Category: Arts & Entertainments

“There is No Shrimp” by Kenny Loui

May 25, 2023

“There is No Shrimp…And Other Lies My Mother Told Me (UFO Catcher Ken Presents)” is an autobiographical manga and a congenial medley of narrative and intertwined visual sequences written by Kenny Loui and illustrated by Yamawe. Here, Loui transcends his quirky adult life stories and this time sheds light on some of his fondest childhood memories that he shared with someone significant in his life, his mother. His reminiscences are funny to read especially his mother’s unique parenting mode including her approach of managing her son’s questions with vivid and well-thought-of answers. … More “There is No Shrimp” by Kenny Loui

“Healing Visions” by Meg Boscov

March 31, 2023

In this impressive anthology, fine art photographer Meg Boscov immerses readers, dreamers, writers, and viewers alike in a compilation of more than one hundred images whose source of inspiration is her backyard, such as the beautiful gardens she has planted in her pool. Buoyed with thoughtful and contemplative prose of exactly one hundred words, fiction, and non-creative fiction, from fifty-two writers, what follows is a culmination of healing visions from vitalizing writers. … More “Healing Visions” by Meg Boscov

“Painting Joy: The Art and Life of Fernando Llort” by Teddi Ahrens

January 18, 2023

Rich culture, sorrowful history, and renewed faith in mankind are found in the life of the late artist Fernando Llort. The title of his bibliography by Teddi Ahrens is accurate, “Painting Joy” encompasses Llort’s life in San Salvador and La Palma (from 1949 to 2018) as he works through discovering himself as a person, as a citizen during bad times, as a family man, and as an artist. … More “Painting Joy: The Art and Life of Fernando Llort” by Teddi Ahrens

“Face Your Shit, Heal Yourself” by Meredith Ochoa

December 29, 2022

Face Your Shit, Heal Yourself Meredith OchoaANOTHER F*#%ING ARTIST (2022)ISBN: 979-8986735603Reviewed by Leigh Kimberly Zoby for Reader Views (12/2022) “Face Your Shit, Heal Yourself” is the creative work of Meredith Ochoa a.k.a  ANOTHER F*#%ING ARTIST. Ms. Ochoa developed her signature style in the art world incorporating a unique scanography process with augmented reality to bring … More “Face Your Shit, Heal Yourself” by Meredith Ochoa

“Ramayana Through Ikebana” by Meena Iyer and Simpan Sadana

December 13, 2022

“Ramayana Through Ikebana” is a book which celebrates the classic Indian tale The Ramayana with living floral arrangements artistically created in the style of Ikebana. The Japanese word Ikebana is defined as to give life to flowers. Authors Iyer and Sadana utilize ancient traditions of minimalism, spacing, and unique materials from nature and asymmetry, visually giving life to a story of love and a plight for victory over evil. Thirty-Four extraordinary arrangements systematically depict the key moments in this timeless tale, creating something both awe-inspiring and beautiful.  … More “Ramayana Through Ikebana” by Meena Iyer and Simpan Sadana

“It’s Who We Are: A Photographic Tapestry of Our Diverse Planet” by Anthony Timiraos

November 4, 2022

“It’s Who We Are: A Photographic Tapestry of Our Diverse Planet” is a natural and textured photo documentary by a master portraitist. Here, Anthony Timiraos takes readers on an epic odyssey of 30 destinations across the world, showcasing the diversity in people’s cultures, traditions, and customs through words and photos. And yet, these stories carry a unique message that despite our distinct differences, we are similar in many ways. … More “It’s Who We Are: A Photographic Tapestry of Our Diverse Planet” by Anthony Timiraos

“Aunt Tina, Church Secretary, Be Careful What You Say Because She Writes Things Down” by Lorrie Hewitt

October 26, 2022

“Aunt Tina, Church Secretary, Be Careful What You Say Because She Writes Things Down,” by Lorrie Hewitt, takes an intriguing look at a church secretary and how her life intertwines with others in her church. … More “Aunt Tina, Church Secretary, Be Careful What You Say Because She Writes Things Down” by Lorrie Hewitt

“Moments in Time” by Tom Locke

September 24, 2022

If you are a fan of the music from the 50s, 60s, 70s, or a music history buff in general, or even one of those people who store “useless” trivia information in their heads, you might want to pick up “Moments in Time” by Tom Locke. It’s like Paul Harvey’s radio segments “The Rest of the Story,” where he picked out random stories and told listeners other tidbits that most of us did not know. Tom Locke does this for music and “Moments in Time” is a combination of segments that he aired on “Treasure Island Oldies” over the last several years. … More “Moments in Time” by Tom Locke

“Screaming for Pleasure” by S.A. Bradley

September 19, 2022

“Horror is about emotion first” (p. 2). Horror movies tell a story while eliciting intense emotions such as shock, terror, fear, repulsion, and dread. Something about horror films and that “first kiss” with the emotions they elicit causes viewers to form lifelong opinions of the genre, either in favor of horror or in avoidance of it. With author S.A. Bradley, the movie Don’t Look Now (1973) sealed his fate of forever loving the horror genre.   … More “Screaming for Pleasure” by S.A. Bradley

“New York Groove” by Frank Mastropolo

September 10, 2022

If you have ever been interested in music, history, music history, rock, punk, or almost any other kind of music, you should check out “New York Groove.” It gives a historical look at several clubs, musicians, and songs of New York City. Some of these will be familiar to almost everyone, but there are also some little gems that have unfortunately disappeared. … More “New York Groove” by Frank Mastropolo