My husband bought me three of Alice's books to top up birthday present. Unusually for him, this one turned out to be a good choice. Yes, I did, for a while, find myself wondering where we were going to with this story, but it nevertheless held my attention, and I'm glad I stuck with it because the end is worth the journey. Heartbreaking and yet beautiful, and I'm still thinking about the butterflies.
Chameleon****
I read this twice, and I'm still muttering "what?" But don't let that deter you. No, this isn't an easy read; it is challenging and that's not a bad thing.
It reads like the series of dreams that you might get if you overdid the cheese and red wine before going to bed. It is a narrative made up of episodes, some of which flow into the next episode, while others yank you out of the previous flow of consciousness and dump you somewhere seemingly totally unconnected (as wierd dreams do). You can try to make sense of it as a whole or just take each "dream" as a separate story-and enjoy the wonderful writing, writing that is sometimes raw and disturbing, and often rich and multi-layered.I found myself, half way through, thinking of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress-I think because Christian, like the main character in Layden's work, progresses from one "test" to another, some of them harrowing, some of them uplifting. Different parts will, I guess, resonate with different readers, depending on character and life experiences.
If nothing else, read this and see how wonderful language can be when it's let off the leash, free from the constraints of plot line or even an ultimate purpose. It is difficult to catagorise, or even say, with confidence, what it's about. Chameleon is one of those experiences in life where "you just had to be there".
Introducing Serina K., Ph.D. and Future Famous Person *****
by Brad G Moore
What a little gem! I downloaded this for a quick, light read before I
went to bed, and it was brilliant. Mr Moore pitches the voice of Serina K
perfectly- full of fun, but not irritating or twee. I look forward the
the further adventures of Serina K and, of course, Suzy the dog.
Heads or Tails ****
Thoroughly enjoyed this book-so much so, I've spent most of today reading it, when I should have been doing other things.
The Fall of Billy Hitchings ****
Thoroughly enjoyable book, even if I didn't know what was going on for huge chunks of it. It all came together in the end.
Sink: An Old Man's Tale
by Perrin Briar ***
I picked this book up as a freebie, and got into it very quickly. The
two antagonistic characters intrigued me, and, until they fell into the
sinkhole, I was all set for an entertaining read. But it seemed as
though there was a change of writer once the pair was underground, and
though the tale was interesting, the story telling itself became dull.
There was so much potential for character and plot development, most of
which was ignored, and I felt that the author wanted to get the book
finished asap. Which is a shame; this could have been much, much better-
which is not to say it's bad, just...disappointing.
Wychetts
by William Holley 26 February 2016 ****
Fast paced adventure with lots of humour and gags, and with a frisson of
terror. What's not to like? I'd suggest this is good for 8years up,
particularly if you like being just a little bit scared. Available free at Smashwords and Amazon
Twisted Fate (Orc Destiny I)
by Jeremy Laszlo 9 February 2016 ****
This has been on my to read list forever, but I've finally read it and
have to report that it's rather good. It reminds me of the Drizzt novels
by R A Salvatore, in that life in this world is essentially awful, but
the hero here, Gnak, born into a brutal clan of orcs, experiences a
revelation when he meets and gets to know other species that he has
previously held in contempt.
There is a lot of brutality and gore in the story, but not gratuitous
violence. The action is fast paced and absorbing and leaves you wanting
to read the next instalment once you've finished. I can heartily
recommend it and, as it's free at Smashwords and Amazon, you've no excuse for not trying it, have
you?
Eterlimus
by Aziz Hamza 7 February 2016 ****
It is Rome at the time of Kings and powerful Romans are already doing what powerful Romans do- plot: for revenge, for more power. Eterlimus has his own reasons for revenge and as the master of the local brothel visited by the rich and powerful, he also has the opportunity. Intrigue and political machinations abound as Rome tries to rid herself of the hated tyrants that hold her. You know what's going to happen; but who will survive the fall out?
If you like your stories with a shovelful of intrigue and suspense, you'll enjoy this.
Open Minds
by Susan Kaye Quinn 3 January 2016 ***
I'll
start of with a confession- I'm not a big sci-fi fan. I got this book
as part of a sci-fi bundle ( to broaden my reading experience, before
you ask), and this was the first story. It is a well written and an
intriguing story, but I can understand the mixed reviews on Goodreads etc. It's certainly
not a feel good book, and parts of it are depressing, particularly those
bits that resonate with our current treatment of people who we deem
"different"- you just feel that this would happen, if the premise it
rests on was a reality.
I agree with the readers who suggest if you're a Hunger Games fan you'll enjoy this. It's either your type of book or not. Hence, I think, the mixed reviews. It's not a bad book, it's a challenging book, as most of it entails people being crappy to each other. Would I read the rest of the trilogy? Mmm- possibly. Would I read anything else by Susan? Probably. Come to it with an open mind, and don't expect too many laughs. If I was a Hunger Games fan, I'd have probably given it 4 stars
I agree with the readers who suggest if you're a Hunger Games fan you'll enjoy this. It's either your type of book or not. Hence, I think, the mixed reviews. It's not a bad book, it's a challenging book, as most of it entails people being crappy to each other. Would I read the rest of the trilogy? Mmm- possibly. Would I read anything else by Susan? Probably. Come to it with an open mind, and don't expect too many laughs. If I was a Hunger Games fan, I'd have probably given it 4 stars
Imminent Danger - And How to Fly Straight Into It
by Michelle Proulx 19 April 2015 *****
I downloaded this as it was on offer at the time and I thought, why not? I read it over the last two days and have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you like a lot of action in your stories, you'll enjoy this. Think Indiana Jones in space, and on steroids. Really, it has all the ingredients you need- a feisty, capable heroine, an arrogant, overconfident and devastatingly handsome hero, plenty of aliens, most of whom seem intent on killing or capturing said hero/ heroine, and of course, the will they/ won't they question. I note it's still on special offer on Amazon at the moment, so if you're tempted, be tempted now. Go on- you'll enjoy it.
A Favorite Son
It was a free download, so I thought, why not? So glad I did. This is a novella, a reworking and updating of the story of Jacob and Esau, and a cautionary tale of the perils of parental favouritism. It is beautifully written- if you could read silk, this is how it would feel- with an attention to detail that brings the world of these rival sons to life. It is a subtle writing, where a seemingly innocuous comment or event becomes a key moment in the storytelling later on- the beautiful shirt that Jacob so loved as a boy, for example, becomes the ripped shirt that the elderly Jacob holds, as he waits anxiously for news of his own favourite, Joseph.
It is, at the time of writing, free on Amazon. It's easily a 5 star story. All you've got to lose is a little bit of your time, and who needs to eat and drink anyway. Go on, give it a try. You won't regret it.
by John Carter on Sep. 21, 2014 * * * * *
Fast moving roller-coaster ride through time and myth. The
puns are dreadful but fun, the adventure non stop. If you have a
reluctant reader in the family, this is the book for them.
by Larry Good
on Sep. 21, 2014 * * * *
Charming and whimsical and a pleasant read. I would pitch it
at 6-10 year olds. The characters are engaging (I especially like the
character Wut, who is a question mark who bounces everywhere) and the
story quietly draws you in. Will Meri find her way back home? Will
Tackling Dummy get his new canvas? And what is wrong with the croapfs?
You might have to read the whole series to find out- but I don't think
that will be much of a hardship.
by Eduard Joseph on Nov. 18, 2014 * * * *(Short Story)Nice story, good twist. Deserves more than 2 stars even before the corrections, in my view.
by Rachael Rippon on Dec. 07, 2014 * * * * *This is a well crafted book with engaging characters. The story is gripping and compelling- possibly too gripping for the faint of heart. If the intended recipient scares easily, you might want to read it first. The Bagman is not a kind creature and the story is, after all, fantasy-horror. However, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and if this is a genre you favour, I assure you that you won't want to put it down once you've started it.
No comments:
Post a Comment