It looks like I’m back for round two of self-published/indie book reviews and I’m once again impressed by what my fellow authors have created. All three books I read for this batch revolved around death and murder, so if you’re looking for something dark or haunting to read this month, you might want to look into these distinctive works of fiction.
Sophie Lydon inherited the ability to talk to the dead and helps guide lost souls to their final destination. She doesn’t know where they go, but an in-between realm her late mother called The Long View has to be walked by deceased souls to reach the other side. Sophie’s father runs a mortuary, which gives her easy access to the recently deceased as she tries her best to help them as her mother once did. When she’s not guiding spirits, she helps care for her uncle Seamus and must avoid a disturbingly violent bully from school, who seems obsessed with her.
Bob Curran is a famed retired police officer who helped put away a murderer. The problem is, though the murderer is now dead and gone, Bob is not so sure that death has stopped him. When grotesque murders start popping up in High Towers once again, Bob must ask himself if there’s a copycat on the loose, or if the dead killer has somehow cheated death. And Sophie might be key to solving the case.
I enjoyed the overall story, but I think this book could’ve been elevated by additional editing. There were some head-hopping issues that were distracting, and though I know that an omniscient view is difficult to write, there could’ve been more polishing to fix this issue. I think editing would’ve also helped with clarity in certain areas. On a positive note, if you’re looking for a book with some truly horrific crime scenes and a unique take on what happens to us after we die, then this book will give you the fright you’re looking for.
…if hurt people really hurt people, then who was I going to hurt?
Nineteen-year-old Arlissa Benson doesn’t know what to do with her life, so when her friend Alejandra drags her to Los Angeles, she takes the opportunity to figure herself out. She soon meets the attractive professional boxer, Xavier Amari, and becomes slowly immersed in LA culture, both for better and for worse. It turns out there’s more to Hollywood than the glitz and glamour, and when Arlissa tangles herself in a web of her own bad decisions, there might be no digging her way out. Everything might start out innocently enough, but when drug use, selfishness, past trauma, and an impulsive nature start to have serious consequences on Arlissa’s relationships, there’s nothing left except regret.
I quite liked this book. I’m happy it was written in first person so that I could really get inside Arlissa’s head and see her thought process. She’s not a perfect person by any means, but that’s kind of the point. She’s flawed, even irredeemably flawed at times, but that’s why her future gets more and more bleak as the story progresses. Don’t expect a happy ending. This is a story about how getting caught up in your own BS hurts not just yourself, but the people around you, and at a certain point you can’t take back what you’ve said or done. Goddess A. Brouette has a unique approach to storytelling and isn’t afraid to write characters who are broken and can’t necessarily be saved by plot armor.
Maybe the saying had always been right. Money can’t buy happiness.
In the rich neighborhood of Beechwood Close, four women go about their troubled lives trying to find happiness. Emily moves to the neighborhood with her grandmother after obtaining a sudden fortune, but struggles emotionally from losing her parents when she was a child. Florence is in the midst of a potential divorce from her husband, something she can’t quite come to terms with, and is tempted by alcohol to cope with the situation. Ava is running from her past wrongdoings, which might be catching up to her, and hides her current misconduct from her friends. Rose is stuck in an abusive marriage and seeks out help from a mysterious group called The Order, but it’s not quite what she had expected and she wants out. As the lives of these four women intertwine, secrets and lies are revealed, and some of them even seek revenge.
This book took a bit for me to get into, but as the tensions grew greater and the many secrets within its pages were exposed, I just had to know what was coming next. Ben Andrews did a fantastic job writing believable female characters with complex home lives. If his name weren’t on the cover, I would’ve assumed a woman wrote it. He really handled the subject matter well. The drama was gripping, and the plot twists I didn’t see coming. Masterfully written, and I can’t wait to read the next one when it’s released!
In the marshlands near the town of Barkley Cove lives a mysterious girl of much rumor and speculation. The townsfolk know little about her, so when a young man named Chase Andrews is found dead in 1969, and possibly murdered, all eyes turn to the “Marsh Girl” as a suspect. Her name is Kya, and while her life has been hidden from most, her tale is a tragic one.
As a child, Kya lived with her parents and siblings, but due to her father’s abusive nature, her mother decides to leave the home and never return. Kya’s siblings also leave one by one and Kya is left alone with her father. Eventually, he leaves the property as well. Only a child, Kya must learn to survive on her own in the marsh. She makes money by selling mussels to a shop owner named Jumpin’ and befriends the gulls and critters of the marsh. As time passes, she observes the behavior of the animals around her and can recognize the parallels between their survival and her own.
Due to the harsh judgment of the townsfolk, Kya only ever attends one day of school, but when a friend of her brother’s, Tate Walker, grows curious about the Marsh Girl, he starts teaching her to read and brings her books to independently study. She proves to be highly intelligent and self-motivated, but not only that, sparks fly between her and Tate. Unfortunately, as life pulls them apart, she then becomes romantically involved with Chase Andrews instead, who eventually is found dead. Can Kya defend herself against the accusations of the town that’s always been against her?
This is a book about survival and instinct. Kya is every woman who’s had to fight her own battles and look out for herself when no one else will. She can’t rely on anyone…not even those she loves most. When you read her story, you really feel for her and identify with her on a deeply personal level. She’s alone and has become accustomed to being alone, but still desires love and companionship. As her story is woven throughout the investigation into Chase Andrew’s death, the pages just keep turning as you become hungry to know how much involvement Kya has in Chase’s death, if any involvement at all. It’s not until the very last pages that readers finally learn the truth.
I loved this book. I think it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read. There’s romance, mystery, facts about nature I never would’ve thought about on my own, bits of poetry sprinkled throughout, and a distinct narrative voice telling the tale. This book was beautiful and tragic, and just as how Kya survives, this book will surely survive the test of time.
It’s time for round 3 of Thrift Book Reviews and once again I found some true hidden gems. I am quickly learning that thrift stores are a great place to find entertaining reads for an affordable price. Don’t break the bank only buying books new, especially if you’re not looking for something specific and are open to whatever you might find. Also, it’s worth mentioning that thrift stores are an excellent place to unload all your old books that you don’t plan to read again. People like me greatly appreciate it when others are willing to redistribute their book hoards. Books shouldn’t be collecting dust if they can be treasured by someone else. And now, let’s dive into the two thrift books I got my hands on this time.
Imagine hitting the “reset” button on your life every four years. Many of us would gladly welcome a fresh start, but when the price is forgetting everything, including those you love, is it really worth it? Aris believes it is. To prevent future wars and conflicts, she believes that the memory wipe that all citizens undergo every four years is necessary for peace. On a basic level, this appears to be sound logic, but what happens when your old memories—those memories that were meant to be erased—start creeping back via dreams? You’d long for what you lost. You’d be angry at the people who did this to you. You’d desperately try to find your loved ones again, only to discover they don’t remember you at all. In Reset, Aris slowly discovers the negative effects of this government practice, especially as she sees how her friend Benja unravels at discovering a relationship he lost. Aris, too, comes to know of her past love that was taken from her, and she’ll do anything to stop her memories from being taken again.
This haunting, dystopian read is perfect for those who like to ponder difficult philosophical questions. I found myself wondering about my own life and how different it would be if I no longer had my family, especially my sweet husband. Waking up one day and feeling like something was missing, but not knowing what, and then going about life as though that previous life never happened would be a nightmare. Sarina Dahlan does a great job of painting an eerie image of what a society like that might be like: Perfect, but maybe too perfect, so it just feels wrong. This book was an emotional read that tackled some heavy topics, and from start to finish I found myself rooting for love to prevail.
It seems like just another day at Mortingham Boarding Academy, at least until large silver beetles with a mysterious virus start attacking students, leading to the infected transforming into bloodthirsty, zombie-like machines. Survival instincts take over in this horrifying novel about a group of kids doing everything they can to make it out alive (but not everyone will). Paul, the new kid with a traumatizing past. Caitlyn, Paul’s admirer who grapples with being just an average girl. Erika, the popular girl who Paul has his eyes on. Adam, your typical bully. Mark, the nerd who hopes to distance himself from that label through new friendships. Who will live, who will die, and can the virus be stopped?
It took me a while to get hooked on this book, but once I did I found myself loving it. Things mentioned in passing at the start suddenly became important for the plot by the end, making everything come full circle as the main characters fought to survive. I loved that characters weren’t necessarily protected by plot armor and that even main characters that I grew attached to had a chance to die by the end. This kept me guessing as to who would make it, and who wouldn’t, rather than assuming the author would just protect every main character. I think that Adam, the bully, was the most well-written character, as I found myself sympathizing with him and his inner struggles. I also found myself rooting for his character growth as he slowly found a greater purpose outside of picking on his peers. Overall, this was an amazing read that played out in my head like an action-packed horror film.
A few months back I was doing some shopping at Sam’s Club. I decided to browse through the books and was delighted to find The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien for an insanely affordable price. I realized I’d never read the books, despite having seen the Peter Jackson directed films many times. I became curious as to how the books and movies compare to one another. In what ways did the movies succeed, and what ways did they fail? Are the books worth reading, or are the films enough? As someone who went to school for both film and writing, I felt that I was at least somewhat qualified to give an opinion on the matter, and so I set out on my journey into Middle-earth.
At the time of writing this, I have only read the first book of the trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring, and have read a few chapters of the second book, which I will get to in a separate blog post. Although The Hobbit precedes The Fellowship of the Ring, I have not read The Hobbit yet. Fortunately, The Fellowship of the Ring opens with a recap of The Hobbit so that readers are aware of important details they may need to know moving forward. It’s also important for me to note that I watched the Peter Jackson film of the same name, based on Tolkien’s work, very shortly after I finished reading the book in order to refresh my memory on the film adaptation. I did NOT watch the extended version of the film, so my opinions are based purely on the theatrical release. I am not aware of scenes that may be in the extended edition that do not appear in the theatrical version. Lastly, this post will contain spoilers for the book and film. With that said, let’s get into this epic adventure.
Density and lore
Right off the bat at the beginning of the book, the reader is bombarded by mountains of lore. An entire history of Middle-earth’s most important people as well as dense descriptions of locations and key events are piled on at the onset. This can be overwhelming to casual readers, but is great for those who want to experience a fully fleshed out fictional world complete with its own languages and customs. For me, the paragraphs upon paragraphs of names and places that I knew I’d never remember were a bit much, but don’t let that dissuade you from reading the book. Tolkien lets you know what you really need to focus on, and you shouldn’t feel pressured to understand everything instantly. For first-time readers of the book, just focus on the main aspects of the story. It’s okay to forget names and places because the ones that actually matter for the plot will be mentioned repeatedly throughout.
It probably goes without saying that there’s a lot of lore that didn’t make it into the film, and for good reason: there’s a lot of it. The reason films almost never follow books word-for-word is because there’s just too much to squeeze into three hours of screen time. There’s so many names, places, and backgrounds that just aren’t covered in the Peter Jackson film, but I think that’s perfectly fine. Films can easily get bogged down by stuff like that, especially since they need to be more snappy in their delivery than books do. Films tend to focus only on events that move the story forward, and everything else is brushed under the rug. I feel that Peter Jackson’s adaption did a good job in choosing which scenes and details mattered the most in advancing the plot.
Besides lore, Tolkien also seemed to love describing scenery, to the point where it dragged on and became boring at times. And although I’m impressed with how many ways Tolkien was able to describe a forest, path, or stream, I’m not sure I needed detailed descriptions down to every last mushroom and twig. Those who enjoy slow-paced world building that paints an exact image of what the author had in mind for their story will enjoy Tolkien’s attention to detail, but some people might feel it unnecessary. Fortunately, Tolkien’s writing acted as the perfect blueprint to follow for filmmakers as they designed their sets and chose their film locations. As far as how Peter Jackson’s film looked, there were few liberties taken, and I think that’s exactly how it should’ve been handled. Sticking to the source material was the best decision, even if it meant analyzing every intricate passage of text.
Characters and casting
Because I’d already seen the films, I definitely pictured the cast of the films in my head as the characters in the book, even though book descriptions did differ slightly. For the most part though, the films were very well cast. Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf and Sean Astin as Samwise Gamgee were especially spot on, and I can’t picture anyone else in those roles. Sir Ian McKellen nailed Gandalf’s wisdom and kindness, as well as his power and fury, making him just as balanced and intriguing of a character on the big screen as he is in writing. In my opinion, Gandalf is by far the best character in the first book, and probably in the movie as well. His wit and humor in the book is unmatched, and I legitimately laughed out loud at many of his quips. And the famous scene where Gandalf battles the Balrog is not just an iconic moment in the film, but in the book as well. Tolkien’s writing had me on the edge of my seat.
As for Samwise Gamgee, every time Sam had dialogue in the book I could hear it in Sean Astin’s voice. Sam is written to have a distinct way a speaking that’s different from the other hobbits, but Sean Astin’s delivery of this way of speaking really captured what Tolkien was aiming for with the character. Sam is incredibly loyal to his friend and master, Frodo, and that loyalty is well established in the book and through Sean Astin’s superb acting as well.
When it came to the cast of characters as a whole, I was surprised at how funny a lot of the characters were in the book. I wasn’t expecting the level of humor the book contained, as I had imagined the books being more serious than the films. That is not at all the case! Frodo in particular is incredibly sassy in the book, and nearly every character displays their own special brand of humor throughout. I’m thrilled that the film succeeded in capturing the whimsy and charm of the characters as much as it did, even if book Frodo and film Frodo didn’t feel quite the same to me. The book was so cleverly written, and while Peter Jackson’s film did not contain nearly the same amount of raw, unfiltered dialogue as the book, the film still did an excellent job in capturing each character’s personality.
Too many songs!
Now let’s get down to some of the major differences between the book and film. If you’ve never read The Fellowship of the Ring, you might be surprised to know that it contains many poems, chants, and songs, mostly from the hobbits but also from men and elves as well. Hobbits especially love to sing, which you don’t see much of in the films. They’ll often be described by Tolkien as walking along a path, tramping through the woods, or wading across a stream and then suddenly just start singing some old folk song or other, which of course usually contains some lore that I’m sure Lord of the Rings superfans eat up. I’ll be honest though, after about five songs/poems I found myself thinking: Really? Another one? The songs are nice for learning more about hobbit stories and traditions, but otherwise I could do without them. And by the way, it’s apparently common for readers to skip over the songs completely due to how unnecessary they are to the plot as a whole, so go ahead and skip them if they don’t interest you.
The songs are almost entirely absent from Peter Jackson’s film, but I don’t have any complaints about that. Frankly, it would’ve quickly turned into a musical if they tried to stuff all the songs into it. If you’re really curious about the songs of the hobbits and other races in Middle-earth, the book can be easily obtained for your reading pleasure, but I can confidently say that the film absolutely did not need to include them. I like that their love for singing and poetry is more implied and mentioned in passing in the film, rather than having the hobbits bust out randomly in song every two seconds. That would’ve gotten old very fast.
Where is Tom Bombadil?
Hey movie buffs, do you remember Tom Bombadil? No? Well, that’s because he didn’t make it into the movie. He may not be the first character omitted from a film adaption of a book, but I will say I would’ve liked to see how he would’ve been cast and portrayed in the film. To give you an idea of what you moviegoers are missing, I once read a forum where one commenter suggested that Jack Black would be the perfect Tom Bombadil, and I couldn’t agree more. Imagine, if you will, Jack Black as an eccentric, jolly, sing-songing old man prancing about the woods throughout the ages in mysterious immortality with an unexpected ability to handle the One Ring without any temptation or effect from it whatsoever. I bet you didn’t know such a person existed in Tolkien’s universe. He was a character that the hobbits encountered on their way to Bree. And in fact, much of the journey to Bree was cut from the film, not just Tom Bombadil.
Although I’m disappointed that Peter Jackson and crew did not include the colorful Tom Bombadil in their film adaptation, who was perhaps the most entertaining and whimsical character of the entire book, I can’t say I blame them. The film was already quite long without Tom Bombadil’s scenes, and if we’re being really honest, Tom wasn’t important to the plot at all. However, it’s not too late for Hollywood to make a Tom Bombadil spin-off, right? He’s simply too lovable of a character to be ignored by filmmakers for this long. They should get on that.
The ending
What surprised me the most when it came down to the differences between the book and film were the endings. In the book, Frodo sneaks away and sets out on his journey alone after having been confronted by Boromir about the ring, and then Sam catches up to him and joins him, but then that’s it…that’s where the book ends. Notice anything missing? In the film, the plot is taken one step further with the death of Boromir. It turns out that in the books the death of Boromir occurs at the beginning of The Two Towers, and NOT at the end of The Fellowship of the Ring. I found this to be quite odd, but it seemed like a smart move by the film writers to include this important scene in the first film. In fact, I believe the book should’ve ended this way as well. I don’t mean to be too critical of a classic book, but it does seem strange to begin the second book with the death of a major character.
Which is better: book or film?
When it comes right down to it, the book and film versions of The Fellowship of the Ring are both fantastic, although quite different experiences. I do not feel that the book is a good choice for casual readers, but is great for avid readers who consume a lot of literature and can handle long descriptions and dense lore. If you’re a more casual reader and still want to give the book a try though, I’d suggest an audiobook version or reading the book out loud with a family member (I read the book out loud with my husband, which I think made it easier to focus and not zone out). The film is also a very good choice though. As far as how close Peter Jackson’s film was to Tolkien’s original story, I’d say the film was roughly 80% accurate. Sure, some things were left out or slightly changed for the sake of brevity, but the heart of the story, the personalities of the characters, and the stunning visuals were directly taken from Tolkien’s text and replicated to the best of their abilities.
Have you read The Fellowship of the Ring? Have you seen the film? Perhaps you’ve experienced both. What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments.
I am currently reading The Two Towers, which means there will be a part two to this blog post within the coming weeks or months. For the first book, I was pleased with the film adaptation, but we’ll see if that carries into the second film as well.
Looks like we’re at it again! I had such a good experience with thrift store books the first time that I thought it was deserving of round two (and maybe three, and four, and five…). Once again I found some great books to review, and one was so delightfully clever that I felt it put my own writing to shame. Don’t worry, I’m not throwing my work-in-progress in the trash (yet). If anything, reading good books helps me improve my writing and reevaluate how I structure my work.
When Julian Travers, a British spy, is betrayed by an unknown traitor and is pressured to retire, he must discover the traitor’s identity to save his own career. This leads him to his childhood home, where he must seek out a woman named Grace Hannah, whom he suspects of either being involved in the crime or is herself the traitor he seeks. Grace, who lives as a poor relation in her uncle’s home and is treated as such, lives like a servant by day and participates in a smuggling ring by night. When her fellow smugglers discover a folio disclosing sensitive information to the French, she must also find the same traitor Julian seeks. As Julian and Grace interact, an undeniable spark ignites between them. This attraction to each other threatens to get in the way of their missions.
This book was dripping with romance and sensuality, which was skillfully paired with danger and mystery as Julian and Grace both tried to uncover the traitor in their midst. If you’re looking for something sexy and bold, as well as beautifully descriptive, this book might be for you. At times this story progressed rather slowly though, and I wish there had been more insight into the smuggling world as well as the spy world. The story primarily revolves around Grace and Julian’s attractions, and not as much on their risky careers. However, the story rounded out nicely and we get to know the two protagonists on a deep emotional level, which I quite enjoyed.
Colin Singleton has dated (and been dumped by) nineteen Katherines. When his friend Hassan takes him on a road trip to clear his mind and forget about the latest Katherine, Colin sets out to discover a theorem to help him predict the outcome of any and all future relationships. He also just wants to matter, and fears being yet another child prodigy who failed to live up to his potential. Colin and Hassan eventually end up in Gutshot, Tennessee, where they are able to find summer work and make a new friend named Lindsey (NOT Katherine). Through Colin’s relationships, both past and present, he’s able to discover where he’s gone wrong, and what “mattering” truly means.
This book seems to have fairly mixed reviews and clearly isn’t for everyone, but I absolutely loved this book. Sure, Colin is a bit of a self-absorbed, whiny, know-it-all teenager, but I found myself loving his many quirks and wacky theories about the Katherines he’s dated. This book was laugh-out-loud funny and endlessly clever. There was never a dull moment, the pace was just right, and I’ll probably never find another book quite like this one. I even found the math interesting, and I’m not a math person. This is one of my new favorite books and I’m sure I’ll read it again and again.
Once upon a time there was a child who discovered the magical world of books. This child quickly grew fond of reading, and would read their books under the covers with a flashlight well past midnight. They may have thought they were waging a secret rebellion against their parents’ strictly set bedtime hours, but the parents knew what the child was up to. The parents knew all along that their child was reading past midnight, but figured it was better to not punish a child for merely having a love for reading—a harmless and even healthy habit for children to have. The child slowly grew up, not ever falling out of love with reading necessarily, but eventually developed a desire to shake things up a bit. How could they make reading feel fresh and new, and once again experience that insatiable hunger for books like they had in their youth? If this no-longer-a-child book lover is you, and you’ve been wondering how to fall in love with reading all over again, here are five ways to do just that:
Read a genre you’ve never tried before
As a reader, you probably know what you like, and there’s nothing wrong with liking what you like. However, there may be a genre you’ve always been curious about, but never tried because you thought it’s not quite your style. Maybe now is the time to take that big leap! And the best place to start might just be with the most popular books within that genre. Never read horror? Pick out some Stephen King books! Hesitated to read dystopian novels? Start with The Hunger Games! Stop putting off trying something new and commit to diving in.
Join a book club
Okay, I get it, you’ve probably tried a lot of genres already and truthfully you don’t need to try new genres anymore. That’s great you already know what interests you! But still, if only you could share your love of fantasy or romance with other like-minded folk. Fortunately, you can! Find book clubs locally in your area, or search for online book clubs that read the genres you love the most. Why bottle up your love for the classics when you could gush about them with other people who love them just as much as you do? You don’t have to experience books alone.
Read with your family members
You’ve already tried book clubs, haven’t you? Some of those members were a bit snobby, weren’t they? Or maybe not, but talking about books with strangers isn’t always the most enjoyable. But who said that book clubs were the only way to enjoy books with other people? Read with your family! Be there when your kids fall in love with reading the same way you did, or you can read one chapter a night with your spouse before going to sleep. Reading doesn’t have to be an experience that you keep to yourself, and can easily be shared with those you love the most.
Try audiobooks
I know you like the smell of yellowed pages, or fancy the convenience of a Kindle, but have you ever seriously considered audiobooks? Let’s face it, reading eats up your time, and you can’t do much else when your eyes are glued to a page and your hands are holding the book open. Wouldn’t it be lovely if you could clean your house and read at the same time? Or drive to work while you finish reading Jane Eyre? That’s the sort of luxury audiobooks can provide you, and not to mention quality narrators can give life to characters that wouldn’t have been as vibrant from just reading in your head.
Reread your old favorites
When all else fails, go back to those books that made you fall in love with reading in the first place. No one said you could only read something once. Brush the dust off your Harry Potter books and read them with the same voracity you did when you were still just a child reading under your covers. If you loved them once, you’ll love them again, and nothing quite beats your first love.
After recently reviewing some thrift store books, I wondered where else I could find some hidden treasures. As someone who became consumed by Twitter earlier this year, and who’s now involved with the writing community there, I realized the answer was staring me right in the face: indie/self-published books were the next place to look. Don’t be too quick to count out indie authors when looking for your next read, because I can guarantee you’re missing out on some gold. The indie books I read this month were so well written that I’m surprised they aren’t traditionally published works. Here are the fantastic books I read this month:
The first novella in the Small Town Slashers series, The Drifter focuses on the small hunting town of Traders’ Point and the locals that live there. Although hunting season brings many strangers to town, the townsfolk become wary of a large and intimidating drifter who doesn’t appear to be there to hunt at all. Jenny Maysure, a journalist in the small town, becomes suspicious of the drifter and sets her sights on figuring out his motives for sticking around. Then, when murders start occurring in town, it becomes ever more urgent for Jenny to cover the story. Who is this drifter fellow? And with the sheriff brushing off the murders as nothing more than unrelated incidents, Jenny might just have to take a few risks to get the scoop.
This gripping and effortlessly written murder mystery is a strong start to what I’m sure will be a great series. I felt like I got to know all the major characters on a personal level, and the mystery was unraveled bit by savory bit until its ultimate conclusion. Some twists I was able to see coming, but this did not distract much from a well-written story. My main critique is that I was sometimes frustrated with the foolish decisions and over-the-top reactions of some of the characters. The sheriff in particular often took actions that made little sense to me. Overall though, this was a wonderful book. I never found myself bored, and the flaws in the characters made them feel real. I bet the next book will be even better. This is an author to watch.
When her father begins restoring a large and mysterious old house in California, Melinda finds herself drawn to the property and the surrounding woods. There she meets Luke, an attractive boy who comes from a long line of witches who each possess unique powers. One day, Melinda stumbles upon a secret passageway to Pleasantwick, the hidden society of which Luke is a part. And while Melinda seems curious about the house and the magical mysteries it contains, Luke must keep Melinda at a distance and even erase her memories of magic to protect her. Unfortunately, the evil witches of Pleasantwick seem to have targeted Melinda, and so Luke must do everything he can to protect her.
I found this book to be quite charming, and while it was slow paced for most of the book, there was an impeccable understanding on how teenagers interact with each other. I especially enjoyed Melinda’s relationship with her best friend Kelly, to the point where it reminded me of my own relationships with best friends in my youth. Luke was a nice character as well, though much of Melinda and Luke’s relationship did feel like it was built on lust rather than love. But what teenager isn’t horny? Perhaps it’s fitting. And when compared to Melinda’s relationship with Jason, Luke is a refreshing change. Ultimately, Pleasantwick felt like a book that would be enjoyed by those who also enjoyed Twilight. It’s a teenage romance with elements of magic, and if that’s what you’re into then you’ll love this book. Plus, there’s a book two!
Have you read any good indie books? Have you written one? Because after this amazing experience reading these two books, I’m definitely open to more suggestions.
As consumers, we often rely on reviews from other shoppers before making a purchase. After all, you want to make sure what you’re buying is worth it. Like any other product, this also holds true for books. You don’t just want any book, you want the best book, and you don’t want to waste your money either. So what do you do? You read the reviews. Then later, you might even leave a review yourself. As a teenager, I occasionally left reviews for books I’d been reading. Sometimes they were glowing reviews, and other times they were less than stellar. Regardless of the rating, I viewed it as a service to people who hadn’t read those books yet. But then something happened to little teenage me that changed my perspective on book reviews…
One day I left a 4-star review for a book I’d checked out of the library. Not a bad review by any means, but I had written that I was disappointed in the ending and that was my reason for demoting a star. This is a helpful review, I thought. Then someone ‘liked’ the review and my heart sunk when I saw who it was…the author had ‘liked’ it. I was mortified. Although I hadn’t been rude and in fact had given a high rating, this was the first time I realized authors actually read their reviews. It should have been obvious, but it just never occurred to me until that moment. I always thought of reviews as a way of informing other readers about books, not as a way of telling authors what I thought of their work.
I felt a little guilty for saying I was disappointed in the book’s ending, even though it was true. It perhaps would’ve been better if I had detailed how I thought the ending could’ve been improved, and also better highlighted the things I did like. I’m sure the author was still thrilled to receive a 4-star review—hence why they clicked the ‘like’ button—but maybe I didn’t have to be so blunt. I later had flashbacks to some of the 2-star reviews I’d left for other books and just felt…icky. Could I have been nicer? Was what I said actually helpful, or just destructive? Did I hurt the authors’ feelings? I realized that when you leave a review, what you’re actually doing is giving feedback to an author that’s put a lot of time, energy, and heart into their work. And this isn’t to say you shouldn’t be honest in reviews—constructive criticism is welcomed by most authors—it just means you should be mindful of the person behind the book before writing your review.
Am I against leaving book reviews? Absolutely not. Authors rely on reviews to get more sales, especially the 4 and 5-star reviews they receive. So if you love a book, definitely be sure to leave a review to help them out! And then there’s those books you thought were OK, but had just hoped for something more or different. By all means, share these opinions in reviews also, but do so with kindness as though you were talking to the authors face-to-face. In order to learn and grow as writers, authors sometimes need to hear a few negatives so that they know what to work on in the future. But what about those books you absolutely hated? Really, it’s up to you, but as for me, I can’t bring myself to leave a review on those books. If I truly hate something, I think it’s better to not leave a review at all. And besides, just because I hate a book, doesn’t mean the next reader will hate it, too. We all have different tastes and expectations when we pick up a new read.
Writing a book is difficult and takes countless hours to complete, so it doesn’t feel right for me to drag the work of a fellow author through the mud. Books aren’t like other products—they’re art. And as a way to respect fellow artists, I will never leave a 1-star review on a book.
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, or at least that’s what people say. And when you acknowledge that something you don’t want anymore could be loved by someone else, that’s where thrift stores come in. Don’t just toss the books taking up your limited shelf space; get them in the hands of people who might like them more than you did. Maybe you didn’t even hate those books. Maybe they were fine, but you just wouldn’t read them twice. And you need to clear away some clutter, so something’s got to go. Thrift stores are a great place to drop off your unwanted books, and I’ve decided to become the receiving end for those trying to reduce the size of their book piles. I spent a good bit of time browsing through the rather disorganized bookshelves of one of my local thrift stores to try and dig up some hidden gems. This time, I found some books written by well-known authors: Red Rain by R. L. Stine and Endless Night by Agatha Christie. Let’s get into the reviews for these thrift store finds.
When travel blogger Lea Sutter decides to adopt twin boys found in the aftermath of a hurricane on a creepy island off the coast of South Carolina, her life and the lives of her family members are forever changed. As you would expect from the famed Goosebumps author, something sinister and supernatural is afoot. These twins clearly can’t be trusted, but while Lea’s husband Mark can see that something is seriously wrong with these children, Lea seems to turn a blind eye. In fact, Lea’s not quite acting like herself anymore, and Mark can’t seem to find the time to figure out what’s the matter with her because he’s in hot water for being the primary suspect of a series of grotesque murders—murders that coincidentally start to occur not long after the twins’ arrival. You know the twins are involved, but the extent of their evil plots isn’t revealed until the very end.
I definitely picked out this book because of the author’s name. I loved Goosebumps as a kid, and I had no idea R. L. Stine had written adult fiction. My main criticism of this book is that it just felt slow, which made it hard for me to get consumed by the story. The story is also told from the point of view of at least six of the main characters, which makes it hard to grow attached to any one of them. I think this may have been on purpose though, as it added to the disorienting nature of the story. Jumping from one perspective to another created a feeling of uneasiness throughout that the book needed to help scare the daylights out of you. I particularly enjoyed the graphic descriptions of the many deaths throughout. It’s R. L. Stine, so I’m totally here for the blood and gore!
Overall I thought the book was good. Maybe not exactly what I was hoping for, and maybe not a perfect fit for me, but it was certainly an experience that I think will stick in my mind. Are there cliches? Sure, but I don’t mind a few tropes every once and a while. Nearly every book is built on some trope or other.
In my end is my beginning… Michael Rogers is unsure about many things in life, but one thing that he’s fairly certain about is he wants to live on Gipsy’s Acre, a piece of land rumored to be cursed by gypsies. He has an architect friend named Santonix, who seems to have a knack for reading people and designing houses for them that they didn’t even know they wanted. When Michael meets a fabulously wealthy girl named Ellie, who purchases Gipsy’s Acre after the two of them fantasize about making a life for themselves there, they eventually marry and try to settle into their new life in a house that Santonix built just for them. A whole cast of characters, however, cause the couple trouble, including Ellie’s overbearing rich relatives and a local gypsy woman who tries to warn Ellie about the curse on the land they’ve made their home. A haunting tune sung by Ellie suggests Some are born to Sweet Delight, Some are born to Endless Night. And figuring out who is born of Endless Night is not quite as simple as one might think.
This book blindsided me, in the best possible way. I knew that since it was a mystery novel by the Queen of Mystery herself that I’d probably need to read it twice to fully appreciate the finer details that first-time readers overlook. I definitely look forward to reading this book again so that I can appreciate it on a different level. My only criticism is that I felt like it wasn’t possible for readers to solve the mystery on their own, which perhaps is quite purposeful, but I spent the majority of the book trying to put together all the pieces just to realize certain clues were deliberately hidden until the moment of reveal. Still, it was a great book. Reading it again will be a real treat.
If you’re a bookworm, you likely carry books around with you and sneak a read every chance you get. You just have to get to the next chapter, then the next chapter, and truthfully you’re never fully satisfied. After finishing one book, you’re already moving on to another one. But what are the best places to read? After all, you don’t want to read just anywhere. Here are just some of the places to read a good book:
The Library
The library is a great place to read. Not only are you surrounded by a plethora of book choices, you’re also able to check out anything you want for free! If you don’t like what you’re reading, you can just go grab something else without worrying about the cost. Also, if you like quiet, but maybe can’t stand when it’s too quiet, the library is absolute heaven. Just find a nice window seat or an unoccupied table and read to your heart’s content.
On Vacation
Vacations are often far from relaxing if you have a full itinerary of sights you want to see, but depending on your plans a vacation is still a great place to read. Have you rented a beach house or a nice cabin in the woods? Being surrounded by nature can help you ground yourself and focus your thoughts away from the usual hustle and bustle of life. Even if you have a jam-packed European tour in your plans, sneaking in some reading time at night at the hotel is a nice way to wind down and relax after a day of exploring.
A Cafe
What’s better than reading a book? Reading a book and eating food at the same time. It’s a perfect combination. Maybe you just go for that cup of coffee, or maybe you’d like a meal to go with your reading, but either way a cafe has a great atmosphere for getting lost in a good book, and filling up your tummy, too.
While Traveling
We’ve already covered vacations, but what about traveling in general? Maybe you have a long commute and want to fill that time with an audiobook. Maybe you take the train and want a better way to pass the time than just awkwardly rubbing shoulders with strangers. Or maybe you’re on an airplane snuggled up with your favorite travel pillow as you journey to distant lands. Reading while traveling is the perfect way to make better use of your travel time.
By The Fire
Who says you actually have to go out somewhere to read a book? Isn’t the best place at home in front of the fireplace with your feet propped up in front of burning flames? It’s cozy, it’s familiar, and it’s warm—it’s oh so warm. This is especially perfect for those cold winter nights—a hot chocolate in one hand, and a good book in the other.
Outside
If you have a nice patio setup or a nearby park with some good seating, getting out in the fresh air on a warm sunny day can make reading a real joy—though I must acknowledge that reading is already a joy to begin with. Feel that summer breeze and listen to those birds chirping. Isn’t it lovely? If you haven’t read a book outside, try it!
Your Favorite Chair
I know you have a favorite chair. Maybe it’s at your dining table, or maybe it’s a cushy chair in your living room. For me, I have a pink moon chair in my office that’s a great place to crack open a book. Think of that chair that you gravitate to the most. That’s the place you need to sit and read if you can’t go anywhere else, or maybe you even prefer it over anywhere else.
While Waiting
We’ve already covered traveling, but what about just waiting? What about when you’re in line for something? You know, those lines you’re stuck in for twenty minutes or more. Why waste time just standing around? And I know some of you are the type to show up early to events. What else are you supposed to do while waiting for more people to arrive? Don’t just twiddle your thumbs, read a book!
The Bookstore
The library is not the only place where you can find yourself surrounded by books. Bookstores are also perfect for reading, only this time you can purchase and own those books that most interested you when you were skimming through the newest releases at the entrance, or those hidden treasures in the very back. Many worlds are waiting for you to be chosen and taken home.
In Bed
And finally, that one place you always end up at the end of the day, when all you need is some rest and calming energy, and perhaps the best place to read of all, is curled up in your bed. Can you think of anywhere more comfortable than with your pillows and blankets under lamplight? I know I can’t. Bed is the ultimate home—your home within your home. And what else feels like home? Reading books.
Where is your favorite place to read a good book? Let me know in the comments.
B. L. Allen Books 