The Joey Parker Movement

Read in more than 100 countries, JoeyParkerMovement.com forgoes snark, judgment, and tabloid-style gossip in favor of generating positive celebrity content, including coverage of celebrities’ charitable and philanthropic pursuits. In this offering, founder Joey Parker channels that positivity and sense of optimism as he seeks to give today’s youth a new and positive perspective on life, drawing on his own experiences and struggles. Among the topics he discusses are coming out in a conservative town, politics, and what it takes to find and make a positive name for oneself in the modern world. With endorsements and contributions from the likes of Paris Hilton, civil rights activist Justin Mikita, Def Jam cofounder Russell Simmons, actors Ian Somerhalder, Denise Richards, and Lisa Rinna, and Real Housewives of New York star Aviva Drescher, The Joey Parker Movement looks to make a difference in the lives of its readers.

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Joey Parker combines personal essays with philanthropic celebrities to inspire positivity, happiness, gratitude, and compassion through his book, The Joey Parker Movement. In merely seventeen chapters, Parker shares his experiences, ranging from being bullied at school to his mother's cancer diagnosis, with the world. Some of his stories are bursting with happiness, like his family's love-filled reaction when he shared his true self with them, while others are heartbreaking. No matter the topic, Parker connects with his readers from the first page. The evolution depicted through the essays is existentially moving. 

Parker shares how he first began to discover and define himself, which allowed him to realize his life's purpose. He's an avid volunteer with an impressive resume. Through social media, he often reaches out to charitable celebrities with the desire to help share their message. So often, the general public is overloaded with the bad gossip coming out of Hollywood that only leads to spreading negativity. Parker wants to change this and has begun to with his website: The Joey Parker Movement. 

Through this motivational book, readers will see how much he has grown through experience, loved through compassion, and helped ignite change in the world. Highly recommended for readers of all ages; no harm would come from a little more understanding and a lot more gratitude. 

Rating: 4.5/5 Cups

Goodnight, Brian

Fate was working against little Brian Mauretti. The food that was meant to nourish him was poisoning him instead, and the doctors said the damage was devastating and absolute. Fate had written off Brian. But fate didn’t count on a woman as determined as Brian’s grandmother, Angela DiMartino – who everyone knew as Mama. Loving her grandson with everything she had, Mama endeavored to battle fate. Fate had no idea what it was in for.

An emotional tale about the strength of family bonds, unconditional love, and the perseverance to do our best with the challenging gifts we receive, GOODNIGHT, BRIAN is an uplifting tribute to what happens when giving up is not an option.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Steven Manchester sets his characters up against impossible odds in his newest novel, Goodnight, Brian. The inspirational novel is focused around two main characters, though the supporting cast list is quite extensive. 

Brian is a child who was poisoned by a soy product as an infant which resulted in a mental disability. Mama is the grandmother who refuses to give up on her grandson, pushing him to defy the insurmountable odds. 

Brian is a lovely boy. The story is never told from his perspective, but readers are able to see his emotional standpoint. His actions speak louder than anything he dares to say. He's a child who is full of love, over generous, supportive, open, and unbelievably resilient. 

Mama is the epitome of tough love. She knows that the only way Brian will excel expectations is to be pushed. If he's treated like a learning deficient child then he will act like a learning deficient child, is Mama's motto. She's determined to teach Brian everything that doctors said he would never do. Readers will love her feisty personality, her never-give-up attitude, and her faith. 

The plot of the novel covers the time between Brian's birth and (close to) Mama's death. Manchester shares Brian's struggles and accomplishments, while also showing Mama's faith and the family's hard work. Because the book covers such a large span of time (roughly 18 years) then sometimes the story seems to jump around a lot, which can be a bit confusing. Though the chapters are all accompanied by a year to keep everything in a timeline. The character interactions seem stiff at times but this doesn't stop Manchester from getting his point across to the readers. There are many life lessons within the pages of this book that everyone should learn. Highly recommended. 

Rating: 4/5 Cups

Goodnight, Brian