Book Review: Out of Ashes

Marcus Atkinson

Follow me on twitter: @marcusatkinson

Written by Avery L. Sutton, I would consider Out of Ashes a rare breed, combined with a must read.  This novel blends factual historical events with fictional characters in a way which makes it easy to get lost in reality.  Few authors along can do this, but to have this done in the background of Jim Crow Birmingham Alabama in 1963 makes it not only unique. 

As a person who loves history and studies the civil rights era, I was captivated by how Sutton ties in real historical events with the fictional day to day lives of the characters.  Bombings in Birmingham, political news from then President Kennedy all were part of the lives of Peg, Dr. Carson and others. 

Characters developed in a way which seemed natural and realistic.  In today’s readings, too many times protagonist and antagonist are static – that is they have little to no character development.  This is often a choice by the author to keep the character simple and easy for the reader to follow along, but Sutton allows his characters to evolve, change in a way that while reading you are unsure if it is for the better, or for the worse. 

Like any good book, the story is compelling, suspenseful and a definite page turner.  It’s not hard to become lost within the pages and begin to attempt to predict what is going to happen next.

And what does happen next is both surprising and at least in my case, fulfilling.  The natural progression of the novel is obviously meticulous and calculated.  It’s not hard to see why Avery L. Sutton’s Out of Ashes has been read and enjoyed by so many, including myself. 

High School Basketball: Lorain High Titans Outlast Brunswick High Bluedevils in Triple OT

By Marcu Atkinson

Follow me on twitter: @marcusatkinson

Last night in front of a packed gym, the Lorain High Titans took on the Brunswick High Blue Devils in what may turn out to be the most exciting game of this year’s Ohio High School Athletic Association tournament.

Lorain defeated Brunswick in triple overtime 59-56 in a game where the absence of a shot clock was glaringly obvious.  In a pregame interview, Brunswick head coach, Joe Macke said a low scoring game where the end score is in the 40s favors the Blue Devils.

At halftime the score was tied at 22.

Both teams showed their strengths and weaknesses from the start. Lorain missed free throws and shot 25 percent from the field in the 1^st half.  On the other hand they forced turnovers and went on scoring streaks every few minutes.

At times, it seemed Brunswick would never miss a three-point shot, their offensive discipline was apparent.  Yet their inability to hold onto the ball gave away easy points and their lack of athleticism made rebounding hard. 

1^st Quarter

Brunswick outscored Lorain after one quarter, as they made their shots and Lorain did not.  During one trip down the court, Lorain missed a three, gained an offensive rebound, missed a second three, gained another offensive rebound, and proceeded to miss a third three

To put it simply Lorain struggled to make a basket as they trailed after one. 

2^nd Quarter

The beginning of the 2^nd quarter was much like the 1^st as the Titans shot just 25 percent from the field at the midpoint of the quarter.  Brunswick began to push the ball early in the quarter, scoring easy points close to the basket, however Lorain was able to stay in the game through turnovers, keeping the score within a good distance, giving up only 7 2^nd quarter points to Brunswick.

“We got caught playing their game”, said Lorain coach John Rositano said in a postgame interview. “But there’s a belief we will find a way”

With key turnovers and timely shooting, Lorain ended the 2^nd quarter on a 9-0 run to head into halftime with the game tied at 22

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At the half, Brunswick had 13 rebounds and was 4 of 9 in three point shots.

Lorain was 1 for 4 in free throws in the 1^st half (61 percent for the season), with 14 rebounds and they forced 7 turnovers. 

The 3^rd and 4^th quarter played out much the same as the first two, with Brunswick shooting well from the three point line and Lorain keeping it close with key forced turnovers.  Brunswick began the 3^rd and 4^th quarters breaking away but Lorain ended strong, including the 4^th quarter when they scored the last 8 points in thrilling fashion to force the first of what would be 3 overtimes.

“There’s always a concern”, Rositano said.  “But never panic, the kids are winners.”

Winners indeed, especially Devon Andrews who seemingly took the team on his shoulders and willed them through possessions, got key rebounds, and stepped up and made free throws when it became crucial.  He ended up with 26 of Lorain’s 59 points, the next highest scoring Lorain Titan had 8 points.

“He knows when it’s time to play,” Rositano said, speaking of Andrews.

The first overtime, each team had little scoring, Lorain held the ball for over 30 seconds to take the last shot, but missed a three point shot to go into double overtime.

In double overtime, it appeared Lorain was headed to victory, up four when Andrews got the defensive rebounded, passed the ball to Rashaad Berry, who then gave a two-handed dunk.  However, down 6 and near the end, Brunswick showed resilience and heart scoring 6 unanswered points to tie the game and go into triple overtime.

Now in triple overtime, Andrews for the first time made both his free throws.  Brunswick missed a layup on the ensuing possession then immediately fouled Berry who shoots only 49 percent from the free throw line on the season. Berry missed the first, made the second.

Lorain was now up three and with no shot clock and the ball, Lorain played ball control and came away with the victory

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Rashaad Berry finished with 8 points, 2 blocks, and key momentum shifting dunks and rebounds.

Now 24-0 Lorain, the number 1 ranked team in their bracket, ranked 2 in the state will play either Strongsville or St. Ignatius Saturday night at Midview High School (Grafton, Ohio).

Guest Post: Love Poem to a Cougar

By: Ryan Sagert

Your beauty is a bottle of vintage wine
Well aged and delightfully tasteful
It meets my lips with curiosity
And seems to satisfy the desire
That stems from the animal inside

Entranced by your orphic eyes
I commit the taste of your lips to memory
Inhaling your stories and aspirations
From years bound with wisdom

The veins in your hand are as blue as the ocean
Yet there is no ring on your finger
No contract to bind your affections
And so you seduced me
Somehow in your infinite wisdom
You seduced me!

Death of a King" Inspiring but Not Why You Think

By Marcus Atkinson

Follow on twitter: @marcusatkinson

I recently read the book, Death of a King: The Real Story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Final Year, written by Tavis Smiley.  I read the book because I wanted to learn something beyond what I hear every January and February.  I read the book because I wanted to go beyond the Letter from a Birmingham Jail, beyond a march, beyond the Dream.

This book did that. 

This article is not a review of the book.  To read a review from the New York Times click here. My purpose is to explain what I got out of it and my life takeaway.

Generally, when we see King on recorded video we see a confident man, with a clear vision with defined goals and steadfast convictions that led him to become the man we created in our minds.  Smiley attempts to show a truer side of King, a man not unlike you and me and he does just that.

In his speech at Riverside in New York a year before his death, King publically came out against the Vietnam War, effectively opposing President Johnson, the man who advocated and signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. After that, this book details the life of a man overwhelmed with uncertainty and doubt, a year of ups, downs, many failures, and few successes.

On the surface, the title suggest the literal, physical death of King, however, I believe the title signifies an emotional death, a death founded in a community who now believed King was “out of date”.  As Smiley wrote, before his death, King was seen as the ultimate Negro in a time when his people now identified themselves as “Black”.  King was seen as increasingly out of touch and more people were turning away from non-violence and toward a more militaristic approach to racial equality.

This change took a physical and emotional toll on King, his spirit became weak, his doubts increased.  The book shows a man who smoked cigarettes to relieve stress, a man who cursed, drank alcohol unapologetically on occasion, and a man who at times showed anger toward those he loved and cared about.

In short, King was human, like you and I.

Founded by King, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference appeared to have lost direction, with members upset with King’s public stance against the war. Funds were low and the future was in doubt.  The SCLC appeared to have a divided leadership, some of which did not agree with King.  This again caused King to question himself, increase his stress and ad worry to an already caring and heavy hearted man. 

And his new book did poorly in sales, adding to his personal financial troubles. 

Ultimately, this book was inspiring.  Inspiring because it shows a man no different than you and I, with doubt, with faults, with uncertainly and vices.  A man who didn’t have all the answers.  A man who argued, who had anger and a man who could not sleep at night.

Like you and I.

It is inspiring because King accomplished so much, meant so much to so many people, despite all the above.  It shows that we today can do the same.  Though King was special, though he was unique, we today can accomplish the same he did and more.

We put King on an unattainable pedestal, making his goals and aspirations impossible for us to meet, but this book shows another side.  A side that says there is another King living today, walking among us, we just need to find him or her and make that person believe in their capabilities. Death of a King It gives hope, a realistic view which in turn creates a realistic vision of Dr. King’s dream, an attainable dream.

Death of a King shows a man who kept moving despite an increasingly unpopularity.  A man who worked tirelessly for his people even after some abandoned him.  It shows a man who persevered and never gave up, virtues we all hold inside of us.

On that day in Memphis King’s last fall came while standing up for poor people, for people who were being taking advantage of financially.  Working long hours, in very poor working conditions, risking death and health on a daily basis.  King died in a city which still believed in non-violence in a time of war.

Despite his vices, his doubts, his worries.  King held true to his convictions, something all of us can do.