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Code Name: Johnny Walker, The Extraordinary Story of the Iraqi Who Risked Everything to Fight with the U.S. Navy SEALs by “Johnny Walker” with Jim DeFelice is an amazing story of an Iraqi who, for his and his family’s protection, was given the nickname of “Johnny Walker” by U.S. Navy SEALs he worked with.

As Saddam Hussein steadily brought terror and destruction to Iraq in the early 2000s, unemployment became a disturbing reality. Johnny Walker applied to become a translator for the U.S. Army, but was turned down. Johnny was on the verge of despair–how would he support his wife and children? One night he interceded in a dispute between some Iraqi women and American MPs. Impressed, the MPs arranged to hire him as their interpreter, or “terp.” His success and courage under fire became well known and it wasn’t long before the elite SEALs hired him as their interpreter. Johnny Walker completed more than one thousand missions, saving countless lives, and fighting for a better Iraq.

Seeing his country in rubbles, being separated from his wife and children, and often fearing for his own life, Johnny Walker continued to help his countrymen, working with SEALs as they encountered and decimated al-Qaeda cells responsible for training and equipping suicide bombers. Johnny Walker had the capability to work and unite with Shias, Sunnis and Kurds, understanding and explaining the differences to the SEALs so they could more efficiently accomplish their goals.

Johnny Walker’s abhorrence of those who would use women and children as shields was contrasted to a warrior who risks his life to protect the innocent. He emphasis the difference between the different Islamic beliefs–those who fight for human rights and peace as opposed to insurgents who fight for revenge and dominance.

The disruption of war is far-reaching and long-lasting. What was once a beautiful country became a place of fear and destruction. Johnny witnessed his beloved homeland being destroyed, his neighborhood unsafe for his family. Perhaps in America his family would again find peace. But that was easier said than done.

Code Name: Johnny Walker is an interesting, entertaining read, and a heart-felt story of hope.

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Ordinary Magic: Promises I Kept My Mother Through Life, Illness, and a Very Long Walk by Cameron Powell is an inspiring memoir about the sometimes rocky love between a mother and her son. On the day Cameron’s marriage ends, he learns from his German-born mother, Inge, that her cancer has returned. Incredibly, Inge wants her son to join her on the 500-mile walk of Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage known in English as the Way of Saint James, located in northwestern Spain.

The two, mother and son, are joined by Cameron’s young cousin, Carrie, fifteen, and friends who act as guides in the first part of the walk, Julio and later, Ann Marie. They begin their journey in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France, near the border with Spain.

The memoir, written mostly through Cameron’s journal and also includes thoughts from Inge’s journal, shows grit and determination along the often grueling journey. Inge suffers from not only from the effects of cancer, but also from infected feet. Cameron, too, has leg problems. At times one or the other rides a distance, but mostly they stick to walking up steep hills, as difficult to climb as to descend, and across barren or rocky land. They also trek through breath-taking lush landscapes. Accommodations are often uncomfortable with several people, and their assortment of snores, sleeping in a single room. Food is sometimes questionable, but they usually find nourishment along the way.

The 35-day trek ends at Camino de Santiago with visits to the magnificent Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Galacia, Spain.

Cameron and his mother’s journey continues after they return home and Inge goes into her final agonizing journey with cancer. Cameron serves as her loving caregiver.

Ordinary Magic is often humorous with wry comments about life in general, and this walk in particular. It also contains many words of wisdom about living life to the fullest, embracing new experiences, and accepting sadness as a natural part of life.

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Brian Doyle’s The Plover is a sea adventure with intriguing twists. A delightful, imaginative novel, the book was especially meaningful to me since I too spent time at sea, also in the South Pacific.

When Declan O’Donnell goes to sea in his converted 28-foot sailing trawler, the Plover, he’s glad to be alone, away from the complications and meanness of people, of obligations, and the trappings of land-life. He just wants to be alone and free to do as he pleases.

With no one but a gull for company, he sets sail across the vast Pacific. Nearing an island, he’s met by a fellow rowing a boat who has a written message for Declan. The message implores Declan to allow a friend from his past, a recent widower, and his mute, crippled daughter to join him. Although it isn’t what Declan has in mind, he can’t refuse his friend this favor; the man and daughter have been through so much grief.

Back to sea, they encounter an old rusty cargo ship with an unscrupulous captain. A brief encounter results in Declan’s friend being shanghaied into service aboard the cargo ship. Declan, of course, can’t allow this and not only manages to get his friend back, but also an unhappy crewman from the cargo ship as well. The crewman happens to be a woman, an islander, who immediately takes to the little crippled girl.

Along the way, they pick up other needy passengers. What was intended to be a one-person crew has now turned into six. In the meantime, the cargo ship stalks them, a ship with far greater power than the Plover.

The Plover is full of maritime wisdom, explorations of the human spirit, and one man’s quest for peace. I heartedly recommend this delightful novel.

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Carmen Peone’s expert horsemanship and knowledge of northeast Washington territory shines through in the second of her Gardner Sibling Trilogy, Hannah’s Journey.

At sixteen, Hannah is the oldest child of a mid-1800’s pioneering ranch family. Hannah’s burning desire to race horses with her adopted Indian Aunt Spupaleena is a constant worry to her parents. They fear not only that she’ll be injured, but that their daughter is not preparing herself for the expected future role of wife, homemaker, and mother.

Hannah’s parents aren’t the only ones against her racing. The Indian boys resent her barging into their sport. Not only is she a girl, but a white girl. The only encouragement she gets is from Aunt Spupaleena and Spupaleena’s brother Pekam.

Heedless of others’ opinion, Hannah participants in a difficult, dangerous race. Not only is there danger in the race itself–riding horseback fast on uneven terrain–but also enduring vengeful rough treatment from other racers. It’s a bold, bloody event.

Hannah’s parents, frustrated and worried about their daughter’s rebellious behavior, threaten to send her to live with an aunt in Montana, a fate totally unacceptable to Hannah. She runs away to the Sinyekst village along the Columbia River, the village of her Aunt Spupaleena.

Hannah’s Journey delves into many of life’s challenges, especially of a young girl with non-traditional dreams. Along the way she must learn to exercise patience, to have faith, to slow down and pray for guidance. She learns that life comes with compromise, and sacrifice. Life isn’t easy and for someone with extraordinary desires, it’s even more difficult.

I found Hannah’s Journey an absorbing, well-written book, a story intriguing to a wide audience. The author speaks with authority about Indian history, and the Sinyekst people. Peone is knowledgeable about the northeast Washington area, the Columbia River and the diverse area surrounding it. Many of this novel’s characters have appeared in the author’s previous books (The Heart Trilogy), but the transition into this second book of the Gardner Sibling Trilogy is smooth and stands alone.

To learn more about Carmen Peone, visit http://carmenpeone.com

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I can say, unequivocally, that The Portable Veblen is the strangest book I’ve ever read. But fun. Oh, so much fun! Author Elizabeth McKenzie’s mind is something to behold; her pen magical. Yet, there is substance to this romantic comedy and messages on many levels.

Veblen Amundsen-Howda is a strange, but lovable young woman who tries to do the right thing. She goes out of her way to please her mother, an over-the-top hypochondriac whose husband is the glue that holds their family together. Her biological father is institutionalized with a mental disorder and, true to Veblen’s nature, she makes every effort to bring joy to his life.

Veblen, who was named after Thorstein Veblen (1857-1929), a Norwegian-American economist, draws many of her attitudes and passions from the writer and has a framed picture of him displayed prominently in her home.

Veblen’s financé Paul Vreeland, a brilliant neurologist, has been awarded an important military contract to test brain-damaged patients. When Paul takes Veblen to meet his aging hippie parents, the visit is as bad as he dreads. Trying to keep all these elements—her family, his family and his research project—on an even keel while putting together their wedding is a challenge.

In the meantime, one of the main characters of the book, a squirrel who resides in Veblen’s attic, is her joy, but Paul’s nemesis. It’s hard to imagine, but the squirrel has a surprisingly important role is this story.

For a refreshing change, read this book. As Jeff VanderMeer of the Los Angeles Times says, “It’s wise, deep, and complicated.”

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