Misfit Faith: Confessions of a Drunk Ex-Pastor

Misfit Faith: Confessions of a Drunk Ex-Pastor

From the Goodreads synopsis:
-Provides a vision for a broader, more hospitable Christianity.--Publishers Weekly. The co-host of the popular podcast, Drunk Ex-Pastors, offers an earnest and irreverent look at what it means to be a Christian in an upside down world.
-Perhaps failing at faith is an ironic success, since disaster is where grace happens.- - Jason Stellman
Jason Stellman has always felt like a misfit. A Protestant pastor with a sharp wit, a restlessly inquisitive mind, and a love of pop culture and rock and roll, he has long sensed that something was missing when it came to his relationship with God. In time, he felt drawn to the Catholic Church, so he stepped down from his ministry and embraced Catholicism, only to still feel misplaced and homeless.
His feelings, thoughts, and troubles echo the disillusionment and confusion of many people who struggle relating to ancient faiths in a postmodern world.
In a book that mixes memoir with theological insights and taut storytelling, Stellman gives an edgy, honest, heart-on-his-sleeve account of what it means to be a mixed-up Christian outsider in the twenty-first century (and why this is a can be good thing). Misfit Faith is an invitation to all the religious vagabonds and exiles with nowhere to really call home, those wanderers who increasingly feel like mere fans of spirituality rather than committed members of the team.
If you've ever questioned your faith, felt like a spiritual malcontent, or sought solace for your existential angst at the bottom of a bottle of bourbon, then Stellman just may be the best drinking buddy you've never met.

***********
My review:  There were often thought provoking moments in this book that made a lot of sense.  However there were times when the author would ramble some and it would be harder to pick up the thought he was trying to convey.  I don't necessarily agree with all that was said and take some of it with a grain of salt but that is not to say there was not something to be learned.  I like to look at all sides of something so as to make a more educated decision about my own path in life.  Again things that made you think or go hmmmm but not sure if I would read this author again or not. Possibly. I will leave that decision open.  I received this advanced reader copy from http://www.bloggingforbooks.com in return for an honest review. 

Rogue Justice: The Making of the Security State by Karen J. Greenberg

Rogue Justice: The Making of the Security State by Karen J. Greenberg

From the Goodreads synopsis:  The definitive account of how America’s War on Terror sparked a decade-long assault on the rule of law, weakening our courts and our Constitution in the name of national security.

The day after September 11, President Bush tasked the Attorney General with preventing another terrorist attack on the United States. From that day forward, the Bush administration turned to the Department of Justice to give its imprimatur to activities that had previously been unthinkable—from the NSA's spying on US citizens to indefinite detention to torture. Many of these activities were secretly authorized, others done in the light of day.

When President Obama took office, many observers expected a reversal of these encroachments upon civil liberties and justice, but the new administration found the rogue policies to be deeply entrenched, and, at times, worth preserving. Obama ramped up targeted killings, held fast to aggressive surveillance policies, and fell short on bringing reform to detention and interrogation.

How did America veer so far from its founding principles of justice? Rogue Justice connects the dots for the first time—from the Patriot Act to today’s military commissions, from terrorism prosecutions to intelligence priorities, from the ACLU’s activism to Edward Snowden’s revelations. And it poses a stark question: will the American justice system ever recover from the compromises it made for the war on terror?

Riveting and deeply reported, Rogue Justice could only have been written by Karen Greenberg, one of this country’s top experts on Guantánamo, torture, and terrorism, with a deep knowledge of both the Bush and Obama administrations. Now she brings to life the full story of law and policy after 9/11, introducing us to the key players and events, showing that time and again, when liberty and security have clashed, justice has been the victim.

******
My Review:
I enjoyed this book quite a bit.  Often many political based books can be very heavy and hard to slog through.  Karen Greenberg managed to make a potentially formidable subject readable and enjoyable as well.  Her writing style is engaging drawing you along and making you want to see whats next.

Stormy Weather by Glen Ebisch

Stormy Weather by Glen Ebisch

From the Goodreads Synopsis:

When the body of Travis Lambert, senior meteorologist for a local television station, is found buried in a shallow grave next to the house of Stormy McCloud, junior meteorologist, things look bad for her. When the station hires Chance Malone to investigate the murder, her situation doesn’t improve. Malone is attractive, charming, and funny, all qualities that Stormy’s past experience with men has led her to avoid. It also doesn’t help that Stormy has little background or interest in religion, while Malone is the unusual private detective who has a Bible in his desk drawer rather than a bottle of scotch. When Stormy’s estranged mother appears on the scene, she also must decide whether to have a relationship with the woman who deserted her as a child. As the story proceeds, more is learned about the dark secrets of Travis’ life, and Stormy is forced to reconsider her view of men, her mother and her future.

**********

My Review:

This was a nice light read, I finished it in a couple of days.  Nothing too heavy, in fact it read quite a bit like a YA book.  It flowed fairly well but it was sometimes a little distracting when the author would switch on calling the detective by first then last name off and on, first calling him Chance then alternatively just Malone, I had to remind myself that they were one and the same rather than that the story had switched to another character.  Fairly good descriptive work in making the characters and the scenery 3-dimensional.  The author also could have used a few more dialogue tags in my opinion so we could better tell who was speaking, it interrupted the flow a bit. Not too badly but enough you could notice it. Overall a solid 3 stars out of 5, I would read this author again. ** I received this book from ReadForReview.com in exchange for an honest review**

Till the Cows Come Home by J.T. Blakemore

Till the Cows Come Home by J.T. Blakemore

From the Goodreads Synopsis: For those of us who sometimes feel that the light at the end of the tunnel really is an oncoming train, J.T. Blakemore is living proof that we don’t have to simply stand on the tracks and be run down. This is the story of a man who faces down a great deal of adversity and lives to tell the tale. 

In 1963, J.T. took an ill-advised ride in a ’59 Hot Rod Chevy and regained consciousness twenty-eight days later. He was 21 years old. “You might say I threw my life away for a dozen cans of beer. My bell was rung really well, and I’ve had one I gigantic hangover ever since. The prognosis was simple: brain damage. The effects were not so simple. Not by a long shot.” 

J.T.’s past provides him with the tools he needs to meet the challenges of learning to walk, talk, and see all over again. The product of a tempestuous couple who met and married on the same day, J.T.’s often humorous journey from orphanage to U.S. Marines and beyond teaches him that adversity is a fact of life. His unflinching description of his ongoing recovery and his unique insights into the thought processes of someone with “drain bamage” will be uncharted territory for most readers, but well worth the trip. In spite of his many obstacles, this consummate storyteller is one of the most positive, enthusiastic men you will ever meet. 

“Damage to my big USMC pride would be an ongoing occurrence. On more than one occasion, I have found myself, for no apparent reason, sitting squarely on my posterior. But I have learned two positive things about falling. First: getting back on my feet has become easier with every fall. Second: living with embarrassment won’t kill you.” 
His belief in “patient, prayerful, persistent perseverance” and an unflappable faith in God have served him well during his unusual journey. He has gone on to earn several college degrees, meet and marry his wife, and raise two equally strong and determined children. At first glance, you might think he’s just an average guy. 

Till the Cows Come Home is an inspiring account of triumph over adversity — the sort of triumph that J.T. sincerely believes could be achieved by anyone of us if we have faith, a healthy sense of humor, and (although he never comes right out and says it) a certain level of practicality. 

“I have had to learn to accept the fact that everything is constantly changing, and, in many cases, remains different and difficult. That sounds almost normal. Doesn’t it?” 

*********

My review:  A fairly solid but quick read, interesting in many places, dry in a few, but not enough to interrupt the flow of the book as a whole.  The success the author has has in overcoming his TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) to be able to write a book as lucid as this one is wonderful and a tribute to his 4 p's  [if you want to know what they are read the book! :) ] I also found it unique that he put the addendum sections at the end.  I found them interesting but not everyone necessarily will so that leaves it up to the reader if they want to read them or not. good job J.T. Blakemore! Keep up the good work.

Forty Autumns: A Family's Story of Courage and Survival on Both Sides of the Berlin Wall

Forty Autumns: A Family's Story of Courage and Survival on Both Sides of the Berlin Wall


From the Goodreads.com Synopsis:  In this illuminating and deeply moving memoir, a former American military intelligence officer goes beyond traditional Cold War espionage tales to tell the true story of her family—of five women separated by the Iron Curtain for more than forty years, and their miraculous reunion after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Forty Autumns makes visceral the pain and longing of one family forced to live apart in a world divided by two. At twenty, Hanna escaped from East to West Germany. But the price of freedom—leaving behind her parents, eight siblings, and family home—was heartbreaking. Uprooted, Hanna eventually moved to America, where she settled down with her husband and had children of her own.

Growing up near Washington, D.C., Hanna’s daughter, Nina Willner became the first female Army Intelligence Officer to lead sensitive intelligence operations in East Berlin at the height of the Cold War. Though only a few miles separated American Nina and her German relatives—grandmother Oma, Aunt Heidi, and cousin, Cordula, a member of the East German Olympic training team—a bitter political war kept them apart.

In Forty Autumns, Nina recounts her family’s story—five ordinary lives buffeted by circumstances beyond their control. She takes us deep into the tumultuous and terrifying world of East Germany under Communist rule, revealing both the cruel reality her relatives endured and her own experiences as an intelligence officer, running secret operations behind the Berlin Wall that put her life at risk.

A personal look at a tenuous era that divided a city and a nation, and continues to haunt us, Forty Autumns is an intimate and beautifully written story of courage, resilience, and love—of five women whose spirits could not be broken, and who fought to preserve what matters most: family.

Forty Autumns is illustrated with dozens of black-and-white and color photographs.

**********

My Review:

I loved this book, riveting and pulled you along, waiting to what would happen next.  We all know to some degree from news stories about East and West Germany and the Berlin Wall, but I had never gotten around to learning more about this particular piece of history.  This book is an excellent way to do that and also learn about East Germans as a people and the experience they went through, so not just through the political lens. Told through the interconnected stories of 5 generations of women in one particular family in East Germany and their experience, from Stalin taking over after WWII trying to spread Communism the building then the tearing down of the Berlin Wall, built not to keep dangerous people out but to seal the East Germans in so as to better control and propagandize them. The Communist Party promised them the world, that resources would be shared and prosperity among all, when in reality they took all the best and gave them the scraps, leaving the people in dire straits. One of the few 5 stars I have given! If you like history you will like this book! I was given this book as an Advance Reader Copy in return for an honest review, which in no way influenced my review! This is an excellent book. True, like one of the previous comments left on Goodreads, the transitions from one persons story to another are a bit abrupt but it only marginally took anything away from the enjoyment of the book.

Condo Makeovers: Inventive Ideas for Vertical Living by Ashley Rooney

Condo Makeovers: Inventive Ideas for Vertical Living by Ashley Rooney

From the Goodreads.com synopsis: For those interested in creating a one-of-a-kind

home in a condo or apartment building, this book offers a voyeuristic peek at the

way people design, construct, and accessorize these often challenging spaces.

Thirty beautifully photographed projects illustrate how their designers overcame the

constraints of high-rise living to enhance the owners' comfort. Learn how one

architect brought elusive light into the center of a condo in Washington, DC's

Dupont Circle neighborhood, visit the "stair bridge" in a Vermont ski condo, and

observe the visual tricks used to open a Florida penthouse to ocean views. See how

designers are raising the bar on an increasingly popular housing type, whether it is

an urban pied-a-terre or an airy condo on a California beach.

******

My review:  This was a surprisingly fun coffee-table style book. I don't plan on

designing or building a condo but it was fun to "window shop" :)   There will be

some spoilers in this review. Some designs I distinctly didn't like and some I loved a

lot, but there were features in each one that I liked, so that no one design

completely put me off. The photography was outstanding, large high definition

pictures, with wonderful detail.  Definitely plenty of eye-candy throughout. And

some of the captions explaining what is involved in renovating a condo were

informative.  Many, many times they used windows and white paint to direct the

light back into the darker areas of the home. These next ones are done in order as they appear in the

book so you can follow along with the book if you wish.

***

Now, for specifics:

53 Unique Residences
CetraRuddy Architecture
Location: New York
Size: 280,000 square feet (unit sizes vary)
Landscape architect: H. M. White
Lighting designer: Kugler Ning

I didn't like this one that much as a whole, except the skilled use of light, but I did

like the white marble dining table.  I also did not care for the square, long, trough -

style bathroom sink.

***
Cooper Square Loft
Desai Chai Architecture
Location: New York
Size: 5,000 square feet
General contractor: Giovannitti
Structural engineer: Donald Friedman, Attila Rona
Mechanical engineer: Simon Rodkin Consulting Engineers
Lighting: Christine Sciulli Light + Design
Audiovisual: WTB Associates

A nice loft condo, but the placement of furniture felt cold and incoherent to me,

didn't say "come, relax".  The furniture also looked uncomfortable to sit in. Color

scheme also not very warm and inviting, a cold atmosphere. Lots of grey and

metal, the kitchen reminded me of a slightly aesthetically better navy mess hall at a

military base, cold an impersonal. Definitely not my style, I don't do modernistic

very well. Also , if this were my house I wouldn't feel very uncomfortable with port

holes in the walls to the bedroom, I would never feel relaxed changing clothes or

sleeping, as someone could easily look in.  And again, with the square long trough sink

in the bathroom. I did like the large deep pretty tub though. Sorry, didnt like this

one very much.

***

Tribeca Skylight Penthouse
George Boyle Architect
Location: New York
Size: 4,000 square feet
General contractor: AJS/Matrix

The use of light in this one was skillfully done. Light is life to a home when done

right. using the stairs with open slats works well and lets more light through from

the large windows to the back areas. The designer used quite a lot of what

opportunities they could to let as much light in as they could, the stair design, the

use of white paint, cut-outs in various ares and the use of clear unbordered glass

for the guardrail overlooking the foyer.  The patio with its pampas grass was

gorgeous!  Just the kind of bit of nature to relax in the fresh air and sun and read.

***

Mount Snow Ski Condo
LineSync Architecture and Planning
Location: West Dover, Vermont
Size: 1,111 square feet
Furnishings: 2 Sisters Home Furnishings
General contractor: Fred & Fred Jr. Builders

The use of wood was nice but this one seems a bit busy to me.  I like the wood and

I like the spice rack at the back of the stove.  I don't care for the placement of the

microwave directly above the stove eyes. The mudroom looks nice, and practical.

***

First Avenue Apartment
Mojo Stumer Associates, PC
Location: New York
Size: 7,000 square feet
General contractor: Tennis Planning/Automatic Group
Engineer: Kam Chiu
Expeditor: Praxis Workshop Inc.

Overall nice clean look, but not my style.  The dark stone added some warmth but I

would have liked the stone better if not quite as shiny, a bit distracting.  Love the

large plate glass window with the great view of the city in the living room and the

contrast of the dark pillows on the light couch, but again the too shiny stone on the

walls detracted from the overall serenity. Love the dark blue couch in the family

room. Atrocious light fixture outside the wine room though.  Bathroom, again didnt

care for the square bathroom sinks and the bathtub with the chaise lounge type

shape seems funky to me. And with no shade in the shower, yes the city view is

magnificent, but I would worry someone in a high-rise opposite would be watching

me with binoculars.

***

Apartment 24
Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect
Location: Washington, DC
Size: 2,750 square feet
Interior designer: Therese Baron Gurney
General contractor: Added Dimensions

Ok, but, not my style and again kind of cold in its personality.  I did love the

generous library, as I am an avid reader.  Again, the square tub and bathroom

sinks, not a fan.

***

Sky Loft
KUBE architecture
Location: Washington, DC
Size: 1,300 square feet
General contractor: Metrix Construction
Glass: Gaithersburg Glass
Millwork: Mersoa Woodwork

The cut-out in the ceiling of the living room with the frameless glass railing I liked,

leading to the office/master bedroom upstairs, letting in lots of light.  Also the

frosted glass wall of the bedroom, allowing privacy and light both.

***
Pied á Terre
A4 Architecture & Planning
Location: Newport, Rhode Island
Size: 660 square feet

They claim the original before renovation was dark and dank, and the new look is

definitely not that, but the chandelier and the kitchen backsplash are a little too

"blingy" to me and could use a few pops of color.  Great view of the harbor though.

***

West Side Loft
Office of Architecture
Location: New York
Size: 3,000 square feet
General contractor: Sohome
Design Collaborator: Push
Kitchen Systems Consultant: Fellini Designs
Shades: Advanced Window Coverings Associates

Like the warmth and personality of the wood throughout and the retaining of the

original structural poles.  Nice combination of light and dark.

***

W24 Loft
Desai/Chia Architecture
Location: New York
Size: 4,000 square feet
General contractor: Giovannitti
Mechanical engineer: Simon Rodkin Consulting Engineers
Lighting: Christine Sciulli Light + Design

This renovation seemed odd to me. Odds and ends of various furniture style that

didn't gel with one another. The structural posts look unstable though I'm sure

they're not, like the roof could tumble down on you, and would make me feel

uneasy living there.  The curvey couch looks like it should be in an airport to me. In

fact a large portion of the whole layout feels that way, a somewhat impersonal feel.

More like a commercial building than a home.  I do like the large bank of windows

looking out to the other buildings. And nice use of light, natural and fixtures, except

that odd pineapple looking light fixture.  And...again... with the square bathtub.

Not a relaxing look.

***

Sycamore Penthouse
George Boyle Architect
Location: Tribeca, New York City
Size: 2,200 square feet
General contractor: J. Kemp Construction

This is one of my favorites so far, possibly my favorite of the whole book!  So much

warm, warm wood and lots of character.  Lovley brick accent wall, appropriate

balance of wood, marble , brick, metal, and the stairwell draws daylight from the

master suite above.  And nice use of different kinds of wood instead of all one

kind.  The stairs are especially nice, caption says is Douglas Fir, though the effect is

simikar to cedar.  The semi-mudroom idea is a good one but could use a medium

area rug so wet shoes etc dont damage that nice wood flooring. And the Outdoor

space with the couches and pampas grass is just more icing on the cake. A great

zen spot to unwind. Very few things I didn't like on this one!

***

Watergate Apartment
Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect
Location: Washington, DC
Size: 1,250 square feet
Interior designer: Therese Baron Gurney, ASID
General contractor: Added Dimensions and D. Anthony Beale LLC

Not that big on the design itself, but the views of the river and the Francis Scott Key

Bridge are outstanding.  The slit cut in the wall between the living room and the

bedroom reminds me of a bunker, though the glass is electrostatic glass which can

be switched to frosted to allow privacy in the bedroom.  Again with the square

bathroom sink...I'm seeing a trend here...

***

Riverside Apartment:
An Answer to Tropical Storm Irene
LineSync Architecture and Planning
Location: Wilmington, Vermont
Size: 775 square feet
Interior designer: Interior Furnishings by Nona
General contractor: Todd Gareiss

Nice roll armed couch and wood furniture but the corrugated metal walls take

away from its warmth to give more or a warehouse feel, though decision could have

been made because of it being in a potential flood zone. Also didnt care for the

exposed cracked beams and pipes. Liked the warm tilein the bathroom but not the

metal corrugate.

***


Leather District Loft
Studio Luz
Location: Boston
Size: 1,200 square feet
General contractor: Aldor Corporation
Millwork: Mystic Millwork,  Infusion Furniture

Lots of warmwood and the flooring is gorgeous! Not a fan of the bedroom raised up

on a platform but love the arched brickwork.  Nice exposed beams in the ceiling.

Overall nice loft.

***

Perimeter Loft
Höweler + Yoon
Location: Boston
Size: 1,800 square feet
General contractor: Evergreen Group

Nice clean look with lots of light and the white helps contribute to that but could

use some more pops of color, too much all the same palate and not enough

contrast.

***

West Village Apartment
Mojo Stumer Associates, PC
Location: New York, New York
Size: 9,450 square feet
General contractor: Built Rite Contracting
MEP Engineer: Stanislav Slutsky, PE, PC
Structural Engineer: Robert Silman Associates

Love the artistic window, display cases and lighting in the entry hallway.  Family

room looks comfy but would have brought the couch a little closer to the

fireplace/tv.  Stairs with the clear glass is a nice touch.  The plush red dining chairs

I like as well.  Cant say I like the claw looking light fixture in the kitchen.  The study

definitely screams masculine. I like the bedroom if there are drapes you can pull

across the wonderfully large windows with the city view when you wish to.

***

Family Loft
ZeroEnergy Design
Location: Boston
Size: 1,750 square feet
General contractor: Ralph S. Osmond Company
Kitchen: Clever Green Cabinets, Gaggenau
Fixtures: Hansgrohe, Laufen, Aquabrass
Finishes: Creative Materials, Neolith

Not big on this renovation. Just not my style at all, from the furnishings to the color

choices, etc.  The brick wall with the fireplace was so-so, and I do like the bathroom

color choices and the round tub, but again with the square trough sink. Creepy light

fixture over the dining room table (The Little People chandelier).

***

Naval Officers Club Condo Conversion
Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect
Location: Washington, DC
Size: 3,250 square feet
Interior designer: Therese Baron Gurney, ASID
General contractor: Added Dimension and D. Anthony Beale LLC

Nice use of unused area cutouts and plate glass windows to let in light. Nice

collection of books!  :)  Bedroom too minimalist for me and quite empty. Makes it

feel cold and devoid of personality. Platform bed lloks like it wouldnt be

comfortable.  Bathroom?...what can i say, the sink looks like it came out of a

restaurant kitchen. I'm not trying to be unkind, I've just worked a lot of restaurants

before I got into my current profession and it looks like a commerical sink.  On a

good note, I love the outdoor space, cozy and inviting!

***

Timber Loft
George Boyle Architect
Location: New York
Size: 2,200 square feet
General contractor: J. Kemp Construction Inc.
Metalwork: Official LLC

Love the use of the original wood structural posts and beams, and the antiqued

brick wall. The kitchen stools seem odd to me, wouldnt be my first choice, as well

as pull straps on the kitchen drawers.  I like the natural wood fruit bowl.  Almost

too much wood in the bathroom though, styles arent balanced. And,  I've never

seen a square toilet before!  Seems stylish wise a little awkward.

***

Central Park West
Chango & Co.
Location: New York
Size: 2,300 square feet
General contractor: Fox Force Five
Millwork fabr ication: Mason Woodworks

I like this one quite a bit, definitely says city. Warm dark wood floors , nice throws

and pillows contrast nicely with the white couch. Although seemingly to contrast

with the main style, I like the antelope skulls!   I love the deep blue color of the high

armed couch and the nice wood floor.  The breakfast nook looks practical and

useful, don't care for the light fixture.

***

Downtown Boston Penthouse
Haddad Hakansson Design Studio
Location: Boston
Size: 1,300 square feet
Torso wall sculpture: Rainer Lagemann, sourced by DTR Modern Galleries,
Newbury Street, Boston
Living Room Sectional: BoConcept
Kitchen: Liebherr refrigerator; Miele induction cooktop, oven, hood, and
dishwasher; Pennville Custom Cabinetry

I like this one also quite a bit, especially overall scanning of the room gives me a

pretty relaxed feel.  Muted blues and greys, wood and tasteful furniture overall,

though I'd pick a different coffee table.  Great stairwell with phenominal city view, if

you remove the light fixture, I don't care for it and it distracts from the lovely view.

There are some lovely art pieces throughout, especially in the office! Nice spot on

the terrace to relax.

***

Florida Condo Renovation
Pineapple House Interior Design
Location: John’s Island, Florida
Size: 2,550 square feet
General contractor: Parent Construction

Lovey dark wood in the foyer, and furniture is nice but I wouldn't choose that much

white, harder to keep clean.  The coffered ceiling is a nice touch.   The white marble

countertop is pretty with the dark wood to balance the white of the kitchen.  The

bedroom, again with too much white, the designer must have love white. I like it,

but paired and balanced with other colors for more pop and contrast.  Nice view of

the ocean from the bedroom, dining room and living room!

***

Gotham Views
Higgins Design Studio
Location: New York
Size: 900 square feet
countertops: Caesarstone #2003 Concrete
bath porcelain tile: Daltile CL65 City Lights

Love the slight whimsy of the Polar bears print and I like the dark grey suede love

seat with a great view of the city.  Nice kitchen with soothing under-counter lighting

and nice balance of darks and lights and metal. I like the bedroom layout, with the

built in storage, television nook and city view. The bathroom tile is a nice color but

too flashy for me, a bit blingy. Nice just regular tub without trying to be so avant

garde.

***

Del Mar Loft
James Glover Residential and Interior Design
Location: San Clemente, California
Size: 729 square feet
General contractor: James Glover Residential and Interior Design

If I hadn't been told I would still have guessed either Florida or California. Nice

liveable little bungalow but a tad busy in the design/decore. I like the deck space,

looks relaxing. I'm Not too big on the noir style paintings, a bit too big and

ostentatious for the space, but everyones taste is different. Overall quite nice on the

furnishings, choice of colors, kitchen layout. I'd live here. (But what is it with the

square bathroom sinks!??), Otherwise the bathrooms nice.

***

East 87th Street
Keogh Design Inc.
Location: New York
Size: 3,000 square feet
General contractor: Peter DiNatale & Associates
Custom cabinetry: Scanga Architectural Woodworking
Custom rugs: Carini Lang
Custom sofa s: Keogh Design Inc.
Den sofa /coffee tables: Ligne Roset
Dining table and chairs: M2L

The entryway is super! (except for that curly-Q light fixture).  Overall this condo is a

winner, most especially the rockin' library!

***

Aventura Loft Style Residence
RS3|Designs
Location: Aventura, Florida
Size: 1,400 square feet
General contractor: Critical Path Construction
Millwork: Arlican Wood
Glass: MDV Glass

Winter in a room design.  The furnishings are nice and the work is quality but it

color palate is cold.  Need some pops of color or wood to add some warmth to the

living room, kind of like the wood accents that was added to the kitchen warms it

up nicely.  The second bedroom with the sliding door is quite nice, very inviting,

especially with the brown rug to balance out the white.  Balcony view off the master

bedroom is fantastic! I like the tub in the master bath, looks like I could relax there

for hours, but not fond of the sinks.

***

Monmouth Beach Condo
Sheila Rich Interiors
Location: Monmouth Beach, New Jersey
Size: 1,700 square feet
General contractor: O.C.C. and Associates
Finish carpentry: RLK Home Improvements

Nice pops of color with the purple wall and the personal paintings of the resident.

Love the coffered ceiling too, a great touch with the molding white and the inside

painted grey to give it more depth.  I like the contrast of color on the tile backing of

the kitchen island. Nice balance of colors, chrome and acrylic (the range hood)  in

the kitchen, and nice balance of wood, glass and the blue painted wall in the

dressing area. Master bedroom is ok. but I might have liked some wood molding to

offset what seems to me to be a bit too much blue.

***

Prewar Upper West Side Apartment
Chango & Co.
Location: Upper West Side, New York
Size: 2,300 square feet
General contractor: Reece Restoration

Nice family space, and I like the cubbyhole style shelving.  I wouldnt have chosen

that wallpaper, but gorgeous dining table as well as the hall table. Nice touch with

a whimsical play area of their own for the kids.

***

Peaceful High-Rise
Higgins Design Studio
Location: New York
Size: 1,500 square feet
countertops: Silestone Amarillo Sand
kitchen and bath fittings: Dornbracht Meta.02
The gallery-

Thr furniture is pretty nice but the feel of the comdo as a whole is exactly as

intended, "designed as a tranquil refuge and fundraising space and to
showcase the client’s art collection."  So as such, it has a commercial feel to it that I

personally wouldn't call home. But for what it's designed for it looks nice.

***

High-Rise Beach Retreat
Pineapple House Interior Design
Location: New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Size: 2,700 square feet
General contractor: Del Mar Construction

Fresh beach front design. Great views from the wrap-around windows in the dining

and living rooms.  Dining chair covers a little busy for me but overall like the layout,

 with a lovely wood sideboard.  Definitely too loud on the kitchen back splash tile,

but the rest of the kitchen is pretty nice overall. The shower in the master bedroom

is pretty as well. I really like the guest room with the bunk beds and nautical theme

and reading space.  Has a touch of whimsy to the space and enough room to sleep

5 people in not much room.

***

Well, hope you enjoyed my review and hope it wasnt too lengthy, the idea being it

is done in order of the book , so you can follow along, a tour if you will, highlighting

various main points. I enjoyed my little tour through this book very much!  Excellent

coffee table book, 4 stars! ***I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy

from http://edelweiss.abovethetreeline.com/ in return for an honest review. ***

When Lions Roar: The Churchills and the Kennedys by Thomas Maier

When Lions Roar: The Churchills and the Kennedys by Thomas Maier

From the Goodreads synopsis: The first comprehensive history of the deeply entwined personal and public lives of the Churchills and the Kennedys and what their “special relationship” meant for Great Britain and the United States

 When Lions Roar begins in the mid-1930s at Chartwell, Winston Churchill's country estate, with new revelations surrounding a secret business deal orchestrated by Joseph P. Kennedy, the soon-to-be American ambassador to Great Britain and the father of future American president John F. Kennedy. From London to America, these two powerful families shared an ever-widening circle of friends, lovers, and political associates – soon shattered by World War II, spying, sexual infidelity, and the tragic deaths of JFK's sister Kathleen and his older brother Joe Jr.  By the 1960s and JFK's presidency, the Churchills and the Kennedys had overcome their bitter differences and helped to define the “greatness” in each other. 

 Acclaimed biographer Thomas Maier tells this dynastic saga through fathers and their sons – and the remarkable women in their lives – providing keen insight into the Churchill and Kennedy families and the profound forces of duty, loyalty, courage and ambition that shaped them. He explores the seismic impact of Winston Churchill on JFK and American policy, wrestling anew with the legacy of two titans of the twentieth century. Maier also delves deeply into the conflicted bond between Winston and his son, Randolph, and the contrasting example of patriarch Joe Kennedy, a failed politician who successfully channeled his personal ambitions to his children. By approaching these iconic figures from a new perspective, Maier not only illuminates the intricacies of this all-important cross-Atlantic allegiance but also enriches our understanding of the tumultuous time in which they lived and the world events they so greatly influenced.

 With deeply human portraits of these flawed but larger-than-life figures, When Lions Roar explores the “special relationship” between the Churchills and Kennedys, and between Great Britain and the United States, highlighting all of its emotional complexity and historic significance.

*****

My review: Well researched and thoroughly fascinating book. Not a quick book because there is so much to absorb, in a good way, some meat and potatoes if you will, wonderfully educational, great book about history, without being dry! This is one I will likely read again and again. This was an Advanced Reader Copy provided by Bloggingforbooks.com in return for an honest review.