Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Science Fiction, supernatural, Thriller

Nightmare Crouton (Nova Socio Book 1) by Todd Hallbauer

The events of September 11, 2001 changed the course of history. When the smoke cleared and the American people realized the scale of the threat facing their country, they demanded action. The government’s answer was to create an organization that could protect Americans from violent actors and prevent future massacres; an organization that is nimble, quiet, and deadly. The Central Intelligence and Defense Force was born. For twenty years, Americans slept soundly knowing that the skilled agents of the CIDF were deployed around the globe.

Suddenly, in the spring of 2023, the charismatic leader of a network of environmental extremists orders his followers to launch a bloody campaign. The series of devastating attacks in Seattle shakes the public’s faith in the CIDF. Following the government’s failures, a private security firm known as Red Star decides to confront the extremists themselves. They recruit Liam Kromer, a decorated soldier and disgraced law enforcement officer, to help hunt down those responsible for the carnage. When Liam goes undercover for his new employer, he learns that the recent attacks were part of a larger plan. His mysterious foes have a bold vision for the future, and they’ve spent decades preparing for war.

Title: Nightmare Crouton (Nova Socio Book 1)

Author: Todd Hallbauer

Pages: 414

My review

A perfectly written thriller

Nightmare Crouton is the first installment of the Nova Socio series. The story revolves around Liam Kromer, a disgraced law enforcement officer. The stage is set for Liam to unwind the mysteries rooted in terrorism. I find the theme of this book quite different. This story is a blend of contemporary political affairs, the threat of terrorism, environmental activism, future technologies, etc. It is so rare to find all these themes in a book.

Liam’s character is explored to a certain extent in this book. But he still has the air of mystery. This interesting characterization paves the way for the next book in this series. The creativity behind crafting a huge and complex story like this is remarkable. The author has connected many dots and subplots to finally solve the mystery. The narration is engaging and captivating. Because we are only introduced to a small portion of a large conspiracy at the beginning. The more we get closer to this mystery, the more it reveals.

The style of writing is good and simple to follow. The author has taken time to craft the characters with depth. One of the striking features of this novel is its gradual ascend into the future. It has a fair share of elements of sci-fi too. This interesting mix is surely a bundle of entertainment.

Amina Thajudeen Uncategorized

The Plait by Tawab Adam | Review

Listen to the reed, how it complains…telling a story of separation…Misha is a rising star at Moscow University. Preparing to become a doctor. He entertains his fellow students by putting on satirical shows. It is not until the University Rector spies Mischa using an image of the great leader Brezhnev as toilet paper. Life takes an unexpected turn. Disgraced and shamed, Mischa is sent to war torn Afghanistan to fight the Mujahedeen.The horrors of war surround him. Gone are the battlefields of WWII. In the unforgiving mountains of Afghanistan, Misha’s Russian heritage and beauty attract the attention of the paedophile mujahi-deen. They allege he is a spy and inflict upon him the most degrading forms of torture they can devise.Unsure what destiny has in store for him, Mischa crosses paths with the independent and alluring Aryana and a spiritual wanderer known only as the Master, a man with insights few possess. Under his teachings, Mischa comes closer to unlocking his true potential. Lost in the strange place between peace and violence, Mischa is on the verge of emerging from darkness and illuminating the world. If he survives.Back in Moscow, Mischa is presumed dead. The Deputy Minister of Defense presents Mischa’s mother with the Hero of the Soviet Union medal only to have it cast back at his face. Enraged, he orders her arrested and taken to the psychiatric hospital. Fate intervenes when a university friend of Mischa’s, Yaakov, gets the Russian Premiere involved. But with each act complications arise. One man’s fate hangs in the balance and with it the future of the entire world. Does Mischa have the strength to become more than he ever imagined?

Title: The Plait

Author: Tawab Adam

Pages: 385

My review

The Plait is a masterpiece novel. This is a very interesting story narrated in an exceptional way. Misha, the young university student is unwillingly dragged into a variety of incidents such as politics, greed, racism, nuclear war, and conspiracy. I really liked the satirical take on politics throughout the story.

Misha was unexpectedly dragged into this drama. His quiet and peaceful life is quickly turned into pathetic and terrible. Life pushed him into his limit. But there is always light at the end of the tunnel. At some points, I was desperate for a twist in Misha’s life. Because he doesn’t deserve any of those tortures. Everything happens for a reason. His whole life was changed because of these terrible incidents. He was able to unlock the next level of spirituality only because of this.

The climax was a perfect conclusion for this story. It felt like a circle, coming back to where all of this started. But this new Misha came back with an enlightened spirit and energized mind. His intelligence was increased multifold. Everything falls into its own place at the end.

This large story touched many contemporary concepts and issues. One major highlight is political drama. The author has portrayed the unadulterated dark side of power politics. The change was inevitable. The journey of Misha ends with achieving that change.

All the characters are developed very well, especially Misha’s. His emotions, frustrations, and fears are convincingly portrayed. This gave depth to this character. The story is narrated smoothly from beginning to end. The author has carried the central theme of this story perfectly to its climax. Overall, this is a very good read.

Rating:5/5

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, non-fiction

Stroke Recovery, What Now?: When Physical Therapy Ends, But Your Recovery Continues by Tracy L. Markley

In “Stroke Recovery; What Now?” Tracy brings as much knowledge and experience as she can, hoping to help survivors continue with their personal stroke recovery. She teaches about the biomechanics of the body’s movements based on science. Tracy has helped several survivors achieve continued success in their stroke recovery. In “Stroke Recovery; What Now?” Tracy’s desire is to bring understanding to why specific muscles must be strengthened before other movements in the body can improve. Included in this book, are several important exercises for survivors and anyone who wants to become more stable when they stand and walk. There are also descriptions of why each exercise works. Tracy shares tips to improve a drop foot, spasticity, muscle strength, balance, communication, spatial awareness, cognitive skills, brain care and more. Tracy asked more than one hundred survivors about the struggles and challenges they faced when they were left on their own to continue their recovery. She was surprised by many of the tough challenges some faced, and she was determined to include all concerns in this book. There is no time frame on stroke recovery. Learning ways to help your brain build new pathways and helping your body move correctly more will assist you toward further recovery.

Title: Stroke Recovery, What Now?: When Physical Therapy Ends, But Your Recovery Continues

Author: Tracy L. Markley

Pages: 203

My review

This book is an all-in-one solution for every stroke survivor. Many survivors are confused on their recovery process after the limited physical therapy sessions. Either they don’t have proper knowledge of the continuing recovery or they may have the financial constraints to carry on physical therapy sessions. They may not have proper knowledge of the muscle groups that are affected by each exercises and the home workouts. Tracy has more than 20 years of experience in this field and helped many survivors in her long career. All her real-life experiences are bundled together and presented through this guide.

This is an A-Z guide on stroke and recovery. She starts from the basic information about stroke and its types. Then move on to the long recovery process. Along with illustrations on the exercises from beginner to advanced levels, she also stresses out the role of support groups. Many stroke survivors struggle with remembering things and depression. A strong support group is an excellent way out in this process.

One of the unique features of this book is its comprehensive coverage on all relevant topics. This significantly reduced my search for other books in this subject. Because it has anatomical illustrations, explanations and exercise diagrams. This is indeed a very helpful guide.

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, non-fiction, Self-Help

Dear Stroke, You Suck: The Journey of A Fitness Trainer and Stroke Survivor by Tracy Markley

Dear Stroke, You Suck is an inspiring journey in stroke recovery of a Fitness Trainer and a Stroke Surivior. The stroke survivor in this journey really wanted his story shared to help other stroke survivors and their care givers. This book was originally named The Stroke of An Artist. It appeared as an Art book, So it has been Republished with this new book title, Dear Stroke, You Suck. There are a few minor changes, as in some changes in the anatomy illustrations and pictures, other wise it is the same story as in the original publication. This is the 2nd Edition of the book The Stroke of an Artist.

Title: Dear Stroke, You Suck: The Journey of A Fitness Trainer and Stroke Survivor

Author: Tracy Markley

Pages: 160

My review

Stroke recovery is not an easy task. The survivor has to regain mental and physical health. Since the brain is trying to create new pathways to cope with the destruction caused by stroke, this recovery is slower than usual. Due to this fact, many stroke survivors give up their efforts too early. This is an eye-opener for those survivors.

Gary was an acclaimed artist and he survived the worst kind of stroke. He had numerous physical limitations. Along with that, he lost his spatial awareness, proprioception, peripheral vision and sensations. But his sheer determination changed everything. He had a good support group around him. Their encouragement and his confidence was enough to overcome all difficulties. After every training demonstration, he asked one question, “Can I try it now?” This relentless pursuit leads him to a healthy body which had no signs of stroke injuries.

This heartwarming story is told without losing the emotions and intensity at any points. You can’t complete this book without dissolving into tears. Gary’s story touched the bottom of my heart. But his journey will not be complete without mentioning his trainer, Tracy. She is a perfect example of determination and persistence. She believed in her abilities and helped Gary with patience. She understood his needs and devised a plan exclusively for him. All her efforts rewarded with Gary’s quick recovery.

This story emphasizes on one thing- anything is possible with the right knowledge and determination. This is a must-read for all caregivers, stroke survivors and general audience who would like to increase their awareness on this subject.

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, non-fiction, Self-Help

Stroke Recovery: Regaining Arm Movement by Tracy Markley | Review

In Stroke Recovery, Rebuilding Arm Movements, Tracy share illustrations of the many muscles in the body that participate in the movement of the arm and exercises. In many cases, stroke recovery patients do not receive enough physical therapy to help them reach the full potential in their stroke recovery. This leaves many stroke survivors seeking help from other sources, such as personal trainers, Pilates teachers, and other professionals in the fitness communities. Tracy believes when a survivor gains more knowledge of muscles and movement and why specific exercises need to be practiced, it leads to a stronger recovery.

Title: Stroke Recovery: Regaining Arm Movement

Author: Tracy Markley

Pages: 103

My review

The arm is a very complex body part. It is designed to carry out more than 70% of our daily activities. We can lift weights and pick a needle using the same hand. The layers of muscle and bones are arranged to efficiently carry out every activity. Regaining arm movement is a difficult task for a stroke survivor. I know this fact because I witnessed this difficulty when my father had a stroke. We were more concentrated on walking gait. Although we didn’t ignore arm exercises, it was not enough. I learned these facts from this book. In all her books, the author stresses the importance of posture for a healthy body. Because the hand movements are directly connected with back and core muscles.

We have to devote more time and adopt a variety of exercises to regain the arm movement. This book a smooth guide for everything we need to know. It has detailed explanations and illustrations on the muscle groups. This helped me to understand which exercise affects which muscles and joints. This in turn helped to comprehensively understand the anatomy. The author herself demonstrated every exercise and its variations. This resolved all my doubts.

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, non-fiction, Self-Help

The Power of Your Spine: How Back Strength and Posture Pilots the Entire Body by Tracy L. Markley | Review

In The Power of Your Back and Spine Muscles, Tracy shares illustrations of many important spine and back muscles. She also shares the physical movements these spine and back muscles perform for everyday activity. Tracy feels if we have the knowledge of our muscles and movements, it guides us to stay injury free during our daily activities and exercise programs. Having this knowledge will help fight against decline and weakness that often come with aging and/or disease. It will also assist in recovery and rehab from injuries, stroke, surgeries and rebuilding walking abilities. This anatomy book is a vital resource for all ages, including students, fitness fanatics, athletes, fitness professionals, physical therapists, chiropractors and medical professionals.

Title: The Power of Your Spine: How Back Strength and Posture Pilots the Entire Body

Author: Tracy L. Markley

Pages: 116

My review

What is the importance of Spine in our body? Its simple, everything originates and everything ends there. This book is a treasure in this subject. I was unaware of the importance of the spine until now. But in reality, Spine deserves more attention than anything in our body.

Movement is the basic function of our body. Proper movement is impossible without a healthy spine. Our body is designed to constantly move from one place to another. But our lifestyles push us to spend more time in front of a desk than walking or running. This deteriorates our health, especially our spine. All this points to one thing- we have to give more care to our spine.

This book is an all-in-one solution. What I meant by this is, it has A-Z details about spine. It has a beautiful explanation of the theoretical and practical aspects of spine health. The author has given special care to differentiate between wrong and right exercises. I found these things highly helpful while reading.

What makes this book a stand out is its content. It has detailed illustrations and explanations about the muscle groups, bone structure adjoining to the spine. Anyone who picks up this book can learn something new for sure.

Overall, I gained advanced knowledge and practical solutions for a healthy spine from this comprehensive book.

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fiction, Young-Adult

Anticipation by J.N. Eagles | Review

Anticipation is a novelette length story that follows the ups and downs of Briana and Dillon’s relationship. When Dillon plans a special night together on his boat, he’s actually planning to ask her to take the next step in their relationship. The evening doesn’t go as smoothly as he hoped, and his question isn’t exactly what Briana had expected.

Title: Anticipation

Author: J.N. Eagles

Pages:55

My review

A slowly unwinding romance that feels like a cool breeze from the scenic secluded beach.

This story touched the bottom of my heart and lingered there reluctant to leave for so much time. I could not turn the last page without dissolving into tears. It was that much filled with emotion. True to the title, anticipation is a beautiful slice of romance. With each taste, it will cover you in the eternal feeling of love.

I could not emphasize more on the beauty of writing in this novelette. It is accurate, structured without dragging any emotions too much and progressing at a steady pace. The author has poured her magic through very few words. It is hard to believe that she had weaved a beautiful tale without losing the intensity inside this novelette. This is a perfect example of craft and talent.

Dillon and Briana lives among us. Their love is true and deep. They hit few dead ends, but eventually their love prevails amidst all odds. It bonds two hearts into one. Their relationship has ups and downs. They have their indifference. But both of them know one thing beyond any doubt- they are meant to be together. This is the heart of this story. I loved the characters and how the story was framed.

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, non-fiction, Self-Help

The Effort: Reprogram a New Beginning by Alex Porter | Review

“The Effort: Reprogram a New Beginning” is a relationship self-help book with an unbiased approach on resolving issues. A final fight to bring things back to how it should be With each other, Happy and in love. This book is a quick reference to assist in any situation in your relationship. To see things in a different outlook and take a different approach for a better understanding. The goal is to reprogram the way you solve issues or approach situation to keep a healthy relationship. To insure your both understanding each other, to come together as a team to find the solution. In this quick reference you will find a better way to communicate, understanding, and resolve. A better way to show your effort and get back to the same feeling you had at the beginning of your relationship. Show the effort to one another, Reprogram a New Beginning with your soulmate on this journey of life.

Title: The Effort: Reprogram a New Beginning

Author: Alex Porter

Pages: 26

My review

A good relationship is a dream for every human being. We are born to connect with people. We have to protect and nourish a relationship to sustain it for a long time. A healthy relationship gives us good mental and physical health. But the relationships only grow if we take proper care of them. If not, it will deteriorate over time. This is an A-Z guide to reprogram our existing and new relationships.

The first lesson from this book is how to build a strong foundation for relationships. Because only a strong foundation can handle heights. Communication is the foundation of a relationship. A relationship cannot sustain longer without it. We have to express our feelings.

One of the most important lessons we can learn from this book is to know when you have to step back and step in. Domination is one of the major reasons for unhealthy relationships. We all have that element rooted in our character. But there are two people in a relationship, not one. Knowing when to control your emotions and expressions is the key.

The second half of this book is dedicated to the details of love languages. The author stresses out, 5 important love languages which are the pillars of any relationship. Adopting these 5 methods in our daily life can bring magic to relationships. In the end, the author also dissects down the levels of anger that can ruin a relationship. The best solution for this is an apology. This short book ends by explaining the 5 languages of apology that we can use.

Although this is a very short guide, it touches all the levels and addresses every possible problem that can occur in a relationship. It has to the point solutions. Knowing the mistake and rectifying it is the core of every relationship. This handy guide shows us the proper way to handle it.

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Memoirs, non-fiction, Self-Help

Abandon Brandon: A Memoir by Brandon McDermott | Review

Brandon spent his childhood as a ward of the state, living in and out of foster care. The abuses, poverty and lack of support he experienced as a child molded and motivated him to do more and be more than he was shown. His story is one of survival, resilience, redemption, and hope. Brandon is a first generation high school and college graduate. He’s an award winning journalist, working in and out of the radio industry for nearly two decades. Currently he’s a statewide morning radio host in Nebraska covering the foster care system, education and politics.

Title: Abandon Brandon: A Memoir

Author: Brandon McDermott

Pages: 182

My review

Abandon Brandon is a brutally honest painstaking account of survival. Every living moment is a fight. A never-ending fight for the right to live. Each page is flooded with pain. This pain will overflow and it will drag our heart into its pool. The suffocation created from this pain, helplessness, and anger will break our hearts from the inside.

You can feel the roughness of this story from the first line on the first page itself. This story offers no comfort. It is not about motivation or hopes either. I felt only one thing; some people possess greater power to take all suffering. Yet they will not bow down to their circumstances. There will be some light left for them. They have the strength to hold on to that small light, with only one mission-survival.

It is not easy to survive physical and sexual abuse. It will break your health and mind, leaving long-lasting scars that will never fade. Witnessing abuse and being a victim of abuse later are two different experiences. But both of them will torment you throughout the later years of life.
Reading Brandon’s experience is not easy. He has narrated this first-person account with the utmost clarity. His unadulterated voice is too hard to digest. At some points, I was broken down into tears. I couldn’t read anymore. It was that much emotion. I couldn’t understand how he got the strength to overcome these terrible experiences even from a tender age.

We can’t choose the people we are born with. But we can choose the people we live with. We have the liberty to accept our situation or fight with them. In the end, what matters are our choices and our strength to hold on to them for good.  Loved this story and this message. This is one of the most underrated stories I ever read.

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Poems, poetry

One Flesh: Poems by Obed Ladiny | Review

One Flesh: Poems is a fun, serious, accessible, and inspirational free-verse poetry book.

Title: One Flesh: Poems

Author: Obed Ladiny

Pages: 72

My Review

One Flesh by Obed Ladiny is a collection of soulful poems. They hammered down strong emotions like love, hate, pain, despair, sorrow, broken dreams, and loneliness through words.

These poems are surprisingly fresh and beautiful. I really loved the section of poems on marriage. Through a series of poems, the author portrayed how two minds grew apart to different worlds despite their physical bonding. The mind exists in countless small rooms and closets unknown to each other within a single small house.

The author has consciously changed the style of verses to create a deep meaning within. This unique style really surprised me. You can create endless dimensions and meaning to a few words by carefully arranging them in a unique fashion. This is being creative inside a creative work.

One of the striking features of these poems is, they are straight from the heart. It bears the scars and colour of pain. The unadulterated voices are filled with underlying meaning and waiting for the reader to explore.