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One of the King's Men

Name: One of the King's Men
Author: Estelle Everingham
ISBN: 978-1-5144-9681-7

by Estelle Everingham ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 7, 2016

An emotional account of a short life rooted in Christianity.

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An Australian mother’s debut memoir recalls the childhood and accidental death of her son, whose life revolved around his faith.

From the moment of her son Cameron’s difficult birth, when the doctors had already declared him dead, his mother knew he would be special. A devout Christian, Everingham taught all three of her children about heaven from the time they were young. Cameron was a precocious child who had nighttime visions of Jesus starting when he was a toddler. At age 5, he found his “niche”—running—after unofficially joining a track meet and defeating several older kids. Cameron participated in a church youth group and began to preach to his cohorts at the age of 13 (“He would take notes of the sermon each week and, using the notes, repreach Sunday’s sermon to his little group of friends at school during the lunch hour”). His ambition was to become a minister, but his mother already sensed that “he just didn’t belong on this planet” anymore, and even Cameron said he would be going to heaven shortly. Cameron is often funny, such as when he plans his own funeral: “a no-frills funeral, not a yes-frills funeral.” Everingham supplies a detailed rundown of her 14-year-old son’s last week of life, which ends in a horrific car accident. At just 54 pages, this account seems too short to really get to know Cameron. The author powerfully conveys the deep shock of losing a child so young, as well as the sense of peace that her faith and her awareness of Cameron’s presence give her. His story could be even more affecting if it were expanded to the traditional length of a memoir, allowing space to tell additional tales about his childhood and show the impact he had on the people around him. Cleaning up the formatting—to remove the frequent ampersands, for instance—and editing the stiff language (he “commenced cycling”) would also improve the work. This memoir should be a comfort to readers with strong Christian convictions who have lost a loved one. It includes several black-and-white photographs of young Cameron.

An emotional account of a short life rooted in Christianity.

Pub Date: June 7, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-5144-9681-7

Page Count: 60

Publisher: XlibrisAu

Review Posted Online: Sept. 26, 2016

Review Program: Kirkus Indie

Categories:

GENERAL NONFICTION

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NUTCRACKER

by E.T.A. Hoffmann ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 28, 1996

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This is not the Nutcracker sweet, as passed on by Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa. No, this is the original Hoffmann tale of 1816, in which the froth of Christmas revelry occasionally parts to let the dark underside of childhood fantasies and fears peek through. The boundaries between dream and reality fade, just as Godfather Drosselmeier, the Nutcracker's creator, is seen as alternately sinister and jolly. And Italian artist Roberto Innocenti gives an errily realistic air to Marie's dreams, in richly detailed illustrations touched by a mysterious light. A beautiful version of this classic tale, which will captivate adults and children alike. (Nutcracker; $35.00; Oct. 28, 1996; 136 pp.; 0-15-100227-4)

Pub Date: Oct. 28, 1996

ISBN: 0-15-100227-4

Page Count: 136

Publisher: Harcourt

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1996

Categories:

GENERAL NONFICTION

- BOOK REVIEW
THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSE KING
by E.T.A. Hoffmann ; adapted by Natalie Andrewson ; illustrated by Natalie Andrewson

- BOOK REVIEW
THE NUTCRACKER
by E.T.A. Hoffmann & illustrated by Julie Paschkis

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TO THE ONE I LOVE THE BEST

EPISODES FROM THE LIFE OF LADY MENDL (ELSIE DE WOLFE)

by Ludwig Bemelmans ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 23, 1955

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An extravaganza in Bemelmans' inimitable vein, but written almost dead pan, with sly, amusing, sometimes biting undertones, breaking through. For Bemelmans was "the man who came to cocktails". And his hostess was Lady Mendl (Elsie de Wolfe), arbiter of American decorating taste over a generation. Lady Mendl was an incredible person,- self-made in proper American tradition on the one hand, for she had been haunted by the poverty of her childhood, and the years of struggle up from its ugliness,- until she became synonymous with the exotic, exquisite, worshipper at beauty's whrine. Bemelmans draws a portrait in extremes, through apt descriptions, through hilarious anecdote, through surprisingly sympathetic and understanding bits of appreciation. The scene shifts from Hollywood to the home she loved the best in Versailles. One meets in passing a vast roster of famous figures of the international and artistic set. And always one feels Bemelmans, slightly offstage, observing, recording, commenting, illustrated.