Romance in the days of slavery, set in the West Indies, is here given a treatment that’s both thoughtful and inspirational. This is a tale of love against the odds. Two young people thrown together by circumstance are trying to deal with differences in outlook based on their individual ignorance and prejudices. And the threat …
Continue reading A Shackled Inheritance, by Madeleine McDonald, Reviewed.
I feel I should share this piece of good news with you all. I hope you'll find it interesting. It's a copy of an email I received today: Hello Stuart, In our community of readers, you stand out in a notable way: You're one of the top 1% of reviewers on Goodreads! With every rave and …
Continue reading Seems I’m One of Goodreads’ Top 1% of Reviewers!
This book needs no more reviews; but I’m a compulsive reviewer, so here goes. I’m of the generation the author writes about in this modern classic and found so many points on which I was able to connect that it was like making a visit to my early home. However, my enjoyment of the period …
Continue reading Fear of Flying, by Erica Jong, Reviewed.
This anthology of science fiction stories by many different authors is a fantastic collection of disparate views of the future presented by creative talents. I must, however, before I expand on that summary, confess to my vested interest: I’m one of the authors. But, as a single voice among 27 stories, I feel justified in …
Continue reading Synthesis, Published by Fantastic Books Publishing, Reviewed.
Regular visitors to the blog will know I usually review works of fiction. But I also do this for nonfiction, when I think it'll be useful for readers. My recent move to the Forest of Dean has meant I've discovered species of bird unknown to me, so I bought this book to help my wife …
Continue reading Collins Complete Guide to British Birds, by Paul Sterry, Reviewed.
We writers often share ideas to improve our craft. Here are some ways to trim your writing. Readers will value the absence of redundancies and flabby expressions. Emergency situation: Situation is extraneous here, so we can manage without it. e.g. They have an emergency situation at the flower festival; all the petals are falling off! …
Continue reading Cut The Fat; Make Your Writing Lean: #Tip 43.
I have never read anything like this. Now, there’s a statement. But what does it mean? This book is subtitled, ‘a portfolio’ and that’s a good description of the range of contents. First, let me advise potential readers that this is material for adults. Those who seek gentle reassurance in romance and the sweet murmurings …
Continue reading The Red Room, by Joan Barbara Simon, Reviewed.
Much to my surprise, I finished the first draft of the current WIP, yesterday. This science fiction novel set on Mars currently has no title, other than ‘the Mars book’, which, let’s face it, isn’t exactly inspiring! Why was I surprised? I write as a pantster, so I don’t work to a plot, merely a …
Continue reading First Draft of the Mars Book Finished.
Ray Bradbury was one of my earliest writer heroes. I read a lot of his work when I was a teenager and young man. Along with Asimov, Clarke, Aldiss, Heinlein and Wyndham he was one of the authors who created my love of science fiction. I hadn’t come across this collection of essays aimed at …
Continue reading Zen in the Art of Writing, by Ray Bradbury, Reviewed.
Madeleine McDonald’s book is a traditional romance set in an unusual location. Told from the points of view of the two main protagonists, the story reveals secrets about both that neither are aware of in each other. The clash of cultures and personal histories makes the possible resolution of this romance uncertain until the very …
Continue reading Enchantment in Morocco, by Madeleine McDonald, Reviewed.
I’m cautious about reviewing poetry: it’s an esoteric art form with echoes of the world of the contemporary arts. In other words, a field full of the pretentious attempting to bamboozle the unwary, and too often succeeding. It differs from the world of visual art in the amount of cash thrown at it, of course, …
Continue reading Navigating Nightmare Ecstasy, by The Junk Talk Poet, Reviewed.
Characters are fundamental to my stories, as readers will know. I’m in the initial stages of writing a new science fiction novel, set on Mars. For a while, I’ve been beset by a mysterious barrier to getting on with the story. Lots of preparation, research, and reading round essential topics of interest. And I have …
Continue reading Name a Character in my New Novel.
This novella introduces amateur sleuth, Georgia Pattinson, early music soprano and a lady with guts. Sound a little specialist? Not a bit of it. Whilst there are references and interesting details relating to both her skill and the musical world she inhabits, this isn’t one of those elitist books that allows a special interest to …
Continue reading Whistles After Dark, by April Taylor, Reviewed.
Perhaps, Amazon can be persuaded to do something positive for authors who provide it with a living? The company currently has a policy preventing honest reviews from writers giving opinions on the books of other writers they may know. The whole policy is a sledgehammer to crack a walnut. It’s intended to prevent dishonest reviews …
Continue reading Amazon: a Solution to the Review Problem?
Subtitled, ‘English and How it Got That Way’, this is typical Bryson wit and erudition at his best. I confess, I was tempted initially to disagree with some of his numbers on the speaking of English, but a quick gander at Google soon put me right on that issue. The book is divided into 16 …
Continue reading The Mother Tongue, by Bill Bryson, Reviewed.
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Antidote to the Novel
Stuart Aken 