THIS MONTH'S BOOK REVIEWS...THIS MONTH'S BOOK REVIEWS
James Gault reviews THE MAN WHO COULDN’T STOP THINKING by Timothy Balding Last time, I reviewed Timothy Balding’s newly-released second novel, The Impostors. And here I am reading him again, but it’s not that he is producing work as fast as I can read it. It’s just that his second book was so relevant to me that I had to read his first. There is an important difference between the second and first novel. ‘The Impostors’ was a philosophical novel, but this one is better termed ‘novelised philosophy’. It sacrifices some depth of characterisation and plot development in favour of the opportunity to expound the author’s philosophy project in a more explicit way. This would, I think, make it less appealing to the general reader, but for those of us with an interest in philosophy this book is more meaty and satisfying. The story is about how the protagonist, Victor, is concerned with getting to know his thoughts. He does this by internal debate but also by discussing his views with the other characters in the story. Some are sympathetic, some not at all. Eventually Victor comes to the conclusion that the opinions and advice of others are neither helpful nor necessary. If he asks himself what he thinks, it is only he himself who can answer. Who else does he need? Like all good novels, this story has a message, and it this: if all people in power were able to really objectively understand their thoughts, the world would be a more peaceful and happier place. The characters are certainly credible and the plot cleverly constructed as a medium to carry the message. It’s a book to read not so much for the story but for the ideas behind it. These ideas intrigued me so much I got in touch with the author to discuss them, and our conversation is recorded in this edition of the on-line magazine. (Click here) As a book which introduces a novel way of thinking about thinking, this book is perfect. 
Mehreen Ahmed reviews The Proximity of Stars by Benedict Stuart
"The Proximity of Stars" is a delightfully intriguing story of espionage and suspense. Brian and Gary find themselves in the middle of a conspiracy when army officers descend on them by helicopter in the front-yard of their house. Their idle life changes pretty much from here onwards and takes a surrealistic turn. The mighty government poses an initial threat, rendering them helpless to fight this all powerful institution. However, more surprises lay ahead for these characters. A book that interweaves between the mundane and the sublime, confusion and clarity, this is not without intermittent comic relief either. Their harrowing experiences of life's ups and downs are both fulfilling and challenging. 
Ted Bun reviews Giant Problems, Naked Crow 8 by PZ Walker
P Z Walker’s Naked Crow, Sheila, and her friends (Jeremy, Josey, Wendy & Mike) are faced with a ‘giant’ problem at the Mighty Oaks Resort. All while caring for a group of young, native American artists. Meanwhile, owners Vinnie and Alice have their own problems to contend with. Could they all be linked? A great, rather bloody, romp at the interface of naturism and the ancient magic of the Tribes. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and was held captive by the great characters, It is in need of a bit of tidying but I forgave that. 5 Stars 
James Gault talks about THE OVERSTORY by Richard Powers
This is not a normal review, but I felt it was worth writing, as it serves as a warning to both readers and writers. This long Man-Booker nominated novel was chosen as the big summer read for a book discussion group of which I am member. I diligently started it, but didn’t manage to get to the end. In fact, I didn’t get very far at all. I read the first three chapters and completely misinterpreted what the book was. I thought the book was a series of short stories illustrating the importance of trees in the lives of humans. Although these stories were very well written, I found them to be quite similar and, frankly, I just couldn’t face reading a whole book of them. As I found out when discussing the book in our group, I had been completely WRONG. The book is a story about ecology activists. How could I have made such a mistake? Of course, it is partly my own fault for my lack of staying power, but I do feel that if a writer can’t engage the reader’s interest in his story within the first three chapters, he must be doing something wrong. And in this case, the author had decided to start his novel with long and similar back-stories of each if his main characters. In the Writers’ Notes section of this e-zine, I have often championed the need to get the reader’s involvement right at the start, and I have also railed against the compulsion some authors have of insisting on putting all their research and preparation into the novel itself. This book seems to be a classic case of these faults, and I really don’t understand how it could have been selected by the Man Booker committee. Maybe it was chosen because it deals with an important topical subject? Should you read the book? I’m not in a position to advise. If the fight for the environment is something which interests you, perhaps you should. But you will have to have a lot more patience with it than I had. |
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Darlene Raminez reviews Buffalo for the Broken Heart: Restoring Life to a Black Hills Ranch by Dan O'Brien
It’s such a rare thing these days for me to read a book from cover to cover in a week but as we sailed across the united states on I 90 I couldn’t help but wonder what life was like on the open plains of South Dakota. As it turns out I didn’t have to wait very long. In Wall, South Dakota I found just the book I needed to tell me. And as you would guess it didn’t take me long to finish the tale. The story intrigued me with the scientific facts of mal grazing to the pop-up stories of characters long gone. The personal story of struggle and hardship was not wasted on this mesmerized girl originally from N.Y. Certain I would enjoy the summer even in the Bad Lands I was not naive enough to think of relocating to South Dakota. The author paints a clear picture of the personal challenges the winter forces you to endure. He also wins your heart over in his cause of buffalo versus cattle and helps you enjoy being a buffalo jerky meat-eater again. It didn’t take me long to finish this book even after I arrived at our Tacoma destination. It was a geographical read that I enjoyed learning about and made my trip more memorable. D.M. Ramirez |
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Ted Bun reviews No Where Girls by Teuta Metra
Nowhere Girls is at one level quite a dark read, corruption and crime form the overarching background to the whole story. However, it is a wonderful story of the will to survive.
Superimposed on to this gloomy backdrop is the story of three girls’ attempts to escape and lead a better life. The girls drive and determination to escape the gravitational pull of Albanian society takes them along different paths. Paths that intersect from time to time enabling changes of storyline to flow smoothly.
A very different take on a similar theme to James Gault’s ‘The Redemption of Anna Petrovna’.
I just wish that the main character, Sara, wasn’t such an ‘Eeyore’ character.
4 Stars
Nowhere Girls is at one level quite a dark read, corruption and crime form the overarching background to the whole story. However, it is a wonderful story of the will to survive.
Superimposed on to this gloomy backdrop is the story of three girls’ attempts to escape and lead a better life. The girls drive and determination to escape the gravitational pull of Albanian society takes them along different paths. Paths that intersect from time to time enabling changes of storyline to flow smoothly.
A very different take on a similar theme to James Gault’s ‘The Redemption of Anna Petrovna’.
I just wish that the main character, Sara, wasn’t such an ‘Eeyore’ character.
4 Stars
Darlene Raminez reviews Gone Feral by Novella Carpenter
Did you ever take a long walk in the woods with a friend and really have the uninterrupted chance to talk about life and what it all means. As I get older I look forward to these times when my best friend and I can open up to each other and share the rawness and ugly side of getting older. Reading Novella’s story felt just like a walk in the woods with a long-time friend. She was real, genuine, and secure about the less than perfect life challenges she was facing. She never sugar-coated her story nor led you to believe there was a lot of it she was leaving out. She told it like it was and walked you through the ins and outs of making sense of it all.
I liked this book, it was a quick read. I enjoy the geographical information it provided as I plan to relocate close to the setting in the near future. I can’t say I picked up any life lessons or profound truths from it as I had already done so in real life. Nevertheless, if you are looking for some refreshing realistic quality reading, this is it. DMR
Did you ever take a long walk in the woods with a friend and really have the uninterrupted chance to talk about life and what it all means. As I get older I look forward to these times when my best friend and I can open up to each other and share the rawness and ugly side of getting older. Reading Novella’s story felt just like a walk in the woods with a long-time friend. She was real, genuine, and secure about the less than perfect life challenges she was facing. She never sugar-coated her story nor led you to believe there was a lot of it she was leaving out. She told it like it was and walked you through the ins and outs of making sense of it all.
I liked this book, it was a quick read. I enjoy the geographical information it provided as I plan to relocate close to the setting in the near future. I can’t say I picked up any life lessons or profound truths from it as I had already done so in real life. Nevertheless, if you are looking for some refreshing realistic quality reading, this is it. DMR
Ted Bun reviews Turn Left at Istanbul, Escaping Shirley by Richard Savin
Time it was,
And what a time it was
It was . . .
A time of innocence
A time of confidences
In writing a humourous memoir of a 1969 road trip Richard has accidentally written a wonderful eulogy for a bygone age of innocence, freedom and a world (more or less) at peace.
This is the story of his (and his travelling companion’s) first task in a new job. To drive his boss’s brand new Jaguar car from London to Calcutta.
They cross borders that are closed today, they pass ancient relics that are now lost to the world. They shop for a wing mirror, meet a drug lord, eat fabulous regional food (& some dross) and buy bits of the Taj Mahal from a small boy with a knife.
You couldn’t do this trip, this way, today. Yes, it is funny, but it also made me feel wistful for that era of optimism.
5 Stars
Time it was,
And what a time it was
It was . . .
A time of innocence
A time of confidences
In writing a humourous memoir of a 1969 road trip Richard has accidentally written a wonderful eulogy for a bygone age of innocence, freedom and a world (more or less) at peace.
This is the story of his (and his travelling companion’s) first task in a new job. To drive his boss’s brand new Jaguar car from London to Calcutta.
They cross borders that are closed today, they pass ancient relics that are now lost to the world. They shop for a wing mirror, meet a drug lord, eat fabulous regional food (& some dross) and buy bits of the Taj Mahal from a small boy with a knife.
You couldn’t do this trip, this way, today. Yes, it is funny, but it also made me feel wistful for that era of optimism.
5 Stars
