The Bolter: The True Story of Idina Sackville
The story of Idina Sackville by Frances Osborne In the first half of the twentieth century, less than a hundred years ago, life was very different indeed. That was particularly the case for aristocrats, such as Idina Sackville. This fabulous biography, written with the help of private family papers and letter by Idina’s great granddaughter, is a fascinating book which is a fast-paced as any novel. It’s the sort of book...
Queen Victoria and her Indian Servant
Queen Victoria and the Munshi. It was Queen Victoria whose catchphrase supposedly was ‘we are not amused’. And yet there is no evidence to show that she actually uttered this phrase. Ever. When we think about her,it’s easy to think only of that elderly woman we know from photographs but I suspect that she was a much more interesting character than is sometimes thought. When her husband,Prince Albert,died,she...
A Fifty Year Silence: Book Review
A Fifty Year Silence by Miranda Richmond Mouillot. Miranda is American. Growing up, she was devoted to her grandmother Anna, a woman full of character and spirit. As Miranda grew up, she discovered that her grandmother was a European Jew who had survived the Holocaust. Anna lived alone but when Miranda was five, she discovered that she also had a grandfather, Armand. She couldn’t remember him, although a photograph existed of...
Dancing with the Enemy: Paul Glaser
Dancing with the Enemy: A true story of the Holocaust in the Netherlands. In addition to being one woman’s fascinating and sometimes horrific account of life as a Jew when the Netherlands were occupied by the Germans in WW2, this is also the true story of how the author found out about his family’s secret. Paul Glaser was born in the Netherlands after the Second World War and brought up as a Catholic. It was only when he...
Guy Bradley: Murder in the Everglades
Guy Bradley: A true story about an environmental murder. Does environmental murder seem to be strange description? This is the true story that took place in the Florida Everglades in 1905. At and before the turn of the century, there was a huge fashion in America that dictated that the truly stylish woman wore hats decorated with bird plumes. In order to satisfy the trade, beautiful birds – many endangered – were shot in...
Josephine Baker
The Joséphine Baker Story. Until I recently read a biography about Josephine Baker, I had only the haziest idea about who she was. Little did I know what a truly fascinating life she had. It’s amazing that someone who had such a poor start in life could achieve so much. The book tells so many fascinating stories about her life – and it wasn’t always an easy one. She inherited her terrific looks from her mother,...
The Yorkshireman and the Sahara
Eric Jackson: Petrol in My Blood If you’re looking for a great read, full of adventure, humour and history, then I definitely recommend Petrol in My Blood by Eric Jackson. This is the autobiography of a Yorkshireman, born in a gipsy caravan in 1924, who started life with humble origins. Written when the author was in his eighties, the book spans generations and it’s a miracle that, because of his adventures, that he...
Irrepressible: The Life and Times of Jessica Mitford
Irrepressible: The Life and Times of Jessica Mitford. Jessica, almost always known as Decca, was one of the famous aristocratic Mitford sisters who were notorious in the twentieth century. There were six sisters (and one brother who died in the Second World War) and all drew notoriety in their own way. As society girls,they were constantly in trouble during their teens. Their mother always remarked that if ever she saw newspaper...
The Great Pearl Heist
Joseph Grizzard and the Great Pearl Heist. Who was Joseph Grizzard? Joseph Grizzard was a cultured man. He was elegant, wealthy, owned a lovely home and had a wife and children. He was also a criminal mastermind. A Londoner, he had been born in 1866 and despite humble beginnings, by the Edwardian Era he was a wealthy man – thanks to crime. He was wonderfully urbane. In 1909, he was having a small dinner party at his home when...
Hetty Green
Who was Hetty Green? Hetty Green was at one time one of the richest women in the world, certainly in the United States. She was born in 1834 to a wealthy family. She also had the advantage of being the only offspring her parents managed to bring up. She’d had a younger brother but he had died as a child. However, her parents – especially her father – had particularly wanted a son so Hetty never felt loved. But she...
The Last Escaper: Peter Tunstall
The Last Escaper. True stories from Peter Tunstall, Colditz prisoner of war. In the Second World War many British men, often RAF pilots, became prisoners of war in Germany. Their planes had been shot down and then men, often only in their late teens or early twenties, were captured and imprisoned by German soldiers. This is the story about one of them – Pete Tunstall. RAF pilot Tunstall was only twenty one when he was shot down...
Monaco? Forget it if You’re a Criminal
Is Monaco a police state? When the book you see below was published – and it wasn’t too long ago – the author believed that the gorgeous, fairytale principality of Monaco was a police state. The home of the wealthy and the playground of the famous, Monte CArlo is famous throughout the world for its glittering,luxury lifestyle. It’s also claimed that it’s one of the safest, crime-free places in the world....
When Hitler Took Cocaine and Lenin Lost His Brain: History’s Unknown Chapters
When Hitler Took Cocaine and Lenin Lost His Brain: By Giles Milton. Do you like trivia and strange stories from history? If you do, and you’re looking for a great read, then I highly recommend what Mr Milton has created here. It’s perfect for dipping into as each true story is a short one and you’ll learn such a lot about the weird and the wonderful. One or two of these tales from history might be familiar to you...
Intimate Letters of England’s Queens
The Intimate Letters of England’s Queens For lovers of history, or simply those who want to know more about fascinating lives – discovering Intimate Letters of England’s Queens is like finding a treasure trove. After all, there’s no better way about finding out about who these people really were than reading letters written at testing times in their lives. For example, we know the facts about Anne Boleyn. We...
Last Chain on Billie
Last Chain on Billie: How One Extraordinary Elephant Escaped the Big Top. Although the title of this book seems to suggest that this is the story of one elephant, it is really a fascinating history of elephants in captivity in the United States. Using the story of Billie’s life as a background author Carol Bradley tells about the earliest days of elephants being brought into the country to appear in circuses, fairs and...
Mystic Sweet Communion: The Stranahans of Fort Lauderdale
Mystic Sweet Communion: The Stranahans of Fort Lauderdale. Almost hidden away, flanked by enormous high-rise buildings, is the Stranahan House on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. The house itself – now a museum – is fascinating but what’s even more interesting is the story of its original owners, Frank and Ivy Stranahan. Ivy Cromartie was still a teenager in when she first went to a tiny South Florida...
Gypsy Rose Lee
Stripping Gypsy Gypsy Rose Lee, or Rose Hovick as she was originally named, was the product of a driven stage mother. Rose was born in 1911 and her sister June followed a year later. After the girls’ parents were divorced, the two youngsters were made to perform on the vaudeville stage to support the small family. Rose and June’s mother is said to have had a variety of forged birth certificates for the girls to...
Lettice Curtis
Who was Lettice Curtis? During the Second World War the Air Transport Auxiliary was formed to move new, damaged or repaired aircraft to where they were needed by the Royal Air Force. Civilian pilots were used so that the trained fighter pilots could concentrate on winning the war. One hundred and sixty six of the pilots employed by the ATA were women and Lettice Curtis was one of the first to join up. By the time the war was over, she...
Shunt: A Review of the James Hunt Story
Who was the real James Hunt? I have to admit that unlike now, I wasn’t really fanatical about Formula One in the 1970s. I read race reports and sometimes watched the sport on TV so although the name and the face were familiar to me, I didn’t really know much about the extraordinary James Hunt. Not just for race fans Although James became the Formula One World Champion, and of course, this book discusses his racing a great...
Boy soldiers in the Congo
Boy soldiers: The Congo, 1967 Children have been used for military services for almost as long as mankind has existed. In 1967, two men were driving through the Congo where they had the most frightening encounter with a couple of boy soldiers who held them at gunpoint. Read on. The two men were rally drivers, Eric Jackson and Ken Chambers, and they were racing – of all things – an ocean liner from Cape Town to Southampton....
The Lives and Loves of Violette Morris
The curious life of Violette Morris See this chap here? Well actually, this is Violette Morris; not a chap after all but a Frenchwoman who was born in 1893. She rose to fame as a sportswoman, excelling in those sports that require strength and power such as shot put and javelin. She was also keen on boxing, soccer and, as you can see in the photograph here, motor racing. Violette wasn’t just a tomboy, she was a confirmed...
The Mistress of Bjerkebæk
The Mistress of Bjerkebæk I’m an avid reader, but have a narrow genre preference when reading. Sometimes I stray into other areas of interest and am rarely disappointed. One such excursion was the series Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset. I still reflect on the books and on the life of the author, also a Nobel Prize laureate. Though I reviewed the series on HubPages, I’ve wanted to learn more about the author. Undset...
Rocco DiSpirito: Cook Your Butt Off!
Rocco DiSpirito: Cook Your Butt Off! I would have really preferred Mr DiSpirito to have called this fascinating book something else, but never mind. It’s still pretty amazing and as for the recipes – wow. Yes, this is a weight loss book but it’s certainly one with a difference and something I love is that it’s incredibly easy to follow. Rocco gives a two-week eating plan, plus the recipes and shopping lists,...
Book Spotlight: Don’t Write A Crappy Book!
Presenting….”Don’t Write A Crappy Book!” by James M Ranson Author James M. Ranson is currently on a virtual book tour hosted by iRead Book Tours. Jaquo Lifestyle Magazine is happy to be a part of that tour today. Many of us have always wanted to write a book. Even more of us aren’t sure where to start. Mr. Ranson’s book will guide you straight onto a path toward that success. You can see some of...
Who Was Anne Morrow?
Anne Morrow. Anne Morrow was born in 1906 and at one time, was one of the most talked-about women in America —but not for reasons she would have wished. She was an acclaimed and prolific author but during the early nineteen thirties – when she was often in the newspaper headlines, not many readers were aware of her literary talents. Most people – then and now – when they hear the name ‘Lindbergh’...
Ted Hughes, An Unauthorized Life
Andy Royston walks out on the wily windy moors with the ghost of Ted Hughes. Poor Heathcliff trying to tear away the veil between death and life… crying out to Cathy’s soul… to haunt him and torment him… till he died.” Emily Brontë “I have often had the fancy that there is one myth for every man, which, if we but knew it, would make us understand all he did and thought” W.B. Yeats Living as I...
The Collision of Grief and Gratitude, by Rosanne Liesveld
On Tour with Rosanne Liesveld We are pleased to join iRead Book Tours this morning on the virtual book tour for The Collision of Grief and Gratitude. Rosanne Leisveld can be found currently at a variety of sites, to share her story. If you have lost a spouse–or any loved one–you can relate to the thoughtful sharing written within this book. The grief that surrounds you is indeed spotted with gratitude for the people you...
Bill Bryson and Yorkshire
What is it about Bill Bryson and Yorkshire? I really think that he seems to be a good bloke. I can imagine sitting in a pub with him and having a great chat. I’ve read a couple of his books and he has a nice turn of phrase that made me smile quite often. I will most probably read more. But what is it with him and Yorkshire? He lived there for a while, that’s true. (As you know, Yorkshire is the biggest and best county in...
The Most Beautiful Villages & Towns of the South
The Most Beautiful Villages and Towns of the Southern USA by Bonnie Ramsey This gorgeous book features some of the finest architecture and scenery in the southern United States. It is part travel guide, part art book and part photography extravaganza. It shows some of the finest home you’ll ever see – everyone with its own character and charm. But you’ll also see quirky cottages, old bridges, churches and other...
Andrew Morton: 17 Carnations
17 Carnations: The Duke & Duchess of Windsor and the Nazis. Less than two years before the Second World War began, the king of England abdicated from the throne. And the Nazis wanted to use him for their own ends. After the war, the Allies spent ten years recovering secret German files that revealed their plans. That sounds like the basis for an excellent novel but this book is non-fiction. In addition, American industrialists...
Some Girls, Some Hats and Hitler: By Trudi Kanter
Holocaust memoir from Vienna. Trudi is an independent young woman – a hat designer – separated from her husband and living in Vienna just before the outbreak of the Second World War. She falls in love with Walter, a charming and intelligent man. Her parents live nearby, Trudi has her wonderful man and her own flourishing business. What could possibly go wrong? Of course, we know the answer to that question now –...
Nora Ephron: Everything is Copy
Everything is copy – true? Writer Nora Ephron was told this by her mother. Her parents were both writers and Nora took the words to heart – she wrote a great deal about her own experiences. I think most writers would agree that writing about personal experience is not only easier, it’s more fun and quite possibly more interesting to the reader simply because it comes from the heart. But I’m not talking here...
Did President Kennedy’s Drug Use Affect His Leadership?
When John Kennedy’s medical records were released, they revealed that the president had been taking an enormous cocktail of prescription drugs. Many of these drugs would be considered unsuitable – if not illegal – today. Throughout his life, Kennedy was besieged by medical problems, starting when he was a young teenager and suffered from colitis. It was in London, where his father was ambassador prior to...
John Cleese: So Anyway…
John Cleese: So Anyway… What makes us laugh? What is funny? John Cleese knows. But did you know that we might never have never have known Monty Python and Basil Fawlty? John Cleese was sure that he was going to have a career in law. That’s what he was studying at university and he had been offered legal position – with a wage of £12 a week – with a prestigious firm of solicitors. (Can you imagine Basil Fawlty...
Through a Broken Heart: Finding Hope and Healing After a Breakup
Featuring Author Colleen Meissner Today’s book spotlight is Through a Broken Heart: Finding Hope and Healing After a Breakup. This devotional will help and inspire you through God’s Word and His love. Ms. Meissner is currently on a virtual book tour hosted by iRead Book Tours. We are delighted to be a part of that tour. Take a look at the description below, learn more about the author. Then pick up a copy for yourself...
Signs in The Rearview Mirror: Leaving a Toxic Relationship Behind
Kelly Smith’s Debut Novel Today we are pleased to spotlight Signs in the Rearview Mirror: Leaving a Toxic Relationship Behind, by Kelly Smith. Her first novel is proving to be an inspirational, helpful book for many, whether inside or outside of a relationship. We hope you will check out the information below and get a copy for you and a friend. Knowledge is often the first step to change. Ms. Smith is currently on a virtual...
Sass, Smarts, and Stilettos: Review
Sass, Smarts, and Stilettos: How Italian Women Make the Ordinary, Extraordinary. The author of this book, Gabriella Contestabile, was brought up in North America (first Canada and then the United States) but had been born in Italy. She left the country of her birth when she was just four years old and unsurprisingly, when she grew up she became more interested in the Italy she barely remembered rather than her now home country. She...
Gabriel Garcia Marquez: Living to Tell the Tale
The early life of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Should you read this amazing book before you read his novels? That wasn’t an issue for me because I have been reading Marquez for decades so to me, this book is a wonderful way about learning more. More, not just about the author’s life but how his books and stories are crafted. I knew that basic facts of his life – born in the nineteen twenties in Colobia, a journalist in...
Eric Jackson: The Chieftain Rally 1973
Eric Jackson: Chieftain Rally 1973 Rally driver Eric Jackson was strictly a Ford man. The only recorded competition car he drove that wasn’t a Ford was a Vauxhall in the 1959 Monte Carlo Rally. So it’s not surprising that when Jacko had ‘the big one’ – the rally accident that nearly finished him off – he was driving a Ford Escort. Here’s a photograph of how he managed to rearrange the car:...
Top British Chefs
Top British Chefs How did Britain get its ‘reputation’ as being a place with less than perfect cuisine? It’s a myth that’s easy to explain and you only have to look at the chefs you featured below to see that great food is alive and well in the United Kingdom. Britain has a very long history of fabulous food going back hundreds of years. Our first cookbook appeared in medieval days and the recipes are still...
The Myths of Safe Pesticides, by Andre Leu
Book Spotlight: The Myths of Safe Pesticides The Tour We are so pleased to join the virtual book tour for The Myths of Safe Pesticides AND Poisoning Our Children. Both are touring with iRead Book Tours, from mid-March through mid-April. Important information for parents especially, but really for everyone. Do take a look at some of the stops along the tour for articles, reviews and more. This is a book you’ll want to share...
Poisoning Our Children, by Andre Leu
Spotlight: Andre Leu and “Poisoning Our Children” Jaquo is pleased to be a part of the book tour for Author Andre Leu’s “Poisoning Ou Children: The Parents Guide to Myths of Safe Pesticides. Such an important topic, this is a book you won’t want to miss. Hosted by iRead Book Tours, the author will be stopping in at various sites for reviews, articles and more. Do drop in at some of the tour sites for...
The Day Michael Caine Discovered a Family Secret
The day Michael Caine discovered a family secret. When actor Michael Caine and his younger brother, Stanley, were growing up in London, on every single Monday their mother used to go to visit their Aunt Lil. The two boys never thought anything about it – it was simply part of the family routine. But many years later, in 1991, the actor found out the truth.She had been going somewhere very different indeed. Michael Caine was in...
The Stranger in The Woods, by Michael Finkel
Alone in The Woods… The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of The Last True Hermit. What a well written, captivating story. This book written by Michael Finkel was a fascination to me. I got the audio version, knowing I’d enjoy reading of a man living alone, surviving harsh conditions. Stories of survival always draw me in. It was far more than that though. It was as much about capturing a thief. So intriguing that...
How to be Parisian
How to be Parisian – wherever you are Have you ever admired that effortless style that women from Paris seem to have? Everything they do seems to be so stylish and effortless. Whether sitting at a sidewalk café sipping a glass of wine or shopping for the best French bread, they exude a special something and what’s more, they do it with a twinkle in their eye. Sophisticated they may be, but they are also fun. They are...
The Corfu Trilogy by Gerald Durrell: Review
The Corfu Trilogy by Gerald Durrell: Review In later life, Gerald Durrell was a respected naturalist and conservationist but in 1935 he was a ten year old boy when he and his somewhat eccentric family went to live in the Greek Island of Corfu. He was the youngest child of the family and, even though life in the Durrell household was bizarre enough, introduced various creature and animals into the home with disastrous – and...
Book Spotlight: Snap! By Gary Small and Gigi Vorgan
On Tour With Gary Small, M.D. and Gigi Vorgan You won’t want to miss Dr. Gary Small’s new book, Snap! Change Your Personality in 30 Days. Co-written with Gigi Vorgan, the book is bound to change lives and minds. Scientists have discovered that it IS possible to change some of our long held personality traits, and in far less time than you would expect. It’s a book we should all have since it provides a clear path to...
A Circle of Sisters: The MacDonalds
A Circle of Sisters: The MacDonalds Remarkably, four daughters of a nineteenth century Methodist minister became powerful and feted by Victorian society – against all odds. The girls were born into a relatively impoverished family; their father being a minister who moved around the country and their mother the daughter of a wholesale grocer. The had few advantages. They weren’t particularly educated. In that society in...
Rufus Estes – the first African-American Cookbook
Rufus Estes – author of the first African-American Cookbook In 1911, Rufus Estes published cookbook. There is nothing particularly unusual in that except Estes is believed to be the first African-American chef to publish his recipes. Rufus was born in 1857 in Tennessee and given the last name of his master; the man who ‘owned’ Rufus’ mother, a slave. When civil war broke out he said that most of the male...
If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?
If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face? By Alan Alda: Book Review Yes, that Alan Alda. Hawkeye. M*A*S*H. When this book landed on the review desk at JAQUO HQ my immediate thought was ‘Alan Alda – must be well worth reading’. Then I saw the tag line under the title – My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communication. Hmm. Well… But then I remembered the great title –...
Sirio Maccioni and Le Cirque
The biography of a restaurateur extraordinaire. Sirio Maccioni was born into a poor Italian family of farmers in the nineteen thirties. And yet this extraordinary man became the most important restaurateur in America, if not the world. The philosophy behind his success was simple. He believed in hard work — it’s as simple as that. He believed in the traditional Italian values that had been passed to him from his family...
All About Spinach in “The Spinach Collection” Cookbook
Leafy Green Power Plant Want your family to eat more vegetables? Leafy greens especially are considered the top food you can eat for nutrition. Excellent for heart health and brain health both, it is important to include it in your diet as often as possible. I started including spinach in more meals when I was reading up on Alzheimer’s Prevention. If you have experienced Alzheimer’s or dementia with a family member or friend, you...
St. Patrick’s Day: Books to Celebrate Ireland
If you’ve never been to Ireland, you probably have your own image of it in your mind. The view I see is one of green hills, windy cliffs, little cottages and villages, and smiling faces. Hopefully one day I’ll get to see it in person and pass some time there. Not being a city person, the wandering roads hold much appeal. While the beauty is undeniable, it hasn’t always had a happy history. It wasn’t so long ago that the IRA was...
India, by Debra Schoenberger
Spotlight on “India” A Nation Within The Pages of a Book Join us in the virtual book tour for “India,” the newest photography book from Debra Schoenberger. Her tour from March 6th through the 24th, hosted by iRead Book Tours. You can find interviews, reviews, and articles by the author at the numerous stops. The full schedule is at the bottom of the page here. Step into another world It was a treat to have the...
She Captains by Joan Druett
She Captains: Heroines of the Sea. Prize winning historian and author Joan Druett has created a fabulous book which is chock-full of fascinating about women at sea throughout history. Seafaring was a dangerous business in times gone by and yet many women were attracted to life aboard. Some were captains – and even pirates – in their own right.Others went to sea with their husbands. All their stories are fascinating....
Favorite Health Book: The Paleo Cure
Favorite Health Book: The Paleo Cure The Paleo Cure by Chris Kresser is my new favorite health book. I’ve been studying it all through 2014, and now into 2015 (the time of this review is January 2015). This is saying a lot, since another health book I’ve reviewed here on Jaquo.com called The Blood Sugar Solution, by Dr. Mark Hyman, helped me lose over 50 lbs and drastically overhaul my health. Ever since I overcame multiple problems...
Dead Wake: The Story of the Lusitania
Dead Wake: The Story of the Lusitania by Erik Larson The wonderful thing about being a book reviewer is having the opportunity to read books before they are published and sharing them with you. I’ve long been fascinated by the story of the Lusitania and its final voyage and this book is by far the best I have read on the subject. It is incredibly detailed – more so than any other book about the tragedy that I’ve ever...
Essential Guide to Outdoor First Aid & Medical Emergencies
Essential Guide to Outdoor First Aid & Medical Emergencies Medicine for the Outdoors is one of a few books that I own that I view as essential. I use it at home, and not just when I’m, say, hiking or camping in the wilderness. There is a ton of incredibly important information in this book for just about every medical emergency you could possibly think of. Do you know what to do if someone is choking? Not breathing? Unconscious?...
Did Prince Charles send Harry to rehab?
Did Prince Charles send Harry to rehab? There is a persistent rumour abounding that in January 2002, the then teenaged Prince Harry of England was sent by his father, Prince Charles, to rehab because Harry had been exposed by the newspapers for ‘smoking drugs’. In other words, having a joint at a local pub. This is, according to a recent book, totally nonsense. It was (apparently) a typical example of the...
Life Outside The Box, By Marilyn R Wilson
An Article from Author, Marilyn R Wilson After over one thousand interviews, Marilyn R Wilson compiled the collection we find in Life Outside The Box. It is a fascinating look at how differently–and creatively–men and women alike solve the problems they face and find success. Currently on a virtual book tour spotlighting the second edition of her popular book, we are pleased to join iRead Book Tours in sharing the...
Hail to the Chief, by John Leslie and Carey Winfrey
Terrific Political Thriller! What a solid thriller with a fascinating and plausible premise. Strange that the even has never happened in reality. Fast forward several presidents in the future. The first woman has been elected president. Before she is inaugurated, she has an aneurysm burst, leaving her comatose with condition questionable. It is uncertain if she will regain her abilities, that is, if she even survives. So begins a fast...
Falling For The Stars: A Stunt Gal’s Tattle Tales, by Lisa Loving Dalton
The Amazon #1 Bestseller Lisa Loving Brown, stuntwoman, is our featured author today. Currently on tour with iRead Book Tours, you can find this entertaining author at a variety of virtual sites through December 9th 2016. You won’t want to miss this book or the article below. As a stuntwoman for many big name stars and movies, you will be fascinated by her stories. Lisa has shared the post below with Jaquo Lifestyle Magazine...
Book Review: The Gifts of Imperfection, by Brene Brown
Book Review: The Gifts of Imperfection, by Brene Brown. Accepting Imperfection: It is a Gift. Have you ever had that feeling that no matter how much you do or how hard you try, you are not enough? I know I have, and for more years than I should have! If you’ve felt that way too, this book is for you. It’s an easy to read book that nevertheless provides amazing insights into accepting yourself and loving yourself and living...
Prince Charles
Prince Charles: The writers’ moneymaker Here’s a cool way to make money. Write a book that contains ‘revelations’ about that famous British soap opera, the royal family. Publicise some of its more extreme stories. It doesn’t matter if you’ve simply made them up -newspapers do it all the time. Pretend, if you like, that this is authorised by Prince Charles. Never mind that it’s not true. Claim...
President John Kennedy: Health Issues
President John Kennedy: Health Issues. In the year after President John Kennedy was assassinated, an eminent historian began a new project of oral histories. He asked people to record their memories on tape of the late president. He approached Kennedy’s widow, Jackie, to take part in the project and she agreed. There were three reasons for this. The first was that she knew it would help her in coming to terms with her husbands...
My old friend Malcolm X
A teenage Andy Royston picked up a copy of The Autobiography of Malcolm X and it made a huge impression. Almost 40 years later, and now living in Florida, he revisits the book to figure out if it still impresses. “Malcolm X’s autobiography seemed to offer something different. His repeated acts of self-creation spoke to me; the blunt poetry of his words, his unadorned insistence on respect, promised a new and uncompromising...
Book Spotlight: Italian Street Food, by Paola Bacchia
Italian Street Food, by Paola Bacchia Jaquo is delighted to showcase this wonderful new release! Featuring more than eighty recipes along with a wonderful look at the ‘street scene’ that is rising there, unknown to many. It is a must have for both those who enjoying cooking and for those who enjoy the local side of a country when traveling. On a virtual book tour hosted by Italy Book Tours, the author has written a...
Rockers & Rollers: Brian Johnson
From Brian Johnson of AC/DC: An autobiography with a twist. This is really such an excellent book. It was tailor-made for me and it might be the same for you. At the very least, it’s a wonderful autobiography of a boy growing up in northern England and making the big time in a rock band. But it’s so much more. Even if you’ve never heard of Brian Johnson (really?) – even if you hate rock music (really??)...
Book Review: ‘Still Alice’
“They talked about her as if she weren’t sitting in the wing chair, a few feet away. They talked about her, in front of her, as if she was deaf. They talked about her, without including her …” There have been many non-fiction books and articles written on the impact of Alzheimer’s disease. But sometimes it takes a work of fiction to really connect. Still Alice, by Lisa Genova, published in 2007, is such a book. It captures the slow...
Spotlight: The Dance Diaries (Books 1 and 2)
The Dance Diaries From Author, The Girl with the Tree Tattoo Are you interested in ballroom dancing? Yes or no, you will be after you read one dancers look at the art, both positive and negative. It is always fascinating today to see the variety of dancers in their lovely gowns, performing moves we would love to master. We are pleased to present both the Dance Diaries, Learning Ballroom Dance, as well as book two, Dance diaries,...
Martha Stewart: Vegetables
Getting the most out of vegetables with Martha Stewart. Whether it’s entertaining, home decor, crafts, home cooking or most lifestyle subjects, Martha Stewart is without doubt today’s home guru. And in her latest book, she tackles something most of us should do more often – cook and serve glorious fresh vegetables. Of course, the wonderfully photographed recipes all have that magic Stewart touch and there’s a...
A Drop of Water, by Yvonne Williams Casaus
Book Spotlight: A Drop of Water Today we are pleased to feature A Drop of Water, written by Yvonne Williams Casaus. Ms. Casaus is currently on a virtual book tour hosted by iRead Book Tours. Check out her full schedule below or on her iRead Book Tours Page. We hope you will stop by other sites for interviews, reviews and articles. You will find it a thoughtful book will inspire and refresh–one you won’t want to miss....
Miracle on the Hudson
Captain Sullenberger and Flight 1549. People all over the world remember the events of January 15th, 2009. But many people have an even greater reason to remember that day – the 155 people who were travelling on a routine flight from New York to Charlotte and their families. The 150 passengers were a normal mix of ordinary people. The youngest person on board was a babe-in-arms – the eldest was a lady in her eighties,...
Flight Club, by Felena Hanson
Book Spotlight on Flight Club, by Felena Hanson Entrepreneur Felena Hanson has the years of experience to aptly write her new book, Flight Club. That is just one reason we are pleased to feature her book–and a guest article–today on Jaquo. Currently on a virtual book tour hosted by iRead Book Tours, you will find the author sharing stories, offering encouragement, and answering questions on the various sites on her tour....
John Lennon: By his family
John Lennon: By his family On December 8th., 1980 John Lennon was shot as he entered his home at the Dakota Building in New York. And still today we are fascinated by the story of this man who started out singing with his group (The Quarrymen) in Liverpool, morphed into the ‘Beatle John’ and then became one of the most well-known people on earth. Millions of words have been written and I’m inclined to suspect that a...
The Science of Hitting: Book by Baseball Great Ted Williams
The Science of Hitting: Book by Baseball Great Ted Williams. Just how great of a hitter was Ted Williams? He’s the only hitter that anyone could try to argue was as good or better than Babe Ruth.Ted Williams had an amazing career interrupted by some service for the USA as a soldier during World War II and the Korean War. Despite these significant interruptions, his career totals in many hitting categories are astounding. One of his...
For Better For Worse: Damian Horner
For Better For Worse, by Damian Horner. Or For Richer For Poorer by Siobhan Horner. What? Is this one book or two? Well, it’s one book by a husband and wife team and it’s truly fascinating. The couple decided to give up their middle-class, comfortable life in London to travel through France in an old fishing boat they had restored. Oh, and they had two young children Damian had bought the boat before he met Siobhan...
The Murder of Marilyn Monroe: Case Closed
The Murder of Marilyn Monroe: Jay Margolis & Richard Buskin. I wondered – did we really need another book of theories regarding the death of Marilyn Monroe? Ever since her death in 1962, the official story – that she died by her own hand – has been questioned. Some books have said that her death was due to an accidental overdose and other theories are more sinister – that she was murdered. Invariably those...
Spotlight: The Great Disney Scavenger Hunt and Author Catherine F. Olen
Presenting Author Catherine F. Olen No matter what your age, you will appreciate and enjoy this clever book by Catherine F. Olen. So many of us have visited Disneyland at some time in our lives. The original California park has good reason to be called “The Magic Kingdom.” As Ms. Olen says in her book, we usually arrive with an enormous list of what we want to see and do. We then scurry from ride to ride, from...
Spotlight: Party With a Plan, by Randy Haveson
“I Couldn’t NOT Write this Book” We are pleased to participate today in the virtual book tour for Randy Haveson’s new book, Party With a Plan. Currently on tour with iRead Book Tours, you will find articles and interviews at numerous sites. To see the full schedule, check out the Author’s Home Page at iRead. Mr Haveson has written an article for us here on Jaquo as well, as part of the tour. Do enjoy the article,...
Kick Kennedy: By Barbara Leaming
The truth about John Kennedy’s sister. I’ve long been fascinated by the life and tragedies of President Kennedy’s sister, Kathleen. She was nicknamed ‘Kick’ because of her exuberance and vivacity. You may know the basic story of her life. Born the fourth child of Joe Kennedy Sr. and his deeply religious wife Rose, Kick fell in love with a member of the British aristocracy in the late 1930s. Her father was...
Book Spotlight: The Conscious Entrepreneur
The Conscious Entrepreneur, by Laura C. Cannon It is always a pleasure to spotlight a book that provides motivation for a work and life balance. Today’s book does just that. Speaker and coach, Laura Cannon, will encourage, suggest, and teach you how to do just that. The popular coach is currently on a virtual book tour taking place from July 11th to 29th, 2016. The tour, hosted by iRead Book Tours, will include articles and...
Nancy Mitford: A Biography
Nancy Mitford, A Biography: By Selina Hastings. All the six Mitford sisters were fascinating and that fascination hasn’t waned over the years. When the sisters were young, they were rarely out of the newspapers. Throughout their lives they attracted stories and scandal. One thing they all had in common was a sense of humour – and Nancy in particular. But hers was a mildly cruel wit and this made her much-loved books even...
The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher or The Murder at Road Hill House: Review
The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher or The Murder at Road Hill House: Review. I finished reading The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher or The Murder at Road Hill House last night, and feel absolutely compelled to recommend it. I found a copy that was destined for the recycle bin and was captivated by the blurb on the back. Here’s an example: ‘A beautiful piece, written with great lucidity and respect for the reader, and with immaculate restraint. A...
Spotlight: Jessica Bunevacz, Author of “Date Like a Girl, Marry Like A Woman”
An Article By Author Jessica R Bunevacz Today we are pleased to spotlight a new book that might change your future. Written by Jessica R Bunevacz, Date Like A Girl, Marry Like a Woman, is an entertaining look about the do’s and don’t’s in relationships. The author is currently on a virtual book tour hosted by iRead Book Tours. The tour runs from June 13th through June 24th, 2016, and will feature reviews, interviews, and articles...
World Atlas of Wine: Review
World Atlas of Wine: Review Enrich your wine drinking experience by learning more with this book I’ve been drinking wine since I was a child and I’ve loved it ever since 🙂 My parents believed – in a typically European way – that children should drink watered-down wine at dinner on special occasions. As I’ve grown older, it has become more than just a pleasure, it has become a way of life and a voyage of...
Sugar Knockout: By Cherie Calbom
Learn about sugar, your diet and your health: From Cherie Calbom, ‘The Juice Lady’. We know about sugar and other sweeteners and just how they affect our health, don’t we? According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) we don’t. There is a huge confusion in our minds about which sweeteners and sweetened products are good for us and which we should avoid. For example, try answering these...
Kathryn Kelly: The Moll Behind Machine Gun Kelly
The amazing true story of Kathryn Kelly: By Barbara Casey. You’ll love this true-life story. Have you heard of Kathryn Kelly? I hadn’t until I read this book and yet she was one of the most fascinating characters I’ve read about. Destined to become a gangster’s moll, Kathryn is a far more fascinating character than her counterpart, Bonnie Parker. Bonnie and Clyde caught the imagination of the public in the...
The Five Truths about Work-life Balance , by Jae Ellard
How to balance your roles and relationships. This book couldn’t have landed on the review desk at JAQUO HQ at a better time. Like so many of us, I have many roles and wear lots of different hats every day – and we all know how hard it can be to juggle these successfully. And few of us manage it. But this eminently down-to-earth approach will be invaluable in helping you to achieve it. Achieve what exactly? Well, as the...
Wildlife of Australia: An Animal Lover’s Delight
Wildlife of Australia: An Animal Lover’s Delight Animals are a favorite subject of mine, more technically known as the science of zoology. And of the many books I’ve looked through, and several that I own about animals, Wildlife of Australia is definitely one of the very best. The book is very comprehensive, and clearly identifies which animals are native to Australia, and have been there for tens of thousands or even millions of...
A Blaze of Autumn Sunshine: The Last Diaries by Tony Benn
A Blaze of Autumn Sunshine: The Last Diaries by Tony Benn. Tony Benn’s father ended a BBC broadcast by saying ‘So you will understand that I live in a blaze of autumn sunshine.’ Remembering those words Tony said ‘although I may never publish another volume of diaries, if I ever did, I think the best possible title would be just that: ‘A Blaze of Autumn Sunshine.’ For those of you who don’t know Tony Benn he was...
The Ethical Coach Leader, by Dwight Johnson
The Ethical Coach: Developing Honor and Integrity. Many people today are concerned – and becoming increasingly concerned – with the lack of ethics in our society today. In leadership roles it particular it seems that other factors often take precedence over this issue. One of the people who has his own opinion about the decline of ethics, especially in American society, is the author of this book, Dwight Johnson. Mr...
Newspaper Boys Always Deliver: Joseph Gulesserian
A personal history. Isn’t it always fascinating to see into other people’s lives? That’s especially the case when that time period spans fifty years. It may be that you have lived through the same period of time. But you’ll find this book equally fascinating if you’re a younger person who is interested in times gone by. If you’re from North America much of the detail that the author writes...
Dream: By Marcia Wieder
Clarify and create what YOU want. Does the phrase above want to make you say ‘yeah, right’? Are you sceptical? So was I. I was wrong. Read on. When this book landed on my review desk at JAQUO HQ I was pretty sure that I’d enjoy reading it and reviewing it. But believe it? Nah, that’s not for me. But by page one hundred (yes, for some reason I noticed what page I was reading) I was sure that the advice Ms Wieder...
Idina Sackville: A WW1 marriage
Idina Sackville & Euan Wallace. A First World War marriage. Although Idina and Euan were definitely from the top drawer of society, the sad story of their marriage must have happened to so many couples during the First World War. They were both quite young when they married. Idina was twenty and Euan less than a year older. They both enjoyed parties, dancing and having fun. They were madly in love. She was a sparkling socialite...
The Accidental Empress: Elisabeth of Austria
Elisabeth of Austria: The Accidental Empress I received this book as a gift and – to be honest – set it aside for quite a while. The cover make me think that it was a somewhat junky historical novel of the ‘bodice-ripper’ type. I was wrong.This is a fictionalised version of real events that took place in the nineteenth century and as such, is fascinating. Yes,it’s a love story but so much more too. When...
Interview with Author Eric Burkhart
On Tour with Eric Burkhart and his new release, Mukhabarat, Baby! After reading Mr. Burkhart’s fascinating book, Mukhabarat, Baby! we were delighted to interview him between tour stops. If you haven’t had the chance to read our review, you can find it here. We hope you will check it out. You can find a full schedule of his tour at the tour host, iRead Book Tours. It is an intriguing story, one from which the author is...
Mukhabarat Baby! By Eric Burkhart
Eric Burkhart: My Life as a Wartime Spy for the CIA. I loved every minute of this autobiographical book. It’s truly fascinating. The author tells us about the action-packed period of time he spent in the CIA, starting in 1999. There are some events in the book, as you can imagine, that involve incredible danger but it’s spiced throughout with the author’s humour and sense of fun. Even Mr Burkhart’s telling of...
Emmy Nation, Undercover Suffragette, A Review
Emmy Nation, by L Davis Munro Emmy Nation, Undercover Suffragette will bring the past alive as you read about life a mere hundred years ago. Today it seems amazing that at one time women were not allowed to vote for the politicians who were passing laws about them. In today’s modern culture, it is easy to forget how different women were treated in our history. The Story The book seems well researched and all too realistic. A young...
The Prince of Los Cocuyos by Richard Blanco
A Miami Childhood. Little Riqui grew up to be Richard Blanco, who became the fifth inaugural poet of the United States becoming the youngest, the first Latino, the first immigrant and the first gay writer to do so. In this autobiographical book he tells about his childhood in the Cuban community of Miami. It’s a highly entertaining and very often a laugh-out-loud book featuring a wonderful range of lively characters and at the...
Shivers and Signposts: By Len Richman
The journey through life. Although this book could be described as a memoir, that would certainly be doing the author a disservice. It is far more than that. It’s also the author’s insights into a situation we all face – or will face; that of getting older and to the end of our official working lives. And at that stage, there is bound to be a certain amount of reflection on the years that have passed and the journey...
PG Wodehouse: A Life
Was PG Wodehouse a Nazi collaborator? Now that would have seemed like a very odd thing to ask had it not been for the book you see here. Robert McCrum, the author of this book tells a story I had never heard before. I’ve read Wodehouse – the creator of the Jeeves and Wooster series- for many years but didn’t realise that during the Second World War he was accused of being aNazi collaborator. This was definitely a...
An Interview with Author, John Haremza
Right or Almost Right: The Fine Line Between Phenomenal Success and Average Results in Network Marketing John Haremza puts his twenty-three years of experience in words to help others learn how to succeed in network marketing. With solid and very successful credentials to back him up, his book is sure to be a hit with those who wish to learn how to start and how to succeed. Mr. Haremza is now on a virtual tour from January 18th to...
Right or Almost Right
Right or Almost Right by John Haremza: Succeeding in network marketing. In your business, are you doing it right or is what you’re doing almost right? As the author explains, in business it’s those small details – those tiny steps – that make all the difference between success and mediocrity. Although the author refers to his working life an the field of network marketing, the ideas and methods are remarkably...
Clara’s War: The Story of Second World War Survival
One Girl’s Story of Survival: Clara Kramer. When you read this book, it’s hard to imagine what Clara’s life was like in her early teens. For almost two years in the nineteen forties, she and seventeen other people lived together in a tiny underground bunker. For some of that time, Nazi soldiers were living in the room right above them, not knowing that the Jews in the bunker could even hear them turning on a light...
Book Review: Adventurers Abroad, By Robert Nelson
When I first heard of Robert Nelson’s latest book, Adventurers Abroad, I knew I had to read it. So it was a pleasure when it crossed my desk for an honest review. Mr. Nelson, and his book are currently on a virtual book tour, hosted by iRead Book Tours. He will be dropping in at a variety of sites for articles, interviews, and more. You can see his full tour schedule here. Check it out. You will enjoy learning more about...
An Interview with Author, Stan Holden
Giving Candy to Strangers: Tips for Creating Abundance through Heart-Centered Sales The terrific book by Stan Holden may turn your attitude on selling upside down, making it fun and uplifting along with rewarding. We are pleased to present our brief interview with Mr. Holden here on Jaquo. The book–and its author–are on tour through most of January. Within this virtual tour courtesy of iRead Book Tours, you will find...
Celebrity & Entertainment Obsession
Celebrity & Entertainment Obsession: By Michael S. Levy. What a fascinating book – and subject – this is. There can’t be many people who haven’t noticed that today’s interest in celebrities is more than just a passing one — it really is an obsession. Why is this? The author investigates thoroughly in this easy-to-read book. Until I read the book, I was under the impression that society’s...
Rod Stewart: The Autobiography
Rod Stewart: Autobiography. I definitely wouldn’t have considered myself to be a huge Rod Stewart fan- although I do enjoy his music – but I most certainly have become a fan of Mr Stewart himself after reading this fascinating and truly funny autobiography. There have been many books written about this famous singer but here you can discover the truth about the man, his career, his music and the women in his life from Rod...
Pirate Hunters: The Search for the Golden Fleece
Pirate Hunters by Robert Kurson. An exciting true adventure. This would be a totally absorbing book if it happened to be a novel, but the fact that this is a true story makes it completely amazing. It’s written in almost novel-form and if you’re like me, you’ll be hooked from the very first page. Pirates, sunken ships and modern day treasure hunters The combination of present day and the seventeenth century...
The Blood Sugar Solution: The Book That Really Taught Me How to Be Healthy
The Blood Sugar Solution: The Book That Really Taught Me How to Be Healthy I used to have one of the worst diets ever. I’d typically drink fruit juices with almost no real juice, or sodas, with plenty of high fructose corn syrup. I almost never drank actual water. I’d mainly eat white bread, the fluffy soft kind. I’d eat candy all the time, ice cream for meals, or meals of goldfish crackers and chocolate mint cookies, and I loved fast...
Times Like These: E.E. Smith
Times Like These: A delightful and entertaining read. Evelyn came from an unusual family. Her parents had married, separated, divorced, remarried (“at least twice to my knowledge”) and this book begins during one of their spells of togetherness – in 1945 when Evelyn was thirteen years old. Evelyn had been working since she was eleven years old as a summertime maid in a boarding house; she had lied about her age. As...
Giving Candy to Strangers: Stan Holden
Over the years, I must have read hundreds of books about business, about selling and about relationships. But here’s one with a definite difference. You see, it’s not just that the author thinks that business can be fun, he also believes that by having fun and adding humour to your day-to-day business interactions you can increase your business, add to your client base and of course, enhance your own life. Makes sense!...
Don’t Underestimate the Power of One
Don’t Underestimate the Power of One So often these days we feel helpless to change things that are happening around us. Whether a law, the government, or our community. We will tell ourselves we are just one person after all. What can we do? Here is a book that may change your mind about that. It isn’t a self help book. It’s a true story of a man and his wife who saved 50 children at the time Hitler was overtaking their...
Miracle in the Andes: Survivor’s Story
It was in the mid nineteen seventies when I first read about an astonishing story of survival. Piers Paul Reid, a respected author, recounted the true story of how sixteen young men had survived a plane crash and survived in the inhospitable terrain of the Andes for seventy two days, thanks to their own determination and will to live. October 13th, 1972 The chartered aircraft took off from Montevideo en route to Santiago. The...
I’m a Stranger Here Myself….
I’m a Stranger Here Myself… You’ve got to love Bill Bryson. Well I do anyway. I can almost guarantee a laugh when I read one of his books. And it’s not just any old laugh; it can range from an audible giggle to a roll on the floor until your belly hurts and you can’t see for the tears, kind of laugh; which is great if you want to improve your mood, but it can get kind of embarrassing if you happen to be reading one of his books in an...
An Interview with Sima Goel, Author of “Fleeing the Hijab”
Fleeing the Hijab, A Jewish Woman’s Escape from Iran We are pleased to be a part of the virtual book tour this week for Sima Goel’s wonderful new book, Fleeing the Hijab. Her account of her escape out of Iran at the age of thirteen is a remarkable, inspiring story. We hope you will drop by and visit other stops along her tour to learn more about the book and the author. You can find her schedule here, at iRead Book...
Spotlight on: Fleeing the Hijab
Book Spotlight We are pleased today to present an amazing book entitled Fleeing the Hijab, A Jewish Woman’s Escape from Iran, by Sima Goel. Ms. Goel is currently on a virtual book tour from December 7th through December 18th 2015. We are pleased to join in recommending the true story of the authors escape from Iran. You can see her entire tour schedule here at iRead Book Tours. Please stop by to learn more about the author and...
An Interview with Author Steven Hancoff
Our Interview With Steven Hancoff, Author of Bach, Casals and the Six Suites for ’Cello Solo Today we are pleased to present an interview with Steven Hancoff, author of the wonderful compilation on J S Bach. Mr. Hancoff is currently on a virtual book tour with iRead Book Tours. Drop in and learn more about the author and the books. The Interview What type of challenges did you face during the creation of this project? I was at the...
Spotlight On: Bach, Casals, & The Six Suites for ‘Cello Solo
Book Spotlight on Steven Hancoff and His New eBook Set… Famed guitarist, Steven Hancoff, is currently on a virtual book tour through December 18th, 2015, for his new ebook set shown here. We are pleased to be part of the tour, hosted by iRead Book Tours. Do check out their link to see the full schedule of the tour. Also watch for our interview here today with Mr. Hancoff. It is a fascinating collection that includes a CD set...
An Interview With Author J. Natalie Winch
Ditching the Drive-Thru: How to Pass Up Processed Foods, Buy Farm Fresh, and Transform Your Family’s Eating Habits on a Modern Mom’s Schedule By J. Natalie Winch Today’s interview with J Natalie Winch is so enjoyable. After reading her book for her current tour, we were delighted to interview the author. We learn more every day about the meaning of a healthy diet. The growing trend away from packaged foods to...
British – American Language Differences: Solved
Are the British and Americans divided by a common language? Yes! When I first came to live in the States, I truly felt that I needed an Anglo-American dictionary. Yes, the two countries speak the same language on the face of things but there are so many differences and misunderstandings occur all the time. I have been here for twenty years now and the situation is better – but still not perfect. Even after all these years, I...
The Sisters: Saga of the Mitford Family
Who were the Mitford sisters? They were the most remarkable people. They were scandalous, controversial and a lot of fun. They were born between 1904 and 1920 to an aristocratic, well-connected and decidedly eccentric English family. Between them the six sisters kept the newspapers busy for years with stories of their scandals, divorces, affairs and bizarre and differing political views. They were all beautiful with stunning figures...
Ditching the Drive-Thru
Ditching the Drive-Thru: Down to earth family food advice from J. Natalie Winch. Advice about feeding our families in a healthy and nutritious way bombards us these days. It’s hard not to know that the typical American diet is bad for us and also for our children. Despite this knowledge, many of us still rely on processed foods and those from fast food outlets. In this excellent book, the author not only explains why we do this...
Keeping Self-Care on Your Priority List, By Lorrie Forde
On Tour with Lorrie Forde Here at Jaquo, we are very pleased to feature an article from author, Lorrie Forde. Her new book, Really Good F Words: Your Interactive Guide to Self-Care, was released on the 1st of November, 2015. Ms. Forde is currently on the virtual book tour for her book, hosted by iRead Book Tours. We hope you will check out her tour schedule there to see where you can find her. You will learn lots more about the...
Spotlight On: Really Good F Words, by Lorrie Forde
Book spotlight: Really Good F Words: Your Interactive Guide to Self-Care Today’s spotlight is on a very informative book with an equally clever name. Lorrie Forde is currently on a virtual book tour from November 23rd through December 4th, with iRead Book Tours. Check out the tour site to see a full list of her stops along the tour. It’s a great opportunity to get to know more about the author and her new book. The book,...
Breaking bad habits: Creating good ones
It’s much easier than you think to break and create habits. I imagine that we all have bad habits that we’d rather not have. Furthermore, wouldn’t it be great to have some good habits? If it sounds impossible, let me give you some great examples that the book you see here can help you with. A daily walk Many of us make New Year resolutions and I imagine that one of the most common ones is to get more exercise. I...
399 Games…To Keep Your Brain Young
Have Fun and Exercise Your Brain at the Same Time What a great book to review! It’s fun, entertaining, and might even make you feel very smart. Even better, it will help keep your brain sharp (and sharper) at the same time. That’s what I was looking for when I got this book, 399 Games…. As a retiring baby boomer, I am edging up in age. And as some of you know, my sweet mom has had Alzheimer’s for over fifteen...
An Interview with Theresa Anzaldua, Author of “We Had A Job To Do”
We are pleased to share our interview with Theresa Anzaldua, author of We Had A Job To Do. She is just completing a virtual tour for the wonderful book. Check out each of her stops here, at the tour host, iRead Book Tours. We Had A Job To Do is a highly recommended. As the years pass there are less and less of the veterans to tell us of the events of World War 2. Ms. Anzaldua’s recounting reminds us not only how...
The Times They Are a’Changin’ by Lisa Tillinger Johansen
Today, we would like to introduce Lisa Tillinger Johansen, Registered Dietician and author of .Stop the Diet, I Want to Get Off. Jaquo is pleased to be a part of her virtual book tour hosted by iRead Book Tours. You can check out her full tour schedule there. Don’t miss our review today of this informative, important book. The Times They Are a’Changin’ by Lisa Tillinger Johansen Change can be hard. Many of us, including...
Stop the Diet, I Want to Get Off!
Sensible diet advice from Lisa Tillinger Johansen. The author is a registered dietician and at last, we have a book containing practical and sensible advice for those of us who are wanting to lose weight and improve our health. Yes, here we have the top tips and advice for weight loss without becoming part of the $60 billion dieting industry. Did that figure I just mentioned make you gulp? It’s true. You’ll have seen all...
White Heat by Marco Pierre White: Review
Great British Chef – Marco Pierre White. This is a fabulous recipe book from one of Britain’s greatest chefs. And he created a stir (no pun intended) when he first burst onto the important London restaurant scene. Marco came from humble beginnings. He was born in Leeds in Yorkshire to an English father and an Italian mother – hence his international name. His mother died when he was just a young boy, leaving his...
UFOs: Book Details Well-Documented and Totally Unexplained Phenomena
UFOs: Book Details Well-Documented and Totally Unexplained Phenomena. Truth is scarier than fiction, and there are UFO stories that can’t easily be dismissed. Like most people, I was always skeptical about supposed UFO sightings, thinking they’re likely weather balloons, experimental military aircraft, or something that could be explained away. That changed with this book. My interest in UFOs began when my dad told me about a few...
Saving our Reefs, by Robert Wintner, Author of Reef Libre
The Effects of Mass Capture for Aquariums We are delighted to share an article today from the photographer and author of Reef Libre, Robert Wintner. You may know him as Snorkel Bob. His wonderful underwater photography is at its best as he takes us to the reefs off Cuba. Mr. Wintner is currently on a virtual book tour that runs from October 19th to November 20th. You can see the full tour schedule and learn more about the book and...
Book Spotlight: Reef Libre
Reef Libre Author, Bob Wintner Today’s spotlight is on a beautiful book that would be welcome in any library. Mr. Wintner takes us to the underwater beauty found in the Cuban reefs as well as the busy cities within the nation. The focus on how the population and tourism may affect the reef system is so interesting to learn. We are featuring Reef Libre as part of the iRead Book Tours virtual book tour that runs from October...
An Author’s View of The Future, by Peter Riva
Our guest post today is from author of The Path, Peter Riva. We are happy to be participating in Peter’s book tour, sponsored by iRead Book Tours. The tour runs from October 12th to November 6th. We hope you will click the link to see his full schedule of events. You can also read our review of The Path here. As a wonderful science fiction author (as well as other genres), we asked Mr. Riva how he pictures the future. It...
Book Spotlight: America Is An Idea
America is An Idea and The American Dream is for Everyone. Author, Michael Cyrus Pousti Today we are featuring a book from the co-founder of Empowr.com, Michael Cyrus Pousti. You will be inspired to learn how the founders followed their dreams to their Moonshot Project. We are pleased to be a part of the virtual book tour for America is An Idea. You can find details and a schedule of Mr. Pousti’s daily stops here at iRead Book...
The Sisters Who Would Be Queen: Review
The Grey sisters, Elizabeth I & Mary Queen of Scots Although the nobility the the sixteenth century believed that women should have no place occupying the throne, in the second half of the century, its claimants were all female. And they were all young women; born within a dozen years of each other. These young women were: Elizabeth, who became Queen Elizabeth I, born in 1533 Lady Jane Grey, who ruled for just a few days, born in...
Duck Dynasty and the Women of Duck Commander
Duck Dynasty and the Women of Duck Commander You may be familiar with the hit reality show, Duck Dynasty. Even if you’ve never watched an episode, you probably remember hearing some of the fallout from patriarch Phil Robertson’s unabashed comments a year or so ago, very politically incorrect, that almost led to cancellation of the series. Loyal fans spoke up, though, and the producers agreed that Phil would still be...
Flight 19 & the Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle
The mystery of Flight 19 and the Bermuda Triangle On December 5th, 1945, a routine training flight set off from Fort Lauderdale Naval Air Station. There were five planes under the command of an experienced pilot, Charles Taylor. There were fifteen men in the five aircraft and not one was seen again. No bodies were ever found.There has been no trace of any wreckage and no debris or oil slicks were ever sighted. The fate on Flight...
One Lucky Bastard: Roger Moore
Tales from Tinseltown by Roger Moore Wonderfully, I keep discovering books by people from the entertainment world who I never paid much attention to in previous years. Actor Roger Moore is one of them. I have to admit (and if you’re reading this Mr Moore, I apologize) Sean Connery was always the James Bond for me. Although I must admit that if he’d looked the way he does in this photograph when he was in Live and Let Die I...
The Lady in the Van: Alan Bennett
The Lady in the Van This is the title of a wonderful book by British author, Alan Bennett. The story is true and will make you laugh … and maybe cry a little. It tells about the woman who was his neighbour for many years. Not just any neighbour, Miss Shepherd lived in her small van. And she parked it – for fifteen years – in Alan Bennett’s driveway. Now when I’ve told American people about this and used...
The Book of Hymns, A Lovely Gift Idea
Then Sings My Soul: 150 of the Worlds Greatest Hymn Stories Are you looking for a special gift for someone in your life? A mentor perhaps, a grandparent? When I ran across this lovely book, I thought of half a dozen people who would cherish it. It’s a collection of 150 of our favorite hymns. What makes this book extra special is the history behind the hymns. Each one includes the story of how and when it was written. So many of us...
The Mitford Sisters: Book review
The Sisters: The curious lives of the Mitford Sisters If you’ve never read this fascinating book about the Mitford sisters, then I highly recommend it. This isn’t a novel,it’s a biography, but it’s one of those ‘fact is stranger than fiction’ stories. The six sisters were born into minor British aristocracy between 1904 and 1920. They had an unconventional upbringing and each girl developed their...
Rain With Scattered Showers (of laughter & tears)
Rain With Scattered Showers (of laughter & tears) I wanna go to Baltimore. I don’t even know anything about Baltimore. I know it’s a city in that big US of A, but that’s all I know. I’m an Englishman, and I live nowhere near Baltimore – I live here… England. There are no Baltimores here. But still I want to go visit Baltimore. Is it not the case for you, as it is for me, that every once in a...
America’s Death Row Inmates… They’re All Innocent
America’s Death Row Inmates… They’re All Innocent There’s an interesting book out called ‘Injustice: Life and Death in the Courtrooms of America’. I eyed it up at my local library then dragged it home for a read. The true story of a British businessman living in Florida who gets himself convicted of a double murder and is sentenced to death. Only… he’s innocent, according to the...
Gifts Ideas for Artisans: Adult Beverages
Artisan Cocktails Any article about artisans must include one on creating alcoholic beverages. Brewing beer has become such a popular hobby today, along with creating specialty ingredients and flavors to add to a favorite liquor. It’s such a fun hobby, again offering the ability to know exactly what is going into what you drink. Using your personal favorite spices and flavors is the added bonus. Seems to me it adds more...
Below Stairs by Margaret Powell
The memoirs of a kitchen maid. Margaret Langley was born in an age that was so different to today. She came from a family of seven children and when she was thirteen left school to go to work. She had to – to help the family finances. This book tells about her early years and in particular, her life when she entered domestic service as a kitchen maid. She worked in a laundry until she was fifteen but then began work as the most...
Gifts Ideas for Artisan Foodies
Be Your Own Artisan Today’s young families have become artisans in their own style. After all the years of quick meals, prepackaged, canned or frozen, so many more are going natural. That means preparing their own baby food–not only for freshness, but also so they know what ingredients are included. No questionable food colorings or additives. It also means they are experimenting with their own food and drink creations....
Visible Learning and the Science of How we Learn. Hattie & Yates
A huge collection of research! In 2009 John Hattie published a book called Visible Learning, which is a huge collection of research about how to improve children’s learning. It talks about what really works in schools and has become a ‘bible’ for educationalists all over the world. Visible Learning and the Science of How We Learn is a follow on from this. Hattie got together with cognitive psychologist, Gregory Yates, and...
Review: The Secret Life of the Dyslexic Child by Robert Frank PhD
Dyslexic himself, Dr Frank is a teacher and psychologist so there is very little he doesn’t know about dyslexia. He has written this fantastic book, The Secret Life of the Dyslexic Child, and I highly recommend it to anyone who has ever asked the question ‘what is dyslexia?’ If you know dyslexic children as a teacher, parent, relative, or neighbor, then you will learn so much from this book. My husband is not dyslexic, but is a...
Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? A Review of The Memoir by Roz Chast
Some people will never be comfortable talking about death and dying, as this book clearly shows. Yet when you are dealing with it year after year, it seems to get easier, if not almost normal. Maybe it is generational as well. In many areas our parents kept feelings to themselves that are commonly shared now. The title, Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant?, suits this sweet book, though it surely covers far more than...
What About Gods and Pansy Flowers of Freethought
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Growing Up in Boom Times
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A Mile By Mile Travel Guide for The Oregon Coast
It’s Summer–Time to Plan Your Trip! Any time you can get a mile by mile guide for a place you are visiting, go for it. I love this book! Summer will be here before you know it. Are you ready? You know what that means: kids out of school, time to play, and vacation! I already have several things planned for this year. You too? Even though I live on the Oregon Coast, there is so much I haven’t seen. Last summer I got...
Worst Ideas Ever, A Book Review
Worse and Worst The Worst Ideas Ever…Isn’t that a great name for a book? It is a suitable title too. I recently finished reading this brief, entertaining book, written by Daniel Kline and Jason Tomaszewski. It surprised me and had me laughing out loud! We can probably all think of some pretty bad inventions when asked. But most of the ideas featured here were new to me. Some names I recognized, some ideas brought...
Top books for Formula One fans
Formula One books for every fan or enthusiast Are you looking for a gift for someone who loves Formula One motor racing? Or are you – like me – a fan yourself? There are so many books available about the sport today that it’s difficult to know where to start, especially if you’re looking for gifts. You see,part of the problem is that many fans have an affinity to particular drivers or teams. If you don’t...
A Taste of Italy at Home
Italy Today : The Beautiful Cookbook I can’t remember exactly when I got this cookbook but it was many birthdays ago. At first sight,I thought the book was a photo book on Italy because the beautiful photograph on the front cover looked more like a travelogue than a cookbook. As I started flipping through the pages, I was pleasantly surprised to see that is was indeed a cookbook, and what a beautiful cookbook it was! Although...
Book Review: A Short Guide to a Long Life, by David B. Agus, MD
A Short Guide to a Long Life This short guide to a long life, by David B. Agus, MD,, is just that. It’s a very interesting book with a lot of little tips. It starts right off with a little historical lesson from Hippocrates, back around the 3rd century BC, giving his recommendations to maintain health. As he was considered the father of Western medicine, no doubt he had a lot to say. The very first one the author lists is,...
JAQUO in print: Spring 2015
JAQUO in print: Spring 2015 We are delighted – well, more like ecstatic – to announce that the first edition of JAQUO print magazine has been published. Featuring a selection of articles, the magazine is available to view or purchase online. The majority of our regular writers have been included, so the chances are that you’ll find your favourites. Plus, you’ll get the chance to explore further. The print...
Inventing the Victorians
Inventing the Victorians Interesting. We think we know all about the Victorian era and the people who lived in that period. We have definite ideas about their morality, their pastimes and their way of life in general. Could it be that we’re wrong? Maybe we have a completely false idea about the way people lived in Victorian times. Perhaps we know less than we think we do. In fact,maybe we are very mistaken in our ideas. In...
Miracle in the Andes: Survival
Nando Parrado was part of the Young Christians rugby team in Uruguay and when the team intended to go to play a match in Santiago, Chile, he was chosen for the team. In October 1972 a plane took off for Chile carrying the young men of the team, plus some of their families and supporters. There were forty-five people aboard. When flying over the Andes Mountains – that treacherous and inhospitable land – and due, it’s...
Love, Nina: By Nina Stibbe
Love, Nina: By Nina Stibbe This book didn’t just make me chuckle. It wasn’t the case of a quick chortle. No, this book made me laugh – a lot. In 1982, Nina Stibbe was twenty years old when she moved to London to work as a nanny. The family she worked for were delightful – and incredibly funny – as were their neighbours and friends. And Nina wrote letters home to her sister describing it all. What you...
Snow Days, Rain Days, I Can’t Go Out and Play Days
Snow Days, Rain Days, I Can’t Go Out and Play Days Snowy and Rainy Days are not necessarily Days that you can’t go out, but there are times when you won’t want to go. I can think of times when it was snowing and it was so cold out that in less than 15 minutes, even if you bundled up well, your toes and nose and fingers would get so cold that you just could not stay out any longer. I also remember days when it was...
Learning to Speak Alzheimer’s, A Book Review
Learning to Speak Alzheimer’s, A Book Review One thing you learn quickly with Alzheimer’s disease is that telling your loved one, “You just said that,” is pointless. At least, I hope you learn it early on. It’s strange, but I miss those days now with Mom. Back then she was contributing to the conversation, being social as she always had been. That is just one of the reasons I recommend the book Learning to Speak...
Books, Books and More Books!
Books, Books and More Books! Did you know that there is a place to go and find all those wonderful old books that you never thought you would see again? One place where you can search for that book or movie, that you were sure had gone out of print or that never really made it to the “A” List, and was sure to be forgotten….. Alibris is a company that searches out those rare forgotten or lost books! Just looking at their Book...
One Summer: Bill Bryson
One Summer: America 1927 1927 wasn’t a particular landmark year for the United States. But it was a time when the affluent ‘jazz age’ was meeting the looming Great Depression. In this book, Bill Bryson explores the events of just that one year and notably, the summer. It’s truly amazing what was happening in the States during such a short period of time. Throughout the book, you’ll meet real people who...
Delancey: By Molly Wizenberg
Delancey: By Molly Wizenberg Have you ever daydreamed about owning a restaurant? I have. Molly Wizenberg started her blog in 2004; a blog with a definite food bias. In time, it was lauded as the best food blog ever. She was asked to write for prestigious publications and even met her husband, thanks to her online writing. Brandon Pettit was a composer and saxophonist. He had several interests which might seem a little offbeat to some....
The River Home: Dorothy Weil
The River Home: Dorothy Weil Dorothy Weil became a writer, poet, painter and award-winning documentary producer. But her early life held no clues as to what she would later achieve. She was brought up as a ‘river rat’. She was born in 1930 and her first memories are of a three tiered steamboat. Her father was employed as the captain of the Valley Queen and the family – Dorothy, her brother Jim and her parents...
King Edward VII: The King in Love
The King in Love: By Theo Aronson Edward, the eldest son of Queen Victoria, had to wait until he was sixty to become the king. Before he did, and when he was the Prince of Wales, there was a danger that he would be under-occupied. Unlike today’s royal family, there were no overseas tour to undertake, no media to satisfy and no supermarkets to open. To Edward’s discomfort, his mother the queen wouldn’t allow his...
Prince Charles – New biography
Charles: Heart of a King The author of this new biography about Prince Charles claims that it was authorised and that she had exclusive access to the prince and to members of his household at Clarence House. The BBC is reporting that this simply isn’t true. They say that they have been informed directly from Clarence House that the book certainly wasn’t authorised by the prince, the palace or the royal family. The book,...
An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth
Have you ever come across a book that makes so much sense, you just know that you have to buy it and share it with those you love? I found this book and was immediately taken by not only its title, but also by the person who wrote it. Col. Chris Hadfield was being interviewed after his return to earth from a six month engagement on the International Space Station, as the Commander of the Space Station. During his interview, I could...
Into Thin Air: An Account of a Mount Everest Climbing Expedition Disaster
Into Thin Air: An Account of a Mount Everest Climbing Expedition Disaster This book is the true story, written by a man who was there, of an expedition seeking to climb up to the summit of Mount Everest, the world’s highest point of elevation above sea level. This mighty mountain has a peak so high that most climbers need to wear oxygen masks, and the climb is so dangerous that one person dies for every seventeen who reach the summit....
The Kitchn Cookbook
The Kitchn Cookbook That’s not a typo. The Kitchn is is division of the fabulous Apartment Therapy website which I’ve been enjoying on a daily basis for ten or more years. You only have to look at the cover of the book above to see that the style that typifies the entire website is at work here. This is so much more than a cookbook though. It contains down-to-earth yet up-to-the-minute ideas, tips and plans to help your...
Ancient Grains for Modern Meals
Ancient Grains for Modern Meals Ancient Grains for Modern Meals by Maria Speck “Mediterranean Whole Grain Recipes for Barley, Farro, Kamut, Polenta, Wheat Berries and More” Ancient Grains for Modern Meals by Maria Speck is one of my favorite cookbooks. I purchased my copy nearly 4 years ago. I was so excited to get my copy. The reviews were fantastic and Maria had won so many awards for her best-of-the-best cookbooks. It was a...
Uncontainable – More than a book about an organization store
Uncontainable – More than a book about an organization store I’ve been reading the book, Uncontainable, by Kip Tindell. It’s the story about how The Container Store came in to being, and also about their philosophies. At this point in time, I am about half way through, but I wanted to share about how inspiring it is. It’s about people actually believing in people and helping to bring out each other’s best. If I was to ever want...
Gods of Gold by Chris Nickson: Review
Gods of Gold by Chris Nickson: Review It is 1890 and in Leeds, Yorkshire, the city has ground to a halt. Yet Tom Harper, a young detective inspector who had risen up through the ranks of the police force should be looking forward to his forthcoming wedding. But there are other matters that need his immediate attention. In addition to the problems of the city, he has discovered that a young girl has gone missing. His superiors...
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