War of Rain

Vivian, H.W. (2015). War of Rain. Raleigh, NC: Lulu Publishing Services.

Young Adult / Speculative Future Earth / Spirituality

I gave this book 4 out of 5 Stars!

In the distant future, mankind's innovations have ultimately destroyed the earth's resources, and those who survive must live primitively. Miri is a fifteen-year-old living in Boreala, a village where the ground is dusty and the sky is always the color of coffee. Her people are the Rain-gatherers who, through prayer to their god Kalono, have the unique ability to melt the divine Rain pellets into the purest water, which is then traded for goods with other villages. When Miri's group is attacked by the Barbarians from Stratos, Miri kills one of them when defending one of her fellow villagers, which sparks a war between Stratos and Boreala.  Scorned by her people and responsible for killing many Barbarians, Miri is tasked by Exodus, the Chief of Stratos, to find her god and ask him for an invention that can bring both peace and war -- or the Barbarians will destroy Boreala and all its inhabitants.  Miri embarks on a quest that has her searching for the invention, but what she discovers has her questioning her faith, her beliefs, and all she's ever known.   

War of Rain takes readers on a journey of finding power -- in prayer, in knowledge, and in self. It is the second book I've read by author H.W. Vivian (first was Chasers), and I was not disappointed.  The premise is so imaginative -- readers will absolutely love the mysterious Rain -- and the book on the whole is a very interesting treatise on how mankind may be destroying itself via progress; there are definitely some parallels to modern times worth reflection.  The story is told from main character Miri's perspective, which gives readers direct access to the wide range of feelings and emotions that Miri experiences. Though Miri is having to step-up in an adult capacity, the point of view reminds the readers that she is a teenager and her reactions are understandable and appropriate. This is not to say that they are clear or even rational -- she goes from being tender and thoughtful to a bloodthirsty killer to an intellectual whiz to an angry faithless person to a reverent girl of faith and back to a bloodthirsty killer, then lover, fighter, hater, writer! Miri's all over the place, but it really only further illustrates her confusion with her life and what she learns about the past, present, and future.

Vivian writes rich, easily envisioned characters, and despite there being a wide cast of characters, each has unique, memorable characteristics. The physical descriptions of the Barbarians are particularly vivid, especially when contrasted against the people of Tropos, who we meet in part two of the story.  It is in part two of the book that Lucas is introduced and most of the important backstory is revealed. Readers will appreciate that Lucas recognizes that knowledge is the most powerful weapon Miri can possess and will enjoy watching Miri's growth as she learns.

Also in part two of the book the focus on faith comes more into play, and I think that Vivian was spot-on in her accuracy of what many people go through when they are questioning the existence of a higher being and their own faith and searching for proof.  The whole book underscores the power of prayer, but in part two, the importance of faith and science is also brought to the forefront.  There are some wonderful lines from Lucas defining faith, such as, "Faith is believing that something greater than ourselves dwells in this world, even if it is not visible." In part three, divine intervention comes into play, and it is the divine intervention that Miri experiences that allows the conclusion of the book to work. Vivian utilizes the deus ex machina mechanism, normally off-limits for writers, but which succeeds here because of the set-up beforehand via the religious undertones throughout the story and the constant presence of the divine Rain. 

The story is very satisfying as is, but there were some additional information that would have enriched it for me -- more explanation of Miri's internal voice, some of Exodus's story, and why oh why would they throw away Phillipe's weapon when Barbarian vengeance was coming?  Also, there were a few typos and writing oddities, but nothing that really affected the flow of the story.  

I recommend this book for young adults ages 15 and higher. Sensitive readers should be warned that with war comes violence, and this book is often graphically violent with a huge body count and lots of blood and gore. There is no sex - but references to rapes - or vulgar language.

Thank you to the author for providing me a print copy of this book in exchange for my honest review -- the only kind I give.

LEARN MORE about WAR OF RAIN and H.W. Vivian by going to her Facebook, following her on Twitter, or visiting her  website. 






RELATED: Also by H.W. Vivian

Reviewed on Hall Ways

Vietnam Redux: For Some the Vietnam War Never Ended

Cohen, H. (2015). Vietnam Redux: For Some the Vietnam War Never Ended. Bookbaby.

Adult / Military / Historical & Realistic Fiction

I gave this book 4* of 5 stars

In Vietnam Redux: For Some the Vietnam War Never Ended, author Howard B. Cohen has written an historical and contemporary military fiction story that takes readers back and forth between the Vietnam War and the war that continues today between the Vietnamese and its indigenous Montagnards, allies to American soldiers in the Vietnam War. 

Politician George Darnell brings together former Special Forces buddies Benny Friedman and Frank Stone -- both retired, wealthy, single, and pushing seventy -- and proposes a plan that Benny and Frank can't resist. Darnell, a lobbyist and advocate for the Montagnards and safe emigration for them, has received information that indicates that the Montagnards are planning a violent revolt, which could compromise any progress Darnell has made on their behalf. He asks Benny and Frank, posing as old Vets touring the country, to go on a fact-finding mission within the Montagnard community and to dissuade them from any violence. With the aid of Nyugen Thi Anh, a Vietnamese woman and Montagnard sympathizer, what Benny and Frank discover is that the Montagnards have an unfathomable problem: a plot by the Vietnamese Environmental Adjustment Agency, run by the vengeful Tran van Throng, to carry out the genocide of the Montagnards. Benny, Frank, and Anh join Dan Carter, leader of the Montagnard resistance, as they set-out to destroy the death camps and document the atrocities for all the world to see.  Through flashbacks to the war, readers learn many of the characters' backgrounds -- full of heartbreak, horror, and heroics -- which molded each of them into the people they are today.  Benny and Frank, compelled by their history with the Montagnards, find themselves going back into the jungles of Vietnam to fight to save their former allies.

What is impressive about Vietnam Redux is how author Cohen must have done meticulous research in order to provide such a factual account of the Montagnards and the role they played vis-a-vis the US Special Forces during the Vietnam War. Additionally, he has pulled current events straight from the headlines, where we see as recently as early March, 2015, there were reports of several dozen Montagnards hiding in Cambodia, hoping to seek refugee status for alleged political and religious persecution in their homeland, who were sent back to Vietnam. The reports indicate that some Montagnards have disappeared and there is suspicion of Vietnamese interrogations and torture.  Cohen's story, given the current climate in Vietnam and with the United Nations, is completely feasible. Military enthusiasts will appreciate the level of detail in describing weaponry, war tactics, and engagements, which are graphic and violent and realistic. It's war, after all, but this war has an entirely new rule book, where the lines are blurry between right and wrong, good and bad. The transitions between past and present were smooth and the characters were well defined. Through the last quarter of the book, the tension builds steadily, resulting in readers rapidly turning pages to get to the conclusion.  

*A note about the writing: readers who are bothered by writing errors will be frustrated by this book. The book is in desperate need of a thorough, professional editing. Normally, I do not recommend books that are in need of substantial editing, but Vietnam Redux is an exception. 

This book was reviewed for Readers' Favorite, which provided me an eBook copy in exchange for my honest review -- the only kind I give.

Living a Life That Matters: from Nazi Nightmare to American Dream

Lesser, B. (2011). Living a Life That Matters: from Nazi Nightmare to American Dream. Las Vegas: Remembrance Publishing.

Adult / YA / Audiobook / Memoir

I gave this audiobook 5 out of 5 stars

As we pass the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp, I thought I'd post this review of a book as an encouragement to keep informed and remember the horrible mistakes of the past so that they aren't repeated.

"Despite our differences, we share a common humanity, and it is better for all of us to honor our shared humanity rather than to despise our differences." Ben Lesser. What an incredible life this man has lived, and what an incredible optimism he has maintained through the unspeakable horrors, tortures, and indignities he survived. His message is so much more than "never forget." So much more.

I enjoyed hearing the parts Lesser narrated himself the most. Actor Jonathan Silverman was very good, but the pacing was off for me: listening to him at regular speed was too slow, and the next notch up (at 1.25x) made him sound really anxious? excited? I think this book would be better read anyhow, in order to let the subject matter sink in more. Lesser's memories are brutally honest and raw and real, making his story scarier and more evil than any fiction story could be.

Lesser does an excellent job of putting everything in context, so that younger readers (or older readers who don't know their history) have a broader understanding of what was happening. Sadly, tragically, there are no good answers to Lesser's repeated question: how did the rest of the world let the Holocaust happen? 

Thank you to Sync summer audio program for providing this free audiobook with absolutely no strings attached! As appreciation, I gave this book my honest review-- the only kind I give.

UPDATE: Mr. Lesser wrote an incredible blog entry about now being the ONLY survivor of the Dachau death train. . . incredible. Click the picture to go to his blog entry.

70 Years Later, With the Death Train

 

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SURVIVOR BEN LESSER, THE ZACHOR HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE FOUNDATION, OR TO PURCHASE THE BOOK.

 

Take a stand and be the voice for the six million voices that were silenced. By uniting together we can stop the world from acquiring amnesia. SHOUT IT OUT! Spread the word and envision yourself conveying a timeless message that your children’s children can see and feel for eternity.