In de schaduw van Schindler

auteur: Kevin Prenger

verschenen: mei 2022

aantal pagina's: 300

gewicht: 450

thema: Geschiedenis - Tweede Wereldoorlog 

"Een aangrijpend boek"

Samenvatting

Wie waren de Duitsers die hun Joodse medemensen hielpen, meestal met
gevaar voor eigen leven, terwijl de meesten van hun landgenoten de andere
kant opkeken of bijdroegen aan de nazimisdaden?

Terwijl de meeste Duitsers zich juist afzijdig hielden of de Jodenvervolging
actief of passief ondersteunden, behielden sommigen wel hun menslievendheid.
Van een intellectuele schrijver tot een vrouwelijke dierenarts en van een
ingenieur tot een politiek gevangene in Auschwitz, allemaal groeiden zij
uit tot onbaatzuchtige mensenredders.

In tegenstelling tot Oskar Schindler zijn andere Jodenhelpers uit Hitlers
Derde Rijk echter relatief onbekend gebleven. 

Mijn recensie

Door de dagelijkse drukte duurde het even eer ik dit bijzonder boek kon 
lezen en reviewen. Het greep me onmiddellijk aan en ik merkte ook hier
de grondige research op. Dit kenmerkt trouwens alle boeken van Kevin
Prenger. 

Over de opbouw van het boek is goed nagedacht, de hoofdstukken
volgen elkaar logisch op. De schrijfstijl is vlot en helder. Ik leerde meer
over de Tweede Wereldoorlog. 

Kortom, dikke pluim voor de auteur en een aanrader voor iedereen die 
meer wil weten over de menselijke kant van de Tweede Wereldoorlog. 

Ik geef met heel veel plezier 5* voor dit fantastisch boek. 

Auteur

Kevin Prenger is geen onbekende auteur voor mij. Eerder las en recenseerde 
ik al Kerstmis onder vuur en Oorlogszone Zoo . Beide boeken waren
aangrijpend om te lezen. 

Wie is Kevin Prenger? 

Tweede Wereldoorlog-deskundige en publicist Kevin Prenger deed
uitgebreid onderzoek naar deze geschiedenissen en bracht ze samen in
In de schaduw van Schindler. Hij toont aan dat het kwaad niet altijd
zegeviert.

Kevin Prenger (1980) is hoofdredacteur van TracesOfWar.nl, het grootste
Nederlandstalige online naslagwerk over WO2 en schrijft voor Historiek.net.

Trauma Surviror's Guide to Coping With Panic Attacks

Book review : Trauma Surviror's Guide to Coping With Panic Attacks

Author: Nicole Dake

An interesting book!

Summary

Panic attacks that result from PTSD and cPTSD can be debilitating. Research
unfortunately falls short, telling those suffering from panic attacks to just
"wait for them to be over." Over the years I have learned to cope, first
preparing for panic attacks, and then calming down during a panic attack.
I am sharing these coping skills with others who have PTSD, so they can
go from being survivors to warriors too.

My review

It took a while to read the book completely although it wasn't a big one,
however the topic really interested me much. 

The author has used her own experiences which I found very interesting. 
It is a clear book, fluently written and understandable.

I recommend this book to all who want to know more about how to deal
with panic attacks. 

Without any doubts I give a 5 star rating for this interesting book!

The author

Nicole Dake is a blogger, author and mom of three, living in
Broomfield, CO. Nicole graduated from University of Colorado,
Boulder with a BA in Psychology in 2008. Nicole writes about health
and wellness for moms and kids, with a focus on whole person wellness.
In her spare time, she enjoys swimming, yoga and playing Magic
the Gathering.

Booktasters

I want to thank booktasters and the author as well, for providing me a
free copy in return of my honest review, which I did. 

Author in the picture: D.W. Whitlock

One of the first books I ever reviewed via Booktasters was Crucible of Fear,
written by D.W. Whitlock. I was very honoured to read and review another
wonderful book from the author: Cult of Darkness . That's why I was keen
to invite this excellent writer for the author in the picture blog post. So here
are the questions.

Can you tell us a bit more about D.W. Whitlock?

 I've worked a lot of jobs over the years from lake dock worker to electrician
to animation for television and games. I've met so many amazing people
from all walks of life and those experiences have been invaluable for
shaping characters and stories. 

Could you tell us something more about the Cult of Darkness?

 I've always been fascinated by ancient cultures, specifically the Maya,
and I've always wanted to tell a story that captures their rich history with
as much respect as possible. One of the themes of Cult of Darkness is
cultural appropriation versus cultural appreciation, and I have characters
in the story on opposing sides of this theme. The most important thing for
me was no aliens. The Maya culture is rich with history and incredible stories
and trying to explain their advanced stone masonry skills and writing
system by extra terrestrial intervention is insulting, I believe. They were
bloody yet brilliant. That should be enough!

 What are your other interests other than writing?

I'm a lifetime gamer and being able to play video games now with my son
is a true joy. One of my other passions is riding my Triumph Scrambler
motorcycle. For me, I've discovered the best therapy can be found on two wheels. 

What are you most afraid of?

Wouldn't you like to know! (It's tarantulas. I hate them!)

Do you have favorite book characters?

I do. My favorite book of all time is Swan Song by Robert McCammon and
I love all the characters in this book. Sister, Josh Hutchins, Swan,
Alvin Mangrim, Colonel Jimbo Macklin, Roland Croninger and the many
others in this incredible book. I love them all.

How do you choose your topics?

I retain a lot of useless information and facts about my interests: Film,
books, science, emerging technology, video games, interesting people, etc.
My mind tends to wander and mull over these subjects. That is usually
when my ideas come. This usually happens before I sleep or while I'm
not able to write ideas down. In the shower, taking a walk, driving. 

Do you have a special daily (writing) routine?

Usually just fire up the laptop and go over my outline to remind me where
I'm at in the story. My dog, Nikki, loves to snuggle up when I write so that helps :)

Can you recommend some places close to your hometown or country
for (thriller) authors?

Nothing particular comes to mind, but I do use Google Earth to virtually
visit locations that I research for my books. 

Have you any other writing plans?

Someday I'd like to branch out and possibly write horror novels, as well
as another action thriller series.

What is your wish for 2022 and for the near future?

I'd love to sell as many copies of Cult of Darkness and Crucible of Fear of
course and reach as many readers as I can. A book isn't truly complete until
it is read and enjoyed by someone. Or hated. As long as I invoke an emotional
response, I'm happy. 

Where do you find D.W. Whitlock on Social Media?

website: https://www.dwwhitlock.com/
Twitter: @ddubwhitlock
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/D-W-Whitlock/e/B08T1T6LNH?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1653321138&sr=8-1

Thank you very much for this 'interview' and I really hope all your wishes 
come true. Keep up the good writing work! 

Desire of Whimsy

 A different book 

Summary

Serenity is a young woman living alone in Edinburgh, Scotland, and
working as a nurse in the coma ward of a hospital. She has been dreaming
of a mysterious man—and since she can interpret and control her dreams,
her gifts make her dreams that much more intense. During her day job,
 she focuses on her favorite patient, Mr. Thomas, who has been in a coma
for five years. Trance lives in a world that allows him to control the emotions
and thoughts of others while they are sleeping, a task he accomplishes under
the watchful eye on his recruiter, Impedes. Unaware that he is actually in a coma,
he is stuck between two worlds, unable to determine which is real. But when
he meets Serenity in her dreams, those worlds collide, sending both of
them on a path of loss and love. In this novella, a young nurse and a man in
a coma meet in their dreams and soon discover there is more to the world
than they ever imagined.

My review

I never read such a book before, it was different but I enjoyed reading it.
Desire of Whimsy was a well written novella. All the characters were 
very interesting too. The story was a bit strange but it took my attention.

I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes to read beautiful
stories with a slice of mystery. 

I give a 5 star rating because I really enjoyed this book. 

Booktasters

I received a free ecopy in exchange for an honest review. No compensation
has been given and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to
Charletta Barksdale and BookTasters!

Cult of Darkness

An exciting thriller!

Summary

The cartels in Mexico have splintered, triggering violent conflict over control
of the illicit drug trade. One has risen to power above all others with its brutal
methods: The Riviera. Led by a shadowy figure known only as Kukulkan,
this powerful cartel has become the main source of Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid
fifty times more potent than heroin. As mutilated bodies appear on the pristine
white sands of local beach communities, investors fear for the worst…their time
of peaceful prosperity has come to an end.

When the only son of a wealthy family goes missing in the heart of Mexico’s
Yucatan Peninsula, Alex Schofield is sent in to find him. A highly trained
ex-Delta soldier, he’s the best man for the job. There’s only one catch:
he has sworn to never kill again.

Amid the escalating conflict, a darkness grows among the dense forests and
Maya ruins. As the search brings Schofield closer, he must confront his own
violent past and decide if bloodshed is once again, the only way.

My Review

I already read and reviewed the Crucible of Fear  and now the Cult of Darkness.

I really enjoyed the Cult of Darkness due to the plot lines, the characters and the
historical Maya things. It was very detailed and fluently written. I also liked the
characters as well. And what a fantastic book cover!

Who should read this book? Well anyone who likes thrillers with slices
of history.

With lots of pleasure, I give this book a 5 star rating, due to the the exciting
and well written story

The author

D.W. Whitlock, author of Crucible of Fear, has been a storyteller for most
of his life. Starting with short stories scribbled in crayon, animation flip-books,
stop-motion and later CG animation for television and video games. 

While pursuing a career in animation, writing has always been the first
step, from short descriptions to detailed backstories. As a life-long reader
and book lover, crafting thriller novels felt like the natural evolution of those
first forays into writing.

When not writing, D.W. enjoys gaming, spending time with his family
and Triumph Motorcycles.

D.W. lives in California with his wife, son and dog, Nikki.

Kat the Dog: The remarkable tale of a rescued Spanish water dog

There only are a few books, which really touched me, 
Kat the dog is one of them.

Kat the Dog: The remarkable tale of a
rescued Spanish water dog

written by Alyson Sheldrake

Summary

A captivating and emotional story of survival and second chances.

Escaping from a wretched existence on a rundown farm, a young Spanish
water dog goes on the quest of a lifetime, in search of a family to love
her and a place to call home.

Follow Kat the Dog as she tells her heart-warming and uplifting story.
The little dog with a big heart who journeyed through fear and starvation
to find her forever home.

My review

What a wonderful tale!

I read it in one time from the beginning till the end (never happened
before with a book).

It's a very emotional story, excellent fluently written and the author
captured the character of Kat the Dog very well. I really enjoyed it much!

Without any doubt I recommend this to all animal lovers and I hope
Kat the Dog will receive many stars, likes and hugs!

I give this amazing tale a 5 star rating!

The author

In 2021 author, Alyson Sheldrake was a guest on this blog. It was an 
honour to "get to know" her a bit more.

See this link. 

We Love Memoirs

I was introduced to Alyson Sheldrake via The We Love Memoirs group
on Facebook. This really is the most wonderful and friendliest group on
Facebook. They're on Twitter too.

Source pictures: Alyson Sheldrake 

The Communications Consultant's Foundation

 a pr must read

Summary

For all professionals and students who want to improve their prospects 

in business, this book prepares and positions them to build dream careers,
giving them the education and guidance required to develop vital soft
skills, and work remotely and independently.

After establishing a foundation for solid professional communications
on a personal level, it quickly opens doors to business insights and
opportunities that are exciting, inspiring, and highly sustainable.
Immersing readers into the key realms of business success and
exploring the full spectrum of essential communications practices,
they gain knowledge and trade skills of immense value, including:

- The basics of positive, proactive, strategic communications for
individuals and organizations

- What it means to be a PR expert in the creative industry and
to do great work

- An introduction to essential business imperatives, with high-level
instruction on creativity, strategy, leadership, management, marketing,
and much more

- Customer service and all it entails

- Extensive exploration of the PR toolset and its application in
real-world marketing scenarios

This book brings home all instruction with sophisticated questions
and challenges, ensuring readers have every opportunity to comprehend
and grow, step by step.

My review

I'm always very interested in public relations (pr) and communication
due to work and for my hobby (blogging) as well.
So I was keen to read the  book of Roger Darnell. 

I liked the clear chapters, the way the book was written and the interesting
topics as well. I actually learned a lot by reading this book.

This is a pr must read for anyone who is interested in business
communication. 

I give a 5 star rating for this interesting book and I hope to read more
books of him about communication. 

The author

Roger Darnell is an author, publisher, PR consultant, producer,
and career guide collaborating with illustrious luminaries every day.
Proud  @UCF alum. 

The book

This book is published in 2022 by Routledge. 

Booktasters

I received a free copy via Booktasters and the author. Thank you very much
for this splendid reading chance.