Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

Hold, Please is Richard Hester's story of Stage Managing A Pandemic. It's March 2020, and the Coronavirus Pandemic is starting to take hold. At last, the President has acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, and panic begins to set in. Broadway shuts down, and Richard Hester, Broadway stage manager, spends his evenings watching TV, waiting for news. The weeks turned to months, and everyone changed. Millions died, and people were separated from their families and friends. George Floyd's death shocked the world and made us all aware of how we treated others. World economies shut down, and many people's jobs changed, not always for the better. If all this weren't enough, America was torn apart by the Presidential election and the Capitol Hill attacks. This book takes you on a wondrous journey in an attempt to make sense of it all and try to gain some perspective. The pandemic changed us all, and it changed the world, but some managed better than others.

Hold, Please by Richard Hester is an amazing book written by a clearly talented writer. Written almost like a diary, it chronicles events from the writer's perspective. It is, in many ways, a humorous yet bittersweet look at what are undoubtedly some of the worst years of many of our lives. But this isn't just about what we've been through; it's about where we are going, the direction we should take, and the attitude we should adopt to get through whatever life throws at us. Richard Hester has a gift; like you listen when a master storyteller begins to speak, so you feel compelled to read what Richard writes. And just to make things seem so much brighter than they were, his detailed stories of life under Covid intertwine with tidbits about his life in the theater. If you doubt what the world is now coming out of, I urge you to pick up this book and read it – you'll know exactly what it was all about, and you may even understand more about who you are as a person.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

In Seeing Eye Girl: A Memoir of Madness, Resilience, and Hope by Beverly J. Armento, the author remembers the time when she was the eyes and ears of her blind mother. Beverly’s Italian father abandoned her, her sister Sharon, and her mother. While her mother got married to Ron Radzai and gave birth to two boys (who had the same eye disease), Beverly was the only one who bore the brunt of her mother’s anger and wrath. Taking charge of the house and braving the physical and verbal abuse of her mother, Beverly was a good daughter. Beverly dreamed of a release from the prison that was policed by her abusive mother. However, the promise of a better future, with a college education and a good career were all Beverly needed to break the shackles and stand up for herself.

Seeing Eye Girl is a collection of memories and hardships Beverly Armento went through. The person who was supposed to love her unconditionally was the one who made Beverly’s life miserable. The narrative was powerful. I was surprised by how 'silent' the story was. After a couple of chapters, I realized that was because Beverly didn’t want to draw attention to herself. Every sound needed to be heard with utmost focus and that showed how scared Beverly was at home. The hardships of growing up in a home where the abusive mother needed no excuse to torture Beverly were almost too much at times. I loved the “Strong Beverly,” who was intelligent and had friends. The author took us through the years of her life as she learned to live only for herself, asked questions even though she didn’t have any answers, and gave an opening for readers to look for answers. This unforgettable personal journey will make you tear up but feel absolutely proud of her at the same time. Heartbreaking yet so empowering!

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

Chasing bin Laden: My Hunt for the World's Most Notorious Terrorist by Barbara K. Janik is a memoir with an alternative story pertaining to the capture of arguably one of the most dangerous humans on the planet. More than that, Janik's first-person telling and account is really a look into the passion and life of a real home sleuth, the daily impact that her investigations online and from her home had on herself, her partner, and her loved ones, and the transparent, honest, human element Janik shares about herself, both good and not-so-flattering. Janik details her deep-dive into online forums, her phone calls and emails to and from the FBI and other government bodies, and her extensive searches through many online vehicles, including on the mid-2000 site du jour, MySpace. All of these pieces are what she presents as evidence that Osama bin Laden had actually been in Brooklyn, New York. As she puts the pieces together, Janik is faced with a puzzle few are willing to listen to her about and even fewer are willing to consider. The initial hope and acknowledgment she is given as she calls in tips, and the framework of a hunt ultimately sends her into hiding with feelings of failure and without the promised $25-million dollar reward. “Saving people, hunting things, the family business.” Dean Winchester [Supernatural] as quoted in the book.

Regardless of whether or not a reader will believe that what Barbara K. Janik describes—and many do not believe her, but a great many also do—it is undeniable that Chasing bin Laden is a fascinating book. Janik has a real talent as a writer and the book is written to such a high standard that, should she choose to go in the direction of a true-crime or fiction novelist, her success as an author is not difficult to imagine. This book does read with the intensity of good fiction even though Janik is unequivocal in her determination to be taken seriously and for her words to be read as truth. She is clear on motive and the risk she assumes forces her to take on pseudonyms and relocate her identity online, all while making contact with conspiracy-theorist communities such as the likes of Alex Jones' followers and The Truth Movement, both of which are well-known now but certainly were not back in those days. I like that Janik shares her side of the communication with the FBI, and while responses in verifiable writing from government agencies are not provided, when the files on OBL are declassified in the decades to come, Janik might be vindicated. Until then, we are given her story in a compelling piece of literature that is articulate and well-written.

Reviewed by Melanie Kennedy for Readers' Favorite

Holocaust Memories: Annihilation and Survival in Slovakia by Paul Davidovits is one in the Series Holocaust Survivor Memoirs World War II. Paul starts his memoir by explaining that he and his mother had to flee their home in Slovakia in 1944. The only item his mother could keep was a small suitcase and of all their belongings she chose to keep an album of family photographs. With this album and the few memories he had of when he was young, he lovingly describes the family members who appear in these photographs. Paul recalls their life and their fate in World War II. He then goes on to recount his grandfather's, father's, and especially his mother’s heroic efforts and journey to escape persecution and deportation, eventually surviving until World War II ended on the 2nd of September 1945.

I was very moved by Paul Davidovits’ retelling of his days as a young boy during the last few years of World War II. Even though he was only eight when he and his parents had to flee their hometown, he has quite vivid memories of his childhood and his family. As he described his relatives, I was left either with a smile on my face or tears welling up in my eyes as he outlined their fate at the end of the war. Paul brings the human aspect of the war to the fore in Holocaust Memories: Annihilation and Survival in Slovakia. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and am grateful that Paul decided to write his extraordinary story for us to share.

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

Matzah Balls to Communion Wafers: How a not so Kosher Jewish Girl Fell in Love with Jesus by Gail Baker is the author's memoir of her life and journey on the path toward finding answers to questions surrounding her personal faith. At first, she is almost militantly defensive when propositioned by well-meaning evangelicals, and they seem to pop up everywhere, including on a date. It isn't until a family crisis throws her religious views into question that Baker begins to dig deeper to find meaning in it all. With her identity as firmly grounded in Judaism as nearly every other facet of her life, Baker is forced to confront both internal resistance and fierce opposition from her family, community, and the ties that bind her to faith. Ultimately, she finds a balance between the two that is as individual as it is inspirational.

Matzah Balls to Communion Wafers by Gail Baker is a wonderful book that will resonate with readers of all faiths, particularly those who have converted from one firm belief to another. There is a very human and authentic tone to Baker's writing, which feels so much like a friend sitting on the sofa with you, telling the story from the beginning of how she managed to make it there. The narrative is light and humorous when it's appropriate, without detracting from the heavyweight of her experience, and she's definitely a woman that's easy to connect with from the first page. I'd absolutely recommend this moving autobiography to anyone interested in real-life interfaith coming-of-age stories, even when it occurs in their late 30's.

Reviewed by Erin Nicole Cochran for Readers' Favorite

The Mourning Report by Caitlin Garvey is raw with edges of true honesty that you won’t read anywhere else. A non-fiction memoir, Garvey sits her audience down to listen in as she interviews five people who were part of her mother’s passage from life to death. A priest, hospice nurse, hairstylist, estate planner, and funeral director do their best to give her the answers that she seeks. Each no doubt hoping to bring Caitlin Garvey some small bit of peace.

Caitlin Garvey’s The Mourning Report is able to put you in the center of what it feels like to lose someone too soon and to a debilitating illness. It also takes us on the journey of Garvey’s own recovery process from her days spent in a psychiatric facility. The strength and courage that Garvey exudes go beyond awe-inspiring. Her candor throughout is another connecting thread that draws the reader into her words; she doesn’t sugarcoat or exaggerate, and anyone that is human responds to that kind of voice. One of the instances that pulled me in and rang so true was on page 37: “Spirituality is strange because it’s invisible. You have to feel it. At that moment, I feel something, too. I feel warm…” There were many times that Garvey’s writing overtook me. And I honestly can’t tell you how many times I was overcome by emotion. Too many to count. All I know is that you will be able to understand grief more in depth and in almost every form that it can possibly take when you finish reading Caitlin Garvey’s The Mourning Report.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Farm Boy, City Girl: From Gene to Miss Gina is a work of non-fiction written in the form of a memoir by author John "Gene" E. Dawson. A memoir penned in three distinct stages of life, this is an incredible life story which will be an important read for LGBTQIA+ community members and their allies to understand the experiences of those Midwestern pioneers who came before them and campaigned for rights. Gene’s tale takes us from a stark and strict upbringing in a farming family to his initial stage of adult life as a gay man, and then through to his full freedom to live as Miss Gina in the city of St. Louis.

Author John "Gene" E. Dawson delivers a superb life story with pathos, heart, and a whole lot of valuable wisdom that future generations must hear. One of the things which the narrative really explored was the cultural perceptions and the real struggles of being a young gay man in small towns and big cities, proving that the journey was never an easy one and rights were difficult to come by. Dawson’s enigmatic narrative style shows readers his true heart, and the expressions of his life are laced with nostalgia, love, humor, and heartache as we undergo his truly emotional and ground-breaking tale. By its end, this is a memoir where you really fall in love with the author and wish them every bit of good they’ve found in life. Overall, I would highly recommend Farm Boy, City Girl to all readers as a lesson in fortitude, love, and strength.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Precious Silver Chopsticks: A True Story of a Korean Noble Family by Mae Adams is a beautiful story woven around interesting characters; Grandpa, Grandma, Father, Mother, Little-Pa, Big-Sis, Intaek, Mae, and Hewitt Dayne Adams. The author weaves in the essence of the Korean spirit and their culture using these wonderful characters and tells the story of their incredible survival during World War II when the family escaped to South Korea. Her story of being abandoned by her wealthy parents, especially her mother after she was born (because they wanted a son), and her life with her grandparents who were commoners showed her society in two different ways. The good, the bad, the ugly, and the truth has all been outlined for readers to see the heart-wrenching moments and the happy moments she underwent in life.

Mae Adams is very vocal and honest when it comes to sharing the story of her life and she gives a lot of information about the customs, traditions, culture, society, and class system in Korea. The narration is detailed, descriptive, and vivid, and makes it easy for readers to connect with her life story. Her love story with Hewitt is beautiful and her message, 'The most precious things in this world are one’s heart and soul and the indestructible human capacity to love another human being,' is equally beautiful when it comes to describing her love for Hewitt. There is an element of warmth that runs through the book that will make readers connect with the characters who are the author's closest family, and that gives tangibility to the story, the emotions, the characters, and the experiences.

Reviewed by Cassie Widjaja for Readers' Favorite

Scott Stokely: Growing Up Disc Golf, written by Scott Stokely and Aaron Rath, is the first-ever autobiography detailing the life of a professional disc golfer. Through the eyes of the man who lived it, we get to see how the sport develops through the years and gains its fame, eventually becoming recognized as a professional sport. Scott's incredibly detailed account of his life includes decades of legends of the Frisbee family and hundreds of tournaments. Refusing to spare any detail, Scott lays the truth out for anyone to see as he tells about his highs and lows, successes and failures, and every other aspect of his career. Having earned seventeen World and National Disc Golf and Distance titles, Scott hopes to spread his love of playing disc golf through this book.

Scott Stokely and Aaron Rath truly outdid themselves with this brutally honest and extraordinary memoir. Mixing stories of how disc golf began with Scott's personal experiences, Scott Stokely: Growing Up Disc Golf is a true treasure as Scott's passion and dedication for his sport shine through these carefully composed sentences. I love how Scott refuses to hide his flaws and questionable decisions. Instead, he allows people to see how his mistakes have made him who he is today. He teaches us that our past doesn't define whether we succeed or fail in the end. By reading Scott's story, I understood just how important having a mentor is when you're trying to achieve a huge goal. Whether you are a disc golf fan or not, this book is a must-read!

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

American Dreamer: How I Escaped Communist Vietnam and Built a Successful Life in America by Tim Tran with Tom Fields-Meyer is the fascinating story of the author who was once a penniless refugee and a man without a country. It is also the story of an underprivileged kid who went through a lot of adversity and finally survived to escape from his country to the United States and live the American dream. His story is one of hard work, sheer perseverance, and good luck. This book chronicles his journey of trying to escape Communist Vietnam and his multiple attempts. He speaks of facing betrayal and deceit while trying to flee and how finally he and his wife Cathy managed to leave in a boat that was overcrowded with 350 other passengers, faced pirate attacks, and were in a Malaysian refugee camp before they reached Oregon. Tim Tran's success after reaching America gives hope to many readers who want to move to America and work for a better future and life.

Tim Tran's story is uplifting and inspiring, and American Dreamer is honest and straightforward, giving readers all the details about his struggles when it came to escaping from his home country and finding freedom. There is sadness, motivation, inspiration, struggles, compassion, and hope in this memoir, and it will keep readers hooked to the very end to discover how Tim Tran and his wife Cathy survived their ordeal, reached America, and made it their home. The depth of his struggles, while he lived in Vietnam, has been expressed in detail and is palpable to readers.