I love a good crime drama, especially when it is wrapped up in the trappings of literary fiction. I also enjoy complex novels. But it takes a clever writer, and a compelling “voice” to tie together a narrative such as we find in Parabellum. And Greg Hickey for the most part, succeeds.
I received this book for an honest review. All expressed opinions, cynical or otherwise, are my own.
A flawed heroine makes for a good character study. Tragic backstories, ill decisions, they can all work in tandem to make a protagonist believable. Except when they don’t. Since I am in Switzerland now, I think I will quote Paracelsus: “All things are poison…only the dose makes a thing not a poison.” That’s the problem with Red, the protagonist, and this book “The Name of Red,” by Beena Khan . Too much of everything, has made the story a poison pill.
Reviews. Authors need them, companies want to sell writers more of them. And readers? Well they just don’t normally want to bother. A lot hinges on that review count (and usually positive aggregate). If you are a gamer you might compare them to achievements – get the right ones, and you might unlock something special. Well that ‘something’ includes access to quality promotion websites, consideration from bloggers and the media, and in many cases direct sales. We will talk a little bit about it all today.
I received this book for an honest review. All expressed opinions, cynical or otherwise, are my own.
I have never been a huge fan of political flavored fiction. I am also probably the wrong person for the message this book espouses – I am a Southern boy from OL’ Alabama, as it were. Still, Koerber writes with a keen wit, and deft ability at storytelling that is enthralling. And she didn’t even have to hand me some cake.
I received this book for an honest review. All expressed opinions, cynical or otherwise, are my own.
As I think I have illuminated before, historical fiction is a difficult genre to tackle. You are either going to irritate a history nerd, or a fiction nerd; almost always a no-win situation. This isn’t non-fiction, and it takes more than pure research to make these characters live again. In this matter, how does The Irish Fiasco fair, by Geoffe Quaife fair? It does OK.
[Read more…] about Rev Req: The Irish Fiasco, by Geoff Quaife
Imagining Violet by Mary E. Hughes tracks Violet Courtenaye, an aspiring musician in the late 19th century, via a series of correspondents. These letters, natural, use a journal format – one that is notoriously difficult to execute. Sadly, I found that the attempt was out of tune.
[Read more…] about Rev Request: Imagining Violet, by Mary E. Hughes
