My Father, Maker of The Trees How I Survived the Rwandan Genocide

My Father, Maker of the Trees
How I Survived the Rwandan Genocide
Author: Eric Irivuzumugabe with Tracey D. Lawrence
Read By: Dion Graham
5 discs
*NonFiction*

This is the Remarkable story of a 16 year old boy who lived in a tree for 15 days without food or water.  Eric stayed in the trees to stay hidden from the terrible slaughter of the Rwandan genocide that claimed the lives of 800,000 people in just 100 days. 

His story is absolutely amazing, and what he lived through is simply unbelievable.  The beginning of this book had me in tears just knowing that these events actually took place. 

When I picked this book out however, I was interested in this man's life story-it states on the back of the book thats its a story of his Physical survival as well as his spiritual rebirth...with that being said he is siting verses from the Bible and It gets pretty preachy in the second half of the book to where I stopped listening to it alltogether.  This book is published by ChristianAudio so it makes sense that it would have a very Spiritual nature to it....If you like Christian Influence mixed with a great story this is definately the book for you.  It was really great listening to this man who was so greatful with so little....and despite all he has been thru perserveres to inspire and help others with this story.

As I stated earlier I was completely into the storyline of this book so when I went back to the Library I picked up "An Ordinary Man" which I havent listened to yet, but is an autobiography of a Rwandan Man who retells his experience going through the Rwandan Genocide.

The Wrong Hostage

The Wrong Hostage
Author: Elizabeth Howell
Reader: Maria Tucci

When I'm at the library picking out books one of the first things I always try to look for with trying out out new authors is seeing the "New York Times Bestseller" note on the cover.  Reading the Dust Jacket of this book I was very excited to get started on this book...perhaps a little too excited.

I was disappointed with this one which is pretty rare that when I feel that I can't connect with any character in the book.  Grace Silva, the main character in the book is a Judge who is newly divorced from her billionaire husband.  They had a son together whom they shipped off to Mexico for boarding school which leads to him being held by Mexican officials who are owed money from the father who despite seeming as though he earned his money all legally we learn he has put his son in a situation where he could be killed by Mexican drug lords, what the drug lords don't know is that it really isn't his son....through DNA testing he found out a few years prior that this Grace had a fling before she got married and got pregnant and never knew who was the "for sure" father.  The only character I liked in this book was the son.....because as you read it you are empathetic to his situation...he isn't a big part of the book however, its more about trying to save him.

I would love to give this author another chance but it definately will not be near the top of my "To do" list

This Weeks Library Finds!!

Can't Wait to Read/Review all these Great Finds!!


NonFiction:

   















Fiction:

Author Interview: Renvyle Blake

Tell me a bit about yourself.

Hello, My name is Renvyle Blake and I was born into an Anglo-Irish diplomatic background in Paris. I studied history at Cambridge University in the UK.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

 I have always enjoyed reading, but I did not consider myself as a potential writer until I was about 50,000 words into my book!

What inspired you to write your first book?

I was inspired to write by a chance encounter with an ex-special forces person in the French Alps when I was on a climbing trip. His story was so amazing I decided I had to write it down.

How much research goes into writing your book(s)?

There was a great deal of research involved - more than two years work went into the book - and I still had the 'day job', in charge of a small financial services boutique. I had the basic facts, and then I had to weave a story around them.

What books have influenced your life most?

The books I remember most were the ones I read as a child or as a young adult. 'The Gauntlet' by Ronald Welch sparked my interest in history, which has never left me. I read all the CS Lewis Narnia books; or had them read to me. Listening to stories read by grown ups is probably the greatest luxury of childhood. I have read my own children several Ronald Welch books, and also 'The Story of Hiawatha' (based on Longfellow's beautiful verse) ,which was given to me by my parents in 1971 when I was 4 years old, and is one of my childrens' favourites today.

 What book are you reading now?

I loved Winston Churchill's 'My Early Life', and I have been a lifelong admirer of the man. The writers today who I admire the most would have to be the masters of historical ficction; Patrick O'Brian and later Allan Mallinson.

What kind genre of book do you typically write?

 My first book is a thriller, and I am sure I will stick with the genre, as I am writing two more books as part of the story which unfolds in 'The Himalayan Assignment'. I get my ideas from the world around me.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Finance is not very fashionable these days, but it is an amazingly interesting career if you are interested in economics, technology, politics and current affairs.

Where do you get your ideas for your books?

 I have long been fascinated by China's rise but at the same time I am worried about what it means for the rest of us. China's arrival on the global scene has driven the huge inequalities in the Western world, as well as the leverage and de-industrialisation behind the current crisis. The West has been too believing; my view is that the democracies should be much more circumspect in their engagement with that nation. We should be must more active in our backing of India, to achieve a balance of power in Asia. My book is based on the true story of how a small band of intelligence experts and gifted amateurs faced down a Chinese coup attempt in Nepal. At the time I was starting the final read through, there was another coup attempt by the Chinese. You can google it and there is a link to one of the better articles on my website.

How do you market your book(s)?
So far I have been marketing my book via my website and occasional Twitters and Blogs...sales are still slow but picking up.

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

 My advice to aspiring authors is simple. Do it....but don't give up the day job if you don't want to be eating pot noodle and living in a garrett!

The Horse Whisperer

The Horse Whisperer

Author: Nicholas Evans

Read by: Frank Muller

This is the truly moving story about tragedy, healing, love, and loss.  The story starts out when Grace and her friend Judith are out on a morning ride with their beloved horses when a tragic accident happens leaving Grace to deal with the loss of her best friend and also one of her legs.  Grace finds it hard to move on post accident and can't bear facing her horse Pilgrim who was also both physically and emotionally scarred as well. 

At a loss of how to put the family back together and struggle a high demand job, Grace's mom Annie takes a leave from work and contacts Tom Booker a "Horse Whisperer", this is a last resort to save the horse that everyone keeps telling her should have been put down.  Annie repeatedly refuses to put Pilgrim down, because she deep down feels that if Pilgrim dies then the last glimmer of spirit remaining in her daughters soul will die as well. 

Grace, Annie, and Pilgrim travel across they country and find an inner peace and a much simpler way of living.  Annie learns that her high stress job as an editor of a fashion magazine suddenly does not matter.  Grace, determined to keep drowning in her own self pity learns that there still is much she is able to do and although she may never be able to ride Pilgrim again she relearns her love of horses and riding. 

Annie and Tom become closer and closer as Tom can bring the one thing Annie truly wants-Her daughter's old spirit back.  

This is a truly beautiful story, and although I am never a huge fan of affairs or cheating in books or movies for that matter, it is a very captivating story that you will not be able to put down.  Also unlike alot of Romance novels the story goes so deep that it wasn't very predictable.

Its a movie!!!!  Check that out after you read the book!!