JoeyPinkney.com Book Review
“You Can’t Keep a Good Man Down”
Sally Hunter
3 out of 5 stars
“You Can’t Keep a Good Man Down”, by Environmental Writer Sally Hunter, follows the life of Australian Geoff Sykes from his rural upbringing through his active adult life and ultimately to the after-effects of Parkinson’s Disease and the use of Deep Brain Stimulation to stem the effects this disease and the medications.
The book weaves back and forth between the explanation of everything Parkinson’s and Geoff’s everyday life, as told by Geoff, his second-wife Jenny and his close childhood friend Danny. The book also explains “Deep Brain Stimulation” – an experimental procedure used to help people suffering with Parkinson’s disease. On an interesting note to non-Aussies, the portions of this book describing Geoff’s personal experience is written in an Australian vernacular, as explained in the introduction.
It is through these stories that you get a better understanding of what may have caused the onset of Parkinson’s in Geoff. I was not aware of the ins and outs of this disease and the harsh side-effects associated with the medicines in various dosages. Reading “You Can’t Keep a Good Man Down” really opened my eyes life in Australia and life with Parkinson’s Disease. Continue reading Book Review – You Can’t Keep a Good Man Down by Sally Hunter→
JoeyPinkney.com Book Review
Message in My Pen
Luella Hill-Dudley
4 out of 5 stars
“Message in My Pen” is Luella Hill-Dudley’s fourth published collection of poetry. In addition to the poetry, this book is full of photographs, illustrations and mixed media from James & Yvette Loveless, Kelvin Curry and Henry Lee Battle.
Although the title is about the message in Luella’s pen, this collection of poetry reaches way beyond the words that are used in the poems. There is an energy of concern, encouragement and rejuvenation that will uplift you when if you are down and take you higher if you are feeling great. “Message in My Pen” is an open invitation into Luella Hill-Dudley’s life – the good and the bad. (see: “Watch Me Work”) Continue reading Book Review – Message in My Pen by Luella Hill-Dudley→
JoeyPinkney.com Book Review Hustle: Street Power
Jonathan Copeland
2 out of 5 stars
(01-19-2013: I decided to revise this book review and add examples from the book to support what I discussed in this book review because the author assumed I did not read the book but instead rated the book solely on punctuation errors. I added sentences from the book as examples of the flaws I point out. I added the hidden spoilers so both the author and readers, if they choose, can get a better idea of some of the aspects of this book that lead to the 2 star rating. This is not an attempt to be malicious. My intention is to be clear in my assessment and provide the author with constructive criticism.)
“Hustle: Street Power” is Jonathan Copeland’s debut novel. Although Elmo Davidson was heavy in the streets, he wanted nothing more than his only son, Nice, to be a productive citizen and live the straight and narrow. Death is par for the course in Elmo’s “profession”, and he was violently snatched away from Nice and Nice’s mother Cynthia. In an instant, Nice and Cynthia went from having access to anything their hearts desired to struggling to makes ends meet. This also meant that Nice, at the age of 17, had to take a job as a short order cook to help his mother foot the day-to-day costs of living. Continue reading Book Review – Hustle: Street Power by Jonathan Copeland→
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