Review Tales
Trusted Reviews and Author Features Since 2016
New Years Day
What Do People Do?
Many people start January 1 at parties to welcome the New Year on the evening of December 31. Many parties are at people’s homes or in bars and clubs. However, in some rural areas, particularly in the province of Quebec, some people spend the night ice fishing with groups of friends. Many New Year’s Eve parties continue into the early hours of January 1, so some people may spend most of the first day of the year recovering from the celebrations. Others take the opportunity to enjoy some time in the wintry Canadian landscape or to return home from their Christmas vacation.
Public Life
January 1 is a statutory holiday in all Canadian provinces and territories and if this date falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the statutory holiday moves to Monday January 2 or 3. Schools, post offices and many businesses and organizations are closed. In some areas, stores are closed, although this varies between provinces and even municipalities. Many public transport systems are shut down or offer a reduced service. January 2 is also a public holiday in the province of Quebec.
Background
In Canada, the Gregorian calendar is used. This calendar was introduced in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII and was gradually accepted in many parts of western Europe in the following decades and centuries. The Gregorian calendar replaced the Julian Calendar, introduced by the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar in 46 BCE. The Julian calendar was replaced because it introduced too many leap days, thus increasing the number of days between the vernal equinox of March 21, its scheduled date as noted in 325 CE during the Council of Nicaea. The introduction of the Gregorian calendar allowed for realignment with the equinox.
The last day in the Gregorian calendar is December 31 and the first day is January 1. Canadians celebrate these two days as New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The New Year’s celebrations have roots in ancient celebrations of the winter solstice, both in Europe and by First Nation peoples in what is now Canada.
Symbols
An important symbol of New Year’s Day is the fireworks that are set off to mark the beginning of the New Year at midnight as December 31 becomes January. There are particularly spectacular shows in many major cities, including Toronto. The Toronto fireworks display is a large public performance that is accompanied by music.
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Underneath By M. N. Arzu (Book Review #153)
From time to time I receive the odd kind of book that I am not sure if I am going to like. This book brought me to shame for judging it.
Underneath is book one of A Merfolk Tale. The story is set in Maine where a merman is found injured on the beach. His wounds are so bad that his tail is cut open and it appears that he has been beaten to death. The doctors have never seen a merman, so they are not sure how to proceed in helping him survive. He is then taken under UN authorization to recover somehow.
The merman is identified as Christopher Brooks, the son of a billionaire named Julian who they all presumed was lost at sea. The society and the media are super interested and display a well-expected reaction to the discovery. The fear of the unknown is well displayed in the story.
As news gets out of a merman being discovered, Kate Beates, a reporter begins investigating the case. At first, she believes it not to be true, however, as she pursues her curiosity, she unconsciously discovers secrets that have been hidden for thousands of years. This changes everything.
Clues for identifying Chris’s attackers and reasons for them attempting his life are all a mystery as this breath-taking story keeps you intrigued right up to the superb finale. The literary standard and the layout of the work were so beautifully put together. The characters all had a voice, and everything was portrayed as authentic, and real as possible.
I found the plot to be novel. It had plausible scenarios displaying facts of what would it really be like if the world today did encounter a merman. I especially enjoyed this in the story. I also appreciated the dilemma Chris’s father had in making the right decision regarding his son.
In summary, this book is not like any other. Reading it was a delight and well worth the time.
I highly recommend this book to science fiction fantasy readers and look forward to reading more from this author.
Written by Jeyran Main
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Japanese Method To Relax In 5 Minutes
I would like to share with you a method that helps you relax in just five minutes!
Each finger is responsible for a certain emotion.
The thumb fights ANXIETY
The Forefinger deals with FEAR
The middle finger deals with ANGER AND OFFENCE
The ring finger deals with SADNESS AND INDECISIVENESS
The little finger helps you become more CONFIDENT
To restore your life energy just grab your finger with your other hand and hold on to it for 1-2 minutes. Repeat this action with each finger.
To calm down, press on the center of your palm with your thumb then hold it for 1-2 minutes. By applying this method every day, you will stay calm and restore your inner balance.
Photo Credit FREEPIK
Article Credit BrightSide
All the Tomorrows by Nillu Nasse (Book Review #377)
I found the story to be about second chances. It contained a mixture of tradition and gender. There is a fine line between happiness and selfishness, and the author managed to embed this as a subtle message within the storyline.
I believe the cultural diversity and the rich texture of what in fact is a reality, even in this day and age, was interesting to read. The character development was very well put together, and I believe the author did a good job making sure the setting was described as much as possible.
Everything about the story had a nice flow to it and displayed the dynamics of family honor, drama, and interactions.
I believe this novel will suit people that enjoy literary fiction, foreign travel, and family sagas.
Written by Jeyran Main
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The Body Image Blueprint by Jenny Eden Berk (Book Review #163)
This review was kindly requested by Jenny E. Berk.
The Body Image Blueprint is a self-help book written about body image. It discusses the challenges women face, in the world today and covers a broad and unique perspective on our culture obsessed with dieting.
Besides the fact that Jenny Berk is a Certified Eating Psychology Coach, Body image mentor, and an International speaker, she also has had her own struggle with the issue and therefore her book has a more personal approach.
The book contains conversations, discussions, interviews, techniques, and much more information regarding this serious matter.
I particularly liked the fact that Jenny specializes on binge eating and discusses techniques on how to be mindful of your eating practices. I believe with all the diets and methods out there these days, it is very hard to figure out which one is going to work for you personally. However, Jenny makes sure that no matter what your trouble is, you can still benefit from this book.
Another special thing about this book is that it also provides stories and journeys of others just to make sure that the reader knows that they aren’t alone in this.
I found the literature to be easy to understand. The layout and structure of the book were pleasantly organized in a way that there was nothing confusing about it. The psychological fact and demeanor of the subject matter were also included in the content of the book making it suitable for any professional wishing to add it to their reading list. I believe the author has taken a decent amount of time creating this book and her hard work has paid off.
I recommend this book to anyone that wishes to read more on body image and is struggling to deal with the issue.
Written by Jeyran Main
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Assassin (Starlight #1) by Dori N. Hoxa (Book Review #148)
This review was kindly requested by Dori Hoxa.
Assassin is the first book of the starlight saga which is a science fiction story written about a girl named Star Watson. She is an ordinary teenager with even more ordinary dreams. However, someone places something really important in her mind without her knowing, placing herself and her family in danger while making her “The Keeper.”
“I hide in plain sight, do not speak. Do not seek. Do not think of The Unique. You shall only sneak a peek, do not ever let it leak.”
The Council’s Academy is situated in a world called Lyndor. It is run by fourteen of the strongest supernatural that govern over the shapeshifters, vampires, warlocks, Nephi’s and demons. They train Star to become an Assassin, and she begins to do the dirty work for them. The world is full of superpowers, immortals, and mortals with extraordinary abilities that walk on earth and are unknown to humans.
The Red Rebels are the ones causing the trouble. They are recruiting and killing the supernaturals. The Council believes that there is a mole in their department giving them top-secret information that is going to cause big problems. Star is sent on different missions to kill 21 rebels, however; as they die, the rebels tell her things that she begins to wonder what is going on.
The story consists with chapters that go back and forth explaining fours years ago and then returning to the present time, giving you a glimpse of how Star becomes an Assassin and what she is doing at present. I found this style of a layout to be very entertaining. Just when you thought that you were given enough information to figure Star out, you were taken back to the present and again back to four years ago. This kept me intrigued and made me want to know what happened in the past while I was waiting to read on the present.
The style of writing was very friendly, and the characters in the book were a shadow compared to Star, the lead character. The love and emotion she had for her family were portrayed very beautifully, and I found the plot to be very well put together.
Besides a few editing issues, I did not see any major faults in the book. I believe the author has great potential in writing stories in the same genre. The world setting and the descriptions were sufficient making the reader always aware of what was going on and keeping them interested in wanting to know more.
I recommend this book to everyone. You won’t regret reading this book.
Written by Jeyran Main
If you would like a book review click here
South of Main Street by Robert Gately (Book Review #376)
I particularly liked how off Henry was. Sometimes in life, we get scolded for being different, and I did feel that Henry was one of them. His character and personality were created in a very unique way, and it was very easy to feel for him.
The story had a division amongst the people living on each side of the street. I enjoyed this contrast and believe that it brought more diversity towards the storyline.
The ending was foreseen, but that did not take away from enjoying this book. I believe anyone that likes to read fiction would appreciate this one.
Written by Jeyran Main
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The SilverFox’s Guide to Cocktails: A Spiritual Journey by Luke Thorpe (Book Review #143)
The Silverfox’s Guide to Cocktails is a non-fiction book written about everything you need to know regarding alcoholic beverages.
This book is, in fact, a collection of recipes for anyone that is looking to entertain and make excellent drinks. It discusses the techniques and types of drinks that are out there. It also informs you of what you need before you can even start making these alcoholic beverages.
The author even takes a step deeper and offers a more in-depth understanding towards the various types of glasses used for these drinks. Every type of drink has a historical reference to it, where it originated from and what the general norm is towards the subject. I found that to be very interesting and enjoyable to read. I believe in adding this kind of attention and depth towards a recipe book, provides the reader an education as well as enjoyment. The work also consists of drawings and illustrations, which I found to be another great example of the author demonstrating his care and love towards his book.
I think this book would be very suitable for people that drink and like to experiment, making their own Cocktails. The flow of relativity in retrospect of the content was easy and to the point. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Written by Jeyran Main
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Complicated Blue by P J Whittlesea (Book Review #140)
Complicated Blue is a fantasy novel based in a world where all witches are not created equal, and the dead roam the streets. It is a witch’s job to help the dead find what their purpose in life was so that they can finally rest and leave the world to the living.
Our lead character Anais Blue is a witch who is trapped in the body of a five-year-old girl. As frustrating as this sounds she is given the task of helping a ghost regain their identity. Anais needs to discover her companion’s secret and true purpose before it is too late. This story leads us on an exciting and sometimes comical journey inside the witching world.
I particularly liked how the prologue explains the witching world and lets the reader know some of the truths and fallacies that surround what duties and services witches actually provide in this world. Anais’ character is developed through time, and as the book continues, we learn more of our beloved witch. It is really hard to weave together a great story with both adventure and comedic intervals, but this author leaves us both spellbound and laughing in our seat.
I found the literary standard of the work to be of good quality. The chapters and the layout of the book were well put together, and I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well-written fantasy novel.
Written by Jeyran Main
If you would like a book review click here
