Books & Looks: Real Books for Real Readers was started as a podcast to supplement Blaine Desantis’ website, ViewsOnBooks.com, and expand into audio interviews with authors.
With Books & Looks, Blaine’s goal is to focus on real books that real people will read. At least half of the books he reviews are either new authors or unknown authors that many in the general public are unaware of. After a segment reviewing books or interviewing authors, Blaine ends each episode with a discussion of the movies and TV shows he is currently watching.
This Week’s Episode
Step into the pages of history that often escape the limelight. Join us as we explore Heather B. Moore’s Under the Java Moon, a compelling narrative that opens the curtains on Java’s POW camps during WWII — a place where even whispers had eyes. Starting each chapter with real survivor accounts, this novel reveals how families, torn from their lives, faced unparalleled challenges.
From Heather’s transition from fashion merchandising to becoming a versatile author, to the riveting stories of men, women, and children caught in the war’s merciless grip, we dig deep. We’ll also explore how wartime fear wasn’t confined to one part of the globe, drawing parallels between internment camps in Java and America. As a closing note, we shift from the weight of history to the lightness of tradition, introducing you to the charming Icelandic custom of Jolabokaflod, which turns book-giving into a festive affair. Don’t miss this episode; it’s a tapestry of forgotten history and a glimpse into cherished traditions.
Check out the latest episode of Books & Looks:
About Blaine Desantis:
Blaine is an avid lifetime reader, a retired attorney, and has been a book club leader for the past seven years. He is an active teacher in senior education classes at Furman University. Blaine loves fiction, nonfiction, histories, mysteries and almost all genres of books.
