![]() While on a trip to Toronto recently, I visited Indigo Books and discovered new-to-me author, Benjamin Stevenson. As I read through the back cover synopsis, I was immediately curious. This is a story about a group of mystery writers who attend a writer’s conference on a train. As you may or may not know, I am a writer (duh) and I took a train to Toronto, so it felt like a great book to add to my collection. One of my favorite tropes to read are books about books, libraries, or writers – stick one of those in any major genre, and you can pretty much ensure I’ll be hooked. After reading the first page of this story while standing in the store, I was absolutely all-in. I’m actually quite proud of myself for not pulling it out and reading it on the train home. Although the darker side of me thought it would be entertaining for others to notice the cover as I sat there quietly reading, I decided to wait until I could truly savor the book back home. I’m so glad I waited. This book is exceptional because it’s smart, humorous, and tricky. Stevenson’s narrator, Ernest Cunningham, breaks the fourth wall throughout his recollection of the train ride through Australia where the murders ensue, constantly reminding the reader that he is also a writer. He’s very helpful, in that he walks us carefully through the protocol for writing a mystery, reminding us that there are certain writing rules the genre requires he must follow… which he does… sort of. Although Ernest works hard to maintain his personal writer’s integrity, I’m not so sure the same can be said for Benjamin… and that’s exactly why this book is so much fun to read. Mystery writers love sprinkling their stories with red herrings and plot devices that sneak in when no one’s looking. Ernest, trying to be as reliable a narrator as possible, however, reminds you why these tricks aren’t fair to the reader. He offers several personal bonafides throughout the story to bolster his commitment to sticking to the rules. But does he… really? Isn’t it the job of a mystery writer to lead you off course every now and again? Sure. But this writer (the narrator, not the author… or maybe the author, too…) keeps tallies of things like name mentions, phrase use, and a list of specific clues connected to particular suspects. All these things he shares with completely transparency. And that makes me, a less than completely trusting reader of mysteries, suspicious. The result is a thought provoking, deceitfully sneaky (sometimes) and masterfully told story, worth every cent and moment spent turning pages. I hung on every phrase, going back to count up name mentions, searching for clues I thought I may have missed, and re-reading a few chapters as insurance that I hadn’t read too quickly to be hoodwinked. I laughed out loud in several places, and I heard myself saying “ah-ha!” out loud too. Just those two points alone should be reason enough for anyone to read this book. The idea that an imaginary character essentially worked as a ghost writer for Benjamin Stevenson is still a detail I’m trying to unpack. If you’re a lover of mysteries, I highly recommend you read this book as a work of exceptional entertainment and escapism. If you’re a writer or an author, I highly recommend you read this book as a phenomenal case study in exceptional writing… have fun reverse engineering Benjamin’s technique. If you need me, I’ll be off looking for his first book, because now that I know it’s a series, I’m super intrigued about the possibilities that there was foreshadowing I may have missed out on. After all, isn’t that how all authors think?
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![]() I've been a fan of Kristoffer Gair's work for quite some time, even back when he was somebody else. With every book, he brings me a tale I never knew I needed with the expertise of a storyteller who knows how to reach the secret, magical places of imagination. The 'prequel' to this book, Butterflies I Have Known, which I understand wasn't meant to have a sequel... gives us just enough information to want more story. That's to be expected from Kristoffer. Still, I didn't expect that Cristian would be the focus... I imagined it would be a different character; and I'm delighted I was wrong. This book is a pile of enigmas wrapped in so much heart and soul, that the puzzle feels extremely personal. I shared the aches, tears, and celebrated right along with the characters as they discovered all the answers, and more. The sincerely emotional impact of the connection Cristian has to other characters is palpable, real, and I swear, I've felt these same things in my own life. This is exactly why Kristoffer is such a superb storyteller. He has a unique ability to take what I have felt and make me feel it again... even when I thought I'd forgotten. And just for the record, I've never liked eggs, and now I have one more reason... but you'll have to read the book to judge for yourself! Each time Kristoffer introduces me to new characters and new places, I feel like I'm on holiday with them, and I want to settle in, hear their stories, understand their culture, and just listen. Reading his pages, for this book, especially, felt a lot like sharing time with cherished friends that I haven't seen in a while. I wanted to move through the story slowly, listening carefully to the details, and imagining through the adventure so I could perhaps touch a little of it myself... and I certainly did exactly that. Although this book was a comfortable read, not too challenging and not to fast, it didn't drag, either. The pace was so perfect that I savored the story like a meal with lifelong friends I've never met. It was an exceptional experience. There are other characters that I would like to learn more about someday. I don't know if Kristoffer has plans to share their stories publicly, but I'm sure that if I ask him nicely, he'll share a bit more with me. And if you're interested in more... I sincerely recommend the Falling Awake series. It'll connect dots you didn't know were hiding in plain sight. Do you need to read Butterflies I have Known first, before Snow Angels In The Dust? Nope... but you should definitely read them both! ![]() Every so often, I return to my high school reading list to check out the books that I haven't read in ages to see how my understanding of the writing has changed over the years. Some, I must admit, I have forgotten altogether, so a reread is a good thing, and a fresh experience. Others, I remember snippets, but not the details. Such was the case with this novel. Yes, I know it's a classic... yes I know almost everyone from my generation (and perhaps before) had it on their 'required reading list'... but sometimes when you're young, you don't like being told what to read, so you don't pay attention. As we age, we attempt to rectify the mistakes of the past... or at the very least, give stuff a second chance. I found my revisit to the Island interesting. There were elements and details that I hadn't remembered... and new opinions that I found hiding in the pages. To make this revisit even more interesting, after reading the book, I watched the 1996 film, with Marlon Brando, Val Kilmer, and David Thewlis heading the cast. The similarities and differences made the book and film two very distinct experiences for me. I found it interesting that in the book, one of the strongest themes was 'the law.' The idea that the words we create to manage behavior, expectations, punishments, and rewards were direct results from spoken, memorized, and internalized words was compelling to me. The emotional refrain seemed to be, 'what makes us men is the words we deem most important.' Yes, these characters are also set apart from animals because they walk upright and don't eat meat, among other rules... yet the mere fact that they have governing rules expressed in language seemed to be the most influential part about what makes men, men (with the understanding that almost everything in Well's time was gender biased). The point is, motivation to a desired behavior was extolled in the words. Salvation, success, evolution... all was predicated on the fact that the difference is words and their focus on the meaning of those words. In the film, however, the motivation was pain and control. The film was 'updated' to represent the 'modern' era with a focus on technology and weaponry. The motivation for men to aspire to be better was found in pain, control, and manipulation, rather than ethical choices. If a character misbehaved, they were painfully tortured, with an electronic implant instead of being reminded of the strength found in the standards set by a community governed by a rule of law, reinforced by peer pressure and a culture that demanded compliance. Also, the strong preoccupation with a romantic relationship in the film that wasn't present in the book made this an entirely different story for me. The book felt more like a social commentary, the film had more of a hero's journey and rescue theme. The emphasis seemed to be placed more on the damage done because of the lack of respect for technology and the egotistic ramblings of a madman drunk on his own ambition, rather than the words we use to determine the ethics of community. This distinction was very strong for me, and because of that element, I felt the book was far more powerful than the film. Another difference was the perspective of the storyteller in each edition. In the book, the story was presented in first person, the film in third. For me, the book was far more disturbing because of the emotional proximity to the events and their impact on the narrator. Without the distance that third person affords, the reader was forced to emotionally connect with the characters and nothing was distilled. The reader was compelled to look at things head-on, feeling through each moment. The film audience could lurk behind bushes and watch from a distance, with little direct emotional entanglement. Still, it was intriguing to notice how a different approach was taken with the book and the film, with each creator focusing on the story elements they thought most interesting or important to their audiences. I have no doubt my teenage brain missed these nuances when I read the book the first time, and so I'm glad I took the time to return to the work and experience it in a new way. This experience reinforced my belief that old books never grow old, they just uncover new layers of our perception. ![]() Yesterday, I took a break from the things that needed doing, and spent a bit of time at Leon & LuLu's Author event in Clawson, Michigan. A couple of times a year, this wonderful shop invites local authors to share their books with readers, and a portion of proceeds go to serve the Oakland Literacy Council. As you can imagine, I love this event. It's the perfect opportunity to meet new authors, discover books, and serve charity all in one swell foop, while staying close to home! As I strolled the aisles, I discovered author Diane Eurich Tracey and her book "A Tale of a School-Dazed Duck. Of course, I had to stop and learn more... Drake would never let me hear the end of it, if I hadn't. What I found is a delightful story about a mother duck named DIxie who aspires to raise her ducklings in an environment where they can learn and become the best ducks possible... so she makes her nest in a school's front yard! Based on a true story, the tale is full of whimsy and amazing artwork by illustrator, Caresse C. Thiel. This story is written in verse, with a meter that is wonderful for sharing a story that reminds of the importance of perseverance, inclusion, and how education can open new doors in life. This will make a perfect gift for my young great-nephew... and keeping the book in the family, means I'll be able to enjoy it again! This author and illustrator team has written four other books, but sadly, I couldn't connect with her website or find the books on Amazon. I will look for her at future local events, and I recommend you do the same. ![]() Novels written by Indie Authors are some of my favorites because these writers take risks with their books, trying out unique narration styles, formatting presentations, and topics that one usually doesn't find in traditionally published works. Trad houses thrive on what sells. They're a bit more conservative, giving readers what they have already demonstrated they enjoy. Indie Authors thrive on pushing limits, ripping open envelopes, and playing with new approaches. Indies give readers the opportunity to fall in love with something they might never have indulged by taking the "safer" reading path. I discovered Indie Author, Vera West, at the Muskegon Art Fair this summer. It was my first encounter with her, and we had a lively discussion about books, craft, and story diversity. She's done something wonderful with her novel, Plucked, and it's worth sharing. Vera's distinct viewpoint on writing a coming of age tale is to present the entire story in verse... like a long, free-form poem. You might compare her book to spoken word performances heard at a poetry slam, but with a slower, more thoughtful pace. The concept of writing a novel this way was intriguing to me. Sure, there are epic poems out there... really old ones, like Dante's The Divine Comedy, Homer's The Odyssey, and Virgil's The Aeneid... that use this technique. Still, this is my first time encountering the style in a contemporary story. Am I living under a rock? Quite possibly. A quick Google search brought me more contemporary works written this way. I need to expand my TBR. Nevertheless, I was impressed with Vera's use of this uncommon formatting option in her novel, Plucked. Her use of character perspective and her very precise vocabulary choices, not only in dialogue - which helped to understand each moment of the story on an intimate level - but also in narration - was excellent and fit well with the Young Adult genre. I was extremely impressed with her very conscious choices in where to break lines, stanzas, and chapters. Her breaks were deliberate, and these decisions made the emotion of the story stronger. When a reader is forced into a hard stop at the end of a line, the specific meaning of the line, not to mention the individual words, have more contextual impact because they aren't run so closely together to form a scene. This book entices contemplative thought because of the nature of pausing more often as you read. Each line of this story came to me as a separate moment, and I felt I did a deeper dive into the story because of this required slower pace. At first, I was concerned that this format would make the book feel stilted, but I found it to be a very comfortable read. The more thoughtful timing didn't force me to lose interest. In fact the opposite was true. Because I was more thoughtful as I took in the words from the page, I felt my interest in these characters and their story was heightened. Yes, I read the book in segments, but I never felt disconnected from the tale when I picked it back up. I didn't need to re-read the last few chapters to remember where I was. The story was vivid and held my imagination extremely well. Vera's characters were people I cared about and rooted for, and the emotion of the story was exceptionally relatable. I felt a little voyeuristic at times because there were moments I felt like I was reading a teenager's journal. I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. I think having the opportunity to eavesdrop on the internal thoughts and dreams of these characters made the story better. It made the story more transparent, hiding next to nothing. If you would like to indulge in a different sort of novel reading experience, I highly recommend Plucked. It's a refreshing read that will pleasantly stick with you for some time. ![]() In this delightful children's book, we get to ride the waves with a wonderful pup who reminds us that it's okay to be scared, and never give up. This story resonates with me in all three of the roles I live; as a dog lover, an author, and a mom. Stories for children should clearly describe a problem or fear, and then help little ones understand a clear path to growing past the challenge. This story about a fearful pup who learns to trust his human and conquer the waves checks that box easily, with a flow that is simple for children to understand and fun for adults to read. It is unusual to find a dog who surfs, and this story, while depicting true events, tickles at the imagination, encouraging little minds to believe nothing is impossible. The illustrations are bright and fun, while remaining realistic. The illustrations are a strong artistic impression of James and Church. They remind us that this story is about real life, while remaining whimsical. This is a book, that if my son was still young, would certainly be on his "most requested" list of fun stories... and honestly, it's on mine, too. PS. This book is part of an exciting Kickstarter program where you can get your own Church plush! Check it out! https://tinyurl.com/2rk5kazx ![]() I found this new-to-me author not long ago, while grocery shopping. I love supporting Indie Authors, so, even though I don't have little people in my life, I bought a copy to read for myself. Sometimes, it is comforting to lose the stress of the day in a children's story. I found this to be a delightful book. Written for pre-school age children, it tells a fantastic story of exuberant children and how they equate love to the fun things in their lives, like dirt and water. This is a wonderful story perfect for instilling family values and reminding us that playing outdoors can be super-fun. The illustrations, by Megan Mack, were light, airy, and whimsical. They added much to he story, and shared a bit of gentle humor. As I mentioned, I don't have little people in my life right now. But, I'll donate this book to my Local Little free Library. I'm sure the child who discovers it will enjoy the story. ![]() Andrew’s second book in The Masterson Files series, Sinful Father, has a compelling plot driven by secrets and lies… with a creative flair readers don’t come upon often. I’ve read much of Andrew’s work, and I am consistently pleased with his imagination and talent. In this installment of his action/adventure series, I discovered an angry anti-hero who surprised me with the sympathy I felt toward him in the end. I never wanted to like this man, but alas, maybe I came to understand him a little. Inside the pages lives a hero I thought I understood, only to realize he has more layers than a buttery croissant. I may never pull them all apart, but it’s going to be fun to try. There is a cadre of strong women who remind me that being feminine isn’t the same thing as being weak. There were several points in the story where I laughed, and two scenes at the end left me in tears for two very different reasons. This story was so full of sneaky twists that I am eager to read book three, Deadly Daughter, to discover where Andrew will take me next. I am tremendously interested to see how my favorite characters will stay alive… and perhaps live their dream of anonymity… but I also want to be sure the dogs are okay. Also, if I’m being completely honest, there is at least one character I’d like to see tortured just a little bit (maybe two). There are at least three more books in this series (rumor has it there may be more than the published five on the horizon). All I’ve read so far tells me that the series will only get better as I continue to turn pages. Inside Andrew’s books, you will find a promise to provide safety to those you love, see those you don’t like get a little of their own, and perhaps punish the evil-doers with a bit of justifiable torture. If you enjoy investigating a different perspective of life through the window of fiction and perhaps wondering about the innate laws of human acceptability… Andrew Allen Smith’s The Masterson Files series will offer a wide range of emotional and intellectual experiences that will not disappoint. Visit Andrew's Website HERE! ![]() I grew up enjoying classic tales. Whether they were Grimm's or Disney, Hans Christian Anderson or Aesop, I've always enjoyed the structure of these stories. Fantastical events, animals brought to life, personification of objects and plants, and magical creatures. Each usually had a lesson or moral at the end... something to remember, something of value. Recently, I discovered Lost Boy by Christina Henry. This is one of my favorite styles to read... an alternative creation myth. Its foundation is based on the original story of Peter Pan, but aside from that reference, this story stands as remarkably different. Leave behind your preconceived childhood notions. This story is told from Hook's raw reality and in his voice, going back to the very beginning. The book is infused with the details of a potential history that was either unrecognized or purposefully ignored in the original. Ultimately, this style of writing could be considered Fan Fiction, with twists that remove us from the original in such a way that it becomes unique. Ms. Henry discovered a story that was neglected deep inside the fairy tale, and gave me the opportunity to stand just a little askew of normal to discover possibilities I hadn't imagined. The book was spectacularly written, and it flowed effortlessly. The author offered a new relationship between Hook and Peter Pan that challenged everything I thought I knew. It was tight, exciting, and unpredictable. The descriptions of the Neverland Island were extremely vivid. Although there was a map in the beginning of the book, I had no use for it once I began reading. It wasn't difficult to drift into that world and find myself standing by, a mere wisp of a witness, as I took in the landscape. The descriptions of trees, swamps, fields, and mountains were perfect, in that I was able to imagine them from my own experience, rather than become hindered by the author's belabored definitions of these spaces. She gave me just enough to place myself, and then she allowed me to fill in the blanks on my own. It takes real talent to flip everything we thought we knew about a place and the characters that live there, and convince us that we'd been mislead all these years. That's exactly what Ms. Henry does with this story. The dialogue between the characters is fresh, spontaneous, and sincere. The conversations were poignant, and laced with levels of innuendo I never thought to ascribe to them. These are people, not characters, and it was refreshing to read them that way. Their motivations and defenses seemed far more three-dimensional, with nuances that reminded me to never negate the other side of the story. This book allowed me to question and re-evaluate everything I thought I knew about Neverland, it's rules for life, the people who live there, and the origins of it's magic. It captivated me, and held me firmly on the edge of my seat, just as the original had as a child. However, understanding this story through the eyes of an adult lends a clarity to the rivalry between Hook and Peter that I had not considered before. That was an interesting surprise. This is a brutal story - both emotionally and physically - certainly not for the faint of heart, and definitely not written for children. It has made me reconsider what it means to grow up, and how impactful our expectations of children can be, long into adulthood. I highly recommend this book. It was a fast read, I finished it in a total of about twelve hours, over four nights. Ms. Henry has written other fairy tale revisions, and I am eager to read them, too. ![]() I've been a great admirer of A. A. Milne's work since I was a very young child. In fact, his stories from The Hundred Acre Wood are the reason I imagined I could be an author one day. The characters of Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Rabbit, Owl, Tigger, Kanga, and Roo gave me all the information I needed about the kind of person I wanted to become... and the kinds of stories I wanted to write. But what I didn't realize was that there was so much more to Mr. Milne and his writing life. In college, I learned that he wrote for periodicals... serialized stories and non-fiction, for newspapers and magazines... but I didn't know he was also a novelist. Recently, while fooling around on the Internet, I came across a story about his novel, The Red House Mystery. I was shocked. I thought I'd read nearly everything he ever wrote. Somehow, I missed this big milestone in his writing repertoire. So, I went to the Guttenburg Project website, to see if I could find it... and I did! It's in the public domain! Imagine my elation at discovering I could read this piece of my hero's history! I downloaded it immediately, and began reading. Thank goodness for e-books. Say what you will, but when you have a strong pull to read a book, you just don't want to wait for shipping, even if delivery is promised for the next day. I was immediately sucked into this story. It's a "closed room" mystery, in the style of Agatha Christie. It's also a tremendous homage to Arthur Conan Doyle, as the characters "impersonate" Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as they try to ferret out the answer to the riddle. I enjoyed the layers of details, and the little clues left along the way. I found myself trying to figure out the mystery before Milne revealed it... and after all, isn't that what a great mystery novel is all about? Honestly, although I was able to piece some of it together before the last two chapters, there were surprises at the end that I did not expect. This was a compelling, quick read, Even though I really took my time to digest all the tiny bits (because I knew they'd be important to the ending), I still finished it in about seven hours. It was a complete delight to discover a new, old book by my hero author! It makes me wonder if he's got anything else out there I don't know about? I will have to spend some more time going down that research rabbit hole! I highly recommend this book... especially if you enjoy solving puzzles. Oh, and I found it on Amazon, and have added the physical book to my "book buy me" list! |
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