Book Review - "Awaken" by Timothy George

Fufua means “awaken” in Swahili. To awaken means “to wake up; to rouse to action; to come or bring to an awareness.” In Timothy George’s novel, Awaken, he vividly paints a picture of a character that is awakened to his role and purpose in life. 

The main character in this novel, Thomas Jet, is a successful businessman in Chicago. His father recently died. Before his father died, Thomas made a promise that he would attend his family reunion. He is apprehensive about traveling to visit family that he’s never met before. He is reunited with much more than just family. The family reunion changes Thomas’ life forever.

Thomas meets an old man named Dr. Oble. The old man greets Thomas by saying, “Welcome home. Fufua!” Even though they’ve never met, Dr. Oble is intimately acquainted with Thomas. The encounter with Dr. Oble raises a lot of questions in the mind of Thomas. He returns home to research his family history. He uncovers shocking secrets.

Thomas can’t stop thinking about Dr. Oble. He is determined to speak with him again to find out how and why this old man knows so much about him. The next time Thomas meets with Dr. Oble, even more secrets are uncovered. Thomas is awakened to his true purpose in life. He finds out about an ancient African secret society that his ancestors were a part of. Thomas discovers that he is destined to be a member of this brotherhood. Soon, he realizes that his connection to this secret society will put his life in jeopardy.

As Thomas digs deeper into his ancestral roots, he finds out about a tremendous lost treasure. He sets out on a quest to find the treasure. Thomas is not the only one looking for this hidden treasure. His foes are willing to kill for the fortune. Many lives are lost. Thomas wonders if he will be next. At every turn, Thomas meets someone new. To stay alive, he must determine who is an ally and who is an enemy. 

This fast-paced story has many twists and turns. It is truly unpredictable. Timothy George takes his readers on a roller coaster. The adventure is very thrilling and entertaining. George’s masterful use of suspense keeps the reader enthralled. This novel is one-of-a-kind and a must-read.

Book Review - "The Borgia White Affair" by Mayo R. Delilly, III

“I can retain neither respect nor affection for a government which has been moving from wrong to wrong in order to defend its immorality,” stated Mohandas K. Gandhi. This quote appropriately introduces a section in the novel, The Borgia White Affair. In his debut novel, author Mayo R. DeLilly skillfully unfolds a government scandal that threatens the peace and security of a nation.

The novel is set in modern times. A war against drugs has been waged. It has been a long, losing battle. The government develops a scheme to finally rid the nation of drugs. While the goal is a noble one, the method is unconventional and it leads to untold death, pain and suffering.

Dr. Lester Phillips is a good man. He works hard and he loves his family. He is a model citizen. He grew up in a rough neighborhood and he has a lot of compassion for people from all walks of life. As a physician, he becomes keenly interested in the rise of cocaine deaths. He begins to search for answers. He teams up with a colleague and they begin their quest. The novel spans several seasons. The death toll continues to rise. As Dr. Phillips gets closer to finding out the source of the sinister plot, his life and that of his colleague becomes endangered. As the plot continues to unfold, it gets thicker and thicker. More and more characters are involved and more is at stake. In their wildest dreams, they could not have imagined where their search would lead them.

This fast-paced story is truly a page-turner. While entertaining, it challenges the reader’s sense of morality. The story touches on political and social issues such as racism and nationalism. One of my favorite quotes in this novel is from the main character, Dr. Phillips. After he loses one of his friends to drugs, he cries, “There’s no difference. No difference between the iron shackles my forefathers wore as slaves and the shackles of drug dependency that subjugates many black people today.” In the end he concluded, “The answer to the drug problem in this country will never come from the end of a needle or the barrel of a gun…the answer lies in the heart!” Powerful statements like these are found all throughout the book.  

Author Mayo DeLilly practices General Pediatrics in Los Angeles, CA. He attended Howard University in Washington, DC. DeLilly uses Washington, DC as a backdrop for the novel. The main character, Lester Phillips, is a Pediatrician in DC. It is very apparent throughout this book that DeLilly is writing about things that are familiar to him. He vividly describes the streets of DC. The medical terminology used in the writing reveals the author’s depth of knowledge. DeLilly’s detailed writing style made this novel very interesting. I am confident that anyone who reads The Borgia White Affair will enjoy this heart-pounding thriller.

Book Review - "The Fruits of Our Sins" by Jean McKie-Sutton

A wise man under divine inspiration once wrote, “You reap what you sow.” This fundamental truth applies, not only to gardening, but to everyday life.  If we want to have a good life for ourselves and our children, we have to do good things.  If not, bad things will happen.  In Jean McKie-Sutton’s, The Fruits of Our Sins, this fact is made very clear through the lives of two women.

The first character we are introduced to is Madeline.  We meet her before she is even born.  The reader is given a clear picture of what shapes Madeline’s life.  She is reared by a doting father and an envious mother.  The combination of this parenting causes Madeline to be very confused.  She grows up feeling like her mother hates her, but she doesn’t understand the animosity.  Madeline loves her mother, Sadie.  All she wants is love in return.  Sadie is incapable of giving her daughter the love she so desperately longs for. 

Second, the life of Sybil unfolds.  Again, this mother-daughter relationship is unimaginably tragic.  Sybil’s mother, Terri is constantly fighting addictions.  Terri is unable to take care of her children.  Sybil is left with the responsibility of caring for herself and her brother at a very young age.  The traditional roles are reversed.  Instead of being nurtured and loved by her mother, Sybil becomes the caregiver for the entire family.  She worries constantly about how her mother’s addictions will affect the family’s future.  Sybil builds up bitter resentment toward her mother. 

As the life story of these women continues to unfold, we see how each one is affected in adulthood by her upbringing.  The mothers, Sadie and Terri, see the fruits of their sins in the lives of their daughters.  When a child is unloved, feelings of worthlessness set in.  Those feelings can last a lifetime and the negativity is passed on to the next generation.  It can be a very vicious cycle.

My favorite quote from the book is, “Every woman has a secret.  Some harbor their secrets in closets, piling boxes and bags atop to obscure them.  Others bury them in the recesses of their minds and go on living as if their secrets have no purpose or merit, no right to thrive.  Their secrets are relegated to the land of dreams – dreams never spoken, silenced unto death.”  It is this secret that causes the lives of Madeline and Sybil to intersect.  In the beginning of the book, the reader is given a glimpse into the future, so we know that these women will meet eventually.  However, it is unclear how they will make the encounter.  The anticipation gives way to suspense.  McKie-Sutton is very skillful in the way she arouses the reader’s curiosity.

If I had to sum this book up with one word, I would say excellent.  I really appreciated the dignified manner in which this book was written.  While addressing very difficult subjects, McKie-Sutton kept a respectful tone throughout the book.  Even though this book causes the reader to think deeply, it is still quite entertaining and enjoyable to read.  People of all backgrounds will appreciate reading this book.  McKie-Sutton showcases her talent, creativity and brilliance in this novel.  I look forward to her next masterpiece.

The Fruits of Our Sins will be available for purchase in paperback and ebook starting June 4, 2012 at these major retailers: BarnesandNoble.com, Amazon.com, Target.com.

"Think Like a Man" Hits Theaters Today

SOURCE - Think Like a Man Official Site

Based on Steve Harvey's best-selling book, Think Like a Man follows four interconnected and diverse men whose love lives are shaken up after the ladies they are pursuing buy Harvey's book and start taking his advice to heart. When the band of brothers realize they have been betrayed by one of their own, they conspire using the book's insider information to turn the tables and teach the women a lesson of their own.

With this all-star cast and great storyline, I'm sure it will be a hit!

The cast -

Michael Ealy
Dominic

Jerry Ferrara
Jeremy

Meagan Good
Mya

Regina Hall
Candace

Kevin Hart
Cedric

Taraji P. Henson
Lauren

Race for the Cure 2012

The 20th annual Race for the Cure will be held this year on Saturday, May 19 at 8 am in downtown Columbus.  Are you ready?  As always, I am looking forward to it.  I have been running the Race for the Cure since 2005 and it has become one of the highlights of the year for me.

I decided not to have a team this year.  However, I encourage everyone to sign up individually.  The fee to register as an individual is $30.  You can register online until May 8.

A few people have expressed concerns about the organizations that Komen Columbus funds.  You can find a very clear explanation on their website - www.komencolumbus.org.  They have responded to questions about their involvement with Planned Parenthood and they also provide a complete list of organizations they fund. 

Even though I'm looking forward to the Race for the Cure, I must admit that it is secondary for me this year.  I am facing a new challenge.  I will be running a quarter marathon as part of The Capital City Half Marathon on May 5.  I am really excited about this new challenge and I have been focusing my training on this race.  You can read more about this race in my blog post.  You can follow my training on my facebook page.

I hope to see you at the Race for the Cure on May 19.