Book Review: 'Moneyball' by Michael Lewis

✰✰✰½ The million dollar question was, how could one of the poorest teams in baseball become one the biggest success stories of the year? Not all the teams in baseball have the same resources; there’s a huge discrepancy between them. So it comes down to making the best out of what you have, and nobody does that better than Billy Beane. Beane was a talented baseball player with lots of promise himself before he quit. Where he failed in playing the game, he excelled in recruiting and managing. Using new baseball knowledge and theories that needed testing, Beane was able to cobble together a winning team out of misfits. Before the end of the book, you’ll be pulling for this team of eccentric players.

The Bottom Line: At times riveting and other times dry, this book encourages the reader to think outside the box. It presents information about baseball and statistics in a way that was new at the time. Following the challenges and triumphs of one of the poorest teams in baseball is fascinating. You will be amazed at what can be done with limited funds, and you will be rooting as the team tries to break a record. Recommended for sports fans and those interested in statistics.

Book Club Notes: Well, our second foray into the HYBRID book discussion format was an improvement. Again, half of us chose to attend in-person, while the other half joined us via Zoom. Initially, we were excited about this topic and book. Yet, actually reading it proved challenging as several of our members got bogged down in the technical aspects of the writing. The movie, on the other hand, was fantastic! The movie was able to show the human side of the topic, while the book focused on the technical aspects of statistics. On a scale of 1 - 5, with 5 being the highest: the movie garnered 4.25 stars, and the book received 3.9. Recommended for book clubs interested in sports and statistics.

On a positive note, discussion questions for both the book and movie are plentiful, so I didn’t have to create my own. Here are some links to check out: LitLovers and Sports Engine.

Details: Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael Lewis. Paperback published by W. W. Norton & Company in 2004. 336 p. ISBN: 978-0-393-32481-5  

Book Review: 'Bad Axe County: A Novel' by John Galligan

✰✰✰✰ Interim sheriff Heidi Kick has a lot on her plate. She's married to a local baseball legend, is the mother of three young kids, and half of the county would prefer a man to be sheriff. Nevertheless, Heidi doesn't let anything stand in her way, and she has a job to do. 

When the local librarian is beaten, Heidi discovers that there's more going on in her county than she knew. With a teenaged girl is missing and in danger, Heidi follows the clues and discovers just how deep local, illegal activities have been buried. 

Just when you think you have this one figured out, there's another twist in the path to lead you down the wrong way. Suspenseful and entertaining, this Midwest mystery will keep you guessing.

The Bottom Line: This is the first book in the series, and I'm hooked. I don't usually read thrillers, but I received this one in a goody bag at a conference a few years back. Gritty, dark, and fast-paced, Galligan has a knack for making the reader turn pages; I couldn't put it down. And being as it was set in Wisconsin, I could easily picture the setting. Highly recommended for fans of thrillers, mysteries, and police procedurals. I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment.

Details: Bad Axe County: A Novel (Book 1) by John Galligan. ARC edition published by Atria Books in 2019. 336 p. ISBN: 978-1-9821-1070-3 

Book Review: 'The Beauty of Black Mermaids Coloring Book' by N. D. Jones

✰✰✰✰ This stunning coloring book features Black mermaids and mermen. There's even an adorable merbaby! What's not to like about images of a dreamy life under the sea? There are seventeen underwater scenes featuring merfolk and sea creatures. Additionally, there are eight pages featuring inspirational quotes, and you also get a few word games at the end. Prepare to be enchanted.

The Bottom Line: This inspiring coloring book is dedicated to and features quotes by author bell hooks. It is #3 in N. D. Jones' Fantasy in Black series of coloring books. Each page is a sensual delight. The illustrations were actually done by Ika Sirana, and I would have liked to see her name on the front cover too. If there is another book, I hope the pages are perforated. Also, please note that if you are using marker, place a blank sheet of paper behind the page you are working on to prevent bleed through. (See my sample below.) Enthusiastically recommended for everyone who enjoys coloring with a nautical theme.

Details: The Beauty of Black Mermaids Coloring Book ((Fantasy in Black, Book 3) by N. D. Jones. Paperback published by Kuumba Publishing in 2022. 68 p. ISBN: 978-1-7352998-9-1 [NOTE: I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This was made possible via the Early Reviewers program at LibraryThing.]

I selected this inspiring page to color for review. I used Crayola markers.