Review by Mack Hassler “A doctor gave his patient six months to live, but he couldn’t pay his bill, so he gave him another six months.” — Henny Youngman, comic (1906-1998) Recent Yooper writers of humor that I have reviewed may or may not know Henny Youngman’s one-liners, but I…
Reviewed by Sharon Brunner Nia To Go There’s matwân cî …wondering about now and then and everything everywhere poetry book portrays an innate intimacy between animals, birds, humans and inanimate objects between worlds. Stories, language, dances and visions exist and were experienced everywhere with everything. In other words, the time…
Reviewer: Sharon Brunner Steve Lehto’s “Death’s Door: The Truth Behind the Italian Hall Disaster and the Strike of 1913 (Second Edition)” offers a detailed account of the 1913 Christmas Eve mayhem and the corruption behind the strike in the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan. The peninsula is located in the northwestern…
Reviewer: Sharon Brunner Evil forces trapped animate objects in a Misplaced Universe in M. Kelly Peach’s book The Adventures of ArgyLe Sock. The animate objects varied from articles of clothing and socks to metal items such as paper clips, scissors, and clipboards. These objects could speak, move around,d and have…
Reviewer: Sharon Brunner M. Kelly Peach told a tragic story of a puppet and its master, a story filled with mournful memories, creative endeavors, and deadly delusions. It is staged in Detroit with an unsure timeline, probably a time when puppet shows with marionettes were popular. Kyle, the main character,…
Reviewed by Sharon Brunner Mike Cronan tells a story of greed, corruption, and murder in his “Yooper Murders of Mackinac County: A Sheriff Joseph Francois LaVake Mystery.” The story takes place in St. Ignace and the surrounding areas, such as Moran and Brevort. At one time, the author lived in…
Reviewer: Sharon Brunner Midwest goodbyes can be heartfelt and drawn-out experiences for a young girl who longed for her bed in Nikki Mitchell’s “Ellie and the Midwest Goodbye” book. Her parents had many family members and friends who cared about them and had many stories to share. Dressed for winter…
Review by: Sharon Brunner Liese Greensfelder’s Accidental Shepherd: How a California Girl Rescued an Ancient Mountain Farm in Norway tells a story about how a young courageous woman from California faced dangers and obstacles that she was not prepared to handle in a foreign country. It’s a story of remarkable…
Reviewer: Sharon Brunner Mikel B. Classen’s “Piracy on the Great Lakes: True Tales of Freshwater Pirates” offers thought-provoking information about piracy, including attacking, robbing, and hijacking various types of watercraft and their crew. Piracy has occurred on the Great Lakes since the 1700s. Voyageurs in canoes transporting tons of furs…
Reviewer: Sharon Brunner Raymond Luczak’s Animals Out-There W-i-l-d: A Bestiary in English and ASL Gloss painted a picture of the beauty of nature, nature’s resilience, and the ugliness of human behavior. Luczak wrote about the animals, reptiles, and birds who live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (U.P.) Luczak grew…
Review by Sharon Brunner Michele Olson’s book “Being Nancy: In a World Lost in Mystery” is filled with intrigue, plot twists, human misery, and enduring friendships. Mackinac Island served as the place where the story took place and some of the main characters are Nancy, Ned, Piper and Cam, two…
Review by Sharon Brunner Dave McVeigh and Jim Bolone’s “Misguided: A Mackinac Island Novel” revealed a lot of plot twists, adventure, and humor. The main character, Jack McGuinn, steamrolled his way into serving as the youngest tour guide at the historic Fort Mackinac on Mackinac Island. He joins three other…
Review by Sharon Brunner Craig A. Brockman’s “Delirium Wilderness” tells a story about two boys who faced a harrowing journey of mystery, terror, survival, and steadfast friendship. The story begins at the small town of Paradise in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (U.P.). Scotty visits his grandmother every summer and…
Review by Sharon Brunner Tom Lakenen and Nancy Barr’s book Lakenenland: the U.P.’s Most Unique Junkyard Art Park is packed with interesting and creative pictures of artwork made from scrap iron and other metals collected from various sources. Lakenen was born and raised in Marquette, Michigan. He pursued his interest…
Review by Sharon Brunner Nancy Besonen’s “Off the Hook Too!” book was thought-provoking, extremely humorous, and down to earth. She demonstrated the ability to connect so well with the Yooper culture. A true Yooper is someone who has lived all their lives in the scenic and rustic Upper Peninsula of…
Review by Sharon Brunner Tom Chambers delved into the history of Mackinac Island, Michigan from the 1940s to the present in his memoir “Memories of a Mackinac Island Native.” The island is located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan near the town of St. Ignace, Michigan. It served as a…
Reviewer by Sharon Brunner Author Robert Downes revealed in his book “Raw Deal: The Indians of the Midwest and the Theft of Native Lands” a vast amount of debauchery at the hands of the U.S. government, interlopers and greedy entrepreneurs. Downes mentioned the names of some of the tribes in…
Reviewer: Sharon Brunner Marcie R. Rendon brings to life the voices of the Anishinaabe ancestors in “Anishinaabe Songs for a New Millennium.” She has made it her mission to let others know the Anishinaabe still exist, and their song can heard by those who listen. Rendon is a member of…
