaint syndrome: writers moaning about the vagaries of agents or publishers, about the death of bookstores, the dominance of Amazon, etc.

Not independent authors. You must take responsibility for the risks, as well as the rewards, of publishing your own work.

2. Are you brave?

Risk is the core activity of self-publishing. You must risk time on ideas, promotions, or concepts that may come to naught. You must risk money to pay for editorial and design upfront. You must also risk, in some circles, reputation. Family, friends, and many others may see self-publishing as a second-best option. Independent authors must put themselves out there twice over, once in the writing, again in the publishing.

3. Are you hardworking?

If there’s one quality that all successful independent authors have in common, this is it. You must be full of energy and commitment, not only to your writing but to educating yourself about all aspects of craft, editing, design, and promotion. You must recognize opportunities and make the most of them, without derailing your writing, the engine of it all.

4. Are you entrepreneurial?

Read the rest HERE.

-CYM

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Winner of Wednesday's Book Review Link-Up...A Bluestocking's Place!!

     *all winners are selected by Random Number Generator *

And the winner of the Amazon Gift Card ($15 value) from Wednesday's Review Party is...

(**Drums Rolling in the Background**)

Congratulations to A Bluestocking's Place!!



Be sure to check out A Bluestocking's Place and leave a comment!


Send me your email address.

Warms-
CYM

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The Joy of Hate by Greg Gutfeld @crownpublishing #bookreview

The Joy of Hate 
by Greg Gutfeld 
(2012 Crown Forum/Crown Publishing)

How do you feel about the current political situation in America? I am thoroughly fed up with the polarized posture of both parties. I tend to be an independent and am always hoping for politicians and commentators who can offer a balanced agenda to restore the greatness of America.

The most recent elections have been discouraging. There are no plans or reasoned analysis of the future. Rather, there is just attack and political rhetoric. Both parties demand their own policies, none of which seem to have worked very well. They also demonize each other.

In our group of men who participate in a Philosophers’ Club (male version of a book club), we have a well balanced group from political and religious standpoints. Yet, when it comes to politics we demonize each other as well. It is as if there is no middle ground. On religion or philosophy, we can have a rationale discussion.

This month’s selection is The Joy of Hate. It was chosen by a thoughtful friend seeking to engender discussion of the group. He will succeed!

Mr. Gutfeld is a political talk show host. He is obviously conservative, though not quite to the far, far right. His book, like his shows I suspect (I do not watch much TV so have never seen his show), is stated in strident terms of what he hates about the left. He finds the outrage of liberals to be phony, because it is self-serving and devoid of reflection on flaws in their own views. 

In The Joy of Hate, Mr. Gutfeld presents his outrage on 28 topics – probably all drawn from TV commentary. He addresses Muslims, male boobs, bigotry, vaginas, subsidies, Mr. Obama, lies, workplace violence, medical care, fat people, Sarah Palin, the Tea Party (viewed as “parents” by the left) vs. Occupy Wall Street (viewed as “sex” by the same side), and so on. In doing so, he bemoans the phony outrage of the left.

Hatred of phony outrage is appropriate. I quite agree. On the other hand, I was surprised that Mr. Gutfeld does not turn his frame of analysis on the conservative right which is guilty of the same foolishness.

I am sure that he will do so in future shows, books, and presentations.

It would be amazingly refreshing to see a conservative commentator take such a look at conservatives. They have lost two elections in a row, by an increasing margin. It is apparent, even to me, than the phony outrage of the conservative right is rejected more by us voters than the phony outrage of the liberal left. 

Mt Gutfeld, I enjoyed reading your book. How about a balanced approach next time? It may not be popular with your core followers, but it would certainly do you, them, and our country a service to become such a balanced voice, perhaps even a balanced voice. For example, the dust jacket characterizes your view of the liberal left as an “oversensitive, wussified culture.” As of now, it is in the majority. What does that say about the conservative right, now a minority?

Warms, Cym

AMAZON

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Book Review Link-up Starts NOW!

<a href="http://cymlowell.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="CymLowell" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/3960797566_f11cfb2f41_o.jpg" /></a>

Welcome to Book Review Party Wednesday.

It is real simple. Link up any (old or new, any genre) book review that you have
written to the below MckLinky.

A couple of things to remember while you're linking.

1. Add a permalink to your specific post, not the main page of your blog (only one review per blog will be included in the giveaway). Permalinks from Amazon & other Book Review Sites are permitted.
2. Add my Book Review Wednesday Badge or a simple link-back to the party at the end of your review post.
3. List the name of your blog, Title of Book or Genre. Be sure to use spaces and limit characters to 50. For example: The Lost Symbol, thriller - or whatever you want to say!

4. Visit the other linked up reviews and leave comments....it's a party, have fun!
5. I will announce the winner in a weekend post. The winner is chosen from the linked up reviewers using Random Number Generator. All included.

I am so excited to be reading all the reviews! This is always so much fun and gives me the opportunity to add new books to my list. Last week's winner will be announced this weekend!

-CYM

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Virginia Pye, First Time Novelist, on Writing, Writers Conferences, & How to Get Your Book Published

Virginia Pye, First Time Novelist, on Writing, Writers Conferences, and How to Get Your Book Published

David Henry Sterry

      Author, activist, performer,  muckraker, book doctor

We first met Virginia Pye at the James River Writers Conference, one of the best writers conferences in America. If you're a writer, do yourself a favor, get yourself to Richmond, Virginia and go to this conference. It's filled with warm, generous, talented writers, editors and agents. When we first met Virginia Pye three years ago, she'd been writing and rewriting a novel for a very long time. It's always exciting when you see a dedicated, talented writer who keeps evolving and changing and working, then finally gets their novel published, and actually gets lauded for it. So we thought we would check in with her to see exactly how it all happened.

Read the rest of the article here.




A good read. Enjoy-
CYM

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Wednesday's Book Review Link-Up Winner!

     *all winners are selected by Random Number Generator *

And the winner of the Amazon Gift Card ($15 value) from Wednesday's Review Party is...

(**Drums Rolling in the Background**)

Congratulations to Paranormal and Romantic Suspense!!



Be sure to check out Paranormal and Romantic Suspense and leave a comment!


Check your email.

Warms-
CYM

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#Book #Review Link-Up Party Starts NOW!

<a href="http://cymlowell.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="CymLowell" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/3960797566_f11cfb2f41_o.jpg" /></a>

Welcome to Book Review Party Wednesday.

It is real simple. Link up any (old or new, any genre) book review that you have
written to the below MckLinky.

A couple of things to remember while you're linking.

1. Add a permalink to your specific post, not the main page of your blog (only one review per blog will be included in the giveaway). Permalinks from Amazon & other Book Review Sites are permitted.
2. Add my Book Review Wednesday Badge or a simple link-back to the party at the end of your review post.
3. List the name of your blog, Title of Book or Genre. Be sure to use spaces and limit characters to 50. For example: The Lost Symbol, thriller - or whatever you want to say!

4. Visit the other linked up reviews and leave comments....it's a party, have fun!
5. I will announce the winner in a weekend post. The winner is chosen from the linked up reviewers using Random Number Generator. All included.

I am so excited to be reading all the reviews! This is always so much fun and gives me the opportunity to add new books to my list. Last week's winner will be announced this weekend!

-CYM

Read More

Self-Publishing is for Control Freaks

Self-Publishing Is For Control Freaks

Jeremy Greenfield, Contributor, Forbes

I write about e-books and digital publishing

Holly Ward is the third self-published author to hit No. 1 on the DBW Ebook Best-Seller list in 2013, an incredible achievement considering that her title, Damaged, is up against big books from major publishers and established authors. For instance, the No. 3 book this week is the new Nora Roberts title from Penguin, Whiskey Beach. It’s a book that in years past would be almost guaranteed to shoot to No. 1 in its debut week.

Unlike the other self-published authors to hit No. 1 this year — Jennifer L. Armentrout and Rachel Van Dyken — Ward, who writes under the name H.M. Ward as well as Ella Steele, never published a book with a traditional publisher. She never gained the experience of what it takes to bring a book to market and make it successful from a secondary source — she’s self-taught.

Continue here.

-CYM

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Wednesday's Book Review Link-up WINNER!

     *all winners are selected by Random Number Generator *

And the winner of the Amazon Gift Card ($15 value) from Wednesday's Review Party is...

(**Drums Rolling in the Background**)

Congratulations to Create With Joy!!



Be sure to check out Create With Joy and leave a comment!


Check your email.

Warms-
CYM

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