This blog spot is the home to my ramblings. I am a free lance writer. Most of my work goes on Associated Content. Sometimes I write what is on my mind, sometimes I plug some of my writing, and sometimes a combination of the two. So, sit back read, enjoy, and we will see where it goes.
Well here we come to the end of another A to Z Challenge and I have survived! I will wrap up on a post about a book I read Zoo by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge. Lately a lot of my reading has been inspired by movie and television. (Not all)
Reading the Dexter series, James Bond movies, The Finest Hours, adult comics and more. I was inspired to read Zoo from watching a few episodes of the CBS show on Netflix. The book is quite different from the show!
I enjoyed the book and recommend it. Looking at the reviews on Goodreads some would disagree. If you look deep enough the book has flaws. Some didn't like the short chapters. I disagree on that! I liked small chapters easier to read and put down in case you needed to. The short chapters made built in stopping points.
The book kept my interest for the most part through out! The book entertained. It was fiction and I found it a fun read.
Here is a clip from the premiere of season 2 of the show..
I responded to one of my friend's facebook quiz which featured 52 books everyone is supposed to read atleast once in your lifetime. She had read half of them, and I had read a humbling 12. I could just be waiting for my next lifetime to catch up.
Anyway she asked me what is my favorite genre? The question is straight forward, but it is one that made me think.
My answer was adventure trop fiction. Examples would be Hemingway, Benchley, Steinbeck, and Bob Morris.
Really any adventure would work as I really enjoyed The Call of the Wild and The Kite Runner.
I didn't go into nonfiction on my facebook reply but I will here. It is split between music biographies. That being said if I find someone interesting who isn't in music I will read that biography too. As I mentioned before I do alot of reading on the subject of business. My favorite business books are on the subject of leadership.
Since the question was a good one in my opinion. I will ask you my readers what are your favorite genres? Just for fun if you answer and feel like sharing what is your favorite book or author in that genre?
Welcome to my review of Ian David Noakes "Hourglass Heights." It is the author's debut novel but it reads like he has been honing his craft for years. The book is 277 pages long and published by Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd.. The novel is a fun ride as it is erotic, it could be called a horror, and it is a thriller you won't want to put down.
Here is a synopsis of the book:
Who is brutally murdering the male residents of the Hourglass Heights apartment complex? At first glance, it would appear that their spouses are the killers, but Detective Marcia Tanaka believes that a serial killer is responsible.
Through the course of her investigation, Detective Tanaka is pulled into a world of Japanese folklore and the supernatural as she explores the darker side of relationships, sex and psyche. She must learn to defeat her own personal demons before she can defeat one that is far more sinister.
Hourglass Heights combines the mystery and suspense of a supernatural murder investigation with the intense sexual exploration usually found only in erotica.
This book isn't for you if you don't want to read about sex, gruesome murders, which can be graphic at times. Not a children's book. But you wouldn't expect a book labeled erotic, a horror and a thriller to be.
The book was slow for me to get into, thankfully it was something I could overcome. The characters are interesting, human with their flaws.
Taking place in an apartment building called Hourglass Heights the detective tries to solve a series of brutal murders. Throughout the novel she meets her own demons, sexual encounters, and the supernatural. Some writers touch on some of these things in their work in books, television, and movies however Noakes blends it all and turns the burners up to another level! A solid read and look forward to seeing what else he has in store in the future. Reading the book you can understand why it has been nominated for a couple of awards.
4 out of 5 Stars.
The author:
Want to learn more about the author visit his website.
REVIEW 4 STARS
Honestly stars may have been hired if I was the more the target audience, which is young adult, fantasy romance. The author Kia Carrington-Russell does let her imagination run wild in this novel. Fantasy wolf people, phantom wolves. The story has trials and tribulations, violence, love, betrayals, and Sia has to make tough choices. Stay alone, kill, be hunted, trust, love are just some of the choices she has to make. Internal, external struggles and sacrifices help create quite a tale. In the end she defines herself. Fast pace, 191 pages, imaginable twists will capture your imagination as the author pours her's on the page. If you like fantasy, romance, twists, or violence in your reading you can't go wrong with Kia-Carrington-Russell's Sia. Ifinterested you can check out the book on Amazon here. Interview Mike: What is the most memorable experience you’ve had throughout your time as an author?
KCR: Probably talking in front of a small business group that wanted to know who I was. They wanted to know about my books and experiences thus far. It was my first time speaking in front of strangers and it was an interesting experience. I hope to do it again sometime soon. Mike: Tell us something about yourself that your readers would find interesting.
KCR: I am a huge anime and cosplay fan. I love dressing up for the Supanovas and fancy dress parties, and I love anime. Also, Japanese cartoons. They are so awesome to watch and the storylines are even greater. I have a lot of respect for the artwork as well. This is why I want to visit Japan so badly. I plan on spending a few weeks there next year; it’s something I truly can’t wait for. Mike: What do you want your readers to walk away with after reading Sia? Is there an underlying message throughout the story?
KCR: Yes—to define yourself. Sia thought she knew who she was as she rebelled against the impression others had of her. I hope that readers will think more about themselves, and not act like someone else because of the impression others have of them. This was a costly lesson for Sia. We all deal with this every day of our lives. I would hope that somewhere in amongst Sia’s adventure, readers can find a part of themselves, and be proud of who they are.
Over the weekend I read another library find. This time I returned to an author I have read in the past Kurt Vonnegut. This time instead of reading a classic fiction work like Slaughterhouse-Five I turned to a collection of his essays called A Man Without a Country.
Many of the essays revealed truths in the world that are still truth. His essays were bold written like a writer not afraid to write his mind. I enjoyed the book more than I thought I would. I enjoyed Slaughterhouse-Five and after reading A Man Without a Country I look forward to reading more works by Kurt Vonnegut.
Thanks for visiting and I will be back soon with a new post!
I said I would get back to blogging about books again this month and here I am. I finally signed up for my library card. The library has very strange hours and I could complain about that or wish it was larger. However, I will be grateful for what they have and they still have real books.
Anyway I found another mystery book set in Florida and today I found out it is part of a trilogy. No it is not Bob Morris again. I discovered Charles Farley. Unfortunately, I unknowingly picked the middle book. The book I am writing about Secrets of St. Vincent.
What I liked about the book was that it took place in a different time. The panhandle of Florida was quite different in the 1930s and Farley captured my imagination with panthers and 15 foot long alligators. Then there was the mystery. The book had a bit of Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird with an African American blues musician accused of a crime he did not commit.
Murders, wilderness, history, race relationships, a man's fate hanging in the cell of a prison are all ingredients in this mystery plus a few more twists.
I've liked other mysteries better. Perhaps if I read the first book in the series I would have enjoyed this one more. The book didn't grab me at times. However, the book delivered a lot and overall was a pleasant read!
Today I am joining in Alex J. Cavanaugh's Underrated Treasures Blogfest which I stumbled upon this morning.
Here is how this fest works:
Everyone has a favorite movie or band that no one else has ever heard about. For whatever reason, they remain undiscovered and underrated. Now is your chance to tell the world about this obscure treasure! Today, September 22, post about your favorite unknown – MOVIE – BAND/ARTIST – TV SHOW – BOOK Post about one or all four – dealer’s choice!
Here is a link to Alex's blog if you would like to sign up and blog along.
I will do two of the four categories Band/Artist and Book.
BOOK
More than likely I have blogged about this book before in the archives of this blog. This is the book which hooked me on the whole series, it is book one of five adventure filled mystery books. I am drawn to these tropical adventure style books from Hemingway, Peter Benchley, Jimmy Buffett and now Bob Morris. The adventure starts after the main character is released from prison in Florida and as one could guess it travels to the Bahamas. Murder, revenge, adventure,mystery and tropical locations it is all in this novel Bahamarama by Bob Morris.
BAND/ARTIST
So many and artists I could choose for this one. However, I will go with Billy Thompson who was a local artist living close to where I used to live. He had moved from California. The first time I heard him at a jam. My friend told me to check him out. I am blessed to have so many friends who can tell me who to check out musically. He didn't really grab me at the jam. However, he grabbed me the second time I heard him.
Here he is on stage with Billy Payne of Little Feat...
I didn't know how good he was until I found out he played with Bill Payne a co-fonder of Little Feat and some of the finest side musicians in the business like Mike Finnegan. When I discovered how much talent was when I saw him playing solo in this bookstore/bar.
Don't take my word for it listen to the music...
Here is a song called "Better Man"
Here he is doing some solo music...
If you like his music find out more at his website order his music, see if he is coming to your town, and share it with your friends. I'm looking forward to discovering some music that is new to me, so TV shows to watch for, movies I need to catch and books I should read through this blogfest.
I suppose my creative juices have been stirred lately as I have been writing a bunch of haikus and senyru. However, my poetry is a post for another day. Poetry is where my poetry began and I do return to it from time to time.
As my juices were stirred I wrote another piece of flash fiction called "Irritations in a forest at midnight." You can read it here if you like. I think the topic was easier to write about then my previous attempts at flash fiction. A forest at midnight kind of worked with my imagination.
I wonder what I'll write about next. Whatever it is I will probably blog about it here.
A good year for reading I just finished my second Bob Morris book this year in his Zack Chasteen series.
In this book he goes out to help a friend find his daughter. The novel takes or hero from Florida to the Bahamas. Before long he is facing murder charges and more. It is a fun, tropical read. Short chapters, funny and fun and lots of actions. His books are suspenseful and fun and hold my interest.
Bob Morris is an award winning travel writer, a journalist, and a great researcher and it shows in his fiction work. Add his expertise, with action, and humor and that is why I like his work.You can learn more about this author at his website.Now that I am caught up with this series I might read some of his other books.
I started this blog five years ago as I had started writing articles on whim. It also lead me to outlets for my poetry. Something I wrote a lot more of in my younger days but was too shy, or insecure, to really share. anyway, this year I tried yet another new writing style fiction. I hadn't created any fiction since perhaps my early college days which would be a good two decades ago. I don't even know if "flash fiction" existed back then.
If you like to read them I will share them. They were under a dance theme. I will start with the three flash fiction stories I wrote.
I also wrote a short story also on a dance theme about The Last Dance.
I will be writing some more flash fiction and short stories in the future. I found them to be a great creative exercise especially when responding to a certain category. I will probably post something tomorrow on here that isn't A to Z related. Regardless, I will be back Monday pressing on with the A to Z: Challenge. Thanks for stopping by and stay tuned!
Sometimes I read some Christian fiction ( I read books dealing with other religions sometimes as well). Last month I read the best seller "The Shack."
The book does make you think. It deals with a family, a death of a child, and forgiveness. Closure as well.
Ah, Spring time which apparently is taking a vacation. Anyway I read a pirate book called "Pirate Latitudes" by Michael Crichton. What can I say I like high sea adventure stories. It hit the spot and Crichton is working his way into becoming one of my favorite authors. He certainly does mix up the topics.
I've slowed down a bit in March but I have finished a couple of classics and have started more books. I just haven't grabbed one to finish.
Last year on Myspace I put a list of books I read last year. I'll do the same on here by the end of the month. I had read a few but then I started writing, so I haven't read as much.
Anyway the last book I read was Nashville 1864 by Madison Jones. It was a short book only 130 pages which I read mostly in one day. In 1997 the book won the 1997 Michael Shaara Award for Civil War Fiction.
The book was written in the form of a man's recollection to when he was a child and his dad was a soldier for the Confederate Army. Most of the book dealt with the kid sneaking out of a Union occupied town with a slave buddy to find his dad on the battle front.Lots of details and action to hold the readers interest to make this a short but enjoyable read.
Well here we come to the end of another A to Z Challenge and I have survived! I will wrap up on a post about a book I read Zoo by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge. Lately a lot of my reading has been inspired by movie and television. (Not all)
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