Dear Friends,

I’m slowly checking boxes off my list, but I haven’t had much time to spend online lately with end-of-year work projects and getting ready for Christmas festivities. Today though, I’m happy to share reviews of five amazing books:

The Bush Devil Ate Sam by Curtis Mekemson is compiled of tales from 1965 when Curt left the “chaotic world” at UC Berkeley and the student revolution of the mid-sixties to become a Peace Corps Volunteer in Liberia, West Africa. He grew up in the small town of Diamond Springs, California and met his soon-to-be wife, Jo Ann, at Sierra College near Sacramento. Curt also knew that “he was born to wander…Eventually this need to roam would be a factor in my decision to join the Peace Corps.” In just one week, he graduated from Berkeley, he and Jo Ann were married – honeymooned for three days, then both reported for Liberia VI Peace Corps training at San Francisco State College. Thinking of what a whirlwind week they had made my head spin!

The sprinkles of humor in Curt’s excellent storytelling enhances the vivid pictures of his memories. Not only did he and Jo Ann learn about the Liberian culture, but conforming to the crawling creatures that lived in the culture was just as important. The ‘scene’ that paused my heartbeat was when they saw a “fist-sized crab like spider scurrying sidewise across the wall.” Splat! Curt saved the day! For someone who has lived with arachnophobia since childhood, I was terrified from the picture that Curt painted with his descriptive words! Apparently bug-a-bugs, as Liberians called these creepy crawlies, were the norm along with “snacks of squirming termites.” I would’ve been on a plane the next day at sunrise, heading home (providing I survived the night).

However, putting all humor aside, Curt and Jo Ann’s service is commendable. There is much history about Liberia to learn in each chapter. He stated that if joining the Peace Corps came with a label, it would read, “Warning: This experience may change your concept of reality.” He and Jo Ann learned, adapted, served, taught, and achieved during their life-changing experience, and I found Curt’s account of their experience to be honest, fascinating, and emotional.  

Being a world traveler and backpacker, Curt shares stunning photos and entertaining narrative from his trips on his blog. I know more about him now, which increases my respect for him. And I’m not going to reveal how the book title came to be. Instead, I invite you to immerse yourself into his storytelling. Highly recommended for those who never stop growing and learning.

Beyond the Fetters by Balroop Singh is her debut novel. I am familiar with Balroop’s beautiful and evocative poetry and was excited to read her prose. This story is a heartfelt and emotional tale of a young girl, Earthy, her family, and her best friend, Dolly. The setting is in India, and Earthy’s story tells of how women are treated inferior to any male. She struggles with the shackles she was born with, is curious about life, and doesn’t understand society’s rules. I wasn’t surprised to find hints of Balroop’s lyrical, poetic style throughout the pages, especially in Earthy’s journal entries. This young girl lives in her dreams, and when “she looks at the high celling of the room for a long time, the carvings transform into real figures that resonate with her until dreamy cobwebs take her to the land of fairies. She loves this land, where clouds shimmer and trees whisper magical songs…”

In every stage of Earthy’s life, I rooted for her to stay strong and muster up the strength to change the course. Some experiences delight like a child’s first visit to Disneyland. And when others questioned her choices, I felt her confusion. The bottom line is to become conditioned to accept the unwritten norms of society. But this bottom line isn’t the end-all for Earthy. Since I love motivational quotes, several stayed with me…“Now I realize how important it is to feel free, how satisfying it is to get an opportunity to make your own decisions.” These words are not to be taken lightly because even though Earthy’s tale is fiction, it is reality for many cultures.

I am impressed with Balroop’s debut novel that reads more like writing fiction is the most natural thing for her to do. So, I encourage you to dip not only your toes into Earthy’s story full of poetic surprises, but your entire heart because your heart will empathize and cheer for the young girl who swims against the tide. Highly recommended for those who love strong, female protagonists and to get lost in another world.

I have read several of Darlene Foster’s adventures about Amanda, a twelve-year-old intelligent and curious girl. And since I’ve never been to Ireland, I looked forward to delving into the green, lush scenery of this gorgeous country by reading Amanda in Ireland. The story begins when Amanda Jane Ross flies to Ireland to be the junior bridesmaid in her cousin, Taylor’s, wedding, which will take place in a castle. Who would resist this invitation? Even though Taylor is older, he and Amanda get along well. He calls her “AJ” and she calls him “Digger.” Amanda will stay with Taylor’s fiancé, Roisin, pronounced Row-sheen, and she’s excited for this special event, except that she misses her best friend, Leah Anderson, who usually travels with her.

Even though Amanda misses Leah, she’s thrilled for her cousin and to be in the wedding. And even at twelve years old, she appreciates the beauty of the rolling green hills, and fields dotted with black and white cows and white fenced paddocks. Amanda learns about many aspects of the Irish, such as the so-called bogeyman, and Hurling, a traditional Irish sport. And like any adventure that Amanda sets her sights on, a mystery emerges. Her inquisitive trait doesn’t allow her to ignore the events swirling around her, and she sure won’t let fear stand in her way of finding answers. Instead, she jumps in, and the suspense is palpable.

This book may be a middle grade mystery, but reading about Amanda in the Emerald Isle is delightful for all ages. I couldn’t put it down! I learned about bogs, castles, archeology, and Irish culture. And I was transported back to my teen years when Nancy Drew mysteries kept me company many a night. I truly enjoyed embarking on another Amanda adventure, and I know it won’t be my last. Darlene writes in a brilliant way that draws the reader right into the scene, feeling like one of the characters. Highly recommended for those who love traveling and experiencing a little intrigue through the heart and enthusiasm of a lovely young girl.

When Things Go Missing is the debut novel by Deborah J. Brasket, but the prologue alone pulled me in to want more. Deborah’s writing is written with seasoned knowledge, skill, and creativity. And what a creative and unique storyline about a family of four: mom and wife, Franny, dad and husband, Walter, and their two children, Cal and Kay. The story begins when Franny heads for the grocery story one day, but instead of pulling into the parking lot, she continues driving, getting on the freeway heading south. This wife and mom isn’t just gone for a forty-five-minute jaunt for essentials. She apparently ‘goes missing.’

This is a story of Franny’s desires and regrets, and how her husband and children react and cope with her ‘walking out of their lives.’ Each has their own perspective, and each perspective comes with its own bag of emotions. As time rolls by, and days turn into weeks, then months, Franny drops hints that she is okay. This fact eases her family’s minds a little, while they’re still stumbling through this sudden abandonment. In many families, the mom is the glue. So, to imagine a mom leaving not only her husband but her children too, regardless of their age, is a concept that needs processing. I didn’t make any conclusion as to why Franny left the life she had. But the reader wonders about her motive. Was she selfish, exhausted from dealing with her addict son, unhappy in her marriage?

Complexity and many layers form the relationship between Franny and Walter, as well as in Cal and Kay. Interwoven between each individual is dysfunction but also authenticity found in any family. Kay lives on her own, working on her career and wondering if her current boyfriend is a keeper. Cal is a heroin addict living at home, “managing to avoid his dad completely…sometimes it feels like he’s living in some sci-fi flick where his parents have disappeared into the walls of the house, waiting and watching, while he’s stumbling around in the dark…”

As more time passes, transformation, growth, and acceptance play vital roles. I kept wondering if Fran will return home. What would you do? What would I do? Would we move on? At times, emotions glided across my heart such as heartbroken, optimistic, relieved, and confused, not necessarily in this order. Fran’s disappearance made me wonder just how well we think we know even our closest family members. It was interesting to spend time on the discussion questions at the end. From the beginning, Deborah wrote a compelling story that grabbed my attention immediately. I could add more, but to avoid spoiler alerts, I highly recommend this captivating book to all fans of literary fiction.

This is How We Work, compiled and edited by Yvette Prior, is a thought-provoking collection of memoir, poetry, and fiction of thirteen authors’ perspective of the work place. What does work mean to us? In what ways do compensation, identity, power, culture, and values influence how we show up in our positions? “In a time when the nature of work is shifting, this collection offers space for curiosity and reflection.”

My writing was included in a prior anthology compiled and edited by Yvette Prior. So when she asked me if I would like to contribute to this book, timing wasn’t on my side. I applaud her hard work though in allowing these wonderful authors to share their experiences of paid and unpaid roles. In this diverse assortment of assessments, Yvette writes, “Recognizing the social dimensions means understanding that work is never just about tasks or productivity. The work that we do is also about the relationships, power structures, cultural expectations, and unspoken social layers that shape how people experience work.” And as we all negotiate our career paths, what is more important than “to learn how to embrace success and fail forward?”

In anthologies such as this one, I don’t like to play favorites because each contribution, each piece of writing is meaningful. But I will say that as I turned the pages and read from one viewpoint and experience to the other, I enjoyed humor, absorbed profoundness, honesty, and raw emotions. I felt trepidation, frustration, and sat on the edge of my seat. All chapters left me with a valuable takeaway, but those are mine personally. So, I invite you to find your own takeaways. Discover your own truths and profound pieces in each chapter that make a difference for you.

I am sharing a verse from Yvette’s poem, “Stay Alive”:

Work is an essential endeavor
Titles don’t last forever
Be careful if you feel elite
Humble pie waits down the street

This gathering of personal experiences in the work place ends with Yvette’s outstanding summaries of each chapter. Some authors I am familiar with, and some are new to me, but they are all excellent writers of fiction or poetry. Congratulations to all, and highly recommended for readers who have held at least one job in their life. There is much to grasp and hold onto in each experience.

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I hope you enjoyed my reviews and won’t leave here empty-handed. Each book will receive 5 glowing stars. ⭐️

Before I close, I have to tell you that my good friend, Maggie at https://poetrybymaggiewatson.uk/ has just released a new beautiful collection of poetry, Wildflower! I have my paperback and can’t wait to read her lovely and profound poems. Congratulations, dear friend! 🎉

I’ll post a couple more times before taking a holiday break. If the planets align, more book reviews will be part of those posts. In the meantime, I wish you all happiness, good health, and safety every day. What more can we ask for? And don’t forget to pick up a few books! ❤️

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com
Author and poet, Lauren Scott, enjoys small-town living in the Bay Area with her husband, Matt, of thirty-seven years. Their adult son and daughter live out of state, and with frequent visits and technology, the family of four remains close. Lauren has published four poetry collections, a memoir, and her first children’s book. Her latest poetry collection is a tribute to her family’s Chocolate Labrador who crossed over the Rainbow Bridge in spring 2025. Lauren is a recent Pushcart Nominee and has been a guest on several podcasts. Her writing is featured on Spillwords Press where she was voted Author of the Month and garnered Publication of the Month awards. She is a contributing author in several anthologies, and her work is also shared on Gobblers and Masticadores. Her muse discovers inspiration from her family, spending time outdoors, reveling in simple things, and marveling at the mysteries of life.