Tag: opinion

The Majat Testing, by Anna Kashina Reviewed.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Reading, Review

This fantasy short introduces readers to a new series, The Majat Code, which, on the basis of the writing here, I may very well explore further. For a short piece, this book develops the characters well and presents an imagined world in surprising detail, without boring the reader with unnecessarily lengthy descriptions. The story involves …

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The First Muslim, by Lesley Hazleton, Reviewed.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Reading, Review1 Comment

Subtitled, ‘The Story of Muhammad’, this scholarly and meticulously researched book provides answers to many common questions about the Islamic prophet. As an agnostic (It’s impossible for humanity ever to truly ‘know’ whether God exists or not, since such a power must, by definition, be far beyond our comprehension) I have an interest in the …

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A Miscellany for Word Lovers, by Robin Hosie & Vic Mayhew, Reviewed.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Grammar, Review2 Comments

As a writer and a reader, I love words. They’re the ingredients that form marvellous works and the means for the storyteller to create wonderful tales. This collection, presented as a series of quizzes interspersed with all manner of facts relating to words, is readily accessible. It’s also a brilliant resource for writers. It provides …

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The Bloody Chamber, by Angela Carter, Reviewed.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Fiction, Literature, Review3 Comments

I ‘won’ a copy of this book in a giveaway entered online. When the paperback arrived, I was delighted, as I was about to go on holiday and expected it to make good poolside reading. This is an anthology of singularly dark, complex and richly written tales. Most are based on the elements of fairy …

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Returning to the Digital Drama

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, opinion, Procrastination4 Comments

On 20th September, I wrote a short piece titled ‘Denying Digital Demands’. This is the follow-up. If possible, once a year, I attempt a break from the demands of online life. Usually, it coincides with a holiday away from home. Breaking free from both the everyday and the unending demands of constant connection can refresh …

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Question For the Week: Do Cheap and Free Books Devalue Books?

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, opinion, question11 Comments

I was inspired to ask this by a short blog post I came across on ANewDomain, via Book2Book, a daily email from BookTrade. It set me to wondering whether we, as writers, are our own worst enemies. And it was reinforced by another short piece I read a little while ago at Digital Book World …

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Question for the Week. Democracy: Do We Know What It Is?

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, question12 Comments

In this series of posts, which may go on for ever, I'm posing questions to elicit that most elusive of human activities: thought! Oh no: surely I'm not expecting people to use their most hungry organ and engage in a process unique to the species? I'm afraid so. These posts won't always necessarily represent my …

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Question for the Week: Have We Literally Gone Too Far?

On By stuartakenIn Author, Creative Writer, Word Choice11 Comments

In this new series of posts, which may go on for eternity, I intend to pose questions that might elicit that most unusual of human activities: thought! Oh no: surely I'm not expecting people to employ their most hungry organ and engage in the one process unique to the species? I'm afraid so. These posts …

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