Thursday, December 29, 2016

Book Review on New and Emerging Fresno Writer

Fresno Writer, Jessica Seymour

Jessica Seymour is a local writer hailing from the Fresno area. I am a Fresnan as well, and take great pleasure in reading the work of local writers. More than anything, and in any way I can, it is my goal that Anthem Book Review support local writers and their craft.

I picked up two of Seymour’s books which are not very lengthy, the Untold Secrets of a Single Mom is very short, coming in at 47 pages, it is small, and almost like a pocketbook.
The second Trapped is a tad bigger in size and contains 98 pages.


As I have written before, I clearly want each reader to take into consideration that reading and enjoying a certain genre of writing comes down to personal preference and just because I may not like a book and the review is not favoring, does not mean that YOU or someone you know may not thoroughly enjoy it. I did not like “To Kill a Mockingbird” and that book is seen as an American literary treasure.  So it is with honesty and complete respect to the craft of writing that I write these two reviews. So on to the review….
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These books can be purchased at Harts Haven in Fresno's Tower District, as well as online at Amazon and other booksellers.

Read these reviews under the tab Fresno Writes:

Written by Anthem Book Review

#smartpeopleread 
#anthembookreview


Saturday, November 5, 2016

A Diamond in the Tower


I can recall the days when Fresno’s Tower District had a few used bookstores and a great independent movie rental store. A weekend afternoon of book looking could easily take one to Hart’s Haven on Van Ness, then, Valley Bookstore on Olive Avenue and then to the indie video store and rent Koyaanisqatsi for a night in with the boyfriend, if one can imagine that. Well, times have changed. People watch Netflix now, or movies on bootleg, films are easily retrieved without a rental card, Netflix does not charge late fees and books are now read on handheld devices.

Bookstores have all but dwindled to the lone survivor, the last diamond in the tower, Hart’s Haven. Yet, in the midst of the Tower District there is creativity everywhere on display, from the beautiful array of murals, in depth discussions on life and, yes, literature can be heard in any café one enters.

 In a world where information is so easily retrieved through technology,  we want everything fast, and we want it now, it is not surprising that bookstores and the love of books is diminishing, most do not want to wait 296 pages with an extended epilogue for an ending.

Fresno’s Tower District has been able to still hold on, ever so tightly to the undercurrent of art and a love of literature, although it is surrounded by modern-day discount stores, Valentino’s still thrives, a Panaderia replaced Lauck’s Bakery, yet, Café Corazon Café still beats on, and the big ole’ Chicken Pie Shop with its scrumptious homemade peach cobbler still reigns. I love the Tower District for all these little things, the local element is so strong there, and huge business seems less visible. I have loved it since my days as a teenage punk buying creepers at Valentino’s and Sid & Nancy tees. I lived in the Tower most of my adult life, my son was raised a Tower kid. We went to plays, ate local, bought local and used to always walk to the bookstores from our home for a gem of a book.

Since I’ve lived in Madera, I have missed those days. Here in Madera, there is one art gallery and it is almost unheard of, sorry, but it is just not a Broadway Studio or Arte Americas. There is no theater, other than high school theatre, which I admit is really good, the few I’ve seen. Yet, there are no, I mean not one, bookstore, new or used. There is only one coffee shop, and you guessed it, it is that hooker Starbucks.

Don’t get me wrong I’m not talking bad about my new home in Madera. I like living here. I like the small town atmosphere. I just hate having to drive to Fresno for arts, books, theatre and anything that involves life. Yet, that is exactly what I did today. With my youngest son in tow, we drove to the Tower District; we had lunch at Sal’s and went to the diamond that still shines on called, Hart’s Haven. I hope one day Madera will contain a street, or a hub of a fragment of what the Tower holds.  And maybe I’m missing something, maybe you are a Maderan, and know places or cool spots I am not privy too, please enlighten me.
 
 

So all that rambling for this- Hart’s Haven sells a box of books for $10.00. I purchased D.H. Lawrence books, Homer, Plato,  Isaac Bashevis Singer books, and a few books from a local writer from Clovis by the name of Jessica Seymour, titled "Trapped" and "the Untold Secrets of a Single Mom" both books published by Tate Publishing. I will be reading and reviewing these books soon. I hope they are good. I always root for a local writer.

Thanks for reading my rant. Continue to read, learn, question everything and find the answers. Feed your mind, increase your knowledge, you don’t know everything, neither do I, but before we die, we sure in hell must try. J


Happy Reading!

Francine

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

When the Mothership Betrays You...


Yes, I'm talking about you…

 Image result for barnes & noble

I have often referred to Barnes & Noble Booksellers as the mothership, the fact being that inside that bookstore there are books that will take you out of this world. I mean, has anyone else read Geek Love by Katherine Dunn, or The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams; I can go on and on here with names of books that transport the reader to another time and place. So that is why I labeled B&N with this highest honor- the mothership.

I have been a Barnes & Noble member for years. I recall when it was located on Shaw and Blackstone, with a beautiful staircase leading to the café. I spent countless hours sitting on the floor of that bookstore reading books, skimming others and buying many. Try sitting and reading a book now at the B&N at RiverPark for over ten minutes, you will quickly be reminded that you must purchase the book and “please don’t take pictures of it”.

Since I have been a member, my membership benefits have included 10% off any item in the store and countless coupons some 40% , 30% or 20% off sent to me via email. I would go up to the cashier books in hand and pull up my email code through my Google account and voila, I’d receive most books discounted with all my member benefits. I have never gone into B&N and not spent less than $80.00, ever, ever, my bill always topples that.

On occasion when I have forgotten my discount coupon, I have been reminded by the cashier that I had one available and she would quickly grab a code, whether or not I provided it via my phone and ring me up.

So, last Friday on my lunch hour, I find out that the amazing and talented writer, Dave Eggers, quietly released a new book, Heroes of the Frontier. I head over to B&N immediately and purchase that book as well as a children’s book for my youngest son and a writing journal. When I reach the cashier, I say, wait I have a coupon 20% on all new releases, which Eggers’s novel was. She stares at me with her sour, make-up less face and says I need the code. I proceed to open my email, but am unable to due to B&N and Starbucks Wi-Fi being an insecure network and my phone which has been hacked into before form an insecure Starbucks network (who knew this actually happened, but it does) and now my phone has extra security, I was unable to bypass the warning and therefore could not log-on to procure my 20% off B&N code.
                             
Image result for heroes of the frontierImage result for the circleThe lady with her blotchy face was rude and would not do what so many other B&N cashiers would do which is grab a code by placing my email address in, etc. Instead she refused to give me the discount, which would have saved me little considering the book was valued at $29.00. I have no problem paying that much for an Eggers book. He is a genius and one of my favorite contemporary writers. It was the rude behavior and nonchalant way in which I was treated that made me walk out of there bookless.

That afternoon, I ordered Heroes of the Frontier and The Circle and Black Seed Oil (health supplements) from Amazon for less than $30 for all three.

Bookstores are disappearing at an all-time rate. I am a loyal customer. In Fresno alone, B&N is the only huge, major bookseller. There are a few used bookstores scattered throughout Fresno, like Hart’s Haven, Book Nook, Clovis Book Barn that have still maintained a presence, and I hope they continue, they are true gems in a fading world.

So to Barnes & Noble Booksellers, you have lost a customer forever. Yes, that’s right, forever. Every dollar spent on local stores, stays local. Was it really that hard to give a loyal customer a break??? Perhaps, they have lost the meaning of what a bookstore really is, sure it’s a business, but it also brings a community together and continues to cultivate the love of literature to every customer that enters and exits that store with a book. Kindness goes much further and leaves a longer impression than 20%.

One day I will own my own used bookstore and I will be sure to never lose sight of what difference a book makes to an individual. To my readers, don’t forget that B&N is not the only bookstore in the Fresno area. So, stop by Hart’s Haven in the Tower District, or Book Nook off First and Herndon or take a drive to Old Town Clovis and enjoy the day at Book Barn and soon, come to Madera to Anthem Books & Writing and spend time with me.

Bye, Bye Mothership you have gone too far into a galaxy where no one wishes to travel.

 

Written by Francine

Anthem Books & Writing

Monday, September 12, 2016

What a Summer 16'.





So, since my last post, I have been a pretty busy bee. As much as I would like to say I have devoured books by the truckload, that would be a lie. I have several books still on my nightstand. I am in the process of getting through the books I promised new and emerging writers I would read and review. After this however, my book policy will change. I am currently NOT accepting any new books.

In November, I will change my policy to only 10 books a year. I really want to devote my time to these writers that put so much into their craft. I have read some of the books, I accepted this summer. I really enjoyed some, so much I reread the entire books, others really were not my cup of tea, but a promise is a promise; I will review them.

So coming this Fall, it is my goal to devote more time to the books and authors I choose, and maybe do some Q&A's with new emerging authors. I really hope local writers hit me up. I would love to spotlight some local Central Valley talent. And out of country writers also, Russian writers, my favorite genre of Literature, contact me if you are a new writer. I'd love to discover the next Tolstoy (I wish/ You wish/ we all wish) :)

So to finish my rant about my absence and my need to tailor down my acceptance of books, here is the reason.


My beloved son graduated from High School in June. He is now attending a great University in Southern California. So I have lost a book reviewer for now. And I'm all over California now, traveling to Orange County and back to the Valley for visits with my son.

Although, I miss his daily presence in my life, I am so proud he has such determination. Also, luckily for me :) , I also have a six year old son, and now it is time to mold him into the next college bound boy. A love of literature, he has already blossoming in his heart. He loves to read.  

So if you are a parent and want to raise a college bound child, read to them, start young sowing a love of literature. Reading expands the mind and will have them craving knowledge. No one finds it on a couch stuck in the same city, let them grow and fly and learn in a University. Reading, I strongly believe helped shape my son's mind into the great intelligent mind it has become today. I have always told him, question everything and find the answer, read!

Due to my busy summer, I have become an avid podcast listener. I find it almost as equivalent to a great discussion, except I can't join in, but listening is all the better. Here are a few I listen to weekly:

  • Joe Rogan Experience ( you can download the app & episodes)
  • Sam Harris "Waking Up" (also downloadable)
  • Jocko Wilnik & Echo Charles -this is probably one of my favorites, because Jocko does Book Reviews & his voice is the most beautiful sound I've ever heard  (a man after my own heart )
  • Duncan Trussell Family Hour- this is a very spiritual podcast, not churchy, spiritual, enlightening and when I need that deep introspective thought, I tune into Duncan.
  • When none of the above have new podcasts, I tune in to I am Rappaport with  Michael Rappaport. Omg, be prepared to laugh and laugh, and be like, damn, right, really, you said it. I love this podcast. It is really a pleasure.

So there you have it. Read some books, turn off the radio and listen to a podcast, expand your mind.
Now it is time to continue what I have always loved and what my heart beats for (besides my husband)- books, reading, learning, writing and BOOKS!

It's wonderful to be back. Now on to reading.... as always, stayed tuned for some great reviews!

~Francine
Anthem Book Review
#smartpeopleread

Monday, May 9, 2016

Release Date for An Acre of Fools by Aden James

Publisher: Elevate Publishing, Release Date: 5/10/2016
Anthem Book Review has added to its Summer Reading List, An Acre of Fools by Aden James.

We are currently reading this book and thus far are loving it. I only wish we were  able to have it reviewed by its release date which is May 10, 2016. Unfortunately, we received the advance copy just last week, Wednesday to be exact and on top of everything else we need a bit more time.

Good thing is, YOU, can pick up a copy tomorrow, May 10, 2016 of An Acre of Fools and read along with me.

James has written a compelling read, pretty much from the first chapter I've been hooked. I am also filled with a bit of "good-book-anxiety", I am so concerned for the characters already and what is to come... eeek!  No doubt you will be also.  So, log on to amazon.com and order your copy now, or walk into your local bookstore and pick up a copy. Honestly, it will grab you immediately, I cannot wait to leave my office and eyes wide open dig into it tonight.

Also, doing something good for someone else in trouble is as easy as just purchasing this book. James is kindly donating 90% of profits earned from this book to organizations that aim to help those suffering from addiction and victims of human trafficking and above all to help with family restoration.

So do something good, buy a copy. James's writing is moving, and speaks volumes of truth, here is just a small glimpse:

         "It is said that the original sin was the thought that we could be independent of God, and it is that constant fight for independence from God and each other that causes all the grief in our lives. If that be true then we are all fools because we fight for control every minute of every day'........'At least that's what Dad thought - that is until he didn't know what to think anymore."


Anthem Book Review
#smartpeopleread
#AdenJames
#AnAcreofFools
#ElevatePublishing
#Books
#Anthembookreview

Friday, April 22, 2016

Fresno Events: LitHop 2016


Saturday, April 23, 2016 from 2pm to 7pm at Fresno’s Tower District a multitude of Fresno’s finest writers, and poets will perform at LitHop 2016.

LitHop 2016 is free, yes you heard it correctly, it is FREE.

Performing at one of the many locations will be 2016’s Walt Whitman Awardee Mai Der Vang, U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera, and Mr. Tim Z. Hernandez, author of the amazing novel Manana Means Heaven (one of my favorite books/see review under Fresno Writers tab).

Also performing is Steven Church the Creator/Editor of The Normal School, Fresno’s best literary magazine, as well as local poet Bryan Medina, Joseph Rios and a slew of others.

So mark your calendars and be sure to attend this event. Support local writers and meet legendary poets that in the years to come will undoubtedly become the poets of our children’s children generation and will be read and their work studied.

And just how cool will it be that one day your children’s children will be able to say my mother/my grandmother/my grandfather went to LitHop 2016 and met and heard these poets speak the words of life, the beauty of breath, and the simplicity of the human spirit and of love-poetry.

See below for specific poets/writers set time of performance and venue.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hope to see you all there!
For more information on this event and others go to: https://lithopfresno.wordpress.com/
 

In Solidarity,

 

Francine

Anthem Book Review

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

You Have Been Accepted.


Anthem Book Review would like to thank all those that have submitted book review requests. Unfortunately, we are unable to read them all.  Many of them sounded amazing, and we sincerely hope they have found a home with another reviewer. Please be sure to read thoroughly our Book Review Policy and be sure when submitting if a release date is set that it is expressed in initial correspondence.

Now here is the list of those that have been accepted.

Reviews will be out May 1, 2016. Unless otherwise discussed with Francine.

For January –March 2016

Accepted books:

 

1.     The Last  Wenfeldt     by Martin Sutter, Published by New Vessel Press

 
2.      Losing the Dollhouse by S. Jane Garl , Published by Touch Point Press

 

3.     Behind Closed Doors   by A.L. Smith,  Published by Word Slinger Publicity

 
4.     In the Context of Love  by Linda K. Sienkienwicz,  Published by Buddhapiss Ink. LLC
 

5.     Truth be Told by Ren De Shea/ Loren Clement,   Published by NyreePress.com
 

6.     Dangerous Stories for Boys  by Christopher Bernard,  Published by Authors Large and Small

7.      Sassy Sonja                                       TBA                                         TBA


Thank you again. And please review our policy section before submitting. Next acceptance letters will go out end of April. During the summer months from June through August 31, 2016, we will not be accepting any book requests. But will resume in the Fall.


In Solidarity,

Anthem Book Review
 

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

The Last Weynfeldt

 
 
Loving this book! Eighty pages left and I cannot wait to get to the end, not because I want tot finish the book. I just must find out if that dumb girl is going to hurt my lovely Adrian Weynfeldt. Adrian, a man with manners, class and a keen eye for art, aweee, my kinda man!

Thanks to #NewVesselPress for giving me an advance copy before it hits the U.S. Market,  February 16, 2016.

Stay tuned for the review. And please, do yourself a favor go to Amazon.com NOW and pre-order/order this classy tale of love, art & deception.


Happy Reading!

Anthem Book Review
~Francine


Thursday, February 4, 2016

Come out & Support Local Events

Attention All Writers!

Saturday, February 6, 2016, the San Joaquin Literary Association (SJLA) will present one of the coolest events this year.

Justin Torres writer of one of the most profound pieces of literature, a story so raw and heartbreaking it will have one gasping for air, will be in attendance to discuss the craft of writing, from 11am to 1pm.

The event will also have fellow Fresnan and Poet David Campos and memoir writer MariNaomi.

 
#smartpeopleread
#anthembookreview
 

 Craft talks with Campos, Torres, and MariNaomi will begin at 9am to 5pm and the reading will be at 7pm. Please see the flyer for details.  And the event is FREE, yes, you read that correctly, it is FREE!!!

Also take a look at Anthem Book Review’s past review of We The Animals by Justin Torres under the tab- “American Writers”

 

Happy Reading
 
Written by Francine