Book Review Tour
Excerpt, Giveaway and Guest Post
Join Us for this Tour from January 4 to January 17, 2022
Category: Adult Fiction 18+, 279 pages
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publisher: Chokecherry Press, Golden, Colorado
Release date: May 2021
Content Rating: PG13 + M: There’s no offensive material
but there is a tasteful, semi-comic sex scene and scene in which
characters experience MDMA, a mild hallucinogenic.
Anthropology professor Marc Blake is on a “hero’s journey.” His challenge is to overcome a troubling medical diagnosis –a virus from a tick bite. Along the way he shares his deepest thoughts as the reader follows his courageous efforts to survive. May, an attractive Danish woman, also endures setbacks with resilience, gradually coming center stage in the story. Her husband Kai has a passion for growing herbs and healthy vegetables, marveling how gardening provides a sense of purpose, good health, direct contact with nature, and companionship. Marc’s niece, a natural beauty and ex-model, offers readers a comical, on-again, off-again romantic episode with a Silicon Valley genius she
fears might outshine her. Will she prove to be his equal?
Quirky humor injects both lightness and conflict into a 30-year marriage. A six-year old’s “best summer ever” is a reminder that life’s an absolute miracle. Collectively this extended family contests a widespread belief that life is happening to us – that we are passive consumers. On the contrary, each character in this upbeat book is actively self-guided, perfecting their passions and offering generous support to family and friends.
Though author David Wann has previously written non-fiction books about sensible, sustainable lifestyles, in his first-novel these themes are woven right into a compelling story. “Our lives don’t look much different than most Americans,” the characters might say. “Really, we are not ‘doing without,’ more like doing within.” Kai enjoys investing in regional businesses, and also loves to travel effortlessly on Denver’s bike paths. Meatless Mondays or grilled-salmon Sundays are a
great way for the outgoing May to bring friends together for active conversation. Each character would insist that kindness and gratitude are encoded in our genes and are far more powerful than anger. In a world that’s currently so full of disruption and confusion, they offer both a sense of direction and grounded hope.
My Thoughts
You are apt to find Tickling The Bear somewhat unique. It’s a story about coming to grips with mortality, which isn’t all that unusual. But this book is much more than that. It is thought-provoking conversations with the protagonist’s friends and family. All of the discussions help bring about a message of understanding and hope.
The story definitely promotes taking care of our universe, kindness, friendship, and other worthwhile things. And the overall tale is quite interesting.
My Concerns
The lack of editing caused the dialog to occasionally be difficult to read.
If you’re not a fan of personal political views being woven into a story, it might be good to note that it exists in several places. And not subtly. If you look at “That fucking Trump, . . . ” as offensive this may be concerning.
Final Thoughts
Though this has some good thoughts to offer, it wasn’t quite my cup of tea. I am very interested in politics, but I read fiction to leave that part of life in another world, no matter which political side.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from iRead Book Tours and the author. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
Excerpt
BEST FRIENDS FOR LIFE
The two brothers went into Rocket’s studio with a few beers and two dogs at their feet, Marc admiring the craftsmanship of a carved oak and copper sign over the threshold: Tolkien’s “Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost.” The studio had double-wide barn doors with antique hinges and latches, enabling large projects like Rocket’s totems to fit into the shop. One of the massive poles was perched dramatically on Rocket’s 15-foot-long workbench, propped up at one end by a sturdy antique steel jack.
The workbench was lit by adjustable track lighting, trained on an almost completed Indian figure. “This is a Pomo Indian woman, a basket maker,” Rocket explained as his brother bent closer to see the fine detail of the carving. Rocket picked up a narrow-bladed chisel and mallet to demonstrate. “The Pomo were traditionally acorn eaters and salmon fishers, but they also ate small game, wild greens, mushrooms, even grasshoppers,” he said, tapping his mallet gently on the chisel. Marc loved how his brother’s work was interlinked with the work of the Pomo artisans. Energy that flowed through their baskets – adorned with willow shoots, woodpecker feathers, and shells – had its origins in Pomo cultural traits and beliefs, then was expressed by Rocket’s own hands, and finally felt by viewers of the totems.
“This cultural story you are telling in the totems reminds me of a beautiful nature story I’ve told in a class or two, about the forests further up the Northwest coast, literally built by salmon. Fingerlings no bigger than fat pencils are born upstream in the forests, then migrate into the ocean for three to six years where they grow into mature fish weighing up to sixty pounds. When they return to their birthplaces their bright silver scales turn deep red and purple. After their chosen mates dig out a little hole, the females bury their eggs, then quickly die, leaving behind all the rich nutrients they’ve amassed. Black bears, insects, fungi and plants distribute those nutrients, and four-fifths of the nitrogen in the forest was shown by research to have come from the ocean.”
Excerpt from Tickling the Bear: How to Stay Safe in the Universe (Chokecherry Press)
About the Author and Guest Post
David Wann has been a self-acknowledged author since second grade. He’s written hundreds of articles and columns; ten books – one a best seller; and produced five TV documentaries viewed by 20 million. He’s lived in a cooperative neighborhood (cohousing) for 26 years where he has been the organic gardener for 27 households. He’s an amateur musician and the proud father of two. His greatest ambition is to make a difference in a world that urgently requires “all hands on deck.” His books include Affluenza; Biologic; Superbia; Simple Prosperity; The Zen of Gardening; The New Normal, Reinventing Community and others.
Guest Post
Do you have another profession besides writing?
Sometimes it seems like procrastination is my profession and writing happens when I finally take a break. I’ve always known that I have an aptitude for words and images, but I stumbled into a breakthrough moment after getting a Master’s degree in environmental science. I had a plan: I was going to combine writing and environmental convictions and somehow make a living. My SAT test scores had confirmed my suspicions: 98% in verbal skills, 44% in math. So I had my marching orders. I walked into the university placement office where the magic door opened: the Environmental Protection Agency needed someone like me to write feature articles! At the ripening age of 35, I started as an intern, placing one article after another in regional newspapers and national magazines. I had great support from the communications office and was given permission to write a book on my own time and with my own opinions, Biologic: Designing with Nature to Protect the Environment. I think my advance against royalties was only four thousand dollars, but I still had my job. Unfortunately, I had no weekends off. My kids almost forgot they had a father that year.
Looking back, I see that the commitment and the writing itself were their own rewards. Bingo! Writing gave me more energy than it took away. After ten years at EPA, I went freelance, watching my annual income fall like a bad stock. I got one book contract after another but always with smaller advances than I could live on. I rented out my basement apartment to pay the bills and just kept writing. Then I co-authored a book called Affluenza: The All-consuming Epidemic, which became an industry best seller.
All of a sudden I was in demand as a speaker, which provided steady income. Since I was touting consumer disobedience, I was a target. Wrote an editor at the Denver Business Journal, “Being alert for threats to America, I read Mr. Wann’s article in the Denver Post and detected thinking that could lead to the destruction of the United States as we know it.” I merrily took that barb as a compliment and just kept going. Tickling the Bear, my first novel, is my latest product, five years in the making.
If I could be paid for each hour of procrastination, I’d probably be a much better consumer.
connect with the author: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads
Jan 4 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review / giveaway
Jan 5 – @twilight_reader– book review / giveaway
Jan 6 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Jan 7 – Literary Flits – book review / giveaway
Jan 10 – Kam’s Place – book review / author interview
Jan 11 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / author interview / giveaway
Jan 12 –Stephanie Jane – book review / giveaway
Jan 12 – Books for Books – book review
Jan 13 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review / giveaway
Jan 13 – Sefina Hawke’s Books – book review
Jan 14 – Splashes of Joy – book review / author interview / giveaway
Jan 17 – Books are a Blessing – book review / guest post / giveaway
Jan 17 – Pick a Good Book – book review / author interview / giveaway
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Annie’s Fiction Club
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My brother would like this book.
From the reviews many do. Thanks for your comment.
Looks like a great book to read
This sounds like a good book.
I 👍 agree.
Yes! Thanks so much for your comment. I hope you enjoy it.
I enjoyed the guest post and the excerpt, David and I think Tickling the Bear sounds like a brilliant read! Good luck with your book and I hope the tour was a success! Thanks for sharing it with me! Thanks, Pick a Good Book for sharing your thoughts! Have a spectacular week!
Thanks so much for your comment. Yes, it is very thought-provoking.