Week in Review #20

This week I reviewed five books.

 48. Death in the Jungle. Candace Fleming. 2025. 346 pages. [Source: Library] [YA nonfiction, nonfiction, true crime, 5 stars]

Read this if...

• You enjoy true crime
• You enjoy biographies about cult leaders
• You are interested in learning more about Jim Jones, The People's Temple, and Jonestown

48. Echo. Adam Rex. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, picture book, friendship]

• Read this if...
• You enjoy picture books
• You enjoy picture books about learning to get along with others

41. A Matter of Honor. Laura Frantz. (Audio narration by Amy Scanlon). 2024/2025. 206 pages. [Source: Library] [adult historical fiction, adult historical romance, Christian romance, novella, 4 stars]

Read this if...

• You enjoy books set in Scotland
• You enjoy historical romances
• You enjoy Christian fiction
• You enjoy romances where couples get second chances

42. What to Do With Your Whirly Swirly Thoughts. Jennie Allen. Illustrated by Nadia Gunawan. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, feelings and emotions, mental health, 4 stars]

Read this if...

• You enjoy picture books about coping with big feelings and emotions
• You enjoy a little religion but not a lot of religion

43. 1-3 John: Fellowship in God's Family (Preaching the Word). David L. Allen. 2013. 435 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars, bible commentary]

Read this if...

• You are looking for a commentary on the books of 1 John, 2 John, 3 John
• You enjoy the Preaching the Word commentary series by Crossway Publishers

Century of Viewing, Week 20

1910s

• 1919 Moonshine. I wasn't particularly planning on rewatching this Buster Keaton short, but I ended up watching it with Mom this week. I do enjoy this fourth-wall-breaking surreal short. I enjoy Roscoe Arbuckle and Buster Keaton together. And this is a delightful one. Not the best perhaps. But far, far, far from the worst. (I also saw a few minutes of Backstage which Mom was watching on her own. But I didn't see it from beginning to end so I'm not counting it.)

1920s

• 1926 The General. This time I watched the version with the Carl Davis soundtrack. There are pros and cons to both. I do love The General. This Buster Keaton movie is fabulous.
• 1927 College. Buster Keaton's character is graduating high school...and is following the girl he loves to college though he'll be working his way through. He is a scholar, not an athlete, and she loves only athletes...can he win her heart??? This one is wonderful. It's great to see Buster "failing" as an athlete and then showing off. The rowing scene is fabulously funny.
• 1928 Steamboat Bill Jr. Buster Keaton plays the son of a steamboat captain down on his luck. There's a rival boat company sailing on the river that is getting more business. The rival, of course, has a daughter. And Buster's character falls in love with her...it's mutual. A big storm changes everything. I love many things about this one. But I don't love, love, love, love, love it as much as some of his other movies. I do really enjoy it and definitely recommend it.

1990s

• 1999 The Scarlet Pimpernel. I have such conflicting feelings about this one. I love some of the soundtrack. Very catchy. Richard E. Grant does make a nice Scarlet Pimpernel. Yet he just doesn't quite measure up to previous actors. (Leslie Howard and Anthony Andrews).

2000s

• The Dark Knight. The second in the Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy starring Christian Bale. I definitely love the trilogy. I do. It's dark and you have to be in the right mood for it. But the soundtrack is fabulous and I do care about these characters.

2020s

• 2021 Charlotte. This is an animated film set during the World War II. I wasn't expecting a children's movie--I wasn't. YET I definitely was not expecting adult-adult-adult content. So definitely despite its "not rated" status do expect somewhat adult content. Anyway, a young Jewish woman--an aspiring artist--struggles during the Nazi regime...her goal is to finish her life's work BEFORE the Nazis can get to her essentially. These are biographical paintings. I can't remember offhand what the name for these collective paintings are....but the cartoon is based on a true story.

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

48. Death in the Jungle

48. Death in the Jungle. Candace Fleming. 2025. 346 pages. [Source: Library] [YA nonfiction, nonfiction, true crime, 5 stars]

First sentence from prologue: On Friday evening, November 24, 1978, CBS broadcast a special hour-long report: "The Horrors of Jonestown." 

First sentence from chapter one: The first time Jim Jones asked followers to play dead was on an autumn night in 1941.

 Premise/plot: The story of Jonestown and Jim Jones written for a slightly younger audience--young adult instead of adult. It is a heartbreaking, tragic, fascinating story--a story of how one man used charisma, manipulation, and fear tactics to build and lead People's Temple. This didn't happen overnight. He didn't step up to speak one day, one time and get a mass following willing to do anything and everything he commanded. It was a slow process, a long con if you will, that took decades. He started in a "Christian environment," using Christianese--using the traditions and vocabulary of the Christian faith--to gain his first followers. Influenced by the "faith-healers" and the more flamboyant Pentecostal style, he figured out what his audience wanted to hear, and played it up. He used tactics that allegedly some mediums and psychics use--from what I can tell--to "prophesy" messages to specific individuals. He was a showman. Everything was crafted for a certain purpose--to gain more and more power and prestige and acclaim. 

He may have started with a "Christian" message, a "Christian" prophecy, a "Christian" God, but it was a sham through and through. He began shedding the 'Christian' skin little by little by little by little--slowly but surely getting his audience used to his message. If he'd out and out stated clearly and precisely his views--especially at the start--his following would likely have left him recognizing him as dangerous. Within a decade--maybe a little more--he had abandoned the pretense. There was no God in the sky, only a GOD on earth, Jim Jones himself was GOD. He staged fake assassination attempts. Pretend to be shot. Pretend to be dead. And then have a pretend resurrection and come back to life. This lines up with his pretend miracles and signs. 

Another tactic was creating fear, building it up,  and hyping up this chaotic doomsday prophecy or forecast. Distrust everybody. Trust only him. 

The story is told through many perspectives--many of which were his followers [or former followers]. 

The tension builds throughout as the story nears its end.

My thoughts: This one was fascinating and horrifying. It is, of course, dark and horrifying. It isn't light reading material. But I do think it is an important story to revisit. 

Will today's YA audience be familiar with the story? That's a good question. Honestly I don't know the answer. But the story itself is fascinating and compelling. One thing that stood out to me--and I have no comparison to other books about it, since I never finished any (though there's a great one that I put down and never got back to)--is her emphasis that there was murder. There were signs that the tragic ending for some/many was NOT voluntary.

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Week in review #19

I reviewed nine books this week.

45. The Inheritance Games. Jennifer Lynn Barnes. 2020. 386 pages. [Source: Library] [YA Fiction, YA Romance, YA Mystery]

Read this if....

• You enjoy YA fiction; the more you enjoy YA, the more likely you'll find it appealing
• You enjoy YA romance with love triangles; this is a sub-sub-sub-genre of a love triangle involving brothers
• You enjoy YA mystery with puzzles and riddles and the like

46. The Tides of Time. Sarah M. Eden. 2025. 368 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, time travel, adult romance, historical fiction]
Read this if...

• You enjoy time travel novels
• You enjoy clean adult romance novels
• You enjoy historical fiction with a twist--a time travel twist; this one is set in 1793/1873.

47. The Trouble with Heroes. Kate Messner. 2025. 368 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, j fiction, coming of age, verse novel, mg fiction, poetry]

Read this if...

• You enjoy verse novels
• You enjoy middle grade fiction
• You enjoy coming of age 'problem' novels (this one involves grief)
• You enjoy novels about mountain climbing

 44. Orris and Timble: Lost and Found (Orris and Timble #2) Kate DiCamillo. Illustrated by Carmen Mok. 2025. 80 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, early chapter book, animal fantasy, j fiction]

Read this if....

• You enjoy early chapter books
• You enjoy animal fantasy
• You enjoy series fiction
• You enjoy books about friendship
• You enjoy books about stories

45. Anything. Rebecca Stead. Illustrated by Gracey Zhang. 2025. 56 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book]

Read this if...

• You enjoy longer picture books
• You enjoy picture books that explore emotions and feelings
• You enjoy reading books about change, about moving

46. Bearsuit Turtle Makes a Friend. Bob Shea. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, picture book]

Read this if...

• You enjoy picture books
• You enjoy turtles
• You enjoy humor

47. Cats in Construction Hats. Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen. Illustrated by Leeza Hernandez. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, construction, cats, picture book, rhyming books]

Read this if....

• You enjoy rhyming picture books
• You enjoy construction stories

4. Giant Print Handy Size Reprint NASB 1977 Edition. 2011. AMG Publishers. 2304 pages.

Read this if....

• You love the Bible
• You love the thees and thous of the KJV, but are looking for an easier, smoother, more updated feel
• You love word-for-word translations

40. The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House. Joanna Davidson Politano. 2025. 400 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, christian fiction, christian romance, historical romance]

Read this if...

• You enjoy christian fiction
• You enjoy mysteries that involve 'competing' for an inheritance
• You enjoy pirate butlers
• You enjoy historical romance

Century of Viewing, week 19

1920s

• 1925 Seven Chances. Buster Keaton romantic feature film. He plays a character, Jimmie Shannon, who *must* marry before 7PM on his birthday--the day he finds out the condition of his inheritance. The problem? HIS girl, the one he truly deeply loves misunderstood his proposal--poor choice of words--and now he's got to find *some* girl to marry. Or will his true love have a change of heart? This one features an extended chase scene that is epic. I absolutely love and adore this one. And his character really is sweet.
• 1925 Go West. Buster Keaton is Friendless. Literally. Down and out, Friendless is catching trains and trying to find a way to make a living. He ends up working as a ranch hand....and making his very first friend....a cow named BROWN EYES....who saves him from a rampaging bull. But what will happen when it comes time to sell the herd????? How far will he go to save the cow he loves? This one is so absolutely delightful and wonderful.
• 1926 Battling Butler. Buster Keaton. Alfred Butler is a spoiled rich man who can't fend for himself. He falls in love with 'Mountain Girl' and the proposal goes well...mostly. But her family thinks him a weakling....a coincidence in a newspaper and a wily valet lead to quite a misunderstanding. Alfred Butler (Buster Keaton) vs. Alfred BATTLING BUTLER a lightweight boxer. These two get drawn up into a terrible misunderstanding....will his love stand by his side even if he isn't a fighter? This one was so good. I have no interest in boxing. But Buster Keaton boxing???? Apparently I am! I love the romance in this one. The proposal scene was WONDERFUL.

1980s

• 1986 The Great Mouse Detective Animated Disney movie. Would I have liked it as a kid? Probably NOT. The mouse-father getting kidnapped by a BAT would have been THE END for me. And that happens in the first five minutes. The villain would have been scary, scary, super scary to me as a kid. As an adult, this one has some charm. I liked the 'influence' of Sherlock Holmes and Watson. I am glad I watched it.

2020s

• 2024 A Complete Unknown. A bio pic of Bob Dylan. Do I like Bob Dylan? No. Not really. Did this movie change my mind? No. Not really. I don't regret my time--not really. But it didn't make me want to seek out Bob Dylan albums to see if I liked his music more than I thought I did. Fame does not equal super nice in real life.
• 2025 Dog Man. Animated Dreamworks movie. I had super super super low expectations. So I liked it more than I thought I would. I have not read any of the books in the series. I'm not sure if it was an adaptation of one particular book or several or just vaguely inspired by. The character arc of the villain, Petey Cat, was GREAT. So I definitely enjoyed elements of this one. It was silly and ridiculous in places, but the character arc saved it. 
• 2025 Karen Read -- Week Whatever. Was this week three??? Maybe. I have given the case too much time--in the first trial and this one--so I'm not giving up. And the change in prosecutors for the commonwealth is making it a VERY different trial. Still. 
  

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

47. The Trouble with Heroes

 

47. The Trouble with Heroes. Kate Messner. 2025. 368 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, j fiction, coming of age, verse novel, mg fiction, poetry]

First sentence: If I were a better kid, this story would begin with my seventh-grade diploma. Instead it starts with this.

Premise/plot: Finn Connelly is in trouble. Over one summer he has the opportunity to set things right, mostly. He'll be making reparations for knocking over a gravestone in the cemetery. (An arrangement with the daughter of the woman's whose gravestone was knocked over, and I believe agreed upon by the court?). He'll be making up missed hours for PE. He'll be making up a poetry assignment--twenty poems on the subject of HEROES. Mission: climb all forty-six mountains in the Adirondack High Peaks. He'll have 'guides' for most of the climbs--men and women who have volunteered to help him out, men and women who love climbing mountains and/or have an interest in helping the kid out. (I could not tell if the coach was particularly interested in hiking so much as that he wanted to help Finn out.) 

Finn is going to hike and climb....write....and grieve. His firefighter father has recently died and his father had PTSD from serving on 9/11.

My thoughts: It made sense for this to be a verse novel. Not all verse novels pass this 'makes sense' test. He is being forced to 'write poetry' and he discovers that it isn't the worst thing in the world. That the process of writing--of writing poems--can be personally helpful. It is very much a coming of age novel. It was good to watch him grow/change throughout the story. This one does offer a few twists and turns on the way. Perhaps I should have seen one of them coming....but I didn't. 

This 'problem novel' is heavy at times but it also contains lighter moments. Finn loves baking for instance.

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

46. The Tides of Time

46. The Tides of Time. Sarah M. Eden. 2025. 368 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, time travel, adult romance, historical fiction]

First sentence: Lili Minet had a price on her head. She stood in the shadows inside Saint Catherine's Church alongside a family she'd known for only a few days, hopeful that the reward for her capture would increase before the day's end. As far as she knew, no one had facilitated the escape of more people from the clutches of the Tribunal revolutionnaire than she. Four more individuals would, that evening, be added to the seventy-two already rightly credited to her.

Premise/plot: The Tides of Time is a TIME TRAVEL ROMANCE. Those three words may be enough of a hook for some readers. (It was for me). Lili Minet, our heroine, is on the run for her life in 1793 during the French Revolution. She's been helping people escape, but, her luck may have just run out. One of those searching desperately for her--for her harm--is her brother who is in full support of the revolution and the guillotine. When stormy seas lead to her being tossed overboard, she finds herself rescued by a lightkeeper, Armitage Pierce, off the coast of Loftstone Island....in 1873. As the weeks go by she adjusts to the strangeness of her situation. She loves Armitage and his grandfather. She loves the community on the island. She loves her new found-family. She can't quite forget her own brother--for good reason--nor the France she left behind. The Tides of Time can be cruel or kind--or both. 

My thoughts: I LOVE this one. I do. Time travel is going to always have great potential for me. This publisher is known for clean romance, another win for me.

There are TWO things that might be off-putting to potential readers. (They weren't at all for me.) One, Lili speaks a mixture of English and French. There is a strong sprinkling of French phrases and sentences. It makes sense for the story. She is a French woman--obviously French is going to be her primary language, her first language, the language that she would speak especially when stressed or out of sorts. Two, the DIALECT of the island could be offputting. "She/her" "He/Him" "We/Us" essentially all the pronouns have vastly different usage.  For example, "Her isn't hostile to me." "A calculated decision, that. I watched she make it." 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews