March 2023 MBR The Biography Shelf

The Biography Shelf

Overcoming All Odds
Carol Ann Wilson
https://carolannwilson.info
Quantum Press
9798987088807, $20.00, PB, 204pp

https://www.amazon.com/Overcoming-All-Odds-Adversity-Persistence/dp/B0BLG6SWPD

Synopsis: With the publication of "Overcoming All Odds: My Story of Adversity, Tragedy, Persistence, Survival, and Triumph", Carol Ann Wilson shares her personal story of courage, the love of family and friends, and of fear and faith. But most of all, this is a story about the invincible human spirit that lives in all of us.

When Carol Ann arrived for her annual checkup and revealed her age as 85 to the physician's assistant, the woman was aghast. "What is your secret?" she asked. Carol Ann thought about that after she left and realized that she had heard that question for years. -- What is your secret, Carol Ann?

At the age of 29 with three kids under the age of five (a usually talked about behind closed doors if talked about at all) surgery turned her life upside down. That surgery opened a door, welcoming her to an incredibly fulfilling life for Carol Ann as she dealt with: Life-threatening chronic illnesses; Surviving cancer; Having her business stolen from her -- not once, but twice!; Having books she authored plagiarized and republished with another's name as the author; Dealing with the unexpected sudden death of her husband while she was cruising in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, while he was home alone.

None of this (and more!), kept her down. She beat the odds, surviving, and then thriving. And was part of the impetus for the creation of an international health information organization; institutes for financial professional; software that impacted and changed family law nationwide; and even designing a pottery line!

Throughout her nine decades, she has never, ever given up. Carol Ann is still here, living her hand of life and in her memoir, "Overcoming All Odds" is ready to reveal her secret: Believing that when difficulties and trauma are experienced, that good things can come.

Critique: Overcoming All Odds: My Story of Adversity, Tragedy, Persistence, Survival, and Triumph" is an exceptional, insightful, and motivatingly inspiring read that will have a very special appeal to readers who are seeking encouragement and ideas for dealing with the problems affecting their own lives and happiness. While also available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99), "Overcoming All Odds" is unreservedly recommended as an addition to community and academic library Self-Help/Self-Improvement and American Biography/Memoir collections.

Editorial Note: There is an informative website dedicated to the life and work of Carol Ann Wilson at https://carolannwilson.info/authors-biography

The Samurai Castle Master: Warlord Todo Takatora
Chris Glenn
Frontline Books
c/o Casemate Publishers
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.frontline-books.com
9781399096584, $36.95, HC, 272pp

https://www.amazon.com/Samurai-Castle-Master-Warlord-Takatora/dp/1399096583

Synopsis: When the Japanese samurai warlord and respected castle architect Todo Takatora died in 1630, the funeral attendants responsible for preparing his body were shocked to note that there was not a single part of his body not scarred or disfigured by sword, spear, glaive or matchlock gun wound.

Todo Takatora lived a life that unfolds like a drama. Born to a small landholding samurai family, the maverick youth worked his way to the top, becoming one of the most successful of daimyo warlords. He had served on the front lines of some of the most violent of battles, turning points that forged the nation. In a land and time in which loyalty was held dear, he changed his allegiances a record seven times, serving a record ten lords, more than any other samurai in history. Because of this, he has long been held in contempt by the Japanese.

Standing 6 feet tall in a time when the average Japanese man stood between 5 and 5 1/2 feet, Todo Takatora was a giant among men. He died aged 74, when the normal life span was around 50. He was also the finest, most innovative of castle architects, responsible for the design and construction of over 30 of the strongest, most innovative Japanese castles and structures, and influencing samurai castle construction across Japan.

In explaining his life, his reasons for having served so many lords, his achievements in battle and in castle design, his political and personal ideals and how these attributes were shaped during the course of his adventurous life, "The Samurai Castle Master: Warlord Todo Takatora" by Chris Glenn will reveal the man, and show why Takatora deserves the epithet of National Hero.

In this fascinating biography (the first ever published in the English language), "The Samurai Castle Master: Warlord Todo Takatora" deftly explores Todo Takatora's remarkable, and influential, life, the battles he fought in, the political intrigues he was part of, as well as detailing the magnificent castles he built.

Critique: Informatively enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of a number of Plates, an eight page Glossary, a two page Select Bibliography, and a nine page Index, "The Samurai Castle Master: Warlord Todo Takatora" is a meticulously researched and superb study that is especially relevant and recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library Japanese History/Biography collections. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Samurai Castle Master: Warlord Todo Takatora" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99).

Editorial Note: Chris Glenn first visited Japan as a Rotary Exchange Student in 1985, spending a year in Sapporo, returning to Japan in 1992. A researcher of samurai history and culture, he is a member of the Japan Armor and Weapons Research and Preservation Society, and the Japan Castle Research Society. He was apprenticed to a traditional samurai armour craftsman from 1994, and is a collector of samurai arms and armour. Chris holds Shodan rank in Kendo, and studied Owari Yagyu Shinkage and Enmei Ryu kobudo, traditional combat techniques. A resident of Nagoya, Japan since 1993, he serves as the Sekigahara Tourism Ambassador, the Nagoya Tourism, Cultural and Exchange Special Ambassador, and the Omi Tourism Ambassador. He has had numerous books on Japanese castles and battles published in both Japanese and English. Called upon by various local and national government agencies as an advisor and committee member, he remains active in researching and promoting Japanese history and culture. (https://austjpnsoc.asn.au/chris-glenn-an-australian-legend-in-japan)

Call Me Anne
Anne Heche
Viva Editions
http://vivaeditions.com
9781627783316, $15.95, PB, 176pp

https://www.amazon.com/Call-Me-Anne-Heche/dp/1627783318

Synopsis: "Call Me Anne" is the sequel to Heche's first book, "Call Me Crazy". It is a memoir consisting of personal anecdotes of her rise to fame: how Harrison Ford became her on-set mentor, her relationship with Ellen Degeneres, her encounter with Harvey Weinstein, her history of childhood sexual abuse, her relationship with God, her journey to love herself, and more. Part memoir and part self-acceptance workbook, Anne's personal stories are interwoven with poems, prompts, and exercises that got Anne through tough times. Readers are encouraged to try them as they navigate their own journey to self-love, acceptance, forgiveness, and faith.

Critique: Intimate, articulate, informative, interesting, once again Anne Heche has written an intensely personal memoir that is a simply fascinating and ultimately inspiring, and a 'must read' selection for the legions of Anne Heche fans. While a highly recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library Contemporary American Memoir collections, it should be noted that "Call Me Anne" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: Anne Heche (1969-2022) was an Emmy-award winning actress, director, and screenwriter based in LA. She was also author of Call Me Crazy. Following a dual role in the daytime soap opera Another World (1987-91), Heche rose to mainstream prominence in the late 1990s with films Donnie Brasco (1997), Volcano (1997), Six Days, Seven Nights (1998), and Return to Paradise (1998). In 1998, Heche portrayed Marion Crane in Gus Van Sant's horror remake of Psycho. Heche received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the Lifetime movie Gracie's Choice and a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress for her work in Broadway's Twentieth Century. She was also a contestant on the reality show, Dancing with the Stars in 2020. Her wikipedia page is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Heche

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review