FEBRUARY 2018 | SARASOTA SCENE 113
LITERARY Scene
By Ryan G. Van Cleave
arts&culture
THIS MONTH, RYAN REVIEWS A LEGAL THRILLER, A HISTORICAL
SAGA OF OLD FLORIDA, AND A BOOK ON DIGITAL CULTURE.
A CORNER IN GLORY LAND
by Janie Denos
Though author Janie Denos now lives in a log cabin in the
Blue Ridge Mountains, she was born and raised in Florida,
which serves to be the inspiration for A Corner in Glory
Land, the fi rst in her new trilogy about Old Florida. “When
I was a little girl, my family spent time at Lake Weird,
specifi cally at an old fi sh camp named Johnson’s, and it was
those sweet old memories that helped bring A Corner in
Glory Land to life,” explains Denos.
Set in the 1880s, this novel follows the Stewart family’s
days as settlers in Florida—around Silver Springs and Lake
Weird—where Hap Stewart works on a steamboat while his
four children all learn to make their own way in the oftenharsh
world of river life and the wilds of central Florida. The
book puts a spotlight on young Eve, a restless girl with the
dream of being a writer who has her work published
in the newspapers and journals of the world. Her
twin, Ivy, chases a future in the world of medicine
women and herbal healing. Upon uncovering a
family secret, Eve has to decide whether to head out
and fi nd Ivy or stay home and protect the Stewart
family.
While there are moments of tenderness as well as
historical tidbits that Florida fans and historical fi ction
enthusiasts might well fi nd effective, the book has room
for far more. That’s likely where books 2 and 3 in the
trilogy come into play, one assumes.
Rating:
www.JanieDevos.com
SHAME NATION: THE GLOBAL EPIDEMIC OF ONLINE
HATE
by Sue Scheff with Melissa Schorr
Author, parent advocate, and cyber advocate Sue Scheff’s
third book, Shame Nation, deals with a reality none of us
want to face: in today’s digital world, disaster might be a
single click away. Personal attacks on Facebook. Political
troll tweets. Public shaming. Scheff reports that 38% of
adults confi rm they’ve been cyberbullied in the last year
alone.
In Scheff’s mind, what awaits us on the Internet? “A nation
of fi nger-wagging vultures who delight in tormenting us
and tearing our reputations to shreds,” writes Scheff. “This
culture of destroying people with the simple stroke of a
keyboard has become much more than a fad—it’s the new
norm. In a 2014 survey conducted by YouGov, 28 percent
of Americans admitted to engaging in malicious online
activity directed at somebody they don’t even know.”
But this thoughtful book is far more than a collection of
digital horror stories. It also offers practical guidance on
how to prevent and protect against cyber blunders and
faceless bullies. Thanks to input from top professionals
in fi elds such as law, psychology, and reputation
management, readers can fi nd actionable
ways to take charge of their digital lives
today.
A generous Resources page and ample
End Notes round out this fi ne book,
making it a solid read for any parent,
teen or tween who wants to avoid
virtual cruelty and know how to react
effectively when it does happen despite
our best efforts. This is a fi rst-rate,
useful book that’s timely and smart.
Highly recommended.
Rating:
www.suescheff.com
/www.JanieDevos.com
/www.suescheff.com