By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jan_I_Porter]Jan I Porter
"Oh, I am curling up with this one again!"
"Many Loves, Many Lives all taking place right now...." Sacred Vow novel author; C.G. Walters wrote on the inside cover of my copy. The inscription began the first of many thought provoking insights into the nature of relationships, reality, higher consciousness and the Natural Laws that govern such phenomena as Parallel Realities. A work of fiction and fantasy one might say, while others would insist that it is reality. Obviously knowledgeable about metaphysical principles, Walters broadens the reader's thoughts about the nature of things, leaving us pondering "what if?"
Adventure ensues immediately as apprentice Katrina of the Circle of Nine; a Mystical Sisterhood. They are searching through parallel realities for Katrina's Spirit Mate with the intent to mend a rift in the Collective Consciousness. A parallel or alternate reality is considered to be a self-contained separate reality that coexists with one's own.
Smoothly and skilfully, one is taken on a wondrous journey that is reminiscent Richard Bach's novel One. Bits of Shamanic or Metaphysical mechanics are woven into the journey of Ian and Katrina's while they search for solutions and explore a transcendent love. It has been said that inanimate objects carry the energetic imprint of the maker, owners and all that touch the object. Thus it is with all novice metaphysicians, in the beginning, Ian uses an object as a focal and access point to journey. Later Ian grows in his ability to access Katrina of his own will and skill.
As with 'Anam Cara'; the ancient Celtic Ritual or Vow of binding 'soul friends' Sacred Vow explores the meaning of soul partnerships. Similar to but not limited to marriage as we know it, true love is intended to survive a lifetime and beyond. Love partnerships and relationships are without a doubt, focal points in our lives, whereby we all long for that one soul mate, that one person who is compatible in all ways to the point of functioning together as one whole. As in Anam Cara, the story serves to solidify the physical with the spiritual that continues beyond space, time, distance, alternate realities and form.
The back cover states; "The most significant event of your life calls to you, barely beyond your perception... both imminent and impossible." It stirs the soul and mind of even the most sceptical of rational thinkers. This is the intrigue of quantum physics and Shamanism, where it is possible to enter supernatural realms at will. The reader cannot help but contemplate what Einstein and many other explored the true nature of time, space and matter. The back cover also quotes Shakepeare's Hamlet in reference to the age old maxium that love transcends all; "The time is out of joint; O cursed spite. That ever I was born to make it right! Nay, come, let's go together." It has been said in one way or another that the highest of all natural Laws, no matter your religious, philosophical or scientific leanings, is that of Love.
Many spiritual traditions speak and report the evolution of the soul and relationships through many and varied experiences, bringing maturity that comes from varied roles and experiences. As such, their other lives or existences and relationship experiences are explored, where the reader can relate to and speaks to the soul longing in all of us for that mature idyllic love that ultimately brings us that state of 'oneness' with each other as well as within the concept of God or Collective Consiousness.
Walters states in his Biography; "Dream is fever to the conscious mind, inducing illusion. Illusion? Or, enlightenment? They are one, except by perspective." In the novel's Author's Note, he responds to a friends query regarding the mechanics of the ability to explore aternate realities by stating "Until I saw this information in the story, I can't say that I had any such ideas. But now, yes, I think this is a truth." Walters references the Circle of Nine in his biography as his 'muses' giving one the notion that the man behind the journey is providing obvious personal insights. Other worldly views on the nature of the cosmos can only come from one who has personally explored the nature of love and spirituality first hand.
In the ancient art of storytelling, the reader's thoughts and emotions are intended to be provoked long after the book has been read. Within the tale, teachings for the human condition are gently provided as is a path shown for spiritual growth. Each path is inidividual and unique within the Collective simultaneously, as Sacred Vow demonstrates smoothly. This book is in the company of other notable classics as C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia, Gulliver's Travels and Capra's It's A Wonderful Life.
Sacred Vow is a good read filled with insights from the writer and his muses. I want to OM now and try it out myself!Good job Mr. Walters, I hope there will be sequels coming soon.
The Publisher; Dragons Beard Publishing of North Carolina, presented Sacred Vow in 2006 in cooperation with Green Press Initiative and is gaining solid momentum in sales as well as an independent following via the world wide web.... a 'shining star'.
"Sacred Vow" by; C.G. Walters Publisher: Dragon's Beard Publishing, LLC ISBN-13: 978-0-9774271-4-7, ISBN-10: 0-9774271-4-5 Genre: fiction/visionary and Metaphysical
Web Links: rel=nofollow [http://www.cgwalters.com]http://www.cgwalters.com, rel=nofollow http://www.dragonsbeard.com
Reviewed by: Jan Porter rel=nofollow http://www.inspiredsoulworks.com
Jan Porter http://www.inspiredsoulworks.com
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Sacred-Vow-by---C.G.-Walters---Oh,-I-Am-Curling-Up-With-This-One-Again!&id=6549063] "Sacred Vow" by - C.G. Walters - "Oh, I Am Curling Up With This One Again!"
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Book Review: The Distant Hours
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Linda_Hancock]Linda Hancock
Kate Morton is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors.
In "The Distant Hours," published in 2010, Ms. Morton captivates the reader through a complex plot that involves interesting characters. She uses a very unique style in which she moves from one decade to another and back again in order to weave details that unite the five parts of this book into a comprehensive whole.
The story narrator, Edith "Edie" Burchill, is a young woman who works for a book publisher. As a child, her mother gave her a copy of "The True History of the Mud Man" by Raymond Blyth which quickly became her favourite book. It was many years later that Edie began to realize that her own mother had a personal connection not only with the author of this book, but also with his daughters. Her curiosity and her mother's reluctance to talk about this, led her to begin searching for information about Milderhurst Castle and the eccentric spinster sisters with whom her mother had actually lived when she was evacuated and billet there as a child during the World War II.
Edie uses her knowledge and connections in the publishing world to gather facts but also makes a visit to the Castle where she observes without revealing her true motivations for being there. Her research makes Edie and the reader aware of the importance of not just the residents but also those who worked at the Castle as well as the people who lived nearby.
When her father becomes ill and is confined to bed, Edie finds that the "Mud Man" book actually draws them together as they read it and try to figure out why the book was written.
One of the key turning points in Edie's search for answers is when her aunt gives her letters that her mother had written to the family when she was billeted at Milderhurst Castle. Even though Edie is thrilled about the pieces that they provide her, this is not the case with her mother who is extremely upset when she finds out that Edie has the letters and has read them.
This book reveals the fact that both the Burchill and Blyth families have many secrets that have been hidden for years. Some are buried in history and others in the minds of individuals. And as Edie digs into the past and builds relationships with the other characters, she begins to understand how each secret contributes to the attitudes and behaviours of the others who were connected to the Castle. It is interesting to note that as the secrets are revealed, the characters grow closer. In fact, Edie and her mother not only learn more about each other, but also build a stronger relationship than either might have expected.
I loved this book! The plot was not only captivating but also cleverly intricate. Each of the 562 pages contributed to the story line and offered surprises that proved to be fascinating and yet, at the same time, made sense.
"The Distant Hours" is a wonderful read that totally captured my attention and left me eager to move from one chapter to the next. In fact, even though this is a large book, I found myself at the end of it, thirsting for more.
An added bonus is the Readers Club Guide that offers Suggested Discussion Points.
And now I would like to invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to a complimentary list of 10 Steps to Making Your Life an Adventure when you visit http://lindahancock.com
From Dr. Linda Hancock, Registered Psychologist and Registered Social Worker
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Book-Review:-The-Distant-Hours&id=6629116] Book Review: The Distant Hours
Kate Morton is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors.
In "The Distant Hours," published in 2010, Ms. Morton captivates the reader through a complex plot that involves interesting characters. She uses a very unique style in which she moves from one decade to another and back again in order to weave details that unite the five parts of this book into a comprehensive whole.
The story narrator, Edith "Edie" Burchill, is a young woman who works for a book publisher. As a child, her mother gave her a copy of "The True History of the Mud Man" by Raymond Blyth which quickly became her favourite book. It was many years later that Edie began to realize that her own mother had a personal connection not only with the author of this book, but also with his daughters. Her curiosity and her mother's reluctance to talk about this, led her to begin searching for information about Milderhurst Castle and the eccentric spinster sisters with whom her mother had actually lived when she was evacuated and billet there as a child during the World War II.
Edie uses her knowledge and connections in the publishing world to gather facts but also makes a visit to the Castle where she observes without revealing her true motivations for being there. Her research makes Edie and the reader aware of the importance of not just the residents but also those who worked at the Castle as well as the people who lived nearby.
When her father becomes ill and is confined to bed, Edie finds that the "Mud Man" book actually draws them together as they read it and try to figure out why the book was written.
One of the key turning points in Edie's search for answers is when her aunt gives her letters that her mother had written to the family when she was billeted at Milderhurst Castle. Even though Edie is thrilled about the pieces that they provide her, this is not the case with her mother who is extremely upset when she finds out that Edie has the letters and has read them.
This book reveals the fact that both the Burchill and Blyth families have many secrets that have been hidden for years. Some are buried in history and others in the minds of individuals. And as Edie digs into the past and builds relationships with the other characters, she begins to understand how each secret contributes to the attitudes and behaviours of the others who were connected to the Castle. It is interesting to note that as the secrets are revealed, the characters grow closer. In fact, Edie and her mother not only learn more about each other, but also build a stronger relationship than either might have expected.
I loved this book! The plot was not only captivating but also cleverly intricate. Each of the 562 pages contributed to the story line and offered surprises that proved to be fascinating and yet, at the same time, made sense.
"The Distant Hours" is a wonderful read that totally captured my attention and left me eager to move from one chapter to the next. In fact, even though this is a large book, I found myself at the end of it, thirsting for more.
An added bonus is the Readers Club Guide that offers Suggested Discussion Points.
And now I would like to invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to a complimentary list of 10 Steps to Making Your Life an Adventure when you visit http://lindahancock.com
From Dr. Linda Hancock, Registered Psychologist and Registered Social Worker
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Book-Review:-The-Distant-Hours&id=6629116] Book Review: The Distant Hours
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Book Review: The Forgotten Garden
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Linda_Hancock]Linda Hancock
"The Forgotten Garden" written in 2008 by Kate Morton, is a fictional mystery that tells the tale of a woman from her childhood through to her death and the characters who she encounters.
The story begins when the main character, Nell, is a young girl. She is hiding on a ship in obedience to the woman who instructed her to do so. When she arrives in Australia she finds herself alone and, when the dockmaster decides that she has been abandoned, she is taken in as part of his family. Her memories of this are blurred and she even forgets the fact that this is not her birth family.
Everything is good and she seems happy until she reaches her twenty-first birthday. At that time, the dockmaster decides to tell her the truth about the fact that she is not really his daughter and with that disclosure, Nell's world is rocked. She not only loses trust but also acquires an independence that she would otherwise have not have had. The worst part, however, is that she cannot remember enough of her youth to fill in the parts of her past that trouble her.
The only clue to her past is in the tiny white suitcase that had accompanied her across the ocean, from England to Australia. Within that case is a volume of fairy tales which ends up being the link to Nell's family. Nell makes an attempt to find her roots by travelling to Blackhurst Manor on the Cornish coast where the Montrachet family lived. What she finds, however, does not answer her questions but does form the foundation for a further search that her granddaughter makes after Nell's death.
When Cassandra finds out that her grandmother had purchased a house in England, she decides to make a visit there to see if she can unravel the mystery that she has been struggling with about the family origins. And her trip does not go unrewarded for she not only finds important information but also meets individuals who help her to put the pieces of the past together. You will enjoy travelling with Cassandra as she crosses the ocean as well as a lifetime of secrets in order to discover the details that affected all members of her family for the rest of their lives.
Kate Morton is an internationally best-selling author and this book helps us to understand why she has achieved this recognition. Her imagination captures ours as we move through the pages with emotions that include fear, confusion and hope.
"The Forgotten Garden" and the house that is on the same property is described as part of a physical maze but the story itself is also told in the form of a psychological maze. It provides an interesting and curious journey that leads to a beautiful place. The 549 pages have all the elements that make a good mystery - unique characters and a complex plot that is revealed to the reader one piece at a time.
At the end of the book is a Readers Club Guide with "Suggested Discussion Points".
If you are looking for a captivating mystery that spins a yarn about how choices of one generation affect the future of following generations, then "The Forgotten Garden" is an excellent choice. It is well-written and told in a manner that keeps you not only interested but begging for more.
And now I would like to invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to a complimentary list of 10 Steps to Making Your Life an Adventure when you visit http://lindahancock.com
From Dr. Linda Hancock, Registered Psychologist and Registered Social Worker
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Book-Review:-The-Forgotten-Garden&id=6629185] Book Review: The Forgotten Garden
"The Forgotten Garden" written in 2008 by Kate Morton, is a fictional mystery that tells the tale of a woman from her childhood through to her death and the characters who she encounters.
The story begins when the main character, Nell, is a young girl. She is hiding on a ship in obedience to the woman who instructed her to do so. When she arrives in Australia she finds herself alone and, when the dockmaster decides that she has been abandoned, she is taken in as part of his family. Her memories of this are blurred and she even forgets the fact that this is not her birth family.
Everything is good and she seems happy until she reaches her twenty-first birthday. At that time, the dockmaster decides to tell her the truth about the fact that she is not really his daughter and with that disclosure, Nell's world is rocked. She not only loses trust but also acquires an independence that she would otherwise have not have had. The worst part, however, is that she cannot remember enough of her youth to fill in the parts of her past that trouble her.
The only clue to her past is in the tiny white suitcase that had accompanied her across the ocean, from England to Australia. Within that case is a volume of fairy tales which ends up being the link to Nell's family. Nell makes an attempt to find her roots by travelling to Blackhurst Manor on the Cornish coast where the Montrachet family lived. What she finds, however, does not answer her questions but does form the foundation for a further search that her granddaughter makes after Nell's death.
When Cassandra finds out that her grandmother had purchased a house in England, she decides to make a visit there to see if she can unravel the mystery that she has been struggling with about the family origins. And her trip does not go unrewarded for she not only finds important information but also meets individuals who help her to put the pieces of the past together. You will enjoy travelling with Cassandra as she crosses the ocean as well as a lifetime of secrets in order to discover the details that affected all members of her family for the rest of their lives.
Kate Morton is an internationally best-selling author and this book helps us to understand why she has achieved this recognition. Her imagination captures ours as we move through the pages with emotions that include fear, confusion and hope.
"The Forgotten Garden" and the house that is on the same property is described as part of a physical maze but the story itself is also told in the form of a psychological maze. It provides an interesting and curious journey that leads to a beautiful place. The 549 pages have all the elements that make a good mystery - unique characters and a complex plot that is revealed to the reader one piece at a time.
At the end of the book is a Readers Club Guide with "Suggested Discussion Points".
If you are looking for a captivating mystery that spins a yarn about how choices of one generation affect the future of following generations, then "The Forgotten Garden" is an excellent choice. It is well-written and told in a manner that keeps you not only interested but begging for more.
And now I would like to invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to a complimentary list of 10 Steps to Making Your Life an Adventure when you visit http://lindahancock.com
From Dr. Linda Hancock, Registered Psychologist and Registered Social Worker
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Book-Review:-The-Forgotten-Garden&id=6629185] Book Review: The Forgotten Garden
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Book Review: The Help
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Linda_Hancock]Linda Hancock
Even though the "The Help" movie has only recently been released, the book on which it is based was actually published in 2009. This 530-page work, written by Kathryn Stockett, relays not only the socio-economic and cultural divisions between white and black people that were prevalent in the past, but also captures the personal perspectives of the individuals who are introduced to us as we read.
Skeeter, the main character, was raised in Jackson, Mississippi by a black maid who worked for her Caucasian family. This situation was similar to that of her friends who were also raised by staff who they all refer to as "the help". Although they view and treat these individuals as being beneath them, they delegate important tasks to them. For example, they depend on the black women to take care of their own children and this includes instilling values in them.
The social rules that divide the white employers and black staff members have been ingrained in the lives of the families portrayed. A situation arises, however, where Skeeter finds herself torn between her friends' view that separate bathrooms should be used according to race and Skeeter's own idea about what she feels is "right".
The dilemma and her desire to become recognized as a good writer by a large publishing house, leads Skeeter to form an idea in which she would interview black maids and then disguise their identifies when she tells their stories in a book.
The black women, however, are afraid of the consequences that they might face if they talk to Skeeter about their experiences. Many have already suffered or seen people they care about hurt because of past racial conflicts. Skeeter therefore has to risk not only her relationships with her friends but also figure out ways to encourage the women to help her with her project through secret meetings.
Skeeter reflects on her own experience of being raised by Constantine who has disappeared from the family employment during Skeeter's time at university. No one is able to offer her details about why she left or where she went. And as Skeeter searches for this information, she learns about family secrets that have been kept from her.
As Skeeter writes and builds relationships with the black women who are telling her their personal stories, the gap between herself and those white women who she formerly thought of as friends, widens. In fact, she begins to realize that those who she thought she was closest to in the past do not actually share her values and those who she thought were different from her, actually are very similar in many ways.
The women's tell-all book which was written in secret becomes a best seller and ends up being a source of revelation for citizens of the town that will never again be the same because of it.
Kathryn Stockett has written "The Help" in a very honest and revealing manner. She offers insight into a sociological era of discrimination and abuse between blacks and whites from many perspectives and although the issues are serious, at times she highlights the divisions in a humourous manner. Each page has a unique blend of hurt and hope.and there is no doubt that its content and style will change the reader for a lifetime.
At the end of the book, the author has also included a personal essay and a Reading Group Guide of discussion questions.
And now I would like to invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to a complimentary list of 10 Steps to Making Your Life an Adventure when you visit http://lindahancock.com
From Dr. Linda Hancock, Registered Psychologist and Registered Social Worker
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Book-Review:-The-Help&id=6630158] Book Review: The Help
Even though the "The Help" movie has only recently been released, the book on which it is based was actually published in 2009. This 530-page work, written by Kathryn Stockett, relays not only the socio-economic and cultural divisions between white and black people that were prevalent in the past, but also captures the personal perspectives of the individuals who are introduced to us as we read.
Skeeter, the main character, was raised in Jackson, Mississippi by a black maid who worked for her Caucasian family. This situation was similar to that of her friends who were also raised by staff who they all refer to as "the help". Although they view and treat these individuals as being beneath them, they delegate important tasks to them. For example, they depend on the black women to take care of their own children and this includes instilling values in them.
The social rules that divide the white employers and black staff members have been ingrained in the lives of the families portrayed. A situation arises, however, where Skeeter finds herself torn between her friends' view that separate bathrooms should be used according to race and Skeeter's own idea about what she feels is "right".
The dilemma and her desire to become recognized as a good writer by a large publishing house, leads Skeeter to form an idea in which she would interview black maids and then disguise their identifies when she tells their stories in a book.
The black women, however, are afraid of the consequences that they might face if they talk to Skeeter about their experiences. Many have already suffered or seen people they care about hurt because of past racial conflicts. Skeeter therefore has to risk not only her relationships with her friends but also figure out ways to encourage the women to help her with her project through secret meetings.
Skeeter reflects on her own experience of being raised by Constantine who has disappeared from the family employment during Skeeter's time at university. No one is able to offer her details about why she left or where she went. And as Skeeter searches for this information, she learns about family secrets that have been kept from her.
As Skeeter writes and builds relationships with the black women who are telling her their personal stories, the gap between herself and those white women who she formerly thought of as friends, widens. In fact, she begins to realize that those who she thought she was closest to in the past do not actually share her values and those who she thought were different from her, actually are very similar in many ways.
The women's tell-all book which was written in secret becomes a best seller and ends up being a source of revelation for citizens of the town that will never again be the same because of it.
Kathryn Stockett has written "The Help" in a very honest and revealing manner. She offers insight into a sociological era of discrimination and abuse between blacks and whites from many perspectives and although the issues are serious, at times she highlights the divisions in a humourous manner. Each page has a unique blend of hurt and hope.and there is no doubt that its content and style will change the reader for a lifetime.
At the end of the book, the author has also included a personal essay and a Reading Group Guide of discussion questions.
And now I would like to invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to a complimentary list of 10 Steps to Making Your Life an Adventure when you visit http://lindahancock.com
From Dr. Linda Hancock, Registered Psychologist and Registered Social Worker
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Book-Review:-The-Help&id=6630158] Book Review: The Help
Friday, December 23, 2011
Orbits Around Characters - A Review of Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Philip_Spires]Philip Spires
In her novel Beyond Black, Hilary Mantel presents a series of characters who ought to be Mr and Mrs, or Uncle and Auntie Normal. They all live near the M25, London's orbital motorway and inhabit places as interesting as Slough, Maidenhead and Uxbridge. Even distant Essex gets a mention. But many of these people aren't normal, or average, or even alive, for that matter. Many of them are in fact the dreaded four-letter d-word, the word that the book's principal character prefers not to say out loud.
Alison is a medium. This m-word applies to her trade, not her stature, which is determinedly out-size. She is a large woman, fat, to be precise, if that is not an f-word. She regularly communicates professionally with the spirit world in front of a live audience. At least some of them seem to be alive. Alison works with an assistant, Colette, a woman with a history of her own. They even live together, but don't start thinking there's any funny business between them. Oh no! This is the M25 we are near, after all.
Alison and Colette have their own lives, and their own pasts. Alison's seems to be the more lurid. Mother was a professional woman, the kind that admits to the world's oldest profession, and so can't be sure who might have been Alison's father. The mother and all the candidates for the role of father are now ex, deceased, d-word, but of course Alison is a medium - a large medium - so she can effectively meet with them whenever she wants. One of them is called Keef, but he probably spelled it Keith.
Colette's past is much more mundane, but it has had its ups and downs. She has had her share of dealing with men, enough to have them come back to haunt her. She seems to value the stability offered by Alison's regular work. They even buy a house together, one of those new ones on an estate. But don't you think there's anything going on between them!
There are pleasant, even amusing moments in beyond Black. But overall the book is too long and presents little to challenge or inform the reader. These are people we have to take at face value, since their engagement with the world seems to go no deeper than this. And it always seems strange that, given the number of d-word people who clearly don't exist any more, that a medium quite by chance encounters one of them who knows someone in that night's audience. The chances of that happening must be very slim indeed, a lot slimmer than Alison, at least.
As Alison and Colette examine their past and current lives, Colette starts to tape their conversations with a view to putting it all down on paper. She might even write a book. But the recordings are regularly interrupted by memories from the spirit world who always want to have their own say. At least the dead are electromagnetic. I mean, it's all in the past. Can't they just let go? Thus we examine the two women's identities.
Beyond Black presents a sometimes funny, generally entertaining, if rather long read. But it is a book that challenges little and does not inform. It also only inhabits the surfaces of its characters. But then they do live near the M25.
Philip Spires
Author of Mission and A Fool's Knot, African novels set in Kenya http://www.philipspires.co.uk
Migwani is a small town in Kitui District, eastern Kenya. My books examine how social and economic change impact on the lives of ordinary people. They portray characters whose identity is bound up with their home area, but whose futures are determined by the globaised world in which they live.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Orbits-Around-Characters---A-Review-of-Beyond-Black-by-Hilary-Mantel&id=6633045] Orbits Around Characters - A Review of Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel
In her novel Beyond Black, Hilary Mantel presents a series of characters who ought to be Mr and Mrs, or Uncle and Auntie Normal. They all live near the M25, London's orbital motorway and inhabit places as interesting as Slough, Maidenhead and Uxbridge. Even distant Essex gets a mention. But many of these people aren't normal, or average, or even alive, for that matter. Many of them are in fact the dreaded four-letter d-word, the word that the book's principal character prefers not to say out loud.
Alison is a medium. This m-word applies to her trade, not her stature, which is determinedly out-size. She is a large woman, fat, to be precise, if that is not an f-word. She regularly communicates professionally with the spirit world in front of a live audience. At least some of them seem to be alive. Alison works with an assistant, Colette, a woman with a history of her own. They even live together, but don't start thinking there's any funny business between them. Oh no! This is the M25 we are near, after all.
Alison and Colette have their own lives, and their own pasts. Alison's seems to be the more lurid. Mother was a professional woman, the kind that admits to the world's oldest profession, and so can't be sure who might have been Alison's father. The mother and all the candidates for the role of father are now ex, deceased, d-word, but of course Alison is a medium - a large medium - so she can effectively meet with them whenever she wants. One of them is called Keef, but he probably spelled it Keith.
Colette's past is much more mundane, but it has had its ups and downs. She has had her share of dealing with men, enough to have them come back to haunt her. She seems to value the stability offered by Alison's regular work. They even buy a house together, one of those new ones on an estate. But don't you think there's anything going on between them!
There are pleasant, even amusing moments in beyond Black. But overall the book is too long and presents little to challenge or inform the reader. These are people we have to take at face value, since their engagement with the world seems to go no deeper than this. And it always seems strange that, given the number of d-word people who clearly don't exist any more, that a medium quite by chance encounters one of them who knows someone in that night's audience. The chances of that happening must be very slim indeed, a lot slimmer than Alison, at least.
As Alison and Colette examine their past and current lives, Colette starts to tape their conversations with a view to putting it all down on paper. She might even write a book. But the recordings are regularly interrupted by memories from the spirit world who always want to have their own say. At least the dead are electromagnetic. I mean, it's all in the past. Can't they just let go? Thus we examine the two women's identities.
Beyond Black presents a sometimes funny, generally entertaining, if rather long read. But it is a book that challenges little and does not inform. It also only inhabits the surfaces of its characters. But then they do live near the M25.
Philip Spires
Author of Mission and A Fool's Knot, African novels set in Kenya http://www.philipspires.co.uk
Migwani is a small town in Kitui District, eastern Kenya. My books examine how social and economic change impact on the lives of ordinary people. They portray characters whose identity is bound up with their home area, but whose futures are determined by the globaised world in which they live.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Orbits-Around-Characters---A-Review-of-Beyond-Black-by-Hilary-Mantel&id=6633045] Orbits Around Characters - A Review of Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
A Novel That Makes a Deep Impact
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Hari_P_R]Hari P R
One reads several books in the course of his life. Some of these books he forgets about the moment he is done with them. Some he regrets reading. Some he enjoys reading, and forgets about later. Few books influence the reader in a way that would change his attitude towards life and the world. Ayn Rand's classic, 'The Fountainhead', is one of them.
The book begins with an introduction to its protagonist, the impregnable Howard Roark. An architect who is firm in his belief that architectural designs should be original and not rehashes of designs of bygone eras, he comes across to most people as a maverick - as someone who just does not belong in the world as it is. He believes in originality and productivity of work, and is uncompromising in his beliefs, ideals and principles.
He joins a leading architectural firm, but unable to stand the fact that the processes the firm has in place severely restrict his creative abilities and hence his quality of work, he quits the job. He joins Henry Cameron, a man whose passion for architecture and high ideals are comparable to his own, and who has been deemed a failure by society. Henry Cameron is impressed by Roark, but warns him that going against the existing norms, though ideologically correct, would lead to painful consequences. Howard Roark, however, is prepared to undergo any hardship in preference to compromising on his principles.
He comes across several people from time to time. Peter Keating, his once classmate and a man who has high social standing but little esteem, who keeps approaching Roark from time to time to seek help on his architectural designs, and who hardly lives his life on his own terms. Ellsworth M Toohey, the antagonist, a famous writer who can influence public opinion, and who has, over several years, mastered the art of manipulating people's opinion to his advantage. Gail Wynand, a man of great abilities and intellect, but who, unfortunately, does not put them to good use, and instead, engages in yellow journalism just for the sake of making some money. Dominique Francon, Roark's love interest, a woman of iron strength and a great mind, who understands and loves Roark like no one else does.
The story, then, is about how Roark goes through life, defying the people who desperately want to bring him down and refusing to compromise even to the slightest extent even in difficult times. His level-headed attitude and absolute love for what he does finally helps him succeed, as he starts bagging big contracts and making people notice and appreciate his work. In the climax of the novel, he puts himself in a position, purposefully, where he has to face a court trial. In the trial, he makes a long and dispassionate appeal to people to recognize the fact that all progress has been made only because man has constantly innovated and experimented, and that making a person work within the confines of past processes and frameworks will only slow down, or even halt progress.
By the time the reader finishes reading the book, he would already be hoping he could transform into Howard Roark. Such is the impact the book makes on the reader. While certain views of the author - such as her opinion on poverty alleviation - are open to debate, the overall philosophy that she proposes through the book is compelling, and will get the reader thinking.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Novel-That-Makes-a-Deep-Impact&id=6631717] A Novel That Makes a Deep Impact
One reads several books in the course of his life. Some of these books he forgets about the moment he is done with them. Some he regrets reading. Some he enjoys reading, and forgets about later. Few books influence the reader in a way that would change his attitude towards life and the world. Ayn Rand's classic, 'The Fountainhead', is one of them.
The book begins with an introduction to its protagonist, the impregnable Howard Roark. An architect who is firm in his belief that architectural designs should be original and not rehashes of designs of bygone eras, he comes across to most people as a maverick - as someone who just does not belong in the world as it is. He believes in originality and productivity of work, and is uncompromising in his beliefs, ideals and principles.
He joins a leading architectural firm, but unable to stand the fact that the processes the firm has in place severely restrict his creative abilities and hence his quality of work, he quits the job. He joins Henry Cameron, a man whose passion for architecture and high ideals are comparable to his own, and who has been deemed a failure by society. Henry Cameron is impressed by Roark, but warns him that going against the existing norms, though ideologically correct, would lead to painful consequences. Howard Roark, however, is prepared to undergo any hardship in preference to compromising on his principles.
He comes across several people from time to time. Peter Keating, his once classmate and a man who has high social standing but little esteem, who keeps approaching Roark from time to time to seek help on his architectural designs, and who hardly lives his life on his own terms. Ellsworth M Toohey, the antagonist, a famous writer who can influence public opinion, and who has, over several years, mastered the art of manipulating people's opinion to his advantage. Gail Wynand, a man of great abilities and intellect, but who, unfortunately, does not put them to good use, and instead, engages in yellow journalism just for the sake of making some money. Dominique Francon, Roark's love interest, a woman of iron strength and a great mind, who understands and loves Roark like no one else does.
The story, then, is about how Roark goes through life, defying the people who desperately want to bring him down and refusing to compromise even to the slightest extent even in difficult times. His level-headed attitude and absolute love for what he does finally helps him succeed, as he starts bagging big contracts and making people notice and appreciate his work. In the climax of the novel, he puts himself in a position, purposefully, where he has to face a court trial. In the trial, he makes a long and dispassionate appeal to people to recognize the fact that all progress has been made only because man has constantly innovated and experimented, and that making a person work within the confines of past processes and frameworks will only slow down, or even halt progress.
By the time the reader finishes reading the book, he would already be hoping he could transform into Howard Roark. Such is the impact the book makes on the reader. While certain views of the author - such as her opinion on poverty alleviation - are open to debate, the overall philosophy that she proposes through the book is compelling, and will get the reader thinking.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Novel-That-Makes-a-Deep-Impact&id=6631717] A Novel That Makes a Deep Impact
Monday, December 19, 2011
'And Then There Were None' - A Thrill Ride for Lovers of Detective Fiction
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Hari_P_R]Hari P R
'Mystery Queen' Agatha Christie has written several novels that make the reader turn the pages breathlessly. The ingenuity of her plots and the aura of mystery and suspense that she maintains throughout her novels have been matched by few novelists. Among all her novels, however, one stands out for its sheer brilliance and an ending that would leave most readers in a state of shocked amazement. While it is true that guessing who the culprit would be is difficult in almost all Agatha Christie novels, it is nearly an impossible task in 'And Then There Were None'. Such is the ingenuity of the twist that the plot takes in the end.
Eight men, each from a different walk of life, are invited to a mansion in an isolated island. The invitations are sent through post and are written credibly and convincingly. On arriving at the mansion, the eight people learn that their hosts are away, and that they would be attended to by a married couple. The married couple in question, however, are under the impression that they are invitees too.
In the middle of all this confusion, a gramophone plays an audio that night, accusing each of the ten people of murder of a person. This takes the guests aback. While the guests acknowledge knowing the person they are accused of having murdered, they defiantly deny having committed any act of malice towards that person.
The guests then come to realize that they have been tricked into coming to the mansion, and that there is no way out of the island. Things take a turn for the worse when that night, one of the guests dies. Another death follows shortly. The terror-stricken guests try to sense, amidst the horror and panic, of what is happening. One of the guests, a judge, puts forward the theory that people are being murdered one after another, and the murderer could only be one among them, for there isn't anyone else in the mansion. This realization only adds enormously to the horror of the guests.
The guests try to be together to try and defy the murderer. However, the fact that the murderer is actually one among them creates an atmosphere of fear, mutual mistrust, constant suspicion, paranoia and panic. The murders continue to happen, and none of the guests seems to be able to do anything about it (except the murderer, of course).
Towards the end, when only two people are left, the tension reaches its peak, and the story advances to a brilliantly conceptualized climax, the details of which I will spare for the benefit of those who have not read the book yet. It is a stunning climax, and aptly so, for the book itself is a thrill ride for the reader. If you are a lover of detective fiction or thrillers, this is one book you wouldn't want to miss.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?And-Then-There-Were-None---A-Thrill-Ride-for-Lovers-of-Detective-Fiction&id=6633127] 'And Then There Were None' - A Thrill Ride for Lovers of Detective Fiction
'Mystery Queen' Agatha Christie has written several novels that make the reader turn the pages breathlessly. The ingenuity of her plots and the aura of mystery and suspense that she maintains throughout her novels have been matched by few novelists. Among all her novels, however, one stands out for its sheer brilliance and an ending that would leave most readers in a state of shocked amazement. While it is true that guessing who the culprit would be is difficult in almost all Agatha Christie novels, it is nearly an impossible task in 'And Then There Were None'. Such is the ingenuity of the twist that the plot takes in the end.
Eight men, each from a different walk of life, are invited to a mansion in an isolated island. The invitations are sent through post and are written credibly and convincingly. On arriving at the mansion, the eight people learn that their hosts are away, and that they would be attended to by a married couple. The married couple in question, however, are under the impression that they are invitees too.
In the middle of all this confusion, a gramophone plays an audio that night, accusing each of the ten people of murder of a person. This takes the guests aback. While the guests acknowledge knowing the person they are accused of having murdered, they defiantly deny having committed any act of malice towards that person.
The guests then come to realize that they have been tricked into coming to the mansion, and that there is no way out of the island. Things take a turn for the worse when that night, one of the guests dies. Another death follows shortly. The terror-stricken guests try to sense, amidst the horror and panic, of what is happening. One of the guests, a judge, puts forward the theory that people are being murdered one after another, and the murderer could only be one among them, for there isn't anyone else in the mansion. This realization only adds enormously to the horror of the guests.
The guests try to be together to try and defy the murderer. However, the fact that the murderer is actually one among them creates an atmosphere of fear, mutual mistrust, constant suspicion, paranoia and panic. The murders continue to happen, and none of the guests seems to be able to do anything about it (except the murderer, of course).
Towards the end, when only two people are left, the tension reaches its peak, and the story advances to a brilliantly conceptualized climax, the details of which I will spare for the benefit of those who have not read the book yet. It is a stunning climax, and aptly so, for the book itself is a thrill ride for the reader. If you are a lover of detective fiction or thrillers, this is one book you wouldn't want to miss.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?And-Then-There-Were-None---A-Thrill-Ride-for-Lovers-of-Detective-Fiction&id=6633127] 'And Then There Were None' - A Thrill Ride for Lovers of Detective Fiction
Saturday, December 17, 2011
The Lure of Gold in the Pulp Fiction Story, Devil's Manhunt
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Lawrence_Hail]Lawrence Hail
For eight long months Tim Beckdolt mined for gold at Desperation Peak in Arizona. His patience rewarded him with striking a rich seam of gold. Three more months of agonizing back breaking work put him on the brink of a new life, the life of a wealthy man!
It would be awe-inspiring if the story ended there with a happily ever after. Alas, it does not! As with all well written stories some villainous character or characters enter the scene who takes the easy way to wealth by stealing off the backs of hard working individuals. In the case of Beckdolt, not only do the villains jump his claim but hunt him down through a vicious terrain with no food, water or weapons of any kind!
In real life this was not such a far fetched story. The lure of gold and relatively quick riches caused thousands of people to up-route themselves and their families in pursuit of the good life. In fact, when gold was discovered by a man named Sutter in California of 1848, the rush began and by 1849, the town of approximately 800 swelled to 50,000 within the year. While some of the early miners did strike it extremely rich, most did not. Did Sutter become wealthy? The answer is no! He spent the rest of his life fighting the United States Land Commission over the rights to his land and sadly died a poor man.
What is less known about the 1849 gold rush is the role women played. While men and women equally shared the hardships of traversing the country, upon landing, it is estimated that 1000 to 3000 women disguised themselves as men and prospected for gold. Some made it to riches mining, while other women became wealthy cooking and baking homemade meals and breads giving the men a sense of home. It was a similar scenario during the Alaskan/Yukon gold rush of the late 1800s. But unlike the Californian rush, due to the extreme weather of Alaska, the population decreased after the mines dried up.
Fictional stories like L. Ron Hubbard's "Devil's Manhunt", takes you on the adventure, trials and tribulations of the harsh life of gold mining in the Wild West. Written and published in Feb. of 1950, this book is one of the golden age of pulp fictions classic stories that fully gives you the sense of not only gold mining but the full flavor and panorama of the west. Included in the novel are two other western short stories to enjoy, "Johnny the Town Tamer" and "Stranger in town".
The western genre was a huge seller in the pulp fiction era because people were fascinated by the unique lifestyle of the Wild West. No other country housed the magnificence of the American Natives and their completely different way of life, the vast landscape and the promise of prosperity through land ownership or gold mining. Even the clothing matched the needs from the harsh landscape that was unique to America.
If you love to read a good solid western adventure that provides all the elements of the Wild West and prospecting for gold, "Devil's Manhunt" delivers all that and more.
Lawrence Hail is a huge fan of pulp fiction stories and loves to experience them in all formats from print to audiobooks to video and movie. Click here for a catalogue at: http://www.goldenagestories.com/free-asi-magazine-signup-form
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Lure-of-Gold-in-the-Pulp-Fiction-Story,-Devils-Manhunt&id=6624653] The Lure of Gold in the Pulp Fiction Story, Devil's Manhunt
For eight long months Tim Beckdolt mined for gold at Desperation Peak in Arizona. His patience rewarded him with striking a rich seam of gold. Three more months of agonizing back breaking work put him on the brink of a new life, the life of a wealthy man!
It would be awe-inspiring if the story ended there with a happily ever after. Alas, it does not! As with all well written stories some villainous character or characters enter the scene who takes the easy way to wealth by stealing off the backs of hard working individuals. In the case of Beckdolt, not only do the villains jump his claim but hunt him down through a vicious terrain with no food, water or weapons of any kind!
In real life this was not such a far fetched story. The lure of gold and relatively quick riches caused thousands of people to up-route themselves and their families in pursuit of the good life. In fact, when gold was discovered by a man named Sutter in California of 1848, the rush began and by 1849, the town of approximately 800 swelled to 50,000 within the year. While some of the early miners did strike it extremely rich, most did not. Did Sutter become wealthy? The answer is no! He spent the rest of his life fighting the United States Land Commission over the rights to his land and sadly died a poor man.
What is less known about the 1849 gold rush is the role women played. While men and women equally shared the hardships of traversing the country, upon landing, it is estimated that 1000 to 3000 women disguised themselves as men and prospected for gold. Some made it to riches mining, while other women became wealthy cooking and baking homemade meals and breads giving the men a sense of home. It was a similar scenario during the Alaskan/Yukon gold rush of the late 1800s. But unlike the Californian rush, due to the extreme weather of Alaska, the population decreased after the mines dried up.
Fictional stories like L. Ron Hubbard's "Devil's Manhunt", takes you on the adventure, trials and tribulations of the harsh life of gold mining in the Wild West. Written and published in Feb. of 1950, this book is one of the golden age of pulp fictions classic stories that fully gives you the sense of not only gold mining but the full flavor and panorama of the west. Included in the novel are two other western short stories to enjoy, "Johnny the Town Tamer" and "Stranger in town".
The western genre was a huge seller in the pulp fiction era because people were fascinated by the unique lifestyle of the Wild West. No other country housed the magnificence of the American Natives and their completely different way of life, the vast landscape and the promise of prosperity through land ownership or gold mining. Even the clothing matched the needs from the harsh landscape that was unique to America.
If you love to read a good solid western adventure that provides all the elements of the Wild West and prospecting for gold, "Devil's Manhunt" delivers all that and more.
Lawrence Hail is a huge fan of pulp fiction stories and loves to experience them in all formats from print to audiobooks to video and movie. Click here for a catalogue at: http://www.goldenagestories.com/free-asi-magazine-signup-form
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Lure-of-Gold-in-the-Pulp-Fiction-Story,-Devils-Manhunt&id=6624653] The Lure of Gold in the Pulp Fiction Story, Devil's Manhunt
Thursday, December 15, 2011
The Phantom Patrol Lives Again
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Lawrence_Hail]Lawrence Hail
It started out like any other day in the coast guard with the gray sky meeting the green sea. But things were about to turn deadly! "The waves smashed and roared over the forward deck. The black ship was astern and coming up on the starboard side. The range was less than fifty yards, but a dozen frowning mountain ranges intervened. The blond man on the bridge gripped the rail and leaned forward expectantly. Behind him two men crouched beside the machine gun, waiting for his signal".
Published in 1935, this passage from the pulp fiction classic story "The Phantom Patrol", by L. Ron Hubbard, takes place in the Gulf of Mexico where Officer Johnny Trescott responds to a distress call from a transport plane that has crashed into the sea and is rapidly sinking. Speed is of the essence to save lives but unfortunately for Trescott, a dope-smuggling pirate he has been chasing, also hears the same SOS and responds to the alarm. Things take an alarming turn for Trescott and his crew and he must fight for his life and that of his crew and the passengers from the plane.
Although this is a fictional story, it is an all too familiar with members from the coast guard who risk this very type of scenario on a regular basis. Established in august of 1790, congress authorized the building of several vessels to combat smuggling and enforce trade law agreements. In times of peace it is generally considered a law enforcement unit run by Homeland Security, but during war time it becomes a military unit that is run directly by the President. The coast guard is considered one of the oldest continuing sea going services.
It is from the experiences of these brave sea faring adventurers that we revel in their courageous if not super human heroics in one of the harshest, non-forgiving environments on earth, the ocean! Its beauty can change in the blink of an eye due to weather or the vile intentions of man who utilize the vast loneliness of the sea to commit for the most part, unseen crimes from the land bearing mass of the population. But it is from this very scenario we have been privileged to witness through the eye of some of the greatest writers of our time, the strife and tribulations of our sea faring conquerors prevail to a successful conclusion and Hubbard's "Phantom Patrol" every bit an epic sea faring adventure that delivers.
Pulp fiction books are unique in that they gave birth to many new genres of writing that that laid the ground work for future writers. The influence of the pulps is evident in later books, television and movies. Although many of these stories have been lost over time, there are publishers such as Galaxy Press that are reintroducing these fantastic stories to a new generation and are very much worth investigating.
For many of us that have little time to adventure the way we would like, a great book can not only give you a temporary respite from the daily grind, but you get to live the life of other characters and their adventures. Enjoy the golden age of pulp fiction!
Lawrence Hail is a huge fan of pulp fiction stories and loves to experience them in all formats from print to audiobooks to video and movie. Click here for a catalogue at: [http://www.goldenagestories.com/free-asi-magazine-signup-form]http://www.goldenagestories.com/free-asi-magazine-signup-form.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Phantom-Patrol-Lives-Again&id=6624687] The Phantom Patrol Lives Again
It started out like any other day in the coast guard with the gray sky meeting the green sea. But things were about to turn deadly! "The waves smashed and roared over the forward deck. The black ship was astern and coming up on the starboard side. The range was less than fifty yards, but a dozen frowning mountain ranges intervened. The blond man on the bridge gripped the rail and leaned forward expectantly. Behind him two men crouched beside the machine gun, waiting for his signal".
Published in 1935, this passage from the pulp fiction classic story "The Phantom Patrol", by L. Ron Hubbard, takes place in the Gulf of Mexico where Officer Johnny Trescott responds to a distress call from a transport plane that has crashed into the sea and is rapidly sinking. Speed is of the essence to save lives but unfortunately for Trescott, a dope-smuggling pirate he has been chasing, also hears the same SOS and responds to the alarm. Things take an alarming turn for Trescott and his crew and he must fight for his life and that of his crew and the passengers from the plane.
Although this is a fictional story, it is an all too familiar with members from the coast guard who risk this very type of scenario on a regular basis. Established in august of 1790, congress authorized the building of several vessels to combat smuggling and enforce trade law agreements. In times of peace it is generally considered a law enforcement unit run by Homeland Security, but during war time it becomes a military unit that is run directly by the President. The coast guard is considered one of the oldest continuing sea going services.
It is from the experiences of these brave sea faring adventurers that we revel in their courageous if not super human heroics in one of the harshest, non-forgiving environments on earth, the ocean! Its beauty can change in the blink of an eye due to weather or the vile intentions of man who utilize the vast loneliness of the sea to commit for the most part, unseen crimes from the land bearing mass of the population. But it is from this very scenario we have been privileged to witness through the eye of some of the greatest writers of our time, the strife and tribulations of our sea faring conquerors prevail to a successful conclusion and Hubbard's "Phantom Patrol" every bit an epic sea faring adventure that delivers.
Pulp fiction books are unique in that they gave birth to many new genres of writing that that laid the ground work for future writers. The influence of the pulps is evident in later books, television and movies. Although many of these stories have been lost over time, there are publishers such as Galaxy Press that are reintroducing these fantastic stories to a new generation and are very much worth investigating.
For many of us that have little time to adventure the way we would like, a great book can not only give you a temporary respite from the daily grind, but you get to live the life of other characters and their adventures. Enjoy the golden age of pulp fiction!
Lawrence Hail is a huge fan of pulp fiction stories and loves to experience them in all formats from print to audiobooks to video and movie. Click here for a catalogue at: [http://www.goldenagestories.com/free-asi-magazine-signup-form]http://www.goldenagestories.com/free-asi-magazine-signup-form.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Phantom-Patrol-Lives-Again&id=6624687] The Phantom Patrol Lives Again
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
A Northern Ireland Family Denies the Past - Reading In The Dark by Seamus Deane
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Philip_Spires]Philip Spires
Reading In The Dark is a first person account of an extraordinary childhood. On the surface, the family seems to be stable enough. They are Catholics and the novel's narrator is about half way along his parents� progeny. Nothing special there...
They are not rich, and apparently not poor. They get by. The lad explores the neighbourhood, makes friends, starts school. Eventually he proves to be quite academic and he clearly goes from personal success to further personal success.
But all the time there's something in the past that labels him. There are people who call him strange names, accuse him of things he hasn't done. He does not understand, but feels the consequences. Life can be complicated when you're born to a Catholic family in Northern Ireland.
The boy grows up in the 1950s and 1960s. Via short, dated chapters, arranged chronologically and starting in February 1945, we able to build and perhaps experience the lad's world. We share the boy's new experience, feel the changes in his life and body as he does. But there is always something unsaid, intangible, but undoubtedly real and of consequence. Everyone seems to know something, but he has little idea what it all means.
Mother and father remain reticent. Relatives and acquaintances allude to Eddie, the boy's uncle, who is not around any more. Clearly Eddie died in strange circumstances. But in the Northern Ireland of the 1950s, you have to be careful what you say, when you speak and whom you mix with. Just being seen talking to Sergeant Burke, the policeman, can result in your being labelled a traitor, a collaborator, or worse.
The boy's relationship with the Church and its clergy is both fascinating and surreal. There are moments of humour, times of fear, often juxtaposed. There's a maths teacher whose class rules are so complex that any response seems punishable. Serves them right... It seems that whatever contribution an individual might make has the potential to render that person in need of strokes, but the ground rules demand that no-one may opt out.
It's the same in the wider society. When you're a Catholic in Northern Ireland - and perhaps if you are not! - there are no fences you can sit on. Whatever you do it will be wrong. There are enemies on both sides of every fence, so wherever you climb down, beware. Tread carefully, know your place, stay on your guard. But what if, like our young lad, you don't know what to beware of?
Slowly, however, the real truth behind Uncle Eddie's fate emerges. It's only then that the growing boy, and indeed the reader, realises just how complicated - and vindictive - life can be.
Reading In The Dark is a highly poetic novel. The scenes are vivid, beautifully portrayed. They are short, but each adds its own new detail to the bigger story of how a family has learned to cope with its own chequered past. Those who don't know the mistakes of history are perhaps doomed to repeat them. Those misled by untruth are not necessarily liars when they restate it. But complicating the past probably confuses the present and disturbs the future. Seamus Deane's novel, Reading In The Dark, is a vivid and moving portrait of a family troubled by a past it dare not admit.
Philip Spires
Author of Mission and A Fool's Knot, African novels set in Kenya http://www.philipspires.co.uk
Migwani is a small town in Kitui District, eastern Kenya. My books examine how social and economic change impact on the lives of ordinary people. They portray characters whose identity is bound up with their home area, but whose futures are determined by the globaised world in which they live.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Northern-Ireland-Family-Denies-the-Past---Reading-In-The-Dark-by-Seamus-Deane&id=6637077] A Northern Ireland Family Denies the Past - Reading In The Dark by Seamus Deane
Reading In The Dark is a first person account of an extraordinary childhood. On the surface, the family seems to be stable enough. They are Catholics and the novel's narrator is about half way along his parents� progeny. Nothing special there...
They are not rich, and apparently not poor. They get by. The lad explores the neighbourhood, makes friends, starts school. Eventually he proves to be quite academic and he clearly goes from personal success to further personal success.
But all the time there's something in the past that labels him. There are people who call him strange names, accuse him of things he hasn't done. He does not understand, but feels the consequences. Life can be complicated when you're born to a Catholic family in Northern Ireland.
The boy grows up in the 1950s and 1960s. Via short, dated chapters, arranged chronologically and starting in February 1945, we able to build and perhaps experience the lad's world. We share the boy's new experience, feel the changes in his life and body as he does. But there is always something unsaid, intangible, but undoubtedly real and of consequence. Everyone seems to know something, but he has little idea what it all means.
Mother and father remain reticent. Relatives and acquaintances allude to Eddie, the boy's uncle, who is not around any more. Clearly Eddie died in strange circumstances. But in the Northern Ireland of the 1950s, you have to be careful what you say, when you speak and whom you mix with. Just being seen talking to Sergeant Burke, the policeman, can result in your being labelled a traitor, a collaborator, or worse.
The boy's relationship with the Church and its clergy is both fascinating and surreal. There are moments of humour, times of fear, often juxtaposed. There's a maths teacher whose class rules are so complex that any response seems punishable. Serves them right... It seems that whatever contribution an individual might make has the potential to render that person in need of strokes, but the ground rules demand that no-one may opt out.
It's the same in the wider society. When you're a Catholic in Northern Ireland - and perhaps if you are not! - there are no fences you can sit on. Whatever you do it will be wrong. There are enemies on both sides of every fence, so wherever you climb down, beware. Tread carefully, know your place, stay on your guard. But what if, like our young lad, you don't know what to beware of?
Slowly, however, the real truth behind Uncle Eddie's fate emerges. It's only then that the growing boy, and indeed the reader, realises just how complicated - and vindictive - life can be.
Reading In The Dark is a highly poetic novel. The scenes are vivid, beautifully portrayed. They are short, but each adds its own new detail to the bigger story of how a family has learned to cope with its own chequered past. Those who don't know the mistakes of history are perhaps doomed to repeat them. Those misled by untruth are not necessarily liars when they restate it. But complicating the past probably confuses the present and disturbs the future. Seamus Deane's novel, Reading In The Dark, is a vivid and moving portrait of a family troubled by a past it dare not admit.
Philip Spires
Author of Mission and A Fool's Knot, African novels set in Kenya http://www.philipspires.co.uk
Migwani is a small town in Kitui District, eastern Kenya. My books examine how social and economic change impact on the lives of ordinary people. They portray characters whose identity is bound up with their home area, but whose futures are determined by the globaised world in which they live.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Northern-Ireland-Family-Denies-the-Past---Reading-In-The-Dark-by-Seamus-Deane&id=6637077] A Northern Ireland Family Denies the Past - Reading In The Dark by Seamus Deane
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Book Review: The Silent and the Lost, by Abu Bin Mohammed Zubair
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mayra_Calvani]Mayra Calvani
The Silent and the Lost is an interesting and educational novel about the war between East and West Pakistan in the 1970s.
The story starts in Brentwood, California in 1997 at the beautiful wedding of Alex Salim McKensie & Sangeeta Rai, a couple deeply in love. Alex, our hero, was adopted at the age of four in Pakistan by an American couple and brought to the United States in 1972. A war baby haunted by the mystery of his identity, Alex decides to travel to Bangladesh to find out about his roots. The story moves back and forth in time, first reverting to 1971 to the heart of the revolution that eventually led to Bangladesh. When we first go back in time, we encounter a newlywed couple, Rafique and Nahar, happily walking the streets full of hope and dreams of freedom.
Their dreams are soon shattered when Pakistani President General Yahya Khan starts Operation Searchlight and West Pakistani soldiers begin their horrific massacre of East Pakistani citizens in an attempt to crush their dreams of independence. But the East Pakistanis don't give up easily and form guerrillas to fight the oppressors. To Nahar's dismay, Rafique leaves her to join the guerrillas to fight for what he believes in. Nahar is torn between what she knows is the right thing to do and her love for her husband.
I'm not a historian but the novel seems very well researched and Zubair gives a lot of attention to detail, not only to historical facts but also to the language, setting and description. He skillfully handles the graphic horrors of war without falling into unnecessary gore. The story combines love, war, peace, philosophy and spirituality. In a way, it reads like an epic and many a time the prose sparkles with clarity and vivid images.
I didn't know about this war so I found the book eye-opening and instructive. That said, it is a heavy read and the pace drags at times. I think the prose could have profited from a harsher copy editor. There are recurrent redundancies and unnecessary details that slow down the progression of the plot.
In spite of these flaws, however, The Silent and the Lost is a novel worth reading and one that historical fiction fans will find appealing and out of the ordinary. It is also one of those stories that stay with readers long after having read it, if only because it reminds us of the horrific events that have taken place in the past, and ones we all should be aware of.
Full name: Abu Bin Mohammed Zubair
Book title: The Silent and the Lost
Publisher: Pacific Breeze Publishers, LLC (June 27, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0982593961
ISBN-13: 978-0982593967
Genre: Historical Fiction
Reviewers' secrets revealed in Reviewers Talk about Their Craft, PLUS receive the first lesson of Mayra Calvani's Slippery Art of Book Reviewing Workshop. Both FREE at [http://www.MayraCalvani.com]http://www.MayraCalvani.com.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Book-Review:-The-Silent-and-the-Lost,-by-Abu-Bin-Mohammed-Zubair&id=6636786] Book Review: The Silent and the Lost, by Abu Bin Mohammed Zubair
The Silent and the Lost is an interesting and educational novel about the war between East and West Pakistan in the 1970s.
The story starts in Brentwood, California in 1997 at the beautiful wedding of Alex Salim McKensie & Sangeeta Rai, a couple deeply in love. Alex, our hero, was adopted at the age of four in Pakistan by an American couple and brought to the United States in 1972. A war baby haunted by the mystery of his identity, Alex decides to travel to Bangladesh to find out about his roots. The story moves back and forth in time, first reverting to 1971 to the heart of the revolution that eventually led to Bangladesh. When we first go back in time, we encounter a newlywed couple, Rafique and Nahar, happily walking the streets full of hope and dreams of freedom.
Their dreams are soon shattered when Pakistani President General Yahya Khan starts Operation Searchlight and West Pakistani soldiers begin their horrific massacre of East Pakistani citizens in an attempt to crush their dreams of independence. But the East Pakistanis don't give up easily and form guerrillas to fight the oppressors. To Nahar's dismay, Rafique leaves her to join the guerrillas to fight for what he believes in. Nahar is torn between what she knows is the right thing to do and her love for her husband.
I'm not a historian but the novel seems very well researched and Zubair gives a lot of attention to detail, not only to historical facts but also to the language, setting and description. He skillfully handles the graphic horrors of war without falling into unnecessary gore. The story combines love, war, peace, philosophy and spirituality. In a way, it reads like an epic and many a time the prose sparkles with clarity and vivid images.
I didn't know about this war so I found the book eye-opening and instructive. That said, it is a heavy read and the pace drags at times. I think the prose could have profited from a harsher copy editor. There are recurrent redundancies and unnecessary details that slow down the progression of the plot.
In spite of these flaws, however, The Silent and the Lost is a novel worth reading and one that historical fiction fans will find appealing and out of the ordinary. It is also one of those stories that stay with readers long after having read it, if only because it reminds us of the horrific events that have taken place in the past, and ones we all should be aware of.
Full name: Abu Bin Mohammed Zubair
Book title: The Silent and the Lost
Publisher: Pacific Breeze Publishers, LLC (June 27, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0982593961
ISBN-13: 978-0982593967
Genre: Historical Fiction
Reviewers' secrets revealed in Reviewers Talk about Their Craft, PLUS receive the first lesson of Mayra Calvani's Slippery Art of Book Reviewing Workshop. Both FREE at [http://www.MayraCalvani.com]http://www.MayraCalvani.com.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Book-Review:-The-Silent-and-the-Lost,-by-Abu-Bin-Mohammed-Zubair&id=6636786] Book Review: The Silent and the Lost, by Abu Bin Mohammed Zubair
Friday, December 9, 2011
Danger in the Dark - A Pulp Fiction Audiobook Fantasy Story
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Lawrence_Hail]Lawrence Hail
Book excerpt: "The medicine drums were beating wearily and another, greater drum had commenced to boom with a hysteria which spoke of breaking nerves. The slither and slap of bare feet sounded upon Billy's verandah, and he straightened up to see that Wanoa and several lesser chiefs had come".
This pulp fiction fantasy novel by L. Ron Hubbard was published in May of 1939, tells the story of down and out Billy Newman finally striking it rich mining for gold in the Philippines. Believing his luck has changed, he buys his own South Sea Island at a bargain price no less. But as all good stories have it, not is all as it seems! He doesn't have to wait long to find out about the locals stories of their beastly deity, the voracious shark god "Tadamona"! Not only does he discover that the shark god is real, but Billy must find a way to prevent the ritual sacrifice of a beautiful young girl and save the island and their inhabitants from certain destruction.
The idea of worshiping and sacrificing for gods, deities, spirits, divinity, however a culture describes it, is as old as the history of mankind. A common thread between rituals for gods is the local ceremonial communal feasts and dancing with sacrificial offerings in exchange for safety and good crops. In the case of the Aztec God, it was believed that there were three main gods with many lesser gods below them. This hierarchy of gods had a major impact on the lives of the Aztec people. The Egyptians followed a daily morning, mid day and evening ritual with strict rules to ensure the success of their existence. The Greeks and the Asian culture all have their own myths and stories of gods.
In Hubbard's story, the deity is no less demanding than the recorded pictorial accounts of rituals and punishments meted out by angered gods (or the priests representing their gods for that matter). His story telling is masterful and is indicative of someone who wrote hundreds of novels and stories that are still in demand today. Add to the fact the audiobook version of "Danger in the Dark", is of cinematic quality with gifted voice actors who have fully immersed themselves into there roles with great sound effects and you have a great story that you or a group of people can enjoy.
Pulp fiction stories written from the early 1900a to the 1950s, was a unique time in our history because it gave rise to many genres we enjoy today and fantasy stories, such as the one above, were in such demand that it was not uncommon for a million copies to fly off the shelves when the next issue were delivered to the stands. This was a Herculean feat for the war depressed people of the thirties and forties. Although this story is in the fantasy genre, Hubbard also wrote mysteries, science fiction, westerns, air and sea adventures, far-flung adventure and tales from the Orient.
I give this story a thumbs up!
Lawrence Hail is a huge fan of pulp fiction stories and loves to experience them in all formats from print to audiobooks to video and movie. Click here for a catalogue at: http://www.goldenagestories.com/free-asi-magazine-signup-form
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Danger-in-the-Dark---A-Pulp-Fiction-Audiobook-Fantasy-Story&id=6624697] Danger in the Dark - A Pulp Fiction Audiobook Fantasy Story
Book excerpt: "The medicine drums were beating wearily and another, greater drum had commenced to boom with a hysteria which spoke of breaking nerves. The slither and slap of bare feet sounded upon Billy's verandah, and he straightened up to see that Wanoa and several lesser chiefs had come".
This pulp fiction fantasy novel by L. Ron Hubbard was published in May of 1939, tells the story of down and out Billy Newman finally striking it rich mining for gold in the Philippines. Believing his luck has changed, he buys his own South Sea Island at a bargain price no less. But as all good stories have it, not is all as it seems! He doesn't have to wait long to find out about the locals stories of their beastly deity, the voracious shark god "Tadamona"! Not only does he discover that the shark god is real, but Billy must find a way to prevent the ritual sacrifice of a beautiful young girl and save the island and their inhabitants from certain destruction.
The idea of worshiping and sacrificing for gods, deities, spirits, divinity, however a culture describes it, is as old as the history of mankind. A common thread between rituals for gods is the local ceremonial communal feasts and dancing with sacrificial offerings in exchange for safety and good crops. In the case of the Aztec God, it was believed that there were three main gods with many lesser gods below them. This hierarchy of gods had a major impact on the lives of the Aztec people. The Egyptians followed a daily morning, mid day and evening ritual with strict rules to ensure the success of their existence. The Greeks and the Asian culture all have their own myths and stories of gods.
In Hubbard's story, the deity is no less demanding than the recorded pictorial accounts of rituals and punishments meted out by angered gods (or the priests representing their gods for that matter). His story telling is masterful and is indicative of someone who wrote hundreds of novels and stories that are still in demand today. Add to the fact the audiobook version of "Danger in the Dark", is of cinematic quality with gifted voice actors who have fully immersed themselves into there roles with great sound effects and you have a great story that you or a group of people can enjoy.
Pulp fiction stories written from the early 1900a to the 1950s, was a unique time in our history because it gave rise to many genres we enjoy today and fantasy stories, such as the one above, were in such demand that it was not uncommon for a million copies to fly off the shelves when the next issue were delivered to the stands. This was a Herculean feat for the war depressed people of the thirties and forties. Although this story is in the fantasy genre, Hubbard also wrote mysteries, science fiction, westerns, air and sea adventures, far-flung adventure and tales from the Orient.
I give this story a thumbs up!
Lawrence Hail is a huge fan of pulp fiction stories and loves to experience them in all formats from print to audiobooks to video and movie. Click here for a catalogue at: http://www.goldenagestories.com/free-asi-magazine-signup-form
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Danger-in-the-Dark---A-Pulp-Fiction-Audiobook-Fantasy-Story&id=6624697] Danger in the Dark - A Pulp Fiction Audiobook Fantasy Story
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Shadows From Boot Hill - A Spooky Western
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Lawrence_Hail]Lawrence Hail
What do a witch doctor and a cowboy have in common? Not much unless you are reading The pulp fiction classic story, "Shadows from Boot Hill"! Combining the two elements together makes for an interesting twist to the classic western story.
In this story, the author, L. Ron Hubbard, takes you into world of the cowboy criminal on the run with a posse close behind. The character he has created goes from one foul deed to the next but this cowboy doesn't seem to be able to get it quite right.
This is the story about the outlaw "Brazos" who's misguided idea of killing a banker as a favor to humanity, must skip town immediately without collecting his blood money due to the swiftness with which the posse is formed to chase him down. He acquires a sinister shadow that he does not know how to deal with and has nowhere to go except to "Los Hornos" where a so called half friend "Whisper Monahan" due to the last parting of ways was not on good terms, was the only option available to him. Upon arrival at Monahan's door, Brazo pleads with him to help him out. Monahan toys with him mercilessly before finally giving him a job that would earn him a couple of hundred eagles to hold him over. The job; kill a local fellow named Scotty Brant that has poisoned over 4,000 acres of Monahan's land by sitting on the headwaters of a rare stream using cyanide to extract gold from oxide ore.
What Brazo does not realize is that Scotty has partnered up with a witch doctor! And things get right spooky when Brazos picks up another shadow after slaying the witch doctor, who, with his last breath, swears a deadly curse on his soul.
Hubbard weaves the story and characters in this sometimes funny but also dark reality of the lawless cowboy who cannot conceive of the wrongdoing in this gun slinging but spooky western story. To tell more of the story would give too much away but is worth reading from the perspective of the writings from the pulp fiction era as this book was published in June of 1940. It is as exciting to read today as it was sixty years ago.
As well as the republishing of this story in paperback form, it also comes as an audiobook which is immensely fun to listen to. The full-cast version of "Shadows from Boot Hill" features the voice talents of Phil Proctor, Corey Burton, R.F. Daley, John Mariano, Jim Meskimen, Tait Ruppert, Fred Tatasciore and Josh R. Thompson. The cinema quality sound effect and music along with the talented actors, the audiobook version of the story can entertain in a completely different way from the book and I would recommend it.
Included in the book are two additional stories to enjoy; "The Gunner from Gehenna" which was originally published in April of 1949 and "Gunman" which was published in February of 1949.
If you have not acquainted yourself with pulp fiction stories then this is a good place to start. Enjoy!
Lawrence Hail is a huge fan of pulp fiction stories and loves to experience them in all formats from print to audiobooks to video and movie. Click here for a catalogue at: http://www.goldenagestories.com/free-asi-magazine-signup-form
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Shadows-From-Boot-Hill---A-Spooky-Western&id=6624706] Shadows From Boot Hill - A Spooky Western
What do a witch doctor and a cowboy have in common? Not much unless you are reading The pulp fiction classic story, "Shadows from Boot Hill"! Combining the two elements together makes for an interesting twist to the classic western story.
In this story, the author, L. Ron Hubbard, takes you into world of the cowboy criminal on the run with a posse close behind. The character he has created goes from one foul deed to the next but this cowboy doesn't seem to be able to get it quite right.
This is the story about the outlaw "Brazos" who's misguided idea of killing a banker as a favor to humanity, must skip town immediately without collecting his blood money due to the swiftness with which the posse is formed to chase him down. He acquires a sinister shadow that he does not know how to deal with and has nowhere to go except to "Los Hornos" where a so called half friend "Whisper Monahan" due to the last parting of ways was not on good terms, was the only option available to him. Upon arrival at Monahan's door, Brazo pleads with him to help him out. Monahan toys with him mercilessly before finally giving him a job that would earn him a couple of hundred eagles to hold him over. The job; kill a local fellow named Scotty Brant that has poisoned over 4,000 acres of Monahan's land by sitting on the headwaters of a rare stream using cyanide to extract gold from oxide ore.
What Brazo does not realize is that Scotty has partnered up with a witch doctor! And things get right spooky when Brazos picks up another shadow after slaying the witch doctor, who, with his last breath, swears a deadly curse on his soul.
Hubbard weaves the story and characters in this sometimes funny but also dark reality of the lawless cowboy who cannot conceive of the wrongdoing in this gun slinging but spooky western story. To tell more of the story would give too much away but is worth reading from the perspective of the writings from the pulp fiction era as this book was published in June of 1940. It is as exciting to read today as it was sixty years ago.
As well as the republishing of this story in paperback form, it also comes as an audiobook which is immensely fun to listen to. The full-cast version of "Shadows from Boot Hill" features the voice talents of Phil Proctor, Corey Burton, R.F. Daley, John Mariano, Jim Meskimen, Tait Ruppert, Fred Tatasciore and Josh R. Thompson. The cinema quality sound effect and music along with the talented actors, the audiobook version of the story can entertain in a completely different way from the book and I would recommend it.
Included in the book are two additional stories to enjoy; "The Gunner from Gehenna" which was originally published in April of 1949 and "Gunman" which was published in February of 1949.
If you have not acquainted yourself with pulp fiction stories then this is a good place to start. Enjoy!
Lawrence Hail is a huge fan of pulp fiction stories and loves to experience them in all formats from print to audiobooks to video and movie. Click here for a catalogue at: http://www.goldenagestories.com/free-asi-magazine-signup-form
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Shadows-From-Boot-Hill---A-Spooky-Western&id=6624706] Shadows From Boot Hill - A Spooky Western
Monday, December 5, 2011
'The Code of the Woosters': A Treat to Fans of Jeeves and Bertie
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Hari_P_R]Hari P R
P.G. Wodehouse describes his own style of writing as being a 'musical comedy without music, and ignoring real life altogether". The Code of The Woosters is very much in keeping with such a style.
The novel features some of Wodehouse's best-known characters - Bertie Wooster, the good-natured young aristocrat whose mental endowments are often found wanting; Jeeves, his manservant, whose mental prowess is known to be able to get him out of the tightest of spots; Augustus 'Gussie' Fink-Nottle, whose obsession with newts continually wrecks havoc in his love life; and many others.
The story begins with Bertie Wooster throwing a party one night to his friend Gussie Fink Nottle, who is engaged to Madeline Bassett, a dreamy, poetic kind of girl, who was once engaged to Wooster. Wooster, who fears the very prospect of spending his life with a girl who thinks stars are tears shed by angels, is overjoyed and relieved that he would never have to worry about marrying Madeline Bassett again.
The next morning, Wooster gets a request from his Aunt Dalhia to go to a particular antique shop and talk disparagingly of a certain cow-creamer, with an aim to signal to the seller that it is of little value. Bertie's Uncle Tom, an avid collector of what he considers to be unique antiques, has been very keen - in fact, close to desperate - to get his hands on that cow creamer, and Aunt Dalhia wants to make sure that not too much money is squandered away in buying the same.
However, in endeavoring to carry out the assigned task, Wooster bumps into Madeline's father and his uncle's rival collector, Sir Watkyn Bassett. He remembers that Sir Bassett, a judge by profession, had once fined him - unjustly, in his personal opinion - five quids for what he considers a perfectly harmless crime of pinching a policeman's helmet. Sir Bassett makes gentle enquiries with Wooster about whether he has transformed since. At this point, Bassett's companion, Roger Spode, opines that no transformation has taken place, and points out the fact that Bassett's umbrella is presently in Wooster's possession. Wooster realizes that Spode is right, and wonders how it even came into his possession. He laughs it off as being just 'an impulsive reach for an umbrella that was at arm's length'. Spode and Bassett, however, do not take to it lightly, and let off Wooster with a stern warning. Wooster then caustically criticizes the cow creamer to the shopkeeper, hoping to make him reduce its price, but later finds out that his efforts were in vain, as the cow creamer has been purchased by Bassett.
Meanwhile, Fink-Nottle telegrams Wooster that his engagement is broken off, and asks him to help. This news shakes Wooster badly, as he conceives of the dreadful prospect of Madeline returning to him.
Aunt Dalhia orders Wooster to go to Totleigh Towers, the residence of Bassett, and steal the cow creamer from him, failing which, she threatens him, he would never again be allowed to avail the services of Anatole, her famed cook. Finding such a prospect unbearable, Wooster agrees. Unable to figure out how he can walk into Totleigh Towers after his last encounter with Bassett, he asks Fink-Nottle to arrange for an invitation. After getting the same from Madeline, who wrongly assumes that Bertie is coming with hopes of getting her back, he sets off to Totleigh towers with a double mission in mind - getting the cow creamer, and fixing Madeline's engagement with Fink-Nottle.
However, on reaching there, he finds out that Bassett's opinion of him still remains unchanged, and to make it worse, Spode is in Totleigh, too. Wodehouse compares Wooster's predicament with that of a prospective murderer, who on reaching the villa where the execution is planned to take place, finds out that not only is Sherlock Holmes staying there on a holiday, but Hercule Poirot, too.
He meets Fink-Nottle, and tries to console him, but finds out soon enough that his differences with Madeline have been sorted out, and they are engaged again. He heaves a sigh of relief at the discovery that he has been steered clear of Madeline for good.
He also finds that Fink-Nottle is uncharacteristically confident and even stands up to such ghastly people as Spode and Bassett. On being asked the reason behind such a transformation, he explains that he observes their respective idiosyncrasies very closely, and writes down those which are extremely funny and laugh-evoking. The way Bassett eats, and the way Spode wears his moustache, for instance, make him see them more as comedians than dictators, and this makes him feel superior to them. This scheme, he tells Wooster, was Jeeves' brainchild.
A problem arises, however, when Fink-Nottle loses his diary, where he has written all this down. Wooster tells him that he can never hope to marry Madeline if Bassett finds that diary and all that is written in it. Being extremely anxious to see Madeline married off and hence free himself, Wooster is desperate to get the diary back for Fink-Nottle. Fink-Nottle remembers having it last when he was in the company of Stephanie, a ward who stays at Totleigh.
In between all this, Wooster attempts to steal the cow creamer and gets caught, embarrassingly, by Spode. Spode informs Bassett, and the duo is convinced beyond doubt that Wooster is a born thief and his sole intention behind visiting Totleigh Towers is to loot the cow creamer. Madeline, somehow, rescues Wooster from them, but they remain convinced of his intentions.
Meanwhile, Fink-Nottle is convinced that his secret diary should have been put by Stephanie into her stalking, and he ventures out to test this theory. Unfortunately, in carrying out this far-from-graceful act, he is spotted by Madeline, who loses all respect for him. He also finds out, to his dismay, that his theory held no water.
Madeline decides that she has had enough, and decides to just make Wooster, who she thinks genuinely loves him, happy. She informs Wooster that she will marry him, much to his chagrin and despair. Wooster decides that the only way out for him is to get the diary and explain everything to Madeline.
To get the diary, he sneaks into Stephanie's room in her absence, but she comes back before he is even able to complete his search. He finds that she has brought his boyfriend, who also happens to be his old mate 'Stinker' Pinker, now a curator. Stephanie, feeling that her uncle, Bassett, would not agree to give her hand to a curator, comes up with an idea. She suggests that Wooster pretend to steal Bassett's precious cow-creamer, in disguise, and Pinker would act like he catches the thief and beats him up. Wooster's identity would be concealed by a mask. Wooster, having already been caught trying once, refuses firmly. Stephanie tells him that he would not be able to get the diary unless he does.
Jeeves comes to Wooster's rescue and offers a solution. He suggests that Bassett should first be informed that Stephanie loves Wooster. This would leave him in a a state of profound shock, as he perceives Wooster to be a thief and hates him with his heart. In this state, if he is informed that it is in fact a curator, and not Wooster whom Stephanie loves, he will welcome him with a red carpet. Any bridegroom will be sweet as honey to Bassett in comparison to Wooster.
The plan is executed, and Bassett agrees to Stephanie marrying Pinker. He is just happy that things that 'could have been far worse' are not happening. Wooster informs Madeline of Stephanie's engagement, who then starts feeling that she had perhaps judged Fink-Nottle a tad too prematurely. She reconciles with him, and they get together again, much to Wooster's immense relief. Unfortunately, the relief is short-lived, as Bassett comes to get hold of Fink-Nottle's diary. After reading all the abuses and digs directed at him, he makes it absolutely clear that he will never have him as his son-in-law.
Meanwhile, because of Wooster's lack of correspondence, Aunt Dalhia comes in person to Totleigh Towers to do something about the cow creamer. At the same time, Stephanie gets into trouble with an inspector over the activities of her pet dog. Enraged by his attitude, she decides to teach him a lesson. She gets Pinker to steal his helmet, so as to teach him a lesson. Co-incidentally, this is the same inspector whose helmet Wooster once stole.
Two thefts happen - Aunt Dalhia's theft of the cow-creamer, and Pinker's theft of the helmet. Both are hidden in Totleigh towers. With respect to the the cow-creamer, Spode and Bassett have no doubt at all that Wooster is the culprit. The inspector comes to Totleigh towers, suspecting that Stephanie has stolen his helmet, but on seeing Wooster there, he decides that Stephanie should only have been the planner, and the execution should have done by Wooster - again.
Stephanie asks Wooster not to give away the fact that Pinker is the actual thief. She implores him to go to jail for a month for her sake. Wooster firmly refuses. 'The code of the Woosters is never to let a pal down," she reminds him. Moved by these words, Wooster agrees. Aunt Dalhia dumps the cow-creamer in this room, and his room ends up accommodating both stolen items. Wooster sends Fink-Nottle home with the cow-creamer, but the helmet gets stuck in his room. The inspector and Bassett barge in, perform a search, and find the helmet in the room. They immediately accuse Wooster of theft. Bassett locks him inside and asks the inspector to arrest him the next morning.
Jeeves, using his quick mind, finds a way out. He remembers that he has some very embarrassing information about Spode, which he obtained from his valet (Valets of all gentlemen are part of a club, and they are all obliged to share information about their masters with one another). Spode, apparently, is an expert at making women's undergarments and has a small shop specializing in the same. Jeeves figures out that this information, if made public, would cause Spode major embarrassment, for he has long created the information of being a tough, authoritative kind of a person. Armed with this information, he orders Spode to confess to the theft of the helmet. He reasons that doing so would cause no harm, as Bassett, who is engaged to Spode's aunt, is unlikely to pursue any legal action against him. Spode, fearing the consequences of a leak of his long kept secret, obliges, and makes a false confession, as instructed, to Bassett. Bassett, feeling embarrassed, apologizes to Wooster.
On Jeeves' suggestion, Wooster threatens to take defamation action against Bassett, if he doesn't agree to the marriages of Pinker and Stephanie; and Fink-Nottle and Madeline. Bassett, knowing the legal consequences of his actions, being a judge himself, sees that he has no option, and agrees. Wooster also points out that the missing cow-creamer has probably been smuggled underground, and could, in the future, be sold to his Uncle Tom, and warns him against creating an issue if he sees the cow-crewmer in Uncle Tom's possession in the future. Seeing that he has no bargaining power whatsoever, Bassett agrees.
Thus, thanks to Jeeves' razor-sharp brain power, the couples are happily married, Uncle Tom gets his cow-creamer, Aunt Dalhia keeps her cook, and Bertie Wooster continues to be a happy bachelor.
The book, like all of Wodehouse's books, is a literary feast. Wodehouse's choice of words, particularly those used by the character Jeeves, demonstrates a command of the language that inspires and fascinates. The strong undercurrent of humour that runs throughout the novel keeps the reader smiling all the time, and on occasions, leaves him in splits. Witty quotes like 'If not disgruntled, he was far from being gruntled,' show a level of mastery of the English language, as well imagination, which are hard to find in most other humorists. The plot, with all its comic twists, outrageous characters, and a climax that would keep the reader in splits, is only one among Wodehouse's many masterpieces. In short, a genius book from a genius author, and a must read for anyone who wants to de-stress or have a good laugh.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Code-of-the-Woosters:-A-Treat-to-Fans-of-Jeeves-and-Bertie&id=6634519] 'The Code of the Woosters': A Treat to Fans of Jeeves and Bertie
P.G. Wodehouse describes his own style of writing as being a 'musical comedy without music, and ignoring real life altogether". The Code of The Woosters is very much in keeping with such a style.
The novel features some of Wodehouse's best-known characters - Bertie Wooster, the good-natured young aristocrat whose mental endowments are often found wanting; Jeeves, his manservant, whose mental prowess is known to be able to get him out of the tightest of spots; Augustus 'Gussie' Fink-Nottle, whose obsession with newts continually wrecks havoc in his love life; and many others.
The story begins with Bertie Wooster throwing a party one night to his friend Gussie Fink Nottle, who is engaged to Madeline Bassett, a dreamy, poetic kind of girl, who was once engaged to Wooster. Wooster, who fears the very prospect of spending his life with a girl who thinks stars are tears shed by angels, is overjoyed and relieved that he would never have to worry about marrying Madeline Bassett again.
The next morning, Wooster gets a request from his Aunt Dalhia to go to a particular antique shop and talk disparagingly of a certain cow-creamer, with an aim to signal to the seller that it is of little value. Bertie's Uncle Tom, an avid collector of what he considers to be unique antiques, has been very keen - in fact, close to desperate - to get his hands on that cow creamer, and Aunt Dalhia wants to make sure that not too much money is squandered away in buying the same.
However, in endeavoring to carry out the assigned task, Wooster bumps into Madeline's father and his uncle's rival collector, Sir Watkyn Bassett. He remembers that Sir Bassett, a judge by profession, had once fined him - unjustly, in his personal opinion - five quids for what he considers a perfectly harmless crime of pinching a policeman's helmet. Sir Bassett makes gentle enquiries with Wooster about whether he has transformed since. At this point, Bassett's companion, Roger Spode, opines that no transformation has taken place, and points out the fact that Bassett's umbrella is presently in Wooster's possession. Wooster realizes that Spode is right, and wonders how it even came into his possession. He laughs it off as being just 'an impulsive reach for an umbrella that was at arm's length'. Spode and Bassett, however, do not take to it lightly, and let off Wooster with a stern warning. Wooster then caustically criticizes the cow creamer to the shopkeeper, hoping to make him reduce its price, but later finds out that his efforts were in vain, as the cow creamer has been purchased by Bassett.
Meanwhile, Fink-Nottle telegrams Wooster that his engagement is broken off, and asks him to help. This news shakes Wooster badly, as he conceives of the dreadful prospect of Madeline returning to him.
Aunt Dalhia orders Wooster to go to Totleigh Towers, the residence of Bassett, and steal the cow creamer from him, failing which, she threatens him, he would never again be allowed to avail the services of Anatole, her famed cook. Finding such a prospect unbearable, Wooster agrees. Unable to figure out how he can walk into Totleigh Towers after his last encounter with Bassett, he asks Fink-Nottle to arrange for an invitation. After getting the same from Madeline, who wrongly assumes that Bertie is coming with hopes of getting her back, he sets off to Totleigh towers with a double mission in mind - getting the cow creamer, and fixing Madeline's engagement with Fink-Nottle.
However, on reaching there, he finds out that Bassett's opinion of him still remains unchanged, and to make it worse, Spode is in Totleigh, too. Wodehouse compares Wooster's predicament with that of a prospective murderer, who on reaching the villa where the execution is planned to take place, finds out that not only is Sherlock Holmes staying there on a holiday, but Hercule Poirot, too.
He meets Fink-Nottle, and tries to console him, but finds out soon enough that his differences with Madeline have been sorted out, and they are engaged again. He heaves a sigh of relief at the discovery that he has been steered clear of Madeline for good.
He also finds that Fink-Nottle is uncharacteristically confident and even stands up to such ghastly people as Spode and Bassett. On being asked the reason behind such a transformation, he explains that he observes their respective idiosyncrasies very closely, and writes down those which are extremely funny and laugh-evoking. The way Bassett eats, and the way Spode wears his moustache, for instance, make him see them more as comedians than dictators, and this makes him feel superior to them. This scheme, he tells Wooster, was Jeeves' brainchild.
A problem arises, however, when Fink-Nottle loses his diary, where he has written all this down. Wooster tells him that he can never hope to marry Madeline if Bassett finds that diary and all that is written in it. Being extremely anxious to see Madeline married off and hence free himself, Wooster is desperate to get the diary back for Fink-Nottle. Fink-Nottle remembers having it last when he was in the company of Stephanie, a ward who stays at Totleigh.
In between all this, Wooster attempts to steal the cow creamer and gets caught, embarrassingly, by Spode. Spode informs Bassett, and the duo is convinced beyond doubt that Wooster is a born thief and his sole intention behind visiting Totleigh Towers is to loot the cow creamer. Madeline, somehow, rescues Wooster from them, but they remain convinced of his intentions.
Meanwhile, Fink-Nottle is convinced that his secret diary should have been put by Stephanie into her stalking, and he ventures out to test this theory. Unfortunately, in carrying out this far-from-graceful act, he is spotted by Madeline, who loses all respect for him. He also finds out, to his dismay, that his theory held no water.
Madeline decides that she has had enough, and decides to just make Wooster, who she thinks genuinely loves him, happy. She informs Wooster that she will marry him, much to his chagrin and despair. Wooster decides that the only way out for him is to get the diary and explain everything to Madeline.
To get the diary, he sneaks into Stephanie's room in her absence, but she comes back before he is even able to complete his search. He finds that she has brought his boyfriend, who also happens to be his old mate 'Stinker' Pinker, now a curator. Stephanie, feeling that her uncle, Bassett, would not agree to give her hand to a curator, comes up with an idea. She suggests that Wooster pretend to steal Bassett's precious cow-creamer, in disguise, and Pinker would act like he catches the thief and beats him up. Wooster's identity would be concealed by a mask. Wooster, having already been caught trying once, refuses firmly. Stephanie tells him that he would not be able to get the diary unless he does.
Jeeves comes to Wooster's rescue and offers a solution. He suggests that Bassett should first be informed that Stephanie loves Wooster. This would leave him in a a state of profound shock, as he perceives Wooster to be a thief and hates him with his heart. In this state, if he is informed that it is in fact a curator, and not Wooster whom Stephanie loves, he will welcome him with a red carpet. Any bridegroom will be sweet as honey to Bassett in comparison to Wooster.
The plan is executed, and Bassett agrees to Stephanie marrying Pinker. He is just happy that things that 'could have been far worse' are not happening. Wooster informs Madeline of Stephanie's engagement, who then starts feeling that she had perhaps judged Fink-Nottle a tad too prematurely. She reconciles with him, and they get together again, much to Wooster's immense relief. Unfortunately, the relief is short-lived, as Bassett comes to get hold of Fink-Nottle's diary. After reading all the abuses and digs directed at him, he makes it absolutely clear that he will never have him as his son-in-law.
Meanwhile, because of Wooster's lack of correspondence, Aunt Dalhia comes in person to Totleigh Towers to do something about the cow creamer. At the same time, Stephanie gets into trouble with an inspector over the activities of her pet dog. Enraged by his attitude, she decides to teach him a lesson. She gets Pinker to steal his helmet, so as to teach him a lesson. Co-incidentally, this is the same inspector whose helmet Wooster once stole.
Two thefts happen - Aunt Dalhia's theft of the cow-creamer, and Pinker's theft of the helmet. Both are hidden in Totleigh towers. With respect to the the cow-creamer, Spode and Bassett have no doubt at all that Wooster is the culprit. The inspector comes to Totleigh towers, suspecting that Stephanie has stolen his helmet, but on seeing Wooster there, he decides that Stephanie should only have been the planner, and the execution should have done by Wooster - again.
Stephanie asks Wooster not to give away the fact that Pinker is the actual thief. She implores him to go to jail for a month for her sake. Wooster firmly refuses. 'The code of the Woosters is never to let a pal down," she reminds him. Moved by these words, Wooster agrees. Aunt Dalhia dumps the cow-creamer in this room, and his room ends up accommodating both stolen items. Wooster sends Fink-Nottle home with the cow-creamer, but the helmet gets stuck in his room. The inspector and Bassett barge in, perform a search, and find the helmet in the room. They immediately accuse Wooster of theft. Bassett locks him inside and asks the inspector to arrest him the next morning.
Jeeves, using his quick mind, finds a way out. He remembers that he has some very embarrassing information about Spode, which he obtained from his valet (Valets of all gentlemen are part of a club, and they are all obliged to share information about their masters with one another). Spode, apparently, is an expert at making women's undergarments and has a small shop specializing in the same. Jeeves figures out that this information, if made public, would cause Spode major embarrassment, for he has long created the information of being a tough, authoritative kind of a person. Armed with this information, he orders Spode to confess to the theft of the helmet. He reasons that doing so would cause no harm, as Bassett, who is engaged to Spode's aunt, is unlikely to pursue any legal action against him. Spode, fearing the consequences of a leak of his long kept secret, obliges, and makes a false confession, as instructed, to Bassett. Bassett, feeling embarrassed, apologizes to Wooster.
On Jeeves' suggestion, Wooster threatens to take defamation action against Bassett, if he doesn't agree to the marriages of Pinker and Stephanie; and Fink-Nottle and Madeline. Bassett, knowing the legal consequences of his actions, being a judge himself, sees that he has no option, and agrees. Wooster also points out that the missing cow-creamer has probably been smuggled underground, and could, in the future, be sold to his Uncle Tom, and warns him against creating an issue if he sees the cow-crewmer in Uncle Tom's possession in the future. Seeing that he has no bargaining power whatsoever, Bassett agrees.
Thus, thanks to Jeeves' razor-sharp brain power, the couples are happily married, Uncle Tom gets his cow-creamer, Aunt Dalhia keeps her cook, and Bertie Wooster continues to be a happy bachelor.
The book, like all of Wodehouse's books, is a literary feast. Wodehouse's choice of words, particularly those used by the character Jeeves, demonstrates a command of the language that inspires and fascinates. The strong undercurrent of humour that runs throughout the novel keeps the reader smiling all the time, and on occasions, leaves him in splits. Witty quotes like 'If not disgruntled, he was far from being gruntled,' show a level of mastery of the English language, as well imagination, which are hard to find in most other humorists. The plot, with all its comic twists, outrageous characters, and a climax that would keep the reader in splits, is only one among Wodehouse's many masterpieces. In short, a genius book from a genius author, and a must read for anyone who wants to de-stress or have a good laugh.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Code-of-the-Woosters:-A-Treat-to-Fans-of-Jeeves-and-Bertie&id=6634519] 'The Code of the Woosters': A Treat to Fans of Jeeves and Bertie
Saturday, December 3, 2011
'A Prisoner of Birth' - A Racy and Enjoyable Drama
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Hari_P_R]Hari P R
'A Prisoner of Birth', one of the more recent novels of Sir Jeffrey Archer, is an engrossing drama, and would certainly figure among one of the great writer's best works. The novel is about an innocent man who is sent to prison for a murder he did not commit. Circumstantial evidence, unfortunately, points to the contrary, and he is declared guilty by a court of law.
Danny Cartwright is convicted of murdering his to-be-brother-in-law, while he was, in reality, murdered by four drunkards he stood up against for speaking foul words about his sister. The real murderers, however, use circumstantial evidence to their advantage and pin the murder on Cartwright, who is then sentenced to twenty-two years of jail.
Inside jail, Cartwright spends his first year in the hope that he would be able to appeal against his sentence successfully. He spends much of his first year trying to collect evidence that would help him appeal against his sentence successfully. He also makes a couple of new friends, one of whom, named Sir Nicholas, has a striking resemblance to him. At the end of the first year, however, Cartwright's appeal is turned down for want of new evidence, and this destroys his spirit and leaves him shattered.
In the midst of all this, a madman inside the prison murders Sir Nicholas, mistaking him for Cartwright. Because of their strikingly similar appearances, most jail authorities, too, believe that it is Cartwright who has been murdered. Cartwright, sensing an opportunity for his escape, does not let out the truth of his identity, for he knows that Sir Nicholas' release is due very shortly.
He continues to masquerade as Sir Nicholas, and is eventually released from prison. Cartwright, still believed to be Sir Nicholas, attends his own funeral, and is moved by the love and affection he sees displayed by the people who attend it.
He resolves to first resolve Sir Nicholas' family issues, and then start executing a plan he had made to avenge the four murderers of his friend and lover's brother. However, before he is able to make much progress on his plan, his true identity comes to light, and he gets arrested again.
His counsel, this time, is determined to make justice prevail, and adds to its team a very senior lawyer, who, in the course of interviewing one of the murderers, makes him say things that make even the possibility of Cartwright having committed the murder appear very remote. Cartwright is finally set free, and with the confession of one of the murderers, justice is finally meted out to the four murderers.
A racy and entertaining thriller with a solid plot, carefully constructed characters and Archer's unique style, this book is recommended for anyone who enjoys a good work of fiction.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Prisoner-of-Birth---A-Racy-and-Enjoyable-Drama&id=6634711] 'A Prisoner of Birth' - A Racy and Enjoyable Drama
'A Prisoner of Birth', one of the more recent novels of Sir Jeffrey Archer, is an engrossing drama, and would certainly figure among one of the great writer's best works. The novel is about an innocent man who is sent to prison for a murder he did not commit. Circumstantial evidence, unfortunately, points to the contrary, and he is declared guilty by a court of law.
Danny Cartwright is convicted of murdering his to-be-brother-in-law, while he was, in reality, murdered by four drunkards he stood up against for speaking foul words about his sister. The real murderers, however, use circumstantial evidence to their advantage and pin the murder on Cartwright, who is then sentenced to twenty-two years of jail.
Inside jail, Cartwright spends his first year in the hope that he would be able to appeal against his sentence successfully. He spends much of his first year trying to collect evidence that would help him appeal against his sentence successfully. He also makes a couple of new friends, one of whom, named Sir Nicholas, has a striking resemblance to him. At the end of the first year, however, Cartwright's appeal is turned down for want of new evidence, and this destroys his spirit and leaves him shattered.
In the midst of all this, a madman inside the prison murders Sir Nicholas, mistaking him for Cartwright. Because of their strikingly similar appearances, most jail authorities, too, believe that it is Cartwright who has been murdered. Cartwright, sensing an opportunity for his escape, does not let out the truth of his identity, for he knows that Sir Nicholas' release is due very shortly.
He continues to masquerade as Sir Nicholas, and is eventually released from prison. Cartwright, still believed to be Sir Nicholas, attends his own funeral, and is moved by the love and affection he sees displayed by the people who attend it.
He resolves to first resolve Sir Nicholas' family issues, and then start executing a plan he had made to avenge the four murderers of his friend and lover's brother. However, before he is able to make much progress on his plan, his true identity comes to light, and he gets arrested again.
His counsel, this time, is determined to make justice prevail, and adds to its team a very senior lawyer, who, in the course of interviewing one of the murderers, makes him say things that make even the possibility of Cartwright having committed the murder appear very remote. Cartwright is finally set free, and with the confession of one of the murderers, justice is finally meted out to the four murderers.
A racy and entertaining thriller with a solid plot, carefully constructed characters and Archer's unique style, this book is recommended for anyone who enjoys a good work of fiction.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Prisoner-of-Birth---A-Racy-and-Enjoyable-Drama&id=6634711] 'A Prisoner of Birth' - A Racy and Enjoyable Drama
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Woodbury's New Book Strikes It Big On Humor Charts
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Casper_Escribro]Casper Escribro
"A Slot Machine Ate My Midlife Crisis," by Irene Woodbury, surprises, enlightens and amuses; but it rarely fails to follow through with its promises. There is a thing in literary circles called "fulfilling the contract with the reader." It means that the writer sets up certain expectations in the book, especially in the beginning. She gives the reader the impression that certain things will happen in the book and certain conflicts will be resolved. This helps the reader maintain interest in the book, to find out how it all pans out.
Woodbury sets up a whole slew of expectations at the outset of this book about Las Vegas and midlife confusion. She continues to add new subplots later in the story. The outcomes are pleasantly unpredictable, but after they occur, you realize how absolutely plausible they are.
Take for instance the scene where Wendy, the main character, is confronted by her husband Roger's friend-girl who aspires to be something more. Wendy has extended a short trip to Las Vegas for months, leaving her newlywed husband behind in Texas. The girl, Lisa, bombards Wendy with tales of how her husband is suffering and needs his wife to come home or give him his freedom.
The clich�d response would be for Wendy, perhaps after some thought, to run back into Roger's arms and live happily ever after. An alternate common fictional response would be for her to immediately divorce him and get it over with. Instead, she continues to have confused feelings for him and postpones a decision. All the while, she stays on in Vegas and keeps having the time of her life. In the final analysis, she learns more than she ever would any other way. It suits the story just right.
This is a story of late nights, flirtations and even fistfights. You never know what will happen the next time you touch the "next page" button on your eReader. The action is always hopping in this fast-paced ride. This also goes well with the darkly comedic voice of the first person narrator. Things happen. It is a fact of life. That does not mean that Wendy is not flabbergasted, appalled, tense or overjoyed along the way. Her responses to life in Las Vegas are endearing and often extremely funny.
"A Slot Machine Ate My Midlife Crisis" is filled with Las Vegas atmosphere. The setting is spread out like a feast. There are descriptions of shopping trips, Vegas shows, clubbing and dining that take place in the glitzy city. The author has obviously done her research on Vegas history, but that is just for a bit of added flavor. The meat of the setting is the rich descriptions of today's Sin City, including casinos, clubs, restaurants and retail stores.
Woodbury nails the casino atmosphere as well, showing the differences between the older and newer casinos. She describes the gambling scene, with details about the blackjack, craps, roulette, and, of course, the slot machines. It is crazy and fun, and the author is not shy about pointing it all out. She touches on the darker side of the city, but never becomes mired in it.
There are many themes in "A Slot Machine Ate My Midlife Crisis." Love, marriage, friendship and freedom are all integral parts of the story. One of the more interesting themes is the concept of levels of meaning. The author contrasts the superficiality of much of the Las Vegas lifestyle with the depth of emotion she sees in the people she knows.
"A Slot Machine Ate My Midlife Crisis" is very good at delivering on its promises. At the same time, the reader is not likely to guess very many outcomes ahead of time. It is the fake and flash of Las Vegas and the depth of human emotion all wrapped up into one package. It will not disappoint.
Casper Enscribro is a avid reader and when a great book or even bad book comes along, Enscribo wants to share it with everyone. "A Slot Machine Ate My Midlife Crisis" is Irene Woodbury's debut novel and was a joy to read. If you are interested in picking up your own copy of Woodbury's book, visit [http://www.amazon.com]Amazon.com.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Woodburys-New-Book-Strikes-It-Big-On-Humor-Charts&id=6629992] Woodbury's New Book Strikes It Big On Humor Charts
"A Slot Machine Ate My Midlife Crisis," by Irene Woodbury, surprises, enlightens and amuses; but it rarely fails to follow through with its promises. There is a thing in literary circles called "fulfilling the contract with the reader." It means that the writer sets up certain expectations in the book, especially in the beginning. She gives the reader the impression that certain things will happen in the book and certain conflicts will be resolved. This helps the reader maintain interest in the book, to find out how it all pans out.
Woodbury sets up a whole slew of expectations at the outset of this book about Las Vegas and midlife confusion. She continues to add new subplots later in the story. The outcomes are pleasantly unpredictable, but after they occur, you realize how absolutely plausible they are.
Take for instance the scene where Wendy, the main character, is confronted by her husband Roger's friend-girl who aspires to be something more. Wendy has extended a short trip to Las Vegas for months, leaving her newlywed husband behind in Texas. The girl, Lisa, bombards Wendy with tales of how her husband is suffering and needs his wife to come home or give him his freedom.
The clich�d response would be for Wendy, perhaps after some thought, to run back into Roger's arms and live happily ever after. An alternate common fictional response would be for her to immediately divorce him and get it over with. Instead, she continues to have confused feelings for him and postpones a decision. All the while, she stays on in Vegas and keeps having the time of her life. In the final analysis, she learns more than she ever would any other way. It suits the story just right.
This is a story of late nights, flirtations and even fistfights. You never know what will happen the next time you touch the "next page" button on your eReader. The action is always hopping in this fast-paced ride. This also goes well with the darkly comedic voice of the first person narrator. Things happen. It is a fact of life. That does not mean that Wendy is not flabbergasted, appalled, tense or overjoyed along the way. Her responses to life in Las Vegas are endearing and often extremely funny.
"A Slot Machine Ate My Midlife Crisis" is filled with Las Vegas atmosphere. The setting is spread out like a feast. There are descriptions of shopping trips, Vegas shows, clubbing and dining that take place in the glitzy city. The author has obviously done her research on Vegas history, but that is just for a bit of added flavor. The meat of the setting is the rich descriptions of today's Sin City, including casinos, clubs, restaurants and retail stores.
Woodbury nails the casino atmosphere as well, showing the differences between the older and newer casinos. She describes the gambling scene, with details about the blackjack, craps, roulette, and, of course, the slot machines. It is crazy and fun, and the author is not shy about pointing it all out. She touches on the darker side of the city, but never becomes mired in it.
There are many themes in "A Slot Machine Ate My Midlife Crisis." Love, marriage, friendship and freedom are all integral parts of the story. One of the more interesting themes is the concept of levels of meaning. The author contrasts the superficiality of much of the Las Vegas lifestyle with the depth of emotion she sees in the people she knows.
"A Slot Machine Ate My Midlife Crisis" is very good at delivering on its promises. At the same time, the reader is not likely to guess very many outcomes ahead of time. It is the fake and flash of Las Vegas and the depth of human emotion all wrapped up into one package. It will not disappoint.
Casper Enscribro is a avid reader and when a great book or even bad book comes along, Enscribo wants to share it with everyone. "A Slot Machine Ate My Midlife Crisis" is Irene Woodbury's debut novel and was a joy to read. If you are interested in picking up your own copy of Woodbury's book, visit [http://www.amazon.com]Amazon.com.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Woodburys-New-Book-Strikes-It-Big-On-Humor-Charts&id=6629992] Woodbury's New Book Strikes It Big On Humor Charts
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