A colorful and re-readable little handbook of uplifting (if sometimes hackneyed) sentiments.
Chiacchia offers an illustrated anthology of favorite quotes, essays, and anecdotes.
In her slim nonfiction debut, the author presents readers with a book full of pithy observations from a wide variety of sources (from actress Mary Pickford: “What we call failure is not the falling down, but the staying down”) accompanied by vivid color photographs throughout. The format and tone of Chiacchia’s selections vary; she shifts from quick bites to longer pieces, including a touching tribute to her godmother, Shirley. Some of the included quotations are of dubious attribution, and others are silly, like this epigram from Albert Pike: “What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal” (the world is full of enduring works—books, institutions, the Great Pyramids of Giza—that were created for the aggrandizement of single individuals). There’s also a strong Christian theme running throughout. Even in such a brief collection, some of the cliches and nostrums Chiacchia conveys feel either interchangeable or so bland as to be empty of content; it hardly matters whether or not Abraham Lincoln actually said “Whatever you are, be a good one” if the sentiment itself is essentially a greeting card message. And Chiacchia’s personal motto—“the only opinion of yourself that matters is your own”—might have a cozy self-help ring to it, but it’s unlikely she herself completely discounted the opinions of all the friends and loved ones who make appearances in these pages. Her book is on far firmer ground when she’s dispensing practical advice, about life in general or business in particular; she advises readers looking at any “shiny object” to ask: “Is it a good thing?” “Is it useful?” “Is it truthful?” Good tips, regardless of context.
A colorful and re-readable little handbook of uplifting (if sometimes hackneyed) sentiments.Pub Date: Sept. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9798385005840
Page Count: 114
Publisher: WestBowPress
Review Posted Online: Feb. 15, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
An uplifting ode to the power of taking small steps to make big changes.
Manbeck offers direction for life’s journeys in his children’s book debut.
Using just one or two pithy sentences per page, the text encourages readers to bravely forge their own paths in the world. Whatever one hopes to accomplish or whatever one’s destination in life, the starting point is “here,” a point of view that suggests that there is power and wisdom in embracing the present moment. Manbeck assures readers that “you can go anywhere!” and includes all-caps imperatives on almost every double-page spread: “Begin”; “Take your time”; “Keep going”; “Be patient”; etc. A major thrust of the narrative is the futility of comparing oneself to others since every person is unique and there is no one-size-fits-all formula for how life should unfold. The whimsical illustrations, rendered in gouache and mixed media with digital editing, show sprightly children and their childlike anthropomorphic animal companions romping on giant fantastical play structures that recall Rube Goldberg machines. Some spreads feature a montage of the characters adventurously exploring a range of fun activities: butterfly watching, rollerblading, riding a penny-farthing, etc. Flowers and butterflies—with their associated meanings of transformation, hope, courage, success, and new beginnings—are used liberally as motifs throughout the colorful artwork. The characters have various skin tones, and one of them uses a wheelchair. Many wear party hats, conveying a mood of celebration; indeed, this book would make a good baby-shower or graduation gift.
An uplifting ode to the power of taking small steps to make big changes. (Gift book. 0-5, adult)Pub Date: May 10, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-79721-010-0
Page Count: 36
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Has heart but lacks craft and efficiency.
In Ferguson’s debut novel based on a true story, a driven businesswoman takes extreme and innovative measures to combat prejudice and propel her career.
Though qualified and proactive as a real estate manager, Rhoda, an African-American, finds herself frequently shut out of high-level positions due to racism even in 21st-century Manhattan. In one instance, she’s hired during a phone interview only to be told once she arrives at the Upper East Side office that the broker position has been filled. Yet when she returns disguised with a blond wig and lightened skin, calling herself GeeGee, she’s hired on the spot. In a similar fashion, Rhoda ignites her struggling hair extension side-business. Following advice from a peer that she will need to have a white “face” of the company, Rhoda calls on GeeGee. Eventually, with the support of the NAACP, she testifies and wins a victory affirming that companies are forbidden to ask for race identification when hiring and they may not look outside of skill and experience to fill a position. The conceit of this novelized “true story” is intriguing, although which parts are based in fact and which in fiction is unclear. The dialogue-heavy prose doesn’t have much fluidity, often due to preceding dialogue tags in which a sentence ending with a comma introduces a paragraphlong quote. There’s a similar problem in the novel’s exposition, particularly due to the use of passive voice, which slows scenes down. Toward the end, Rhoda falls in love with a white man who initially knows her only as GeeGee. Once that episode is resolved, Ferguson describes the wedding night with the sensual expertise of a seasoned erotica pulp writer. For the preceding pages, though, another edit could help shape the spirited tale.
Has heart but lacks craft and efficiency.Pub Date: Nov. 19, 2013
ISBN: 978-1481744447
Page Count: 240
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Review Posted Online: Jan. 7, 2015
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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