A fast-paced and ultimately uplifting family drama.
A Christian-themed novel about a family in turmoil.
Debut novelist Life presents the story of Shanale Baker, a beautiful young woman who makes poor choices regarding men. Her problems begin when she becomes pregnant in high school by a drug dealer, who very quickly wants nothing to do with her. Shanale terminates the pregnancy and goes on to become a journalism major in college, where her relationship problems multiply. Married men tend to take a great interest in her, and although she gains material things from the relationships, disaster always seems to lie just around the corner. Fortunately for Shanale, she attends the same college as her best friend, Justin Hunter. He’s a straight shooter: a football star, an avid churchgoer, and a sympathetic listener. But when he starts dating a wealthy girl named Alexis, it drives a wedge into his and Shanale’s friendship. Meanwhile, Shanale’s family members struggle with their own problems; for instance, her sister Niesy works two jobs to support her children and her lazy, abusive boyfriend. Niesy’s teenage daughter Kai, meanwhile, seems to be on her way to making the same mistakes that her aunt did. It’s a tangled web—and then a murder enters the picture. The story, told from the first-person perspectives of different characters, contains some stilted dialogue, as when a character says of attending college, “I know it’s going to be hard but I am going to do it.” The pace, however, is quick and doesn’t slacken, and the narrative effectively explores the consequences of jealousy, abuse, and bad decisions. Although it’s clear early on that Christianity will provide saving grace, it’s uncertain for much of the story as to what form it will take. A character may raise her spirits by attending church, for example, but there’s still a murder to deal with. Although the resolution to the latter occurs rather abruptly, readers are left with characters who prove that change is always possible.
A fast-paced and ultimately uplifting family drama.Pub Date: Nov. 22, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4486-6489-4
Page Count: 223
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2019
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
An intriguing approach to identifying and relating to one’s emotions.
An analysis of our emotions and the skills required to understand them.
We all have emotions, but how many of us have the vocabulary to accurately describe our experiences or to understand how our emotions affect the way we act? In this guide to help readers with their emotions, Brackett, the founding director of Yale University’s Center for Emotional Intelligence, presents a five-step method he calls R.U.L.E.R.: We need to recognize our emotions, understand what has caused them, be able to label them with precise terms and descriptions, know how to safely and effectively express them, and be able to regulate them in productive ways. The author walks readers through each step and provides an intriguing tool to use to help identify a specific emotion. Brackett introduces a four-square grid called a Mood Meter, which allows one to define where an emotion falls based on pleasantness and energy. He also uses four colors for each quadrant: yellow for high pleasantness and high energy, red for low pleasantness and high energy, green for high pleasantness and low energy, and blue for low pleasantness and low energy. The idea is to identify where an emotion lies in this grid in order to put the R.U.L.E.R. method to good use. The author’s research is wide-ranging, and his interweaving of his personal story with the data helps make the book less academic and more accessible to general readers. It’s particularly useful for parents and teachers who want to help children learn to handle difficult emotions so that they can thrive rather than be overwhelmed by them. The author’s system will also find use in the workplace. “Emotions are the most powerful force inside the workplace—as they are in every human endeavor,” writes Brackett. “They influence everything from leadership effectiveness to building and maintaining complex relationships, from innovation to customer relations.”
An intriguing approach to identifying and relating to one’s emotions.Pub Date: Sept. 3, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-250-21284-9
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Celadon Books
Review Posted Online: June 22, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2019
A highly readable account of how solid research and personal testing of self-help techniques saved a couple's marriage after...
Self-help advice and personal reflections on avoiding spousal fights while raising children.
Before her daughter was born, bestselling author Dunn (Why Is My Mother Getting a Tattoo?: And Other Questions I Wish I Never Had to Ask, 2009, etc.) enjoyed steady work and a happy marriage. However, once she became a mother, there never seemed to be enough time, sleep, and especially help from her husband. Little irritations became monumental obstacles between them, which led to major battles. Consequently, they turned to expensive couples' therapy to help them regain some peace in life. In a combination of memoir and advice that can be found in most couples' therapy self-help books, Dunn provides an inside look at her own vexing issues and the solutions she and her husband used to prevent them from appearing in divorce court. They struggled with age-old battles fought between men and women—e.g., frequency of sex, who does more housework, who should get up with the child in the middle of the night, why women need to have a clean house, why men need more alone time, and many more. What Dunn learned via therapy, talks with other parents, and research was that there is no perfect solution to the many dynamics that surface once couples become parents. But by using time-tested techniques, she and her husband learned to listen, show empathy, and adjust so that their former status as a happy couple could safely and peacefully morph into a happy family. Readers familiar with Dunn's honest and humorous writing will appreciate the behind-the-scenes look at her own semi-messy family life, and those who need guidance through the rough spots can glean advice while being entertained—all without spending lots of money on couples’ therapy.
A highly readable account of how solid research and personal testing of self-help techniques saved a couple's marriage after the birth of their child.Pub Date: March 21, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-316-26710-6
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Jan. 17, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2017
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