My Four Bucks

Oscar for the creators of The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

2012-03-01T23:18:00.000+11:00

Creators of The Fantastic Flying Books of
Mr. Morris Lessmore win an Oscar

A few weeks ago, I posted a short film here entitled 'The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore,' after completely falling in love with it.

It's a short animated film running for approximately 15 minutes without any spoken words and I found it touching and uplifting.

If you were watching the Oscars this week, you might have seen that the creators of this amazingly touching little film (pictured right) won an Oscar for their work.

Clearly I believe it was well deserved, and I encourage you all to watch it. I'm off to watch it again because I really love the ending. (It's not a tear, I think I have something in my eye).

That's my four bucks!

Review: The Corpse Walker and Other True Stories of Life in China | Liao Yiwu

2012-02-21T19:32:00.000+11:00

I learned more about China from reading Liao Yiwu's The Corpse Walker and Other True Stories of Life in China than I'd previously learned in a lifetime.

The book comprises twenty-seven true life interviews with Chinese citizens from all walks of life and Liao Yiwu has been imprisoned for 4 years for writing the truth and recording oral history. In fact, he is legally unable to leave China to promote his book or attend international literary festivals.

His collection takes its name from an old practice in China of 'walking a corpse'. When a person died far from home, the family would hire a corpse walker to transport the corpse home if they could afford to.

The corpse was covered with a huge dark robe including a hood covering the face. The 'corpse walker' walked ahead giving verbal commands to the corpse whilst holding a white paper lantern and tossing fake money every now and again to 'buy their way into the other world'. It appeared to anyone passing them on the road that the corpse was walking, however the secret was that there was a second corpse walker underneath and the corpse was actually tied to his back. Fascinating!

The author interviewed many interesting people including the following:

Author Liao Yiwu

The professional mourner
The human trafficker
The public toilet manager
The leper
The rightist
The former landowner
The mortician
The former red guard
The Tiananmen father
The Falun Gong practitioner
The blind erhu player
The street singer
The migrant worker
The survivor

It was from reading these interviews and personal accounts that I learned about the Cultural Revolution in China, the Great Leap Forward and the Great Chinese Famine in detail. I was also able to understand how each related to the other and put the political pieces together. I was incredibly shocked to learn of the millions of Chinese who lost their lives in the Chinese Famine in the early '60s (approx 20-40 million people!) and to read of the cannibalism going on; families in rural areas killing their daughters to feed their families. Just unthinkable!

It was only in reading their individual stories that I realised just how ignorant I had been about the real China. It also highlighted to me how effective the Chinese Government has been in keeping the West in the dark and how thankful I am to author Liao Yiwu for taking the risks he has in getting them to us in the West.

It wasn't all doom and gloom though. There were some uplifting and inspiring stories too, stories of incredible strength, forgiveness and spiritual endurance.

The Corpse Walker and Other True Stories of Life in China is an incredible book written by a fearless author who was imprisoned for his work and beliefs. I can't recommend it highly enough.

My rating = *****

Follow Up Interview with William F. Brown, author of Amongst My Enemies

2012-02-15T23:26:00.000+11:00

William F. Brown

Hi Bill, welcome back to My Four Bucks and congratulations on the release of your latest novel Amongst My Enemies.

You mentioned in your last interview with My Four Bucks that the concept for each novel you write begins with a simple concept; a one-liner. What was the one-liner that kicked off the writing for Amongst My Enemies?
Amongst My Enemies began with a thing – the Amber Room, which I came across in my reading. It was a large reception room in the Ekaterininsky Palace outside St. Petersburg, the walls of which were made of amber panels, encrusted with precious stones. They were there when the Germans swept past in 1941, and gone when the Russians took it back in 1944, and have never been seen since. It is priceless and remains one of the world’s great art mysteries. The Russians still believe the Germans know where it is, and they in turn have kept a lot of art they took from Berlin.

I had a double major in history, and WW II, the Cold War, and the current era of terrorism offer an endless supply of action, emotion and good stories. Good fiction, however, is about compelling characters, not background, and I completely rewrote Amongst many times until I got the characters right.

Amongst My Enemies  is set in WWII and the majority of the story takes place overseas. Was it difficult for you to write a novel vastly different from The Undertaker or was that your intention?
I spent last year and will spend this year putting my existing books out as e-books, so I find myself working on a number of projects in different stages of development at the same time . Amongst My Enemies  is partly WW II and mostly early Cold War, and had to be meatier, richer story to establish the background and motivation for what happens. The Undertaker, which by design is more of a fast, snarky, character-based, contemporary, ‘chase’ book didn’t need that help.

Thursday at Noon, which I’m now polishing up and will release in April, is also a fast paced story set in a few days in 1962, in Egypt. Winner Lose All, my newest, which is off with my agent, is mostly WW II, but an action, character-based story. One Good Shot, which will come out later this year, is a contemporary Middle-East terrorist thriller set in Washington and Virginia. As you know, The Undertaker is told in 1st person, which was my first attempt at that. It adds some immediacy and emotion, and I may do more of that.

I have another story in its infancy, Through the Glass Darkly, which may be first person, and may bring back Pete and Sandy from The Undertaker, since I had so many favorable comments on them. I’ve never tried a continuing character, but they are popular with readers, so we’ll see. As you can tell, I did not immediately shift gears from Undertaker to Amongst, but they are the opposite extremes of what I do. I was very concerned about that when I put Amongst out, but the early reviewers are people who reviewed and liked The Undertaker, and I’m very pleased to see they all liked both.

Did the fact that you've travelled to Germany and Russia help you when writing the novel? If so, can you tell us more?

Amber Room,
Ekaterininsky Palace
Russia

Yes, for color and images. I’ve spent a lot of time in Germany, East, West, and Berlin, but only went to Russia two years ago, when my wife and I were able to spend 2 ½ weeks in Moscow, the Golden Ring, and St. Petersburg, including a visit to the Ekaterininsky Palace, where the Amber Room is (pictured right).

It has taken the Russians almost 60 years to rebuild them, including a perfect copy of The Amber Room. It is very impressive, and no amount of photos can give the same impression as being there. Our tour guide was a young Russian woman whose parents and grandparents were Siege survivors, and you could feel the pride she took in her heritage.

What was the best book you read in 2011?
I can read or I can write, but it is hard to do both. In non-fiction, I read The Coming of the Third Reich by Richard Evans, the first volume of his three volume study of Nazi Germany which I think is a fascinating study of how tyranny can take over a country. It completely changed my understanding of the subject, and I highly recommend it to anyone.

In fiction, I read Daniel Silva’s The Rembrandt Affair and David Baldacci’s Divine Justice. Along with Michael Connolly, Robert Crais, and Dennis Lehane, they are my favorites, and always good.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?
No, just thanks for the interview and the review. If people want to see my other work, they can go to my web site billbrownwritesnovels.wordpress.com where I have sample chapters, reviews, and updates.

Thanks again for your time Bill.

Review: Words You Thought You Knew: 1001 Commonly Misused and Misunderstood Words and Phrases | Jenna Glatzer

2012-02-14T00:30:00.000+11:00

Instead of reviewing Jenna Glatzer's Words You Thought You Knew - 1001 Commonly Misused and Misunderstood Words and Phrases, I thought I would list the words from her book I discovered I misuse (the horror). I'd also like to share with you the gems I learned from her along the way.

Words this reviewer is guilty of misusing

Adorable
Adorable means worthy of being adored, and is not another word for cute.

Because/Since
People often use since as a synonym for because, but it is not. Since refers to time, from a time in the past until the present.

Comprise/Compose
Comprise means "to be made up of" so the of is already included. You can say composed of, but it is incorrect to say comprised of. I'm guilty of this many times over, oops.

Half-mast/Half-staff
I was really surprised to learn that flags are only at half-mast if they're on a ship or a Naval base. Everywhere else, they are at half-staff. I wonder if this is applies to Australia too.

Healthy/Healthful
Did you know there's no such thing as a healthy meal? Healthy means having good health, but your food is healthful, bringing about good health. This mistake is everywhere you look and especially when it comes to packaging and marketing material.

Nauseated/Nauseous
I didn't know that nauseous means sickening, disgusting or gross, so that something that is nauseous causes nausea or makes somebody feel nauseated.

Plan
It's incorrect to plan on something and I'm definitely guilty of this one. It's correct to plan it, plan to or plan for something.

Presently
I definitely didn't know this one, but presently doesn't mean now, it means soon. If something is happening now, it's happening currently.

Raise/Rear
I'm guilty of misusing raise and rear - animals are raised and children are reared - but even now that I know the correct usage, I'm still reluctant to use them in this way. It just feels wrong, what do you think?

Vital
The word vital comes from the Latin vita meaning life and should only be used to describe living things. Saying things like "it's vital that I have at least one can of Pepsi Max per day" is incorrect," because technically I can live without it.

Another think coming/Another thing coming
Even though we've all probably said and heard the phrase: "If that's what you think, you have another thing coming," apparently it's incorrect! The correct expression is: "if that's what you think, you have another think coming." It's surprising and even though it sounds grammatically incorrect, this is the correct phrase.

Even now that I know the correct phrase, I think I'm just going to avoid this expression altogether, rather than have people trying to correct me each time.

What about you?
So, what about you? Were you guilty of misusing any of the above words, or were there any surprises for you too? I'd love to hear your comments, or hear about other words that bug you.

My rating = ****

That's my four bucks!

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

2012-02-09T00:21:00.000+11:00

I just watched this animated clip and it was so touching and beautiful I want to share it with as many people as I can.

It begins with a storm that takes the main character to a place where books can fly, walk around and have their own personality. Not a single word was spoken during the entire story (it runs for approx 15 mins), however it was very expressive and the ending was incredibly moving.

I thoroughly recommend it to everyone, even if you're not a fan of reading, you must see this.

That's my four bucks!

Review: Amongst My Enemies | William F. Brown

2012-02-05T00:34:00.001+11:00

* From author for review *

Amongst My Enemies is the second novel I've read from author William F. Brown, and I was eager to review it based on how much I enjoyed his previous novel The Undertaker, giving it 4 stars.

It was clear from the front cover alone that this novel was going to be different, however I didn't quite expect that it would be so different from The Undertaker that it could almost have been written by a different author.

Sometimes an author will stick to the same genre, time period, subject matter, plot mechanism or writing style but not Brown. As I was reading Amongst My Enemies, I was surprised at the author's ability to move so seamlessly between projects and write a book that was a stark contrast in comparison to The Undertaker.

I mentioned the front cover earlier, and I must admit that it does kind of look like a Tom Clancy spy thriller but I can reassure you that the plot is completely accessible to the average reader. Mike Randall is an American POW in Germany towards the end of WWII, and stows away on a U-boat in an attempt to survive the war. What he doesn't expect is to be discovered and set free off the coast of Sweden by the U-boat Captain, only to witness it being bombed, carrying it's precious cargo - crew, gold, jewels and art - to the ocean floor.

Mike has survivor guilt, but he also wants revenge, while the Germans want their gold back and will stop at nothing to get it. Brown writes really good villains, and there are certainly a couple in Amongst My Enemies.

Sometimes the plots of spy thrillers can be hard to keep up with, however this definitely isn't the case here. This was an easy and enjoyable introduction to WWII thrillers and a really great place to start if you're new to the genre. (Here's a list from Amazon.com of 13 WWII Thriller Novels if you'd like to do any further list making of books to read).

When it comes to ratings though, I didn't find Amongst My Enemies as gripping and as engrossing as The Undertaker if I'm completely honest.

My rating = ***

That's my four bucks!

Review: The Blood Countess | Tara Moss

2012-01-28T23:47:00.000+11:00

I've been a fan of Tara Moss for quite a while now, watching her interview other famous authors on Tara Moss in Conversation, watching her on Tough Nuts - Australia's Hardest Criminals, and following her comments on Twitter.

So you might be surprised to learn The Blood Countess is the first Tara Moss book I've read. The reason for my hesitation until now was the fear I might not enjoy her work as much as I enjoy her in the mediums mentioned above, and that it could damage the high regard in which I hold her.

I needn't have worried. I deliberated before settling on The Blood Countess, and I must confess I was a little influenced by the front cover.

Pandora English moves to New York City to live with her eccentric Great Aunt Celia and pursue her dream as a writer with a fashion magazine. Her Aunt lives on the top floor of a gothic revival style Victorian building located in Spektor, in Manhattan. I thoroughly enjoyed the references to the history and description of the mansion, and I share Tara's enthusiasm for gothic architecture and Victorian influence. I was keen to learn more about the building, it's history and it's architect Edmund Barrett, the founding member of the Global Society for Psychical Research. My interest was piqued but the plot moved on, and I almost felt like Tara was teasing the reader with a whiff of what could be interesting enough for another book altogether!

The fashion angle in The Blood Countess is something largely outside my normal reading patterns; another reason why I chose this novel over one of Tara's many crime novels. However I was relieved to find that the writing wasn't dripping in fashion lingo, nor would I categorise this novel as 'chic lit' (which I detest). The Blood Countess by Tara Moss is a light and enjoyable read with a likeable main character in Pandora English and a supernatural undercurrent.

My rating = ***

Keep Calm and Read On

2012-01-25T16:41:00.001+11:00

Whenever I look at my TBR (To Be Read) pile or feel overwhelmed by the number of books out there I want to read, I have to remind myself that I can only read one page at a time.

I saw this poster today, 'Keep Calm and Read On' and it made me smile. I thought it was a timely reminder for all book-lovers at the beginning of the year who may have set ambitious reading goals for themselves; if you keep calm, keep your head down and press on, you can get there.

Those of you who enjoyed the extra reading time over Christmas, remember you don't have to stop when the holidays are over. I do the majority of my reading in bed before sleep, in waiting rooms before appointments or on public transport. Where do you do yours? Where can you find time for the activities you love doing? What can you do without?

When people tell me "I don't have time to read," what they're really saying is that they prefer to spend their time doing something other than reading. If reading is important enough to someone, they'll put it at the top of their priority list, and find time for that activity. Of course, some of us wish we could read more, but that's only natural. As for me, I don't wish I could spend more time reading, I wish that in the time I spent reading, I could get through more books.

At the moment I'm reading: Words You Thought You Knew - 1001 Commonly Misused and Misunderstood Words and Phrases by Jenna Glatzer while watching the Australian Tennis Open. It's the perfect book to read during the ads and quieter moments of each match.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas, so please feel free to leave a comment below and share your thoughts. But, let's Keep Calm and Read On.

That's my four bucks!

Review: Literally the Best Language Book Ever - Annoying Words and Abused Phrases You Should Never Use Again | Paul Yeager

2012-01-22T22:09:00.000+11:00

I reserved this book from the library with plans to leave it on the coffee table over Christmas for everyone to dip into and enjoy; it's just that type of book.

Sadly I didn't get it in time, but I enjoyed it just the same.

Yeager has divided his book into chapters, some of which include: Illogical Words and Phrases, Excessively Trendy Words and Expressions, Inarticulate Language and more.

I was shocked to find that I was guilty of committing one of his offences in the very first chapter, Grammar Errors. I didn't know this, but firstly, secondly and lastly is poor grammar, as first, second, and last are already adverbs and therefore don't need the additional -ly added. I've always done this, and I'll probably forget this rule and do it again. And this was only on page 3!

However; after this chapter I laughed at the cliches and phrases, buzz words and double speak that irritate the author, and found myself wanting to read out every second entry to whoever was near. At the end the author also included the phrases that annoy and irritate his wife which was amusing.

Literally the Best Language Book Ever - Annoying Words and Abused Phrases You Should Never Use Again is a great book to share with others, with short sharp entries, a sense of humour and a light approach.

Highly Recommended.

My rating = ****

That's my four bucks!

Interview with Andrew Hudson, author of Drift

2012-01-17T19:09:00.000+11:00

Andrew Cyrus Hudson

Andrew Hudson is the author of Drift, (you can read my review here) and put his current novel writing aside for a few minutes to participate in an interview with My Four Bucks.

Thanks for joining us Andrew, when did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I'm not one of those people who dreamed of being a writer since I was four. But I always wanted to be a storyteller. There was a time in my life when I wanted to write movie scripts. Then another time when I wanted to make video games and another time when I wanted to write songs.

As far as writing books go, it was actually during the early part of my college years. Like I said, I always wanted to tell stories but it never occurred to me to write novels. Then I took a class in 20th Century English and had a wonderful professor (Professor Kramer). Long story short, I got into writing prose (starting with short stories) and learned in that class that a story is much more than simply having a good idea.

In your novel Drift Travis Benson was a music producer and you mention bands like Pearl Jam and Guns 'N' Roses. Do you personally like these bands? Do you listen to music when you write?
I think in some ways it was an unconscious nod to the later part of my high school years and the beginning of my college years. When I first started college, I wanted to be a music producer and I was into bands like Pearl Jam and Guns N' Roses. Not to say that Travis Benson is similar to myself but a lot of the music such as the Foo Fighters were a huge influence on the story.

Actually, I don't listen to music when I write. I have a hard enough time focusing on one thing, let alone two things at the same time. Although music definitely is a way for me to tap into a creative well and set the tone for things.

When do you do your best work?
There isn't any rituals I need to do or places I need to go in order for me to do my best work. All it needs is three factors. One, is that I have to have a good night's rest. Two, is that I have to be in a good mood. And three, is that the passage needs to be emotionally engaging for me. The last factor is the hardest because I can't control it. Some passages are emotional while others are simply a necessity to the story. But when I do find something that grips me and I'm in a good mood, then I try to ride that wave as best I can.

Recently Australian author Tara Moss Tweeted that she used the program Scrivener to assist in her novel writing. What tools or program/s do you use as a writer to manage your manuscripts?
Actually, I'm pretty unorthodox with my manuscripts. I write the first draft in longhand with notebooks and pens and then write the subsequent drafts on Microsoft Word (which is the easiest to send to a formatter or editor). The only time I use a special program is Movie Magic Screenwriter for scripts or comic books. However, now that you mention it, I might give Scrivener a look.

You mentioned to me that Stephen King was one of your biggest influences; can you tell us some more about this? Did he influence your writing in Drift?
My two favorite elements in a story are characters and character relationship, which is why Stephen King is one of my biggest influences. It's not about the horror as it is about the characters in his stories and how their horrific circumstances change the characters and their relationships (The Stand is a good example of that). Not to mention that On Writing was very helpful in teaching me how to write a novel/short story.

I never said to myself "Hmm...I think I'll write a Stephen King story today" when I sat down to write Drift. And I think there's a lot of other influences and styles to where I feel comfortable enough to say that it's not a Stephen King tribute. However, there are similar elements such as characters being affected by a violent circumstance, a small town, and how the story is just as much about the internal struggles as it is about the external struggles. Not to mention that I was reading a lot of Stephen King novels during that time.

What are some of your other favourite books/authors?
Even though he's not an author, John Hughes is perhaps my biggest influence. I love his films (Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueler's Day Off, Home Alone, etc.) and his characters. My other favorite authors are Philip K Dick, Bret Easton Ellis, Neil Gaiman, you can check out my Goodreads Profile for more favorites.

Recently I've read L.A Confidential by James Ellroy which I loved, Cancelled by fellow indie author Elizabeth Ann West. Plus, I've really gotten into Jay McInerney's works, which I'm sure will be influential with my third novel.

What are you working on now?
I'm writing a science-fiction collection of short stories called Strange Happenings that will hopefully be released mid May. It's kind of science-fiction but most of it takes place during the present day and is Twilight Zoneish.

Then there's the second novel I'm working on (near the end of the second draft as of this interview) called Poem for the Wolves. It's twice as long as Drift and is epic in scope (even though the events of Poem for the Wolves cover about a month and a half). This one's going to be action packed and will contain a lot of poetry. Hopefully it'll be ready to be published mid December or early January 2013.

Anything else you'd like to add?
Thanks for interviewing me. Aside from giving a shameless self promotion shout out to my site andrewcyrushudson.com, I'd also like to recommend comicattack.net, which is the site I occasionally review for and is filled with awesome people.

Also, if anyone wants to contact me to give/receive book recommendations, ask questions, or talk about anything else, you can contact me at ahkirbyzook@gmail.com

Thanks Andrew, and thanks for being a guest on My Four Bucks!

Review: Drift | Andrew Hudson

2012-01-16T20:54:00.001+11:00

* From author for review*

Andrew Hudson's debut novel Drift, opens with a murder, then moves to introduce Travis Benson, who seems a little stressed in his marketing role with hints to a major incident or trauma in his past.

Travis soon takes his bosses advice to take some time off and sets off across the country in his truck, although the reader is not sure where. Hudson does a fantastic job here of building suspense and I think it would be fair to say that for the first half of the book I enjoyed following Travis and was really keen to unearth the trauma in his recent past. Suspense is the major driver here.

Self-published as an e-book, it was certainly obvious to this reader that the novel lacked the expert editing and polish from a publishing house. Typos and errors can be skimmed over, such as: "And where there any passersby? No." on page 211. However, the use of the word 'skeptics' in relation to hiding a car in the following sentence also on page 211, was a little odd: "Branches and pines hid it out of site, keeping it at bay from skeptics' eyes."

Having said that, Hudson's writing of a character's suicide note within the novel was so deep and moving, I would go so far as saying that it was one of the most touching and intimate letters I've seen incorporated in a novel.

Ultimately I enjoyed reading Drift, the suspense was real and I enjoyed the backstory of the killer; one of the best parts of the novel. It was a relief to read a book like this after the heaviness of The Name of the Rose, however I can't give Drift a higher rating than The Name of the Rose.

My rating = ***

That's my four bucks!

Review: The Name Of The Rose | Umberto Eco

2012-01-13T23:42:00.000+11:00

Well, it took 3 1/2 weeks, but I finally finished Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose, and I've got to admit, it was pretty heavy going. Set in 1327, the tale is narrated by Adso of Melk, a young German monk who accompanies his master, William of Baskerville to a prosperous and wondrous abbey in Italy.

Upon arrival, William is asked by the Abbot to put his powers of observation to work and investigate the death of a monk in the abbey.

Meanwhile, the abbey is home to one of the richest libraries in the land, which is off limits to everyone in the abbey except for the librarian and assistant librarian. Adso and William are keen to unlock the secrets of the labyrinth library, as more monks turn up dead in what appears to be the work of the devil.

What made The Name of the Rose so heavy going for me were the religious discussions and scholarly debates in between the narrative outlined above. The monks discussed whether or not Jesus lived in poverty, whether laughter is a sin and the histories of various sects were discussed in such detail that I found it difficult to follow at times.

There were also frequent latin words and phrases without translation or footnotes, scattered throughout the book; almost one on every page. This was incredibly frustrating and I often felt I was missing out on key information at important junctures.

Having said all of that, I enjoyed the main plot, especially the adventures in the library (now there's a surprise). The Name of the Rose frequently appears on Top 100 and Must Read book lists and I'm glad I've finally read it, however Umberto Eco made me work as a reader, and I could certainly tell that this was an Italian to English translation.

Those of you who have seen the 80s movie The Name of The Rose with Sean Connery playing the role of William and Christian Slater playing Adso, will know how the movie ends, however even knowing the ending didn't ruin the reading experience for me.

I was so glad to get to the end though, I can't honestly give it more than three stars.

My rating = ***

That's my four bucks!

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2012

2012-01-12T00:10:00.000+11:00

I've just signed up for the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2012, being hosted over at the Historical Tapestry blog.

There are several levels in the challenge for readers to choose from:

Out of my comfort zone = 2 books
Daring and curious = 5 books
Struggling the addiction = 10 books
Undoubtedly obsessed = 15 books
Severe bookaholism = 20 books

I've decided to choose 'Struggling the addiction' and challenge myself to read 10 historical fiction books in 2012. I'm hoping this shouldn't be too hard given this is my favourite genre and I've already got a few in my TBR pile ready and waiting to go!

Reading comments from others signing up for the challenge, I know I'm going to enjoy reading their reviews and sharing in the challenge throughout the year. It's almost like being a member of an historical fiction book club!

So, if you'd like to join in, all you need to do is decide how many books you want to read, register at the Historical Tapestry blog, and post your review when you've completed each one. You don't need to have a blog to participate, so join me in the fun and happy reading in 2012! (I'll keep updating the list below throughout the year).

That's my four bucks!

1. The Name of the Rose | Umberto Eco
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New Year and Reading Pleasures

2012-01-06T22:44:00.001+11:00

My TBR pile

Well, 2012 has arrived, and I've been thinking about my year of reading in 2011. I fell just short of my goal to read 60 books, bugger! My original goal when I set out in January was 55 though, so when I achieved that I increased it to 60, so I guess from that perspective I should be happy. My final tally was 57 books and a total of 19,035 pages read; a personal best!

I was lucky enough to receive some books under the Christmas tree this year, and picked up 3 more on the weekend at a book sale where all books were $4.95; a bibliophile's dream wouldn't you agree? So I thought I'd share a photo of my TBR (To Be Read) pile with you, as it appears at the beginning of the year. Two in the photo are competition winners from 2011, and I have 3 additional ebooks from authors to add to the pile. Lots of reading pleasure to look forward to in 2012.

Have you set yourself any reading goals for the year ahead? I am going to try to read 60 books again this year, so wish me luck. What reading pleasures or new releases are you looking forward to this year?

That's my four bucks!

The Years of Magic | J. Lyndon Hickman

2011-12-18T20:00:00.000+11:00

I haven't read The Years of Magic by J. Lyndon Hickman, but I read a review from one of my favourite bloggers over at The Bibliophilic Book Blog and I instantly fell in love with the book cover!

Here's the blurb as it features on Amazon:

It was when mankind discovered how to make electricity that the world as we knew it changed profoundly. Soon generated electricity lit our streets and homes, provided heat, brought us efficient communication, modern transportation, and the effort of electro-motive force. Yet, manmade electricity carried through the wires and cables with which we fenced the land; the power lines encircling our towns and our cities, had another consequence. Generated electricity banished things of folklore and legend. Witches, werewolves, demons whose evil spirits had roamed the earth throughout time were displaced, driven off by the pain of electricity. Unfortunately also displaced were the good, those angels which had appeared to guide mankind throughout history. Then one day, in our not-too-distant past, a brilliant scientist created a machine that brought manmade electricity to a halt. That day marked the beginning of the return of the evil, as well as the good, in a time that became known as the years of magic.

I haven't decided whether I'm going to add this to my TBR pile or not, but I just had to share the book cover with you. I think it's one of my favourites this year. Have you read it? How much does the cover of a book influence your decision to read it?

That's my four bucks!

Review: Utopia | Thomas More

2011-12-12T15:27:00.001+11:00

I have always wanted to read Thomas More's classic Utopia, and I'm pleased to finally have read it this year. Like most people, I knew Utopia to represent the ideal or perfect society but didn't know much more about the structure of Thomas More's classic.

It's hard to believe Thomas More was born over 500 years before me, and yet his work has endured and is still relevant to us today. Published first in Latin in 1516, I was surprised to learn that Utopia wasn't published in English until 1551, which was sixteen years after Thomas More's unjust execution for treason.

Utupia is a short novel, containing only 135 pages - and is broken down into two sections, Book One and Book Two.

Book One
Book One commences with a letter from Thomas More to his friend Peter Gilles, explaining why it has taken so long to transcribe 'this little book about the Utopian Republic'. This letter is followed by another and then a discussion between Thomas More, Peter Gilles and a traveller by the name of Raphael Nonsenso. Raphael is discussing his time spent living in Utopia with Gilles and More engaging in the conversation. Book One ends with Thomas More asking for:

"a detailed account of it from every point of view, geographical, sociological, political, legal - in fact, tell us everything you'd think we'd like to know, which means everything we don't know already."

Book Two
Book Two is the detailed account of Utopia, written by Thomas More from memory of Raphael's account.

Fact or Fiction?
The correspondence at the beginning of Utopia, certainly set a particular tone that what was to follow had an element of truth, or plausibility about it. This technique has been used countless times since, Bram Stoker's Dracula just one example.

However, there were various clues early on that More's novel was instead a work of fiction. Raphael's surname of 'Nonsenso', was a clue, as was the curiosity surrounding the location of the island of Utopia, and the story that just as Raphael was discussing it's location a colleague coughed loudly, and More missed hearing the details.

Thomas More used the fictional novel as a means to discuss controversial topics and ideas at the time, in particular in relation to nobility and the class system in England.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Utopia, and I believe it is an accessible classic for almost all readers. I think it is just as relevant and as important a piece of literature today as it was 500 years ago. Have you read it and if so, would you want to live in Utopia?

My rating = *****

That's my four bucks!

Interview with Barbara Forte Abate, author of The Secret of Lies

2011-12-08T15:19:00.001+11:00

Barbara Forte Abate

Barbara Forte Abate is the author of The Secret of Lies which I recently read and thoroughly enjoyed. You can read the full review here, where I gave it 4 stars.

Barbara, thanks for joining My Four Bucks today, to talk about your writing, and your debut novel The Secret of Lies.

Is it true that you originally started writing The Secret of Lies 20 years ago on yellow legal pads and then transcribed your writing onto a typewriter?
Yes, I really did and it was definitely slow going! Even so, it felt like the only way to go. For starters, I didn't even own a typewriter so that alone narrowed down the possibilities of going another route. Besides which I wasn't especially confident starting out and so I was very secretive and highly protective of what I was up to. It took quite a long time to get past that insecure way of thinking in regard to my writing endeavours. But then once I got to the crucial point of needing to borrow a friends typewriter, that was pretty much the end of the "closet writer era."

What made you decide to bring it out again and publish it in 2010?
Well, the manuscript was never actually put away. There was never a point when I stopped working on The Secret of Lies. It went through 4 titles and so many rewrites that I stopped counting for fear of becoming overwhelmed by horror and depression. Once I'd finish yet another rewrite I would set it aside to simmer while I worked on one of my other novels in progress, and in that way would alternate projects, perfecting, polishing, and basically learning to write. Fast forward (though actually not so fast) to 2010 and it felt like, okay, enough already, it's time.

When you write now, do you write straight onto a computer, or do you still prefer to write in longhand first?
First drafts are always longhand. It feels so much more up-close and personal and staring at the white screen is just intimidating - maybe even a little hostile. Once the initial draft is down I become far more modern and switch to the computer. I edit long and hard and I'm sure I don't have to tell you the supreme joys of cut, paste, and delete!

I read on your website that you like to keep a pen and paper in every room so that you can capture ideas as they come to mind. Do you have a love for stationery and journals, or do you have a soft spot for yellow legal pads?
I do have a strange affection for pens and paper, so much so that I tend to squirrel away the pretty stuff because it's "too nice to use." I'm trying to get over that, but it's taking some time. It's pitiful really that I can't trust my head to hold onto an idea long enough to walk over to my desk and jot it down, hence the notebooks. But no, nothing fancy. Dollar store pads small enough to tuck into a pocket are my favorites. Since they're cheap and generic I feel free to scribble at will - something I find hard to do if my paper is too pretty. I also have a love of stationery, and love to linger in stationery stores, admiring the pens, paper, journals and all the accessories etc.

The Secret of Lies features a romance between teenagers, one of whom is deaf. This was one of my favourite elements in the novel; what was your inspiration for the deaf character of Jake and his relationship with Stephanie?
I'm so thrilled to hear that Jake and Stephanie's relationship was one of your favorite elements of this story, because it was absolutely one of my favorite to write. Jake is actually the only character wholly inspired by a real person. I discovered him on a weekend camping trip I took with one of my best friends and her family when I was 16 (hence, a very long time ago!) and from the moment I saw him setting up camp with his family I was smitten.

For the next 3 days I tried in vain to orchestrate chance meetings, imagined the perfect conversations we would have if I could just summon the courage to speak to him, thought I spoke endless volumes with my eyes...and it wasn't until just before he drove away on Sunday morning that I saw his father speaking to him using sign language. Talk about an 'Ah Ha' moment! I did think about this mysterious boy for a long time afterward, yet I don't conscientiously recall inviting the far away memory of him into The Secret of Lies. He pretty much just walked in on his own.

I also enjoyed your strong and deeply layered female characters in the novel. Can you tell me more about the inspiration behind these characters? Are there women - authors or literary figures - you look up to in your own life?
I generally find it impossible to bring real people into my stories because they inevitably become distracting and it's just too hard on the process of imagination. Certainly there are things we pick-up from people passing through our lives, even when we don't realize it, so there are always those elements. I start out writing my characters as people I think I'd like to know and then somewhere along the way they take over and show me who they really are. By the time I type 'The End' I have grown very attached and care for them deeply. It's a crazy, altogether mysterious process, and I can't say I wholly understand it. I'm just continually amazed by what goes on in my otherwise quiet mind.

What was the best book you read in 2011?
I'm so tempted to cheat and name several because it's so incredibly hard to name one! No, honestly - I mean really really hard. But hum-mm....I think I'll have to say Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. I just finished this book recently and it was such an incredible masterpiece of a story. And truly, isn't it just such a thrill to come across a book that grabs you from the start and holds you by the throat even after you've read the last page? I know so many people who say they don't read - ever. And I think how sad...how impossibly sad.

What do you have planned for 2012?
Writing. Always writing! I'm this close to finishing up my latest novel and sending it off to my agent. She's been waiting a while, so I'm anxious to check this off my list as "goal accomplished." Then I'll start something new. I'm a slow writer so starting a new project is a long term commitment.

Anything else you'd like to add?
When I think about all the bumps and bruises that come along with writing a book, the fact remains that regardless of how a book becomes a book, the final essential link feels to be the reader who comes along to turn the pages, enabling all that's between the covers to come out and walk around for awhile.

I so enormously value the connection between reader and author, and I absolutely want to take the opportunity to thank you for reading and reviewing The Secret of Lies, Tracey! It's been such fun chatting with you!

It's a pleasure Barbara, thanks for being a guest on My Four Bucks! You can catch Barbara at her website www.barbaraforteabate.com for more information.

Review: The Secret of Lies | Barbara Forte Abate

2011-12-06T17:25:00.001+11:00

* From author for review *

The Secret of Lies opens with Stevie (Stephanie) running from her home on the farm and her new husband; believing it's too late to turn back. Stevie's on the road and staying at a motel, when she begins to think about the past.

The dreary surrounds of the motel fades away and the reader is transported to Stevie's teenage years in the mid '50s with her older sister Eleanor. Each summer Eleanor and Stevie stayed with their Aunt Smyrna and Uncle Calvin in their beach house on the coast.

I enjoyed reading about Stevie's summers at the beach, particularly about the friendship developing over the years with fellow summer visitor and deaf neighbour Jake.

These early chapters are carefree and take on a coming-of-age tone as Stevie and Eleanor live out what appears to be a 'normal' sisterly relationship. However; their relationship begins to drift away one summer when Eleanor is 17, and what occurs in that summer will haunt Stevie and her family for years to come.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Secret of Lies, and towards the end, had completely forgotten that Stevie had run away and that this was a flashback; so immersed was I in the story. The circumstances of the 'event' (no spoilers here) and the lies that resulted - from which the novel takes it's title - were well written.

There was a small mystery going on in the novel, and although I did figure it out (this never happens to me, so I was pretty pleased) there is a slightly ambiguous ending, which is appropriate. My only criticism of the writing was the author's misuse of the word 'then' in place of 'than'. It occurred on almost every page and should have been corrected at the edit stage.

Although Stevie's mother was a minor character, she was a strong and hard-working woman and I admired her fortitude and resilience. Aunt Smyrna was a significant character in the novel and her gradual decline in the first half of the book was difficult. When juxtaposed with Eleanor's character - youthful, beautiful, falling in love - it made for quite a clash and interesting reading. I certainly admire the author's ability to write strong, individual characters; each with their own complexities.

This was the story of a family torn apart by lies in a time where secrets were better kept hidden. But it is also the story of how Stevie navigates her way through the grief to find love and forgiveness. I thoroughly recommend it!

Click here to read an interview with the author, Barbara Forte Abate.

My rating = ****

That's my four bucks!

New Look!!

2011-12-03T20:01:00.001+11:00

I thought it was time for a new look, so I hope you all like the new look bookish wallpaper; I absolutely love it! I redesigned my Twitter profile today so now they're both the same.

Long overdue, but I'm enjoying the fresh new look and the change.

That's my four bucks!

Review: The Ice Cradle | Mary Ann Winkowski & Maureen Foley

2011-12-03T17:18:00.001+11:00

The Ice Cradle is the second in the Ghost Files series by authors Mary Ann Winkowski and Maureen Foley; the first being The Book of Illumination. Anza O'Malley and her son Henry return in this novel, when Anza accepts a bookbinding commission on a small island community, Block Island.

One of the elements I really like about this series is the main character's occupation of bookbinder. Weaved throughout the story are references to bookbinding techniques and materials that are irresistible to book-lovers and bibliophiles.

Anza has been hired to preserve, bind and exhibit the letters, reports, photographs and artefacts surrounding the sinking in 1907 of the passenger steamship Larchmont just off the coast of Block Island. Of the 200 passengers, only 19 survived and those with an interest in preserving history will enjoy these elements of the story.

When Anza arrives, she walks into an island divided over wind turbines. She learns that half of the island's residents are in favour of the construction, the other half against, and an ghost informs her that they plan to build the turbines right where the wreckage of the Larchmont lies on the seabed!

All this is happening at the same time her young son sees his first ghost, and Anza is trying to find reasons local fisherman doesn't stack up to Henry's Dad.

This is a fabulous read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, although you will need to be open to paranormal themes to enjoy this one. The Ice Cradle is terrific as a second installation in the series but also works as a stand alone novel. Light and easy, with a feel good ending, most readers will enjoy this one. I look forward to the next in the series!

My rating = ***1/2

That's my four bucks!

Review: The House on Tradd Street | Karen White

2011-11-28T17:10:00.001+11:00

The House on Tradd Street is about Melanie Middleton, successful young realtor living in Charleston, South Carolina. She is one of the most successful women in the business, prefers order, lives in a modern condo and ignores her ability to see 'ghosts'.

During her visit to a client, Mr. Vanderhorst, at his historic residence on Tradd Street she notices a female ghost in the garden. Her discussion with him doesn't go to schedule, however she finds herself warming to the old man. She is shocked to hear a few days later that he has passed away, and stunned to learn that he has left his historic crumbling house to her in his will.

The house must be lived in for at least 12 months, cannot be sold, and funds have been left for renovation and restoration. Melanie enlists help from within her network of friends who are thrilled at the opportunity to see inside the Vanderhorst house and assist with the restoration.

The house comes with a mystery that Melanie wants to solve for Mr. Vanderhorst: the disappearance of his mother at an early age. Enter Jack Trenholm who claims to be writing a book about the mystery.

This easy to read novel is primarily a mystery, with clues hidden in the past, and sub plots featuring historic restoration, a romantic interest and Melanie feeling several 'presences' in the house. It was a light hearted read, and I enjoyed it very much.

My rating = ***1/2

That's my four bucks!

Review: The Butterfly Cabinet | Bernie McGill

2011-11-25T23:27:00.001+11:00

The Butterfly Cabinet is the debut novel from female Irish author, Bernie McGill. It's the weaving together of two stories. The first is the story of Harriet, lady of the house at Oranmore, which Harriet describes as follows:

"To me, it has always looked, and still looks, like a house playing at being a castle."

Harriet is the mother of many children however her hobby is collecting butterflies, which she studies, pins and preserves in her cabinet - after which the novel takes its name.

Maddie was a former nanny at Oranmore, and the reader meets her when she is ready to let go of a secret she's been holding onto for decades. She is talking with Anna, the last child she looked after - now married and expecting a child of her own.

McGill take us back to Dublin in the late 1890s to share Harriet's personal thoughts after the death of her daughter and what happens when she is found responsible. Chapters from Maddie's perspective take place in 1968.

This novel felt quite similar to Gillespie and I by Jane Harris, but unfortunately wasn't as good. I felt that the 'secret' or the climax that the novel was building towards wasn't as satisfying at the end as I was hoping it could have been.

In terms of character development, I was most interested in Harriet's character. She was not a natural mother, she had unusual thoughts on parenting, and this got her into trouble and ultimately a prison sentence. (This isn't a spoiler by the way, it's in the blurb).

I was divided about which book cover to post in this review so I ended up posting both. I like the haunting blue one (pictured right) depicting Oranmore, although it's interesting to see two very different cover designs for the same book.

There were gothic elements within The Butterfly Cabinet, and I'm glad I could include it in my Gothic Reading Challenge.

Ultimately, the plot was there and it had potential to be so much more, but I was a little disappointed.

My rating = **

That's my four bucks!

New novel from Anne Rice: The Wolf Gift

2011-11-22T16:18:00.001+11:00

I've just stumbled across the best literary news ever! Anne Rice - one of my favourite authors of all time - is publishing a new book in February 2012, entitled The Wolf Gift.

According to Amazon, it's:

"A whole new world - modern, sleek, high-tech."

I'm so excited! I can't wait to immerse myself in her new world and find out what awaits me there.

Who's going to join me?

That's my four bucks!

Review: The Reality Slap | Dr Russ Harris

2011-11-21T16:39:00.001+11:00

I first came across the work of Dr Russ Harris when I started listening to his 'Mindfulness of the Breath' CD. I've had great success with his CD so I was looking forward to reading one of his many books, The Reality Slap.

A 'Reality Slap' can be something that happens in life like an illness, fire, bankruptcy, divorce or loss of a loved one. Dr Russ Harris is an Australian and I responded immediately to his down to earth writing style, and he gave me much food for thought.

I guess you could call The Reality Slap a self-help book, however it's definitely a book with a difference! Dr Harris acknowledges the 'internal chatter' that readers experience, and that some readers will struggle with the content. Somehow he manages to gently leads us through, even sharing lessons he has learned in his own life struggles, endearing himself to the reader even further.

I also enjoyed the list of 60 Life Values in Appendix 5, which was an interesting exercise to work through.

Highly recommended!

My rating = ****

That's my four bucks!

P.S. I sent a copy of my review to the author, and I was thrilled that he took time out to write back, having this to say:

"Thank you for this lovely feedback, Tracey. You have made my day. Good luck with your ongoing journey.

All the best,
Cheers,
Russ Harris

Review: A Discovery of Witches | Deborah Harkness

2011-11-13T18:48:00.001+11:00

I'd been looking forward to reading A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness for a long time, however I'm sorry to say that it didn't live up to all of my expectations.

According to the blurb, it's:

"A richly inventive novel about a centuries-old vampire, a spellbound witch, and the mysterious manuscript that draws them together."

I pretty much go weak at the knees at the word 'manuscript' and I'd been looking forward to reading this book for a while.

Diana Bishop is a scholar, a witch and the main character of the novel. She is studying alchemy in ancient texts and manuscripts (another reason I wanted to read this book) from the famous Bodleian Library in Oxford.

On a side note, I love collecting bookmarks, and when I was selecting a bookmark to use when reading Discovery of Witches, I chose a bookmark with an image of ancient manuscripts on the front, knowing the references contained in the novel. However, I didn't know that the main character would be studying at the Bodleian Library and would you believe it, the image on my bookmark was from the Bodleian Library, and the back of the bookmark had some info about the Library; what a weird coincidence!

Sadly, that was the most excitement I had whilst reading this book. Sure, I enjoyed the sections written in Oxford, where Diana was studying alchemy and the illuminated texts. I enjoyed the discussions of history and the passing of time when Diana met the centuries-old vampire, however what spoiled the novel for me was the romance. There was just too much! The book was dripping with romance, and if I'd known what was in store or how much, I probably would have given this one a miss.

I was in a three star frame of mind until Diana - who was in love with a vampire - referred to the vampire's 'son,' who was a couple of hundred years old as her own son, ugh! Ridiculous!!

My rating = **

That's my four bucks!

Celebrating 13,000 hits!

2011-11-01T13:01:00.000+11:00

I'm extremely pleased to announce that:

My Four Bucks has now surpassed

13,000 hits!

Many thanks to my loyal readers, bookworms and fellow book-lovers. I hope you'll continue to enjoy my reviews, interviews and bookish news.

Happy Reading!

Review: The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating | Elisabeth Tova Bailey

2011-10-31T22:32:00.002+11:00

The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating is author Elisabeth Tova Bailey's own personal account which begins with her return from a European holiday, when she was struck down by a mysterious illness and confined to her bed.

A caring and thoughtful friend paying a visit to Elisabeth, potted some wild violets and brought them in to place on the author's bedside table, and, noticing a wild woodland snail nearby, places it in the pot with the violets to keep Elisabeth company.

Elisabeth writes that she could hear the snail munching on the petals of the violets, and that it sounded like munching on celery, and the snail quickly becomes her treasured companion. She becomes mesmerised by the snail's night-time adventures and enjoys watching the snail explore, eat, drink and sleep.

Elisabeth is motivated to learn more about her new friend, and the book is peppered with fascinating information about snails which is surprisingly engaging and interesting.

This is an uplifting and inspiring account of compassion and companionship and is a wonderful little read. (And no, you won't need a handkerchief at the end). I would highly recommend The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating to readers of all ages.

My rating = *****

That's my four bucks!

Review: The Small Hand | Susan Hill

2011-10-23T20:39:00.000+11:00

The Small Hand: A Ghost Story by Susan Hill is a short quick read and I knocked it over in no time at all. It was also a gothic novel, and met the requirements for my Gothic Reading Challenge, so that was a bonus!

Adam Snow is an antiquarian bookseller, which is such a delicious occupation for the reader to enjoy and the highlight of the novel. One night Adam takes a wrong turn on his way to visit a client and discovers a dilapidated old manor called The White House. I enjoyed Susan Hill's description of The White House and the history of the once famous gardens, however the 'ghost story' of the title was quite lame.

Although the novel can be called gothic, it wasn't spooky, creepy, haunting or unnerving at all. It had none of the 'ghostly' qualities I would expect in a ghost story and was hoping to find here.

It is for this reason that unfortunately I wouldn't recommend The Small Hand.

My rating = **

That's my four bucks!

Review: Gillespie and I | Jane Harris

2011-10-22T19:57:00.000+11:00

I was lucky enough to win this copy of Gillespie and I in a competition (together with The Oberservations, also by Jane Harris), so it wasn't a novel I myself chose to read. Written by Jane Harris, Gillespie and I is an historical fiction novel, which is my favourite genre so naturally I was pretty pleased with my win.

Ned Gillespie - of the title - is an artist, painting in Scotland in the late 1880s. Miss Harriet Baxter meets Ned Gillespie briefly at an art exhibition in London, and then several months later, meets his mother and wife in Scotland, and becomes a friend of the family.

The book is narrated by Harriet - now in her late 70s being looked after by a carer - reflecting on her friendship with the Gillespie family.

The novel was moving along at a steady pace and with a fine amount of momentum, when the plot took a most unexpected course. In fact I don't think I could have been more surprised had Jane Harris reached from the pages and slapped me in the face herself!

I had been suspecting the plot was gently building towards a climax centred around one of the family members, however I was completely caught by surprise, and I love it when a book catches you with your guard down.

I won't reveal anything further though, because I don't want to give anything away, however it was a satisfying read; moving between the past and the present and unfurling Harriet's memories of events.

I also enjoyed Harriet's chapters set in the present, where an air of mystery regarding her carer was unfolding, and her thoughts and behaviour at this age were very enjoyable to read!

My rating = ***1/2

That's my four bucks!

Interview with William F. Brown, author of The Undertaker

2011-10-16T16:32:00.000+11:00

William F. Brown

William F. Brown is the author of The Undertaker, which I reviewed last month, giving it 4 stars. For your chance to win a copy of The Undertaker, click here and leave a comment.

William tells us more about his novel and his writing during his interview with My Four Bucks below.

Where did the idea for your novel The Undertaker originate?
Each of my novels starts some kind of a simple concept, a one-liner or ‘slug line’ as they call it in screen plays. The Undertaker began with, “a guy opens the newspaper and sees his own obituary.” I then start asking the questions of who, why, and what, and craft characters which fit the various story needs. I then let them take over and drive it.

My most successful novel, Thursday at Noon, began with, “a burned out CIA agent in Cairo stumbles home one night and finds a severed human head sitting on his rear stoop.” Through the Glass Darkly begins with, “a guy’s in the window seat of an air liner coming in to land at O’Hare. He looks down, and sees a man killing a woman on a roof as it flashes by below.” Then, I start asking the questions. Anyway, that’s how I do it.

How did you come up with the character of Tinkerton? Did someone you know (perhaps from the US Army) inspire the character?
For some reason I do really good villains, probably better than my heroes or lead female characters. They usually don’t drive the story, so I can have more fun with them and write them a little ‘over the top’. Tinkerton is one of my favorites, but he came 100% out of my head. Ya gotta love an evil lawyer! As my other books come on live over the next 6 months or so, you’ll see my other bad guys are pretty well drawn, too.

Can you tell us more about your own time in the US Army?
To me, it was the greatest learning experience of my life. I worked for good people and had incredible responsibilities at a very young age. That let me ‘spread my wings and learn what I can do. I did computer and systems work in Germany and was a drug counselor and company commander in Vietnam. I really wasn’t in combat, but the entire experience of being responsible for a lot of other guys teaches you about people and is life-changing.

Having published several novels now, do you have any particular writing habits?
I’ve written six now, but writing is about re-writing and it feels like I’ve written a hundred. I try to work every day and get into some regular schedule, so as to keep the threads alive. I use a computer and Word, and hate the inevitable distractions that seem determined to interrupt your best ideas.

When do you do your best work and can you describe your working space?
My best ideas seem to come in the shower or when I am running. I tend to do my best writing at night, but sometimes during the day when I have it going. My work space is a small office on the front of our condo. I used to have a problem with neck cramps when I had my monitor on the desk, so I bought a desk which has a glass center section and the monitor down under the glass below desktop level, so I’m looking down. That solved the neck problem. Beyond that, I like the desk neat, I have classical music or jazz playing, and want to be left alone. The secret to all writing is to get your butt in the chair and do it.

Do you get an opportunity to read much, and if so, who are some of your favorite authors?
It’s hard to do both. I read on trips or when I’m between books. My favorites are Michael Connolly, Stuart Woods, Lee Child, Daniel Silva, Dennis Lehane, Vince Flynn, Robert Crais, and Robert B. Parker, Hemmingway, and a lot of others.

What do you have planned for 2012?
On the writing front, I have two novels presently out with my agent making their rounds with publishers . . . A War of Whispers and Winner Lose All. I am about half finished with a new one called One True Shot, and am simultaneously working on Through the Glass Darkly.

I will soon have my rights back on Thursday at Noon, which St. Martin published in hardback, and I will then put it out in e-book format. On the promotions end, I continue to feed my web site billbrownwritesnovels.wordpress.com I would urge your readers to stop by. I have the first chapters of all my novels available out there, so folks can take a look. And, I’ve continued to work Facebook (William F. Brown) and to track down book blog and reviewer sites. We used to say “writing is editing.” Now, we say writing is promoting.” Anyway, that’s enough work for ten years!

That's certainly a lot of work! Thanks for stopping by Bill!

Review: The Undertaker | William F. Brown

2011-10-06T22:23:00.000+11:00

* From author for review *

The Undertaker by William F. Brown was a fast-paced and thrilling read. I was hooked from the very beginning, when Peter Talbott, a software engineer living in Boston, still grieving from the loss of his wife, is questioned by Gino Parini about an obituary featuring his and his wife's names in an Indiana newspaper.

Pete believes it to be a bizarre misunderstanding but he's angry that his wife's name is mentioned so he decides to ignore advice from Gino Parini to drop it. What does he do next? He heads to Indiana to attend his own funeral to see what he can find out, of course!

I mean, what's not to love in a plot like this? His trip to the Funeral Home was electric, and the book was simply unputdownable at this point. (It was an e-book, so perhaps what I really mean is that I couldn't bring myself to switch the power button off).

The tension and action just keep on building, however in many thrillers, often the main character makes ridiculous choices that make you groan out loud, "no", or "don't do that." I was pleasantly surprised to find this wasn't the case here.

There is a 'girl' in The Undertaker, and a little romance, however don't fret, she isn't a ditzy, blonde bombshell. Author William Brown manages to strike a really good balance between avoiding the usual stereotypes, and also steering clear of the unbelievable sexy Lara Croft style character.

The plot was cleverly layered and always swiftly moving, engaging and entertaining. Thoroughly recommended for all readers who enjoy thrillers, suspense, mystery and crime novels.

And now for the best part, leave a comment below for your chance to win a free copy of the e-book, courtesy of the author.

My rating = ****

That's my four bucks!

Review: Full Dark, No Stars | Stephen King

2011-09-28T23:58:00.001+10:00

Full Dark, No Stars is a collection of four short stories by one of my favourite authors, the legendary Stephen King. The first in the collection is entitled 1922 and is an unsettling story about a husband who believes he has no choice but to murder his wife. The theme of retribution is ever present, however the main character is haunted by his actions and there's a good morale here. There were some quite memorable visual descriptions throughout the tale, and some gave me the shivers. Not gory so much as creepy, and let's face it, that's why King is King!

In the second story Big Driver, we meet Tess, a single, middle-aged cat owner and well-known author who is raped and left for dead. I was amazed at King's skill and ability to capture the essence and emotions of a middle-aged female character under extreme duress so exceptionally well. The main characters in 1922 and Big Driver couldn't be more different, and it really highlights King's skill as a writer.

The third story in the collection, Fair Extension was the one I enjoyed the least, however was still an interesting concept. Streeter - suffering from terminal cancer - purchases an 'extension' of life from a salesperson on the side of the road in exchange for passing on the name of someone he hates. The consequences of the purchase and what happens to the person he named seem anything but fair, or do they?

The final story is A Good Marriage, and this was gripping reading. In the beginning, Darcy and Bob appear to have a loving and solid marriage. After years and years together and raising two children, they know each other inside out, irritating habits and all; until one day when Bob is away on business Darcy discovers he has been hiding something. My favourite character in the entire collection was the retired Detective in A Good Marriage, so well drawn, and completely unforgettable!

All in all, a very entertaining read here from Stephen King. No supernatural themes or monsters here, just the monsters lurking deep within some of us.

My rating = ****

That's my four bucks!

Interview with Paul Salvette, author of America Goes On: A Novella

2011-09-21T16:29:00.000+10:00

Paul Salvette

Paul is the author of America Goes On: A Novella. He lives in Bangkok with his wife Lisa and daughter Monica, and has taken some time out this week to answer some questions:

Tell us about the inspiration behind America Goes On: A Novella?
I came up with the idea for America Goes On while I was serving in Baghdad from 2007-2008. Being cooped up in the relatively luxurious Green Zone as a staff officer, I felt a bit of guilt for the guys and gals who were out patrolling the streets every day. A story, in my humble opinion, was the best way I could bring a small bit of attention to their struggles and reality to my countrymen and internationally.

There have only been a few great novels and films about modern veterans, and we need more. A lot of the media's depiction of veterans focuses on the "crazed vet" Rambo-type that's going to get their PTSD all over you, and it's really much more complicated than that. Looking at the issues most concerning my fellow Americans at the time, it seemed that people wanted to ignore what was happening in Iraq and turn on American Idol instead. It is dangerous for a country to exist where people involved in the current war effort is less than 1% of the population, and it is a very frustrating for many of us.

What can you tell us about your own time as an Officer in the US Navy?
The Navy is great place to be from, but not to be at. You probably understand that very well as a fellow veteran. I served from 2002-2009 with numerous years in the submarine force and a one-year stint in Iraq. My time in the Navy was classified by 98% boredom and paperwork, 1% fearing for my life, and 1% having fun on liberty; although, the bad memories are fading and the good memories remain. I'm very grateful for the friends I made during my time in the Navy, and I had some great leaders along the way. However, I could never have done it for the full 20 years required for retirement, and I have a lot of respect for those who stay in for the long haul to serve their country.

How has America Goes On been received by your Navy colleagues?
So far so good, and my old Navy buddies are enjoying it. A lot of them couldn't believe I wrote a damn book, but with the self-publishing revolution that's taking place, I don't see how you could not write a book. America Goes On has been passed along to some Marine buddies as well, and I'm hoping for some good feedback from them. It's my first novella, so I really need to keep improving on my writing and the feedback. I've got a ways to go to get my one million words in, but the journey has been really fun so far.

Have you always wanted to be a writer, or was it the furthest thing from your mind while you were in the US Navy?
It never occurred to me that I would want to be a writer when I finished my time in the Navy. Honestly, you get so bogged down in your day-to-day routine, you never think about long-term goals for your life. Once I got out, I had to start making decisions for myself. Now, I'm married in Thailand with a daughter--it's funny how life works. I started writing, because I pretty much in quarantined in the house with the new baby, and I thought I could make a little bit of money while having some fun. Hopefully, I can make a full-time living at writing, but I've got a ways to go.

What are you working on at the moment?
Currently I'm putting together a technical How To guide that focuses on eBook formatting. It's not the sexiest thing in the world, but I think there is a strong need for this knowledge in the self-publishing community. It will be released soon, so stay tuned. Also, I've just finished the first draft of a sci-fi novella. I gave it to my editor, but he just started law school, so it might be a while before I hear back from him. I hope that the writing is an improvement over my last one, because that's what important at this point.

What kind of books do you like to read yourself?
Books can come in all sorts of flavours for me. Now that I've "converted" to the Almighty eBook religion, I've found myself reading 2-3 books a month rather than just one every few months. I enjoy both indie and established authors in the genres of thriller, sci-fi, horror, and everything else. Non-fiction is also pretty enjoyable, and I admit to reading Dick Cheney's memoirs right now, mostly because I wanted to see what all the controversy was about.

Do you read to your daughter?
Baby seems to be most interested in pooping herself and crying for milk, but I have tried reading Goodnight Moon to her, and we even got a smile out of her. I want her to grow up learning to enjoy the written word. In Thailand, it's difficult to get print books in English, because the cost is the same price as the West, but the average salary is much lower. With the advent of low-cost technology, we hope to be able to purchase a lot of children's books with a few clicks and a few bucks.

Anything else you'd like to add?
Thank you very much to Tracey for giving my self-published novella, America Goes On, the time of day. We're all in this together, and it's comforting that there are book reviewers interested in indie authors. Please keep up the great work at My Four Bucks.

Thanks for your time Paul. You can visit Paul at his website www.paulsalvette.com or follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PaulSalvette.

Review: Treasure Island | Robert Louis Stevenson

2011-09-19T19:10:00.000+10:00

Today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day and the perfect opportunity to review Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.

The narrator and young hero of the book, Jim Hawkins is a very likeable character and I can definitely understand why this book was so popular with boys; who wouldn't want to be young Jim?

It was interesting to finally meet the characters of Captain Flint and Long John Silver and I enjoyed the pirate dialogue by thunder!

I was somewhat surprised to find the plot a little more layered than I expected, being written for young boys. I can definitely imagine a young reader enjoying the adventure the first time through, but discovering and understanding more about the nature of men on the second read, perhaps several years later.

I confess I feel a little late to the party - only reading Treasure Island in my 30s - but it's never too late to catch up on a classic. Having read it now, I can't rightly say what makes Treasure Island a classic though, or why it has endured. It was first published in 1883, but is still popular today. What are your thoughts?

My rating = ***

That's my four bucks!

Review: America Goes On - A Novella | Paul Salvette

2011-09-18T20:40:00.000+10:00

* From the author for review *

This novella (short novel) follows the journey of a young veteran who spent time in Iraq and who has just recently become a civilian.

He has no idea what his future holds, and so for now he is driving across the US while contemplating the past and coming to terms with what happened in Iraq. He is visiting old friends and trying to make sense of American attitudes towards the US involvement in Iraq.

However the highlight of the novella is definitely the ending. This novella had an ending that caught me by surprise and I never saw it coming. I hesitate to say it had a 'twist' because that will have readers searching for a twist from the beginning, but I was certainly impressed by the ending. I'll say no more though, because I don't want to spoil the best part.

My rating = ***1/2

That's my four bucks!

Review: Three Men in a Boat | Jerome K. Jerome

2011-09-15T15:25:00.000+10:00

Published in 1889, Three Men in a Boat, by Jerome K. Jerome is a Penguin Classic, and a book I've been wanting to read for quite some time now. It's a slim read at only 185 pages but it's an absolute hoot to read and I completely fell in love with it.

Essentially it's the story of three men and their trip up the river Thames in a boat. We meet them early on complaining about their health, and J, the narrator, claims to have all of the ailments in a medical reference book with the exception of housemaid's knee. When they decide to take a boat trip to escape their troubles, I began to wonder how they'd cope, but that's just when the fun begins.

I was laughing and chuckling on almost every page, and this book was just such a joy to read, I found myself wanting to read it aloud to anyone who would listen (mostly my husband). Here's an excerpt from page 36:

"Now, I'm not like that. I can't sit still and see another man slaving and working. I want to get up and superintend, and walk round with my hands in my pockets, and tell him what to do. It is my energetic nature. I can't help it."

Another of my favourite sections in the book happens when the narrator J accidentally falls into the river, after the others turn down the idea of going for a swim, on page 102:

'By Jove ! old J.'s gone in,' I heard Harris say, as I came blowing to the surface. 'I didn't think he'd have the pluck to do it. Did you?'
'Is it all right?' sang out George.
'Lovely,' I spluttered back. 'You are duffers not to come in. I wouldn't have missed this for worlds. Why don't you try it? It only wants a little determination.'

I haven't laughed so much since reading A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole, which is one of my favourite books of all time. I wouldn't say Three Men in a Boat is good enough to join my all time favourites, however it was a quick read and very enjoyable. The snippets above are indicative of the style of humour, so if you enjoyed those, then you'll enjoy the book. I couldn't recommend it more highly.

My rating = *****

That's my four bucks!

Publishing News - Good Reading Magazine

2011-09-14T20:46:00.000+10:00

Review published in
Good Reading Magazine
(middle, right)

I'm really excited to share some publishing news with fellow book-lovers and readers. My favourite magazine, Good Reading Magazine, published a book review of mine in their August 2011 edition. Woohoo!!

I've been a loyal subscriber for many years now, and I guess it's always been a private goal of mine to have a review published, but for some reason I didn't submit one until this year.

It was such a joy to have it accepted right away, and then seeing my review in print in the 'What You're Reading' article (right) alongside all the other reader reviews was a real buzz.

September 2011 edition

If that wasn't enough excitement for one year, it was closely followed by an appearance in the September 2011 edition of Good Reading Magazine. Unbelievable huh? Selected as one of six readers to feature in their 'Caught Reading' article, I was positively over the moon and even managed to include reference to my blog My Four Bucks. It was a dream come true.

Melbournians are going crazy for football around this time of year, but like many of you, I prefer books and reading, and thanks to GR Magazine, I've had a pleasant distraction.

Have you had a review published? Or written a letter to an editor of a newspaper or magazine?

That's my four bucks!

Interview with Stephen Ayers, author of The Taba Convention

2011-09-13T15:53:00.000+10:00

Stephen Ayers

Stephen Ayers is the author of The Taba Convention, which is a fast paced thriller set in the Middle East. I recently reviewed it giving it 4 stars and I thoroughly recommend it. Stephen has taken some time out from his writing and busy hotel management career to participate in an interview with My Four Bucks.

Early on in the novel, the main character Jordan Kline listens to the music of Enigma. I love Enigma, so I have to ask, do you listen to Enigma when you're writing?

Do you have a favourite Album?

I love the music of Enigma, and listened to it for hours when we lived in Eilat. I love the album MCMXC A.D., amazingly soothing. By the way, did you know that the wife of the founder of Enigma is a great singer called Sandra? She also had a few hits way back. However, when I write I just like to write surrounded by the sounds of everyday life, the street sounds. When I write I am fortunate in that I am ‘transported’ to the place that I am writing about, so I travel the world on a free ticket while sitting at my desk!

Being in the hotel business yourself, how much of yourself do you draw on when writing the character of Jordan Kline?

Actually quite a lot. The daily business of running a hotel is described in the book, and taken in large part from my experiences as a general manager. The anecdotes, including ‘The Eiffel Tower’ story are true and happened in the hotels I managed. I find that hotel life is fascinating and I wanted to create a ‘different’ kind of hero and convey his new, interesting life in contrast to his violent past. I wanted to ‘paint’ a passive ‘hotelier’ Jordan opposite the ‘violent’ Jordan reluctantly drawn back into the world he wants so desperately to leave behind.

How often do you review your work?

When I write I write. I do not go back and check anything until I am through with the session. I do not want to interrupt the flow of my thoughts while writing. However, once I am done I will go over and over the draft text. I review all of what I have written after each writing session. I then review the whole book perhaps ten times before manuscript submission for editing, and then again after that a good few times.

Do you believe a peace agreement in the Middle East - like the Taba Convention - is possible?

I have always believed that a peace agreement is possible. However, it must take into account the acute security interests of Israel. Look at what is happening in the Arab world these days. Israel does not want the occupied territories, but the borders must be defensible. Look what happened after they gave back Gaza. As one clever politician put it, “If the Arabs put down their arms there will be peace, if Israel puts down its arms there may be no Israel.”

Are you worried about any backlash from political or religious groups in regard to the content of The Taba Convention?

Not at all. It is purely fiction. I wrote Taba to be purely a thrill action read. I do not think that there is any content that is abusive to any degree at all. It is not a book that is making any political statements. If readers of Taba are entertained for a few hours, and it takes them away from the stress of daily life for a short while, I will have done my job.

What will Jordan Kline get up to next?

Wow! The next Jordan Kline in the series is The Righteous Within. It is the story of a Nazi plot, hatched by German Generals long in their grave that threatens to bring annihilation to Israel at the beginning of this century. The deadly plan was hatched towards the end of The Second World War, when Berlin burned and the Thousand Year Reich was crumbling with the approaching defeat. The plot even frightened me!

I wrote the series so that my readers can follow Jordan as he lives his life. By that I mean that in Taba he lives with Irit his girlfriend, in The Righteous Within he is married to her, and in The Kharta Conspiracy I introduce their young daughter Noah. I think that the ‘progression’ of their lives adds a different angle and lots of interest for those that will read all three, while they are also of course ‘stand alone’ novels too. Irit is very much involved in all three novels.

What are you reading at the moment?

I am reading A Prisoner of Birth by Jeffrey Archer. He is a master storyteller, his books amazing, the read keeps you spellbound. The book is a modern ‘remake’ of The Count of Monte Cristo………I strongly urge everyone to read it!

Thanks so much for your time Stephen, it's been a pleasure having you on My Four Bucks!

Review: The Taba Convention | Stephen Ayers

2011-09-10T22:30:00.000+10:00

* From the author for review *

In the beginning of The Taba Convention, Jordan Kline rushes to the aid of a car accident victim, only to hear the dying words of ex-colleague Josh. Jordan served with Josh in the Mossad 10 years ago, but left that life behind him long ago. Jordan Kline is now the General Manager of the Sands Hotel and happily living with his girlfriend Irit in Eilat on the Red Sea.

Kline is troubled by Josh's last words and begins to dig a little into his death and begins to uncover a dangerous and deadly plot to upset the Taba Convention; an attempt to sign a peace agreement in the Middle East.

Author Stephen Ayers has taken a risk writing a political thriller with a peace convention in the Middle East at it's centre; but regardless of current events, his novel The Taba Convention still 'works'.

If you are the type to judge a book by its cover, you might assume this is a book geared towards engaging male readers. I can honestly tell you that Kline's occupation as General Manager of a Hotel makes him accessible to all readers and sets him apart from the main characters found in other action thriller novels on the market.

Ayers does a magnificent job transporting the reader to the dusty sands of the Middle East and in particular: Eilat, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and I enjoyed seeing the landscape through Kline's eyes. The Taba Convention sets a cracking pace and I enjoyed this novel immensely. In fact, if I could have ordered room service from the Sands Hotel while reading, I would have!

My rating = ****

That's my four bucks!

Review: A Lifetime in the Building - The Extraordinary Story of May Savidge and the House She Moved | Christine Adams

2011-09-06T21:01:00.003+10:00

This is the true story of Miss May Savidge and her determination to prevent her historic house in Hertfordshire from being bulldozed in the name of progress. She attended numerous council meetings, wrote thousands of letters and when the council would not budge, she decided to save it by painstakingly dismantling it piece by piece and slowly reassembling it in a new location in Norfolk.

Being an engineer and brought up in hard times, May did most of the construction work herself, but it meant that progress was slow, and months ran into years. Conducting business by written correspondence as well as dealing with unreliable tradesmen didn't help the matter.

Sadly May didn't live to see the finish of her house, although author and daughter-in-law Christine Adams made a promise to May in her final moments and saw to it that the house was finished. (May bequeathed the house to Christine and she now runs it as a Bed & Breakfast).

May Savidge was a hoarder and Christine was amazed, astonished and overwhelmed at the stuff May accumulated over the years. Not a single bus ticket or newspaper had been thrown away, but even more than that, the belongings had been carefully and accurately filed away. May had made copies of her letters and kept notes regarding the progress of the construction of her house.

Christine remembers these years with a pang of guilt, and wishes she had offered to help but May was stubborn and wouldn't accept any help. May's story received attention in several newspapers which generated a lot of mail and it seems she made an effort to answer each and every letter.

After her passing, her house generated interest when a member from the Antiques Roadshow came to look at an antique desk. The staff member became more interested in the history of the house and May Savidge than the desk. The interest in May and her house snowballed and Christine agreed to write a book, and now we have: A Lifetime in the Building - The Extraordinary Story of May Savidge and the House She Moved.

I thoroughly enjoyed this biography, and found Miss May Savidge to be a courageous, persistent and patient woman. I could not have willingly chosen the living conditions and hardships she put up with year in and year out; although from time to time I also found the whole situation a little frustrating. I wish she'd had some help and had time to enjoy it when she was alive, but it wasn't to be. A great read.

My rating = ***1/2

That's my four bucks!

Interview with Edward Medina, author of Mathias Bootmaker and the Keepers of the Sandbox

2011-09-03T23:30:00.001+10:00

Edward Medina is the author of Mathias Bootmaker and the Keepers of the Sandbox, Book One: It is Said and was excited to participate in the following interview.

What inspired you to write Mathias Bootmaker and the Keepers of the Sandbox, Book One: It is Said?

Many years ago I was a New York theatre director, working on several shows and getting ready for my first film project. I was on the ‘A’ train heading into the city with a friend when there was a delay. There we were stuck in a tunnel. It took a while. My friend asked me if I would ever work on a project for a younger audience. At the time I said no. I just wasn’t interested. She pushed her point and asked me to apply my imagination to the task. I thought about it and started to lay out a story based on a world were all things for imagination come from.

The story always stayed with me and continued to grow. It finally became the Mathias Bootmaker Trilogy. Now it’s a story with a very deep message for people of all ages.

With your book being likened to a blend of [Lewis] Carroll and [Stephen] King, were you influenced by these authors as a youngster or as a writer?

I was always a reader from a very young age. I read Dracula and Frankenstein when I was seven. I went to a Jesuit high school and the summer before my freshman year they gave each student a list of one hundred books. We had to pick twenty and read them before the first day of classes. The Alice books were on that list. I was mesmerized by the depth of his worlds.

I discovered Stephen King years later. The Stand was my first. I loved it so much that I just started devouring his work. I love the rhythm of his writing. It was the first time I discovered that a writer could have a voice. It was as if he was whispering his tales in my ear. People that have read my work say I have a similar tone and sound. I’ll take that compliment anytime.

(I would have loved to have been given a list of 100 books, at that age. By comparison, I think compulsory reading at my school included less than 4 books each year).

Being a fan of author Stephen King myself, I have to ask, what are some of your favorite books by Stephen King?

Well there are a lot of them that I love. The Stand is at the top of the list. Carrie is brilliant and the story goes that he hated it and threw it away. His wife found it in the garbage, read it, gave it back to him and told him to rework it and get it out there. Best ever killer clown in history is in IT. Best killer car is in Christine. That is an amazing book for a lot of reasons. Pile on those any and all of his short story anthologies and I’m a happy puppy. King fans will say… but what about… and I would say… I know, I love that one too.

When do you do your best writing?

Whenever and wherever the muse strikes and the words flow. Usually late at night when the world around me is asleep.

Do you like to listen to music when you write?

Yes, I do. The choice of music usually depends on what I’m working on and it could be just about anything. I have rather eclectic tastes when it comes to music. But most times when I write I’ll have some great movie on TV playing quietly in the background. I was a latch key kid so I would come home and do my homework with the television on. That habit stuck.

What advice would you give writers in the fantasy genre?

Don’t hold your imagination back. Don’t limit your world to conventional thinking. Read what everyone else is doing then do something else. Read the great fantasy writers of the past. They knew what they were doing and they had lessons to teach us about the world we live in.

When will Book Two in the series be published, and what's the title?

Book two of the Mathias Bootmaker Trilogy is titled, The Academy Darke. No spoilers here if you haven’t read the first. You’ll enter the mysterious castle with the terrible past and spend some time there learning a great deal more of the world I created and the haunting that exist there. Target release date is December of this year. I like to think of it as a spooky holiday gift to my readers. (Sounds exciting).

What are you working on at the moment?

Right now I’m working on a few things all at once.

There’s a preview I’m releasing for one of my books coming out in 2012 called X Pirates: Nightthorn’s Revenge. The preview of this very different pirate adventure, is in the form of a prologue that tells the origin tale of the books villain, Benjamin Nightthorn. The prologue itself is called A Murder of Crows.

The other book I’m working on at the moment is a tale that is very near and dear to my heart. The Upiies of Isla Mona is a very special little story about a very special little family that live on a very special little island.

Your followers should head on over to my authors page for previews and samples of my current and upcoming works Edward Medina I’ll be there to meet them and answer any and all questions.

Anything else you'd like to add?

Just this… Thank you, to you and your followers for taking the time to get to know me. Now it’s time for them to go just a bit further down the rabbit hole…

Thanks for your time Ed!

Review: Mathias Bootmaker and the Keepers of The Sandbox | Edward Medina

2011-09-03T23:20:00.003+10:00

* From the author for review *

Marketed as a blend of [Lewis] Carroll and [Stephen] King I was excited and looking forward to 'journeying down the rabbit hole' with author Edward Medina in Mathias Bootmaker and the Keepers of the Sandbox, Book One: It is Said.

I must confess though, I felt a little lost in the beginning, although so does the main character Mathias Bootmaker, as he finds himself in a mysterious world without all of his memory.

I immediately understood the references to Lewis Carroll and I'm assuming Alice in Wonderland, as my imagination was assaulted from every angle by strange concepts and characters and I struggled to make sense of it all. Medina has created a new and modern wonderland, but like Mathias, I didn't quite know how to navigate my way around.

Some of the concepts were very clever and thought provoking. I loved the concept of the stories and the pile of books (I'll say no more though, I don't want to spoil it for other readers). I will share a small snippet though. My favourite character in the early part of the book was a rabbit who liked to sit on his master's shoulder like a parrot. The rabbit would communicate by writing notes and showing them to his master, who would then read them aloud and eat them. Classic!

The turning point for me in the book was when the Darke family was introduced. This is where I felt in my element; I was back in familiar reading territory and as Mathias began his quest to free the kidnapped children from the Darke Academy I was completely immersed in the novel and felt the suspense building. This is where the Stephen King references will have been made, so it's no surprise I enjoyed this part of the book the most, being such a big King fan.

I didn't want the book to finish before I'd discovered more about the Castle and it's inhabitants, but it finished on a cliffhanger, paving the way for the next in the series.

If the book had started with Mathias on his quest to the cursed castle to free the kidnapped children from the Darke Academy and face the dreaded Oracle Darke and continued beyond the point of the cliffhanger ending (into what will now be Book Two) it probably would have earned an extra star from this reviewer.

Edward Medina has been kind enough to participate in an author interview, so I hope you enjoy reading the interview and the inspiration behind Mathias Bootmaker and the Keepers of the Sandbox, Book One: It is Said.

My rating = ***

That's my four bucks!

5 Pillars, 7 Sins by Paul McDonnold is now available for FREE!

2011-08-30T21:48:00.006+10:00

Paul McDonnold's e-book 5 Pillars, 7 Sins: A Novella is now available to download for FREE!

Earlier this year I reviewed The Economics of Ego Surplus - A Novel of Economic Terrorism by Paul McDonnold and he also participated in an author interview. In the interview he mentioned he was working on 5 Pillars, 7 Sins: A Novella, and that it's a prequel to The Economics of Ego Surplus - A Novel of Economic Terrorism and introduces the main character Kyle Linwood.

I haven't read it myself yet (I've got a bit of a backlog of books at the moment) but I'm sure it'll be good if The Economics of Ego Surplus is anything to go by (I gave it 4 stars in my review). So feel free to download it, and let me know how you get on.

You can download it free in PDF format or find a variety of eReader formats on Smashwords.

Free e-book? Gotta love that! Happy reading.

That's my four bucks!

Review: London Under | Peter Ackroyd

2011-08-27T17:51:00.007+10:00

If you've ever been intrigued by what lurks beneath the road or the footpath, then this is the book for you. Peter Ackroyd takes the reader beneath the surface in London Under and investigates the murky depths of tunnels, sewers, hidden rivers and streams and the history of long ago London.

History buffs will relish the chapter on the locations of old wells and springs, and their relevance in the naming of streets. I was surprised to find that precise access points to tunnels, sewers and even old war bunkers are referenced and described in the book; to the point I began to consider whether this information could be a security risk.

Nevertheless, Ackroyd provides the reader with an amazing insight into the building of the first tunnel beneath the Thames River and I found myself easily visualising the first journey through the tunnel in horse and carriage. I also enjoyed reading more about the Fleet Street 'ditch', the Roman history beneath London, the development of the Tube and the use of the Underground during the War.

London Under is a short read at around 210 pages (including sketches), however in addition to the facts and history, I was hoping for a little bit of a shock or a scare. I was hoping to read about animals or deformed creatures living underground (real or tales) or information on homeless population living underground. Ackroyd did explain that the Church wasn't in favour of tunnelling underground for public transport, as they were of the opinion that the underground was the devil's territory. But for the most part, London Under is a well-structured and sensible book about the history and services located beneath the surface of London.

My rating = ***

That's my four bucks!

Review: The Observations | Jane Harris

2011-08-24T15:05:00.001+10:00

It's 1863 in Scotland and Bessy is running away from her past towards an unknown future in Edinburgh. On the way, she has a chance encounter with the Lady of the house at Castle Haivers and accepts a job as her housemaid after it is revealed she can read and write.

Bessy is the only housemaid inside the isolated country house - it's hardly a castle - and the Lady of the house, Arabella, soon begins to make some odd requests of her. Bessy is narrating the story and her dialect - attributable to her upbringing, location and it being 1863 of course - makes her instantly endearing to the reader.

By her own admission Bessy is wicked, however she's always trying to improve and she'll do anything for Missus; until she finds out her secret that is. Then everything begins to fall apart and Bessy will do anything to take it all back and tries to apologise to master James.

The Observations is a unique mystery, complete with a creaking attic, a locked drawer, hidden journals and family secrets. I always enjoy these elements in a novel, but in this case, the plot seemed unique and took a different direction than I had been expecting, which was quite refreshing. Bessy also adds a touch of humour to every page and I thoroughly enjoyed her clever but somewhat naive charm.

I was pleased to discover The Observations contains enough gothic elements to qualify as a gothic novel according to gothicreadingchallenge.blogspot.com which means this qualifies as one of the books for the Gothic Reading Challenge - I signed up to read 5 by the end of 2011, and this makes #2.

I also have to comment on the cover art, I absolutely adore the cover of this book, it's evocative and powerful and relevant to the story. Visually stunning, I love it!

My rating = ***

That's my four bucks!

Review: Immortal Last Words, History's Most Memorable Dying Remarks, Deathbed Declarations and Final Farewells | Terry Breverton

2011-08-20T13:40:00.000+10:00

This is an interesting non-fiction collection of last words, comments, epitaphs, suicide notes, diary entries, letters, poems and much more belonging to famous and some not so famous people.

Each phrase, remark or statement is presented in date order, with one page devoted to each entry. Each entry contains the person's name, their date of birth and date of death, the remark, statement or deathbed declaration chosen by the author, and a short bio of the person. The short bio provides enough background for the reader to understand the person's place in history, including how they passed.

This is a perfect book to dip into from time to time; you don't need to remember where you're up to and you can flip back and forth as each page can be read in isolation. It's also a terrific way to absorb historical facts and information.

Some of the phrases or quotes were familiar to me: "It's better to burn out than to fade away" attributed to Kurt Cobain, and

"If the Persians [Medes] darken the sun with their arrows, we shall have our fight in the shade" spoken by Dieneces the Spartan in 480 BCE.

Others were new to me: "I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is ready for the ordeal of meeting me is another matter." This was said by Sir Winston Churchill on his seventy-fifth birthday in 1949; he wasn't to die until 1965.

My favourite excerpt from the book were the last words spoken by Pancho Villa: "Don't let it end like this. Tell them I said something."

Some statements and comments were funny, others were inspiring and some were reflective. I definitely recommend this book; I laughed, I learned and I was inspired.

My rating = ****

That's my four bucks!

Review: Curtains, Adventures of an Undertaker in Training | Tom Jokinen

2011-08-15T17:05:00.002+10:00

With a teaser like this:

"If Bill Bryson were to join a funeral home as an apprentice, and if he searched for the meaning of life and death while he was at it, you'd have Curtains."

I was really looking forward to reading Curtains - Adventures of an Undertaker in Training by author Tom Jokinen. Tom tells it like it is, and writes about the funeral industry and the inner workings of one particular funeral home that he works in.

Tom works as an assistant in all duties performed in the funeral home, from driving the hearse, collecting deceased and assisting in the embalming process to dressing corpses, selling coffins, operating the cremating oven and sifting and sorting the ashes.

In between describing the ins and outs of these processes and giving readers the inside scoop, Jokinen comments on death and grief and the ways in which we do and don't cope / deal with it. He also writes about the increased preference for cremation in place of burial, and how families and loved ones choose to remember their dear departed.

I found this a curious but sometimes depressing topic and I could only read a little at a time. Curtains satisfied a morbid curiosity I had to find out what happens in a funeral home, however it was a little repetitive towards the end and I began to feel that my curiosity had been satisfied and I wanted to shrug off the morbid topic and move onto a more livelier book.

Nevertheless, an interesting book to dip into, but I didn't finish it through to the end.

My rating = **

That's my four bucks!

Review: Earthing, The Most Important Health Discovery Ever? | Clinton Ober

2011-08-13T15:09:00.005+10:00

Clinton Ober is the author of Earthing, The Most Important Health Discovery Ever? Simply put, earthing is the term Ober has given to describe the phenomenon when humans make a connection to the earth with their bare skin.

Given our bodies are somewhat electrical - our brain, heart, muscles cells and body systems function electrically - and the earth resonates with its own energy levels, when our body comes in direct contact with the earth, it equalizes to the same energy level as the earth. Ober also calls this grounding and being grounded.

Ober claims that most people no longer have regular contact with the earth; many of us live in high rise apartments and work in towers of glass and concrete. We walk around wearing shoes made of rubber and plastics and many of us don't have regular contact with the earth, walking barefoot in the grass, or on the beach etc. I for one live in an apartment building, don't have a backyard, and need to go for a walk or drive in the car to find somewhere to take my shoes off and put my feet in some grass.

Ober is convinced that this loss of connection with the earth, could be partially responsible for the increase in the number of patients with illnesses, diseases and chronic pain. I must admit I did get a little lost in much of the science and medicine behind the theory of earthing - which was the fault of the reader, not the author - however, what I did take away from the book was his claim that earthing reduces inflammation, and by earthing and reducing inflammation, patients suffering from some illnesses, injuries and chronic pain can be helped and healed.

The book contains many case studies, testimonials and articles from Doctors and specialists, including the two co-authors. I was interested to read for instance that teams from the Tour de France had been sleeping in Ober's earthing bags since 2007 and had reported dramatic increased recovery rates.

I've purchased two earthing products from an Australian company and am trialling them myself in the hope of improving my own health and well-being. Ober understands that this discovery is still relatively new, and the health industry will require study after study before it is universally accepted as a means of treatment.

Personally, I think earthing will eventually be categorised as a method of alternative medicine or healing (like acupuncture) if it isn't already. Big pharmaceutical companies certainly won't want Doctors telling their patients there is an alternative to drugs and surgery that is free and available to every person, regardless of their financial or socioeconomic background. There is a lot of money to be made preying on the sick and the infirm, particularly if their condition is ongoing.

I was excited by Earthing, The Most Important Health Discovery Ever? for personal reasons, and it seemed to make sense to me, but I'll let you make up your own mind about it.

My rating = ****

That's my four bucks!

Interview with Nadine Larter, author of Coffee at Little Angels

2011-08-08T17:00:00.003+10:00

Today I'm interviewing Nadine Larter, author of Coffee at Little Angels. She's living in South Africa, so we're conversing by email.

What was the inspiration behind Coffee At Little Angels?

A couple of years ago (and by a couple I think I might mean as many as six or seven, but I can't be sure) I lost an old high school friend in a car accident. I was devastated of course. This boy gave me my first kiss, he bruised my heart a couple of times, he provided wonderful friendship, endless headshakes, a friend and I even fought over him constantly - all those silly small-town dynamics were there. He had the most beautiful blue eyes you have ever encountered. He was sweet. He was charming. And he is possibly the only person who ever made me swear to him that I would never change. And then he died. And that just seemed ridiculous because..well..death is just kind of ridiculous, isn't it? Someone who used to be there just isn't anymore. And I couldn't escape the fact that he didn't really have to be dead for me. He could just be in my past. Like a whole bunch of other people who I never see anymore, but who I care about as people who were once upon a time part of my life. If I didn't think about how I would never see him again, then it wouldn't be so terrible. At least not for me.

The book is not about him. The relationships you find in that book are not relationships that ever existed. But it was just the idea. The idea of how much harder it would have been if he had died just a couple of years earlier. Really it was just an idea that came out of trying to process something that I wasn't sure how to respond to at the time.

The characters in your novel are well drawn, how closely do they represent people from your past or people you've known?

My sister is the only other person who has asked me this question. She asked before she read my book though and was mock offended that I never based anyone on her. These characters don't represent anyone from my past. I think perhaps when I picture Phil, I picture my friend, but the character is not the same as my friend. Just the hair and eyes.

I don't know if it's the same for other authors, but I like to create my own characters. If I create someone based on another person it is only very loosely. And when I say loosely, I might borrow a certain character trait here and there. But characters really do develop on their own. They decide on their own personalities as they go along. It's all very well and fine if you think to yourself "Oh this character is my friend Charlie" but if you don't let that character be who he wants to be and instead insist on making him the splitting image of "Charlie" I think you're almost doing your character an injustice. He knows who he wants to be. Let him be that person.

What's life like as an author in South Africa?

Can you ask me that again in a year? Or maybe ask someone else? Because I don't know yet. Thanks to the internet I know a few South African authors, and I must say I have grown to love them without even meeting them in person because I am so happy that there seems to be a community of "just writers" popping up. I love it.

I come from a small town where my education was really...well..I never learnt anything about literature at school! And I never got to jet off to university because it just wasn't financially viable when I finished high school. When it comes to "South African writers" my idea was always that we have some sort of obscure duty to make sense of apartheid for the rest of the world so that they can all understand what a dreadful and hideous thing it is blah blah blah. Now this is obviously a ridiculous assumption but it is one that has stunted and plagued me for a long time. I sort of got this idea in my head that if I wanted to be a writer I had to be very serious. I don't do very serious too well.

And then along came this wonderfully talented man called John van De Ruit and he changed everything for me. He wrote with humour and pure himselfness. And his novels have been so ridiculously successful. I think I cried through the first one thinking "Yes, John, this is how we must write!" After the first Spud book came out I stopped worrying about being an apartheid guru. I know nothing about it anyway! I didn't live through it. Things were like they were and it sucks. But I refuse to sell South Africa as an oppressed country. Are there problems? Hell yes! And some might make their way into my future novels, and that is fine. But you know what? My why-South-Africa-is-awesome list is a lot longer than my why-South-Africa-sucks list is. As for what it is like, I really just don't know yet.

Where do you like to write and can you describe your working space? Is it a mess or do you need a clean environment to write in?
I hate getting this question because it really feels as though I should come up with some sort of inspiring thing to tell you. Honestly? I write on my lap. In the lounge. In front of the TV! And what is on the TV? Barney...

Why do I work like this? Because my son bugs me less if I hang out in the same room as him! So, I know all the words to every single Barney song ever written. I know how to block him out of my head. And I have come to learn that if I have to write one sentence at a time between being told to clap (lots of clapping in Barney!) or dance, well that is just how it has to be. I imagine that once my kid starts preschool I will quickly get used to and take advantage of a few hours of quiet, but until then I just do what I can when I can. And why do I not send him to day care, I hear you ask. Well, I will send him to day care as soon as he can talk properly. If he can't tell me that there is something wrong then I want him home with me where I know what's going on in his life. That may be the scary single mom in me... but I can't help it!

Anyway, as long as there is no tension I can work. If people are sulking or angry at each other I can't work. Chaos stresses me out. And ringing phones and doorbells! They mess with my mojo. But my son and I have developed a symbiotic existence. When it's just the two of us (and Barney) we do just fine.

How do you prioritise your writing between emails, admin, blogs (given you are involved in 3 katalina.co.za, thepoetryproject.co.za and passingtheopenwindows.co.za ) and novel writing?

*curls up into a ball and sobs*

I haven't figured out how to do it yet. I am constantly swamped with all sorts of things. I took the weekend off last weekend, and woke up on Monday with flu and 122 emails to respond to. I nearly cried. Sometimes all I want to do is skip this part and just go back to writing. But at the same time I am loving every minute. I am loving meeting reviewers. I am loving the response to my work. I am loving doing the marketing and learning about printing and all sorts of things that I knew nothing about before. Every step has been an achievement for me. And that is quite a thing when it is something you care about. I have never felt this way about a job before. Once I have a pile of novels on my lounge floor I am going to have to take a break and re-assess everything. Figure out how to fit it all in. I am certainly my father's child in that I can work 18 hour days without blinking, but the family is not always so pleased about that! So I will have to figure a few things out. For now I am juggling and trying not to beat myself up about the balls that get dropped from time-to-time.

Are you working on a new novel at the moment, or are you focusing on your blogs?

My blogs are really at the mercy of my whimsy most of the time. I contribute to them when I have something to say. I don't really force things as far as they are concerned. My poetry blog needs some serious TLC and I will soon be trying to sort it all out. I am going to have to bring on someone new to help keep things running smoothly. I do have someone in mind. I just need to give myself the time to focus on it all properly. Otherwise I have a completed novel that needs to be shredded and rewritten. It's called The Tequila Thursday Writing Club and I am very eager to get back to it.

If you had 20 words to convince a reader to read your book, what would they be?

You know what the best part about my book is? It's short! Perfect for moms!

What's the best book you've read so far this year?

Geek Love by Katherine Dunn, I think. What insanity! I loved it! Or We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver. Both were brilliant. I think I possibly have a thing for sociopaths...

Thank you so much Nadine, and best of luck with your next novel.

Review: Coffee at Little Angels | Nadine Rose Larter

2011-08-06T17:53:00.000+10:00

* From the author for review *

Coffee at Little Angels has an intriguing opening line:

"I went jogging on the morning I died".

It was this first line that primarily convinced me to read this book from author Nadine Larter, and I'm glad I did. It was a voice I wanted to know more about.

The jogger was Phil, and his hit-and-run death in his small town in the beginning of the book, brings his old high school friends back to town for his funeral.

However, it's been many years since they were all together, and much has changed since then; or has it? Although this isn't an original plot mechanism, the friction and drama that unfolded was engaging enough to keep me reading into the night.

I enjoyed the bitchy dialogue and peeling back the emotional relationship layers of several characters. The theme of love and heartbreak was a considerable focus and I enjoyed exploring this across the different characters and dynamics. I'd recommend this novel for any reader who enjoys reading contemporary drama or chic lit!

I'll be interviewing the author soon, so watch this space!

My rating = ***

That's my four bucks!

Interview with Paul McDonnold, author of The Economics of Ego Surplus - A Novel of Economic Terrorism

2011-08-04T14:22:00.010+10:00

In June 2011 I reviewed the Economics of Ego Surplus - A Novel of Economic Terrorism, written by Paul McDonnold. Paul has been kind enough to touch base with me again today from Dallas Texas, to answer a few questions.

How have members of the academic community responded to your book, The Economics of Ego Surplus?
A few economics blogs and teachers have given me valuable promotion, but most of the marketing I've done so far has been to the general reading public. That seems to be where I am getting the most response. At some point I would like to market the novel to high school and maybe college economics teachers for use in their classes, and possibly develop a study guide to go along with it. But that is still down the road.

Have you had any feedback from past students? Do you miss teaching?

It's been several years now since I taught, and I haven't heard from any past students about the book. I definitely miss some aspects of teaching, like getting to know the students. Some other aspects I don't miss so much (i.e. low pay, particularly for part-time teaching). Teaching is important work that requires a lot of attention. It is difficult to do on a part-time basis, at least for me, so I haven't gone back to it.

Have there been any recent events that have inspired new ideas for a future novel?

I do have an idea for a new Kyle Linwood novel which is just in the formative stage, so I don't want to say too much. I am also revising a novella I wrote several years ago (5 Pillars, 7 Sins) which introduced Kyle Linwood. It is where the flashback scene in The Economics of Ego Surplus (TEES) comes from. I am planning to release it as a free e-book to help promote TEES.

What's your take on what's happening in Greece right now? What advice would you give their decision makers?

The problem is that Greece's policy of funding their government by taking on debt has worked its way into the culture. People have lost private initiative. They expect the government to shell out the benefits, but they don't want to pay the taxes it would take to cover it. There was a good article on this a few days ago in the New York Times ("Can Greeks Become Germans?"). We have a similar problem in the U.S. We have gotten used to government benefits like Medicare, but we don't want to pay the taxes it would take to keep them going. What is needed, it seems to me, is not just policy change but cultural change, so that we can willingly give up some benefits and/or be willing to pay more taxes to keep them going. Either option requires sacrifice, which no one seems to want to do.

What kind of workspace do you prefer to write in? Do you have any quirky habits you're willing to share?

I have a basic home office. Sometimes the solitude of writing gets to me, so I like to take my laptop to, for instance, a coffee shop at the mall and work with the activity all around!

Can you tell us anything about your novella 5 Pillars, 7 Sins, coming in 2011?

It's a story I wrote several years back and self published without working with an editor or anything. The openness of modern publishing is a two-edged sword because it can tempt a new writer to put work out there that might not be as good as it could be. That was the case with 5 Pillars, 7 Sins, so I pulled it from publication for some revising and editing.

With The Economics of Ego Surplus, I spoke to traditional publishers first and then went through a pretty heavy editing and revision process. Finally I decided to release it through a publishing company I formed myself (Starving Analyst Press) so I could get it out sooner and have a little more creative and royalty control. Also I just enjoy going the entrepreneurial route. It takes patience, not having a big publisher's resources behind you, but blogs like yours are doing good work helping books find audiences outside the traditional system.

What are you currently working on?

The new Kyle Linwood novel I mentioned before is in the very early stages. Other than that I have business clients I write things for (brochures, etc.), and am trying to get 5 Pillars, 7 Sins ready to re-release. And I occasionally get a chance to write a newspaper or magazine article.

What's the best book you've read in the last 12 months?

Good question! I read a copy of The Book Thief (Markus Zusak) which was making the rounds among some of my relatives. That was good. I am reading a couple of books now. One is The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini), which I have heard about for some time, but am only now getting around to reading.

The other is a non-fiction collection of letters written by an American Civil War era family in the South, The Children of Pride (Robert Manson Myers). Together the letters give you an intimate view of those turbulent times.

Anything else you'd like to tell your readers?

Just that if you liked the novel, spread the word. Thanks for having me!

Review: 365 Thank Yous, The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life | John Kralik

2011-08-02T17:45:00.004+10:00

As the title suggests, 365 Thank Yous is a book about the year a simple act of daily gratitude changed author John Kralik's life for the better. John is a lawyer and the memoir commences in 2007 with his life in tatters; he's divorcing his second wife, his law firm is financially struggling, his children are distant, his health is deteriorating, he's living in a shoe box and doesn't know how to dig himself out of the mess he's in.

After a walk in the mountains on New Year's Day in 2008, he is inspired to be thankful for what he does have and decides to write 365 thank you notes in the coming year. Slowly but surely his life begins to change for the better.

This is an easy and inspiring book to read and anyone needing a pick-me-up will enjoy it. Some of the notes are included, making it easy to flip to any page and begin reading. Thankfully Kralik doesn't claim that thank you notes will save the world, but he did discover that he became a happier and healthier person when he focussed on what he did have rather than what he didn't. He also noticed a change in family members, friends, colleagues, clients, neighbours and others around him when he began to send his thank you notes.

Reading 365 Thank Yous - The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life inspired me to write more thank you notes in the future, and was a gentle reminder to be grateful for what I have. For more, you can visit John Kralik's own website here: www.365thankyounotes.com

My rating = ****

That's my four bucks!

Review: The Forgotten Waltz | Anne Enright

2011-07-28T20:33:00.010+10:00

The Forgotten Waltz is a contemporary love story set in 2009 in Dublin. It's also a story of adultery told from the perspective of the 'other' woman, who is also married.

This isn't a novel I would ordinarily choose to read, but I was lucky enough to win it in a competition and I think it's good to venture outside my preferred reading circles from time to time.

The author writes in the first person through Gina, and it is her experiences we are are sharing. The timeline is loosely structured as her thoughts and memories are interwoven throughout the chapters.

My favourite part of the book is when Sean, the married man Gina is having an affair with, tells her:

"You should never do this with someone - you should never expose yourself to someone like this - unless they have a lot to lose."

Both the arrogance and the truth of this statement immediately slapped me in the face. Both Sean and Gina were married, and so both had a lot to lose if their love affair was discovered. However, if one were single and pressured the other to leave their wife/husband, they could wield a lot of power if the other refused.

I enjoyed Enright's observations on relationships between lovers, siblings, parents and children and her ability to tease out and expose the insecurities, vulnerabilities and the tender spots we try to shield from others. Having said all of that, it's probably not the kind of book I would actively seek out in the future, but don't mind reading from time to time.

My rating = ***

That's my four bucks!

Review: Brisingr | Christopher Paolini

2011-07-26T14:44:00.009+10:00

Brisingr is the third novel in the Inheritance Cycle of books by Christopher Paolini. Regular readers of my blog will know that I was an instant fan when I read the first in the series, Eragon, and gave it 5 stars without hesitation.

I was still on an adventure high in Alagaesia while reading Eldest and also gave it 5 stars, but somehow Brisingr didn't have the same grip on me as the previous two in the series.

The author maintained his engaging writing style and the plot was filled with action, adventure, danger, bloodshed and magic.

Eragon learns the truth about his parentage - which I didn't see coming - and improves his skill and knowledge on the run, all the while feeling the weight and tug of responsibility The Varden place on him and his Dragon, Saphira.

In contrast to other book series, fans have an idea what's going to take place in the next book, we just don't know how it's all going to play out. Unfortunately though, we're going to have to wait a few months for the privilege. Inheritance is the last book in the series and will be released in November 2011; great timing for Christmas gift ideas.

My rating = ***

That's my four bucks!

Gothic Reading Challenge

2011-07-22T18:09:00.011+10:00

I've just signed up for the 2011 Gothic Reading Challenge being hosted over at www.gothicreadingchallenge.blogspot.com and I'm pretty excited about it.

They've provided a list of gothic books to choose from and if you've never been quite sure what makes a book gothic, they've provided a list of criteria that will leave you in no doubt. It left me inspired to pick up a spooky read and snuggle in for the weekend.

I know I'm coming in halfway through the challenge, but I've already read one according to the criteria, so I'm on my way. Anyone want to join me? Just click here.

#1 The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

#2 The Observations by Jane Harris

#3 The Small Hand by Susan Hill

#4 The Butterfly Cabinet by Bernie McGill

That's my four bucks!

Review: Poison Study | Maria V. Snyder

2011-07-19T20:19:00.010+10:00

Poison Study is the first in the Study Series by Snyder and is set in a medieval fantasy world where the sword is the weapon of the day, cloaks are 'in', and magic is possible.

Sentenced to death for a murder she doesn't deny (which is refreshing), Yelena is awaiting her fate in a filthy prison cell in Ixia, when the unexpected happens; she is offered a last minute reprieve.

Offered the role of the Commander's food taster or the noose - the previous food taster died - Yelena chooses the role of food taster and immediately commences her study of poisons under her new Supervisor and Chief of Security, Valek.

I've always been fascinated by the role of the food taster in both history and fiction but I don't think my curiosity was sated reading this book. Yelena was a refreshing character, however; I would have liked to have spent more time on poisons. Overall, a good YA read.

My rating = ***

That's my four bucks!

Interview with Claire Corbett, author of When We Have Wings

2011-07-07T19:10:00.008+10:00

Having just read and reviewed When We Have Wings, the debut novel by Australian author Claire Corbett (pictured right), she was kind enough to take time out from writing her next novel to answer a few questions from her home in the Blue Mountains.

What inspired you to write When We Have Wings?
My dreams of flying when I was a child; they were so powerful and it seemed as if I knew what it felt like to fly. Then I realised that most people have flying dreams and I thought about this universal longing to feel what it's like to fly.

You seem to have such an amazing passion for flying, when did this start, and can you tell us more about it?

I always loved flying as a child; the power of airplanes impressed me, in the way I think children used to be obsessed with the power of trains. But the real wellspring was watching the eagles and hawks where I lived in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Seeing such majestic birds soaring above you is unforgettable. I so wanted to be one of them.

Did you need to do any research about flight or weather conditions during the writing process?

Yes. I did a huge amount of research, over years, in books and online. I researched birds, flying, cloud formations, weather, physics, slums (for the geography of the City), extreme sports, and even Soviet spacesuits and medals. I had to absorb the information so deeply that it flowed into the story naturally.

Where do you like to write and can you describe your working space?

I write in my study, which I share with my husband. It's long and narrow and crammed with books. And my son's piano.

Do you have a routine for writing, or any particular working habits you've developed?

Family life does not allow for as much of a routine as I'd like. I think most writers who are mothers get very disciplined about using whatever time they can snatch to write.

Are you an avid reader yourself? What books do you enjoy reading?

Yes. I doubt any writer could be anything other than an obsessive reader. I enjoy virtually any kind of book as long as it's well-written. I particularly love AS Byatt, Rohinton Mistry and Alice Munro. I love Iain M Banks' Culture novels. I really enjoy Malcolm Knox's writing and Helen Garner and Amanda Lohrey. Thomas Hardy is one of my favourite novelists and Emily Dickinson and Philip Larkin are my favourite poets. I love Helen Simpson's writing (English short story writer, author of Hey Yeah Right Get A Life - and isn't that a fabulous title?).

How do you feel about e-books and e-readers?

Hmm. I love my iPad and love the idea of fitting many more books into the house on it but don't enjoy novels on it all that much yet. I'm glad When We Have Wings made it into physical form; when you spend so much time writing on computer, the idea of your novel becoming an e-book isn't all that exciting. It doesn't feel like publication.

As an author, are you worried about the recent closure of bookshops?

Yes. I think the industry may end up a bit like the travel industry - probably the mass market shop fronts will go but more elegant stores with specialised knowledge may survive. Each bookstore will have to offer something unique. As every writer has to.

Do you have any events coming up?

Yes, I am looking forward to my book launch at the magnificent Victorian-era Carrington Hotel in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains on July 16th.

Do you feel comfortable in the fantasy genre, or are you looking to expand into other genres in the future?

To be honest, I do not regard When We Have Wings as a fantasy novel, as nothing happens in it that is magical or intended to contravene the laws of physics. Certainly it has science fiction or speculative fiction elements, as well as crossing into crime and literary fiction, so I would say I feel comfortable writing in many genres. I have completed four chapters of a young adult novel and am enjoying writing it so much.

Are you planning to write another novel, and if so are you able to tell us anything about it? Will it include fliers and non-fliers or was When We Have Wings a once-off?

I am working on a new novel which is set on and under the sea (not the YA novel mentioned above, which will have to wait, alas), which is all I can say at the moment. There are no fliers in it. Not yet, anyway. For the moment When We Have Wings stands alone but I'm not ruling anything out.

Thanks so much for your time Claire. You can watch the book trailer for When We Have Wings by clicking here. For more information, you can visit the author's website here www.clairecorbett.com Happy Reading!

Review: When We Have Wings | Claire Corbett

2011-07-03T20:16:00.003+10:00

* From the publisher for review *

This debut novel by Australian author Claire Corbett is a fantasy set in a future where humans can fly thanks to surgery, gene manipulation and an ongoing drug regime. But such a process is extremely expensive and therefore only available to the rich, thus dividing society into fliers and non-fliers.

From the first page of When We Have Wings I was immediately dropped into the action of story - where people can fly - without any character or story background at all. At first this was a shock and I found myself a little disoriented and struggling to piece together the constructs of this new world without any background or intro to the scenario. However; as the book continued, character background was filled in and the science behind creating human fliers was provided and I was hooked.

I was very interested in the differences between fliers and non-fliers and the multitude of societal and environmental dilemmas arising as a result. Corbett explored these extremely well in the novel, giving us plenty of food for thought without guiding us toward a particular point of view. It was a clever glimpse of an alternate future but also underscored many of the inequalities in the world today.

My favourite part of the book had nothing to do with flying funnily enough. It was a character insight and doesn't give any of the plot away, so I'll share it here. The main character realises why the parents don't love their baby:

"They never gave up anything, they never risked anything, and the less they did for him, the less they loved him. I thought it was the other way round, that they did nothing for him because they didn't love him."

This really made me want to stop reading and soak this in. So poignant and so true.

Finally, the author seemed to have such an amazing understanding and knowledge of flight that I was often left shaking my head in admiration of her writing and frowning in wonder - how did she do that? I was also impressed by her knowledge of clouds and cloud formations, weather patterns, air movements, and the science behind flight. If I didn't know any better, I'd say she was a flier herself!

I really enjoyed living in Corbett's cleverly created world - plants bio-engineered to glow in the dark at night eliminating the need for lights, buildings created for fliers, and especially the lion that was genetically engineered to grow to the size of a house cat. (Corbett's creativity reminded me of reading Harry Potter for the first time, and wanting to taste all of the different lollies J. K. Rowling had created). I'd love to witness and visit some of the sites in When We Have Wings, if only they were real.

A fabulous debut novel for Australian author Claire Corbett, and I'll be keeping an eye out for what she does next.

My rating = ****

That's my four bucks!

Review: House of the Lost | Sarah Rayne

2011-06-30T17:00:00.006+10:00

Author Sarah Rayne features regularly on my reading list, so you could rightly say I'm a fan. I've read 4 of her novels so far, and I've been looking forward to reading House of the Lost since it's publication last year.

In past reviews, I've commented on Rayne's repeated use of an old, derelict, and menacing building - which contains secrets from the past - to form the focus of each of her novels. This plot style always makes for a great read, and in my review of A Dark Dividing, I made the following comment: "I love this formula, however it does make her books instantly familiar on the one hand and a little predictable on the other".

Well, this time the author blew me away! She swept aside her old plot style and developed a complex narrative, weaving together a mystery that was a delight to unravel. There were many threads, some taking me to very dark places, much darker than any of her other books I've read (The Death Chamber, Tower of Silence , Spider Light and A Dark Dividing).

Rayne was able to plunge deep into the psyche of several characters and reveal their many layers. We also see how both human suffering and love drives and shapes characters throughout the course of their lives.

I always know Rayne is going to bring all the threads together in the end, and I enjoyed watching how each of the stories began to intersect and I certainly wasn't disappointed. (On a lighter note, there was one point in the book that I was reminded of Flowers in the Attic, and flooded with pleasant reading memories).

I must say, House of the Lost is less of the horror/thriller that initially attracted me to the author, and more mystery/drama. Having said that, Rayne seems more serious about her writing, and I'm looking forward to reading her next book, What Lies Beneath.

My rating = ****

That's my four bucks!

Review: The Economics of Ego Surplus, A Novel of Economic Terrorism | Paul McDonnold

2011-06-22T14:51:00.009+10:00

* From the author for review *

This novel is about terrorism, but not the bloody terrorism we've come to know in the last 10 years or so. This time the terrorists are in suits and execute their attack from a conference room; this time they're not going to kill people, they're going to bring down an entire economy.

The US is the target, and Kyle Linwood is the main character - an economics lecturer at University recruited by the FBI to provide insight on a case. Kyle had a lucky escape 6 years ago in North Africa as a journo, and the FBI bring him on as a consultant. (Let me state here that the author doesn't place the entire success or failure of the case on Kyle's shoulders, which happens too often in action novels for my taste).

The threat to the US stock market and financial markets was frighteningly realistic and definitely got me thinking. I wonder if the US is prepared for an attack of this magnitude and what - if anything - they could do to prevent an attack of this nature from taking place. The flow on effect was convincingly real too. Interesting food for thought and I hope it never happens.

At some point reading the novel, I couldn't help but give some thought to the title. We all know the old adage 'don't judge a book by it's cover' but I'm often guilty of this one. Looking at the cover and title of this book, I must admit it looks like an economic text book to me rather than a thriller novel. I remembered the book covers of Black Market and Black Friday, both early financial thrillers by James Patterson, and a small part of me wished this novel had a different title or cover. Something to convey to the reader the suspense and action that it contains.

I loved the short, easy to read chapters and the information cleverly weaved into the narrative. Definitely a stand out feature of this novel for me. I realised I was learning about economics along the way, but in a method that was seamless and very easy to digest. (You don't need to have any previous knowledge of economics to enjoy this book). Reading the novel, I also learned more about the United Arab Emirates, the history of Dubai (which I found very interesting), and of course a little about Dallas too, Kyle's hometown.

In conclusion, this is a fantastic action thriller for the thinker who would like to take a look at what economic terrorism could do to the global economy.

(Click here to read an interview with author Paul McDonnold posted on 4 August 2011).

My rating = ****

That's my four bucks!

Review: Cross Fire | James Patterson

2011-06-17T18:27:00.006+10:00

I've been following the Alex Cross series by James Patterson for years now, although I certainly wouldn't call myself a die hard fan. Readers who follow this crime series will know that Kyle Craig was a mentor to Alex until he became his ultimate enemy and was eventually captured and incarcerated. Kyle is always referred to in the series but returns in Cross Fire in a very big way.

Instead of being exciting, I found Cross Fire to be a real let down. I knew from the beginning that Kyle Craig wasn't going to get his man, Alex Cross, in the same way that when you're watching a James Bond movie, you know he's not going to come to any serious harm.

There were also a few cringe-worthy attempts at sexy scenes and one just made me put the book down so I could roll my eyes right back into my skull and groan out loud in disgust! Let me set the scene for you: Alex takes his love interest to a swanky hotel suite, they are in the huge jacuzzi /spa together, drinking champagne. He gets out and makes a faux bear skin rug out of the thick hotel room towels on the bathroom floor and lays her down on them and they make love there for hours. I mean, c'mon!!!! If you you're staying in a luxurious hotel suite, you're not going to pile the towels up on the bathroom floor to make love!!! Ugh! And for hours??? Who is he trying to kid here?

The only saving grace in this book is that this time he allocates enough security detail for his family - in my opinion - and there was one part of the sub-plot that did not follow the predictable path I had been expecting. I think Patterson still has it as an author, but I think he's trying (or has been forced) to spread himself to thinly over too many books and his writing is suffering as a result. That's just my humble opinion, what do you think?

My rating = **

That's my four bucks!

Review: Walking in Light | Kelvin Cruickshank

2011-06-14T18:56:00.005+10:00

For those that don't know, Kelvin Cruickshank is a psychic medium from the TV show Sensing Murder hosted by Rebecca Gibney. Born and raised in New Zealand, Walking In Light is his first book and it was a quick and easy read.

In the beginning, Kelvin takes us back to his childhood and I was surprised to read about the Maori influences in his upbringing. His gift frightened him as a child and it was interesting to find out he is a chef by trade and did this for many years, changing jobs quite often.

I was shocked to read about the negative influence of a particular person in Kelvin's life, although I'm glad he included this in his autobiography. It was clearly an important turning point in his life, contributing to his family breakdown and I admire his decision to include it.

I love watching Sensing Murder and I enjoyed learning more about Kelvin and his past, although this book isn't for everyone. His second book, Bridging the Gap was published in April 2011, and I'd definitely like to read it in the future.

My rating = ***

That's my four bucks!

Review: Just My Type, A Book About Fonts | Simon Garfield

2011-06-10T21:53:00.011+10:00

This non-fiction delight is for all the nerds, stationery lovers, trivia fiends and those who just love absorbing minutiae.

Just as the title declares, Just My Type is a book all about fonts. Author Simon Garfield has successfully made the world of fonts and typefaces quite fascinating and I've begun looking at font in all mediums of print and advertising in an entirely new light; and of course trying to identify the different types.

The book briefly explains the printing press, the technology of carving individual letters from different materials and the advances in technology since then. I found it fascinating to read about the creation of particular fonts, and learning some fonts took years to complete was a real eye-opener.

Garfield also explains why some fonts are difficult to read, how some fonts rose to fame, which fonts are currently dominating the world of print and why.

When Garfield described the differences in the letter 'g' or the humble '&' in different fonts, I was engrossed. There were also plenty of snippets of trivia to maintain interest. If you're the sort of person who enjoyed the 2007 documentary entitled Helvetica, then Just My Type: A Book About Fonts is definitely the book for you!

My rating = ****

That's my four bucks!

P.S. After sending an email to the author telling him how much I enjoyed his book, he responded with the following:

Thanks a lot Tracey - that's very kind.

Best wishes,

Simon

How nice is it that he took the time to reply? Fantastic!!!

Review: What the Night Knows | Dean Koontz

2011-06-06T21:46:00.007+10:00

In his latest novel, Dean Koontz has infused his signature ghostly touch with elements of the crime genre to create What the Night Knows.

John Calvino is a Detective with three children living in a luxurious house courtesy of his wife's successful art career. When a murderer leaves specific items on each of the bodies after killing an entire family, John tries to butt in on the case. The case is remarkably similar to the slaying of his own family members when he was just a teenager. The more he investigates, the more John begins to fear for the safety of his family, and rightly so.

My favourite parts of the thriller were the chapters following the three children and their reactions to the first signs something weird was going on in the house.

Those who enjoy a thriller with a supernatural element will enjoy What the Night Knows. I always enjoy reading books by this author and can't hide the fact that I'm a fan of his writing and the thrill and shiver they often give me.

My rating = ***

That's my four bucks!

Review: The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane | Katherine Howe

2011-05-31T19:12:00.009+10:00

It's 1991 in Massachusetts and Connie is a Harvard graduate student studying history when her mother phones and asks for a favour. After reluctantly accepting, Connie travels to Marblehead (near Salem) to put her Grandmother's affairs in order and sell the house. The neglected house has been empty and locked up for decades and is partly concealed by the out of control garden. When exploring one of the dusty bookshelves, Connie finds an old key hidden inside a family bible. Hidden inside the key is a tiny piece of parchment with Deliverance Dane written in script. Connie is curious and begins a lengthy search to find out more about Deliverance Dane.

Meanwhile, the book alternates between 1991 and the 17th Century where the reader is thrust into the lives of Deliverance Dane and her descendants.

Connie discovers that Deliverance Dane was accused of being a witch during the time of the Salem witch trials, and thanks to a legal document referencing a recipe book, Connie starts to track down this physick book. Will it contain remedies to cure ills and sickness or will it contain magic and spells?

Connie's advisor is obsessed with the study of alchemy and is after the book for his own twisted reasons and a Steeplejack enters the scene who may be able to offer some help.

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane is part mystery, part historical fiction and I would have preferred more time spent in the 17th Century. This is a contemporary novel with a hint of magic and it will appeal to many readers.

My rating = ***

That's my four bucks!

Review: Mathilda Savitch | Victor Lodato

2011-05-23T17:12:00.006+10:00

Mathilda Savitch is the name of the main character in this Young Adult novel and I was instantly gripped by her voice and emotion. Here are the opening few sentences:

"I want to be awful. I want to do awful things and why not? Dull is dull is dull is my life. Like now, it's night, not yet time for bed but too late to be outside, and the two of them reading reading reading with their eyes moving like the lights inside a copy machine".

Mathilda's older sister was killed when she was pushed in front of a train and while her parents grieve in their own ways, they've drifted apart from each other. Mathilda is sick of it and attempts to shock them back into reality by being bad. She also tries to find out as much about her sister Helene as she can, and hopefully learn something about why she was murdered. Mathilda does find a number of hidden secrets which slowly lead her closer to the truth.

I was surprised that a male author could write the thoughts and dialogue of a teenage girl so well and I thoroughly enjoyed the voice of Mathilda. The best friend relationship she has with Anna was incredibly written, and at times it left me shaking my head with wondrous disbelief (and rushing to Google the author and confirm he was male, and yes he is: www.victorlodato.com )

At times amusing, and at times poignant, this is a coming of age story as much as it is about a family coming to terms with their grief. Although it had an ambiguous ending, it would be terrific to discuss in a book club and I thoroughly recommend Mathilda Savitch to female Young Adult / Adult readers.

My rating = ***1/2

That's my four bucks!

Review: Of Love and Evil | Anne Rice

2011-05-14T16:20:00.004+10:00

Of Love and Evil is the second novel in The Songs of The Seraphim series written by my favourite author Anne Rice.

In the first novel we met assassin for hire Toby O'Dare when he was given the opportunity to turn his back on evil and use his skills for good by helping the angel Malchiah.

Toby is back and this time Malchiah takes him to fifteenth-century Rome for his next assignment. Toby is answering the prayer of Vitale, a Jewish Physician who is tending a patient and friend who has clearly been poisoned, but by who? Toby must also get to the bottom of a haunting by a dybbuk while not being distracted by his surroundings.

Toby also finds out he has a 10 year old son, and wonders whether he is worthy of his love after all of the lives he took in his past as a deadly assassin.

Of Love and Evil was rich in a sense of place and I revelled in the sense of history it conveyed. It can be read as a stand-alone, although for character background it's probably best to read Angel Time first. I hope there's a third in the pipeline soon, but I can't find any news on that front just yet.

My rating = ****

That's my four bucks!

Personal Review: Caught In The Crossfire | Matina Jewell

2011-05-01T20:00:00.011+10:00

Caught In The Crossfire was written by a close friend of mine, Matina Jewell. She has had an incredible journey to get to this point and hers is a story that must be read to be believed.

We first met at the Australian Defence Force Academy and after seeing her on ABCs Australian Story in 2010 I was moved to get in touch again, even though it had been 14 years since we'd last seen each other.

Much has happened since the airing of Australian Story, Blue Beret Part 1 and 2, and after sharing my love of books and reading with Matti she asked me to proof read her memoir. It was an honour and a dream come true for me and a process I'll always cherish. Throughout the writing and publishing of her book we've formed a fabulous friendship, and I think all Australians should read this informative and engaging Australian memoir.

If you can't see past my enthusiasm you can check out the blurb below and watch the book trailer for Caught In The Crossfire by clicking here.

Blurb: In 2006, while part of an un-armed UN peacekeeping team at the border junction of Lebanon, Israel and Syria, Australian Major Matina Jewell and her colleagues were caught in a full-scale war with tragic consequences. In the days that followed she and her team-mates reported hundreds of violations of the peace agreement as Israeli artillery, tank fire and aerial bombs, as well as rockets fired by Hezbollah fighters, exploded only metres away and shrapnel rained down around them. But the story does not end there...

Matti Jewell is the kind of soldier every country is proud to have - fearless, honourable and highly skilled. A star graduate from Duntroon by the age of only 24, she became a highly valued army commander. In the years that followed, she earned eight war medals, tracking militia leaders in the Solomons, fast-roping out of Navy helicopters and boarding smuggler ships in the Arabian Gulf, as well as serving on operations with the American Navy SEALS and Australian Special Forces.

Caught in the Crossfire is a frighteningly dramatic first-hand account of what really happens in modern warfare and the high price our soldiers pay for their country.

This memoir is published by Allen & Unwin, and is the first in Australia to incorporate QR codes throughout the book. What's a QR code? It's a square icon printed onto a page - similar to a bar code - that you can scan with your phone using a free application. As soon as you've scanned a QR code, a short video relevant to the section you're reading will begin to play. This is exciting and groundbreaking technology for publishers and readers alike and is an Australian first.

When you read the memoir and watch the accompanying video clips, you will no doubt find it amazing, shocking, inspiring and thought provoking. I'm lucky to call Matina a friend.

My rating = *****

That's my four bucks!

Review: The Eyes of Darkness | Dean Koontz

2011-05-01T18:18:00.006+10:00

Dean Koontz is one of my favourite contemporary authors, so it was a major let down for me to discover that The Eyes of Darkness was a disappointing read.

The story begins with the death of young Danny Evans in an accident that also took the lives of many other school aged boys while on an excursion in the mountains. A year later, his Mum Tina begins to receive messages that say 'not dead'. Meanwhile, Tina meets a new love interest Elliot and together they try and untangle the mystery to get to the truth.

The novel took a while to get going, with way too much emphasis on Tina's career, which later turned out to be irrelevant to the plot. I found Elliot's background and history way too much of a stretch, and their slow acceptance of the subtle supernatural theme quite frustrating.

The book lacked the multiple plot lines and twists and turns of many of Koontz' more recent novels, and I discovered the reason for this at the end. In the Afterword, the Koontz writes that The Eyes of Darkness was one of six novels he wrote under the pen name of Leigh Nichols in the 80s. Now that Koontz is no longer using this pen name, he began to review and improve these earlier novels and publish them under his own name.

When I purchased this book I found it in a bargain bin, and didn't realise it was a 'improved' version of an earlier novel, so I feel a little duped. Nevertheless, it was a quick read, and I was able to swiftly move onto something else.

Unfortunately I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone; unless they are a dedicated Koontz fan who is keen to read every book in his repertoire.

My rating = *

That's my four bucks!

Review: Eldest | Christopher Paolini

2011-04-29T17:35:00.004+10:00

My enthusiasm for The Inheritance series continued straight into the second book Eldest, where the adventure penned by Christopher Paolini picked up exactly where Eragon left off.

Again I was instantly gripped and entranced by the story taking place in Alagaesia and I loved following Eragon's training to become a Dragon Rider.

I was impressed by Paolini's writing and relieved that Eldest was just as magnificent as Eragon. Even though it had been a few years between the publishing of the two novels, it seemed to me like no time at all had passed between the writing of the books

I couldn't recommend this novel highly enough, however you do need to have read Eragon beforehand as this is not a stand alone book. Enjoy!

"May good fortune rule over you, peace live in your heart and the stars watch over you" - Elven greeting.

My rating = *****

That's my four bucks!

Review: Eragon | Christopher Paolini

2011-04-21T18:49:00.012+10:00

It's hard to believe Eragon was written by Christopher Paolini when he was just 15 years old. Paolini was home-schooled by his parents and after deciding to write a book that he would like to read; it was later self-published by the family. After promoting the book at libraries, schools and various other events throughout the USA, the book was finally picked up by a publisher and Eragon has now sold millions of copies around the world.

Eragon is the first book in the Inheritance series and 3 years after the book was published by Knopf, a movie adaptation was released (2006). Eragon is incredibly popular with readers although I was a little apprehensive about reading it just in case the fantasy element overwhelmed me. Boy was I in for a pleasant and shocking surprise!

I was hooked from the second chapter and I knew then that this was going to be a magnificent reading experience and an instant 5 star rating. I haven't been this excited or as surprised and gripped by a book from the fantasy genre since Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Having attempted to read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings when I was much younger and not being able to keep up with the numbers of creatures and the plot lines, I thought that fantasy was beyond my reading enjoyment. I definitely need to question that now.

For those who don't know anything about the book, it's about a boy - Eragon - who finds a dragon's egg which triggers a series of events and launches a dangerous quest full of danger and adventure. Set in Alagaesia, the novel's characters include: dragons, dwarves, elves, spell casters and many more residents of the Empire; however, the book is very readable and easily within reach for readers of all ages who haven't ventured far into the genre of fantasy.

I absolutely and thoroughly enjoyed Eragon, and couldn't recommend it more highly.

My rating = *****

That's my four bucks!

Review: The Build Up | Phillip Gwynne

2011-04-02T15:43:00.005+11:00

Set in Darwin, The Build Up is a crime novel with a distinctly Aussie feel. Penned by successful Australian author Phillip Gwynne, The Build Up has been so successful that it's being made into a 13 part TV series scheduled to air on SBS later in 2011.

Detective Dusty Buchanon is a tough no-nonsense woman helping to police the Top End when a body is discovered following a wild party at a Vietnam Veteran's camp site. Dusty has just been pulled off a high profile case she's been working on for 2 years and busted back to uniform, so she decides to focus her attention on this case instead.

Having spent 12 months in Darwin, I really enjoyed the author's authentic recreation of the setting, the weather during the 'build up', the culture of the town and the people in it - locals and tourists alike. His ability to effectively capture realistic and distinctly Australian dialogue was impressive, and the characters were occasionally very funny.

A washed out AFL player named Trigger was one of my favourite characters in the book; the author nailed his character development so well, he was just so, well, Australian!

I was pleasantly surprised at just how much I enjoyed this Australian made crime novel, and will be recommending it to everyone who enjoys the genre. (In fact, I've already purchased another copy as a gift). Phillip Gwynne has written six other books, received numerous awards and I'll be looking out for the TV series later in the year.

My rating = *****

That's my four bucks!

Review: The Mysterium | Paul Doherty

2011-03-29T17:10:00.008+11:00

I've been following Paul Doherty's medieval mystery series featuring Sir Hugh Corbett for many years now, and his latest novel, The Mysterium is 17th in the series.

Set in London in 1304, Hugh Corbett is engaged by the King to investigate two murders which occur shortly after the fall from power of Walter Evesham, Chief Justice. Evesham himself is soon found slain, and it seems a ghostly assassin is on the hunt with Corbett close behind.

The Mysterium is the name of an assassin who stalked London long ago and many believe he has returned; or is this the work of a new killer?

Doherty is an expert in transporting the reader to medieval London; I was able to experience the smells, sights and sounds as if I was almost there. I definitely felt cold reading this novel too, it seems every character was cold at some point.

This was another great stand alone medieval mystery with Corbett revealing his findings at the end in ordered and thorough detail. Very satisfying for the reader who enjoys finding every loose end tied up. I'd recommend this book to any historical fiction fans, and fans of the crime genre who don't mind going back in time a few hundred years.

My rating = ***

That's my four bucks!

Review: The Book on the Bookshelf | Henry Petroski

2011-03-24T15:54:00.013+11:00

This non-fiction book is a treat for bibliophiles but could prove a bit of a bore for the average reader. In The Book on the Bookshelf, author Henry Petroski takes an in depth look at the development of books and the humble bookshelf over the centuries including: scrolls and codices, illuminated texts and the modern paperback.

I enjoyed tracing the history of book storage across history, and particularly enjoyed learning more about the practice of chaining precious books to desks in libraries and reading rooms. When chained books were first shelved vertically, they were shelved with their spines facing inwards as the spine was the weakest point of the book and not suitable for attaching the chain mechanism.

What to do then when there were too many books and not enough space? This question continues to plague the modern day librarian, and Petroski takes us through the many advances in technology and engineering throughout history addressing this very problem.

Historically, natural light was pivotal in the design of libraries and you can often identify the library in a historic building by the construction of their windows. With the advent of the printing press, books became more prolific and the nature of their bindings began to change. Petroski also discusses the changes in various materials such as: parchment, papyrus and paper.

At the end of the book, Petroski provides at least 21 different ways to shelve books. I'm most interested in shelving books by colour, as demonstrated in my favourite bookish picture (left). I'd love to have a wall of shelves and try this for myself, but this photo and many more like it will have to sustain me for the moment.

The book on the Bookshelf is full of historical gems and

interesting bookish facts and I'd recommend it to dedicated bibliophiles out there who are interested in a little history.

My rating = ****

That's my four bucks!

Review: The Crime of Huey Dunstan | James McNeish

2011-03-21T15:26:00.010+11:00

I was so excited when I stumbled across this book last year. Firstly because it was written by a Kiwi author and set in New Zealand, secondly because it was about a character with the surname Dunstan and thirdly because it was pitched as a 'literary masterpiece'. I've just finished it and unfortunately I don't agree that 'The Crime of Huey Dunstan' is a literary masterpiece.

The book is narrated by Ches, a blind psychologist specialising in traumatic cases, but now retired. Ches is reflecting on the past and the case of Huey Dunstan, accused of killing another man in cold blood.

Ches is brought in as a consultant at first - prior to the trial - but the case keeps gnawing at him and he can't seem to let it go. Ches delves into the concept of buried memory whilst also trying to gain Huey's trust and dig deeper into his past.

It was interesting and impressive to learn just how independent Ches was, despite his blindness and I enjoyed the snippets about his marriage and the in-jokes between them.

For some reason I thought this novel lacked a solid structure. There were moments of beautiful writing and character insight, however it lacked the punch that crime novels usually deliver. I enjoyed the NZ setting though, and I'm determined now to read more work by our literary neighbours.

In summary, I had such high expectations for this book that I couldn't help be disappointed after reading it.

My rating = **

That's my four bucks!

Review: Gift of the Gob | Kate Burridge

2011-03-10T23:33:00.009+11:00

Kate Burridge is an Australian Professor of Linguistics and Gift of the Gob: Morsels of English Language History is her third book. This is an educational, insightful, amusing and light read covering several interesting categories, some of which include: Slanguage on the move, Shocking words, Word origins, Pronunciation on the move and many more.

It was fascinating to learn how the meaning of a word can change over time, as well as the pronunciation. The book includes the origin of particular words and phrases and even included the word I hate most at the moment, irregardless.

I enjoyed reading the section on blended words such as cocacolonization and affluenza. I was also introduced to the official/non-official term the pullet surprise (misheard Pulitzer Prize) which many of us would recognise as the outcome when song lyrics are misheard. My favourite section of the book included the long forgotten phrases describing culinary activities such as: frushing a chicken and unlacing a rabbit.

The most disturbing find was that there is an increasing number of Australians using the expression 'Collingwood is versing Essendon' instead of versus. Younger generations when hearing the use of the word versus are mistaking it for verses, and using it accordingly - although incorrectly. I sincerely hope this doesn't take off, although since finishing this book I have heard this pronunciation at least twice, ugh!

Gift of the Gob takes a look at the language of the past and where the English language is taking us in the future, both here and abroad. My only criticism is that the book is screaming out for an Index or Table of Contents at the beginning. I was continually flicking through the book to find this or that and a Table of Contents would have been very handy.

I thoroughly recommend this to anyone with a love of words or interested in the quirky words, phrases, spellings, pronunciations and origins of our English language. This book would be perfect on any coffee table, and is fantastic to dip into from time to time but is not too much to read in one hit. Enjoy.

My rating = ****

That's my four bucks!

Review: To the Tower Born | Robin Maxwell

2011-03-07T15:40:00.006+11:00

The disappearance of the Princes in the Tower in 1483 has captured the attention of historians for hundreds of years, and the mystery has never been solved.

What we do know is that following the death of King Edward IV, his eldest son Edward was placed in The Tower of London (which were then luxurious royal apartments) for his own protection prior to his coronation. He was later joined by his younger brother, Prince Richard.

Whilst in the Tower it was discovered that the marriage of their parents - King Edward IV of England and Elizabeth Woodville - was illegitimate; King Edward was already married at the time. This made the births of the Princes illegitimate, and their Uncle Richard (the late King's brother) was crowned King Richard III. The Princes then disappeared and it was long assumed King Richard III was responsible for having the young boys murdered and their remains disposed of within the Tower.

Robin Maxwell tackles this famous mystery in To The Tower Born - A Novel of the Lost Princes, and successfully manages to build on these historical facts, taking the reader back to the era and providing a convincing account of what 'could have happened'. An alternate outcome if you will.

Told in alternating chapters from two different narrators, we get to know the young Princes prior to the events leading to their demise. The novel is rich in history and exposes the plotting and politics of those hungry for power in England, and those who will do anything to lay claim to the throne.

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical fiction novel, and am already a huge fan of Robin Maxwell's work, especially The Queen's Bastard, and The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn.

I would recommend this to any reader interested in delving into a well written novel featuring the mystery of the Princes in the Tower, or who is keen to learn more about the politics of the House of York in the period prior to the Tudors.

My rating = ****

That's my four bucks!

Review: Beautiful Malice | Rebecca James

2011-02-22T17:38:00.009+11:00

Beautiful Malice was written by Australian author Rebecca James, and it caused an international sensation that The Wall Street Journal referred to as a 'publishing phenomenon'.

I was surprised to learn this is her first novel and that it sparked a significant bidding war, eventually being published in 2010. Despite all of the buzz and hype surrounding this Young Adult novel, I was pleased to discover that it's a terrific read.

Beautiful Malice is narrated by 17 year old Katherine, who has started at a new school after the murder of her sister and the subsequent media attention the family endured after the crime. Katherine is soon befriended by the charming and popular Alice, who instantly becomes a close friend, as does her on-again off-again boyfriend Robbie.

The book focusses on the growing friendship between the three friends and the increasingly disturbing behaviour displayed by Alice. Meanwhile we slowly learn more about Katherine's past and what actually happened the night her sister died.

I believe the blurb reveals way too much information about the characters, and I would have preferred much less so I could have been more surprised as events unfolded. I'm happy to admit the characters of Katherine and Alice completely lured me in, and I stayed up until the early hours of the morning to finish it, which earns the novel an extra star from me.

I would recommend Beautiful Malice to readers who enjoy Young Adult fiction, or an easy thriller without the blood and gore so reminiscent of the current crime genre. If you're still not convinced, you can read a free extract here, but don't read the blurb!

My rating = ****

That's my four bucks!

Review: Slash with Anthony Bozza

2011-02-17T18:47:00.013+11:00

I was really dubious about reading Slash's self-titled autobiography when it first hit the shelves. Guns N' Roses remain one of my favourite bands of all time, and I really didn't want to learn anything that would damage the high esteem in which I hold their music. I've intentionally ignored and blocked out any knowledge of bad behaviour, and I was reluctant to burst my happy bubble by delving into Slash's autobiography. Alas, it's been several years since publication, and curiosity finally got the better of me, and I wanted to find out how the band fell apart.

Well, I think it's fair to say that my bubble was completely and utterly decimated within the first 50 pages. The biggest shock of the book was learning that Slash has a pacemaker! His drug abuse took such a toll on his heart that eventually he had a heart attack and was dead for eight minutes before being brought back to life. Unimaginable!

I've now resigned myself to the fact that one of my music heroes was either on drugs or drunk when he recorded the solos and songs I've grown to love and which formed a significant part of the soundtrack of my youth.

Having said that, I really enjoyed discovering how each of the songs were written and which band members came up with the riff, chorus, lyrics, melody and how the albums came together. These details about the music and recordings had me listening to the songs with new ears. The most surprising snippet for me was that there weren't any strings in the original recording of November Rain. After the band members had recorded their parts to November Rain, Axl used his synthesizer to add all of the melodies and 'strings' which are so moving in the song. Amazing!

I learned more about Axl - his talent and behaviour - and Slash is both complimentary and critical throughout the book. Hundreds of people in the music business were named in Slash, and he also chronicles his relationships in the lead up to his second marriage to Perla and the birth of his two kids.

I was relieved to finally get some closure by reading Slash's reasons for leaving the band, and an understanding of why a reunion of the original lineup of Guns N' Roses is completely out of the question.

I would recommend this autobiography to readers who enjoy reading about successful rock bands and their outrageous behaviour, or fans of Guns N' Roses and Slash.

My rating = ***

That's my four bucks!

Review: So Cold the River | Michael Koryta

2011-02-09T22:56:00.005+11:00

This is the first book I've read by author Michael Koryta,

although he has written six so far in his career and has been the recipient of many awards and prizes in his field. Koryta is a former reporter and private investigator and this becomes evident in the creation of his main character in So Cold the River, Eric.

Eric Shaw is a film maker, who has fallen out of the Hollywood movie scene and finds himself making funeral videos. He's always had a special gift of insight which is evident in his work. Eric is hired by a woman belonging to a rich family to produce a documentary of the life of her Father-in-Law; who is sadly on his death bed. Eric meets Campbell Bradford once before travelling to West Baden to document his upbringing which until now has been a secret to the family.

West Baden is located in a valley with mysterious mineral springs which form the lost river, flowing both above ground and underground. I think the creepiest parts of the book are Koryta's descriptions of the whirlpool, where the lost river both comes to the surface and disappears beneath the rock again, creating a rising and falling circular whirlpool of great proportions. Creepy!

Eric drinks from a mysterious 100 year old bottle of Pluto water from the springs and begins to experience visions and a subtle paranormal theme begins to emerge. (Don't worry, there aren't any vampires). As Eric begins to investigate the history of the Bradford family, he has no idea what else he's stirring up.

My favourite quote from this book was as follows:

"Must be nice to have a bank ledger where your ethics should be, Gavin. You'll probably go on to big things. Most people like that do."

On the jacket, Koryta's work is compared to that of one of my favourite authors, Stephen King. I scoffed at this initially, but it did influence me to read the book; definitely effective advertising. Now having finished So Cold the River, I am surprised to find I don't mind the comparison at all, and I think Koryta is definitely an author to watch. The mystery and suspense had me reading long into the night, and the novel's subtle supernatural touch reminded me of Stephen King's The Green Mile.

I'd definitely recommend this novel to readers who enjoy a thriller, suspense and mystery and I'm looking forward to reading more of Koryta's work when I can get the time.

My rating = ****

That's my four bucks!

Review: The Distant Hours | Kate Morton

2011-01-29T22:24:00.006+11:00

After declaring Kate Morton's novel The Forgotten Garden my favourite book of 2010, and telling anyone who will listen, I've been hanging out to read her latest book The Distant Hours.

Edie is a book publisher and is curious when her mother receives a long lost letter, originally posted in 1941 from Milderhurst Castle. Her mother is secretive about her past, but Edie soon finds out she was billeted at the castle for a short time during the war.

Edie is inexplicably drawn to the castle and meets the three elderly Blythe sisters without revealing her mother's connection. Twins Percy and Saffy live together with their younger sister Juniper in the slowly decaying castle. The reasons they each chose to stay at the castle after the war and why they never married or had children have been deeply buried in the past.

As Edie tries to peel back the layers of the past, the reader is whisked back to 1940s war time and thrust into the lives of the Blythe sisters. We find that each of the sisters have their own dreams and aspirations and we discover what transpired to bond the sisters together for life.

I reveled in the fact that the characters loved to read, write and tell stories, and all shared a love of books. The reference to the library in the castle made me weak at the knees, as did the news of what happened there for that matter! There is even reference to a children's book written by one of the characters called The True History of the Mud Man, which becomes pivotal to the story.

The pages are rich with the sense of unravelling mysteries and long kept secrets, and Milderhurst Castle itself is a haunting and gothic presence for each of the characters. These themes can also be found in her other novels, The Forgotten Garden and The Shifting Fog, and is the main reason Kate Morton is my favourite Australian author.

In her own words, Kate says:

"This novel brings together many of my favourite things. A crumbling castle, a family of sisters, a love of books and reading, the haunting of the present by the past, thwarted love, ghostly shivers, mystery and memory and secrets".

This pretty much sums up everything I love about her books, and this one is no exception. As long as these are the themes she likes to explore, I'll continue to enjoy exploring them with her as the reader.

I highly recommend this book and it's going to be a hard one to beat in 2011.

My rating = *****

That's my four bucks!

Review: Let the Right One In | John Ajvide Lindqvist

2011-01-21T23:30:00.004+11:00

Let The Right One In is a Swedish vampire horror novel set in the '80s in suburban Stockholm. Oskar is 12 years old, lives with his Mother and is a victim of school yard bullying. He has a bladder control problem (with a unique management system) and loves to collect newspaper clippings about gruesome murders.

He meets Eli in the local playground, and learns she has just moved in next door with her Dad. Oskar is glad to have a friend, but Eli is different and things aren't what they seem. After many subtle hints for the reader, Eli reveals to Oskar she is a vampire. While Oskar is trying to deal with bullies, separated parents and his first love; Eli is trying to obtain the human blood she needs to survive, and bodies soon pile up.

This is an offbeat look at what happens when you introduce a vampire trapped in the body of a twelve year old girl into a drab suburban area, already brimming with their own problems.

Some reviews claim Lindqvist to be the Swedish equivalent to Stephen King, but I've got to say I disagree. Sure the novel contains supernatural themes and is a little gory in sections, I don't believe Lindqvist reaches the literary heights and levels of complexity of Stephen King.

I enjoyed Lindqvist's ability to create so many damaged and broken down characters, all living in such a dreary, bland and miserable suburb. I also admired his ability to conjure so many pungent smells that almost leapt from the page. I almost dry retched at the stench of cat's piss in Gosta's grotty apartment containing 22 cats.

The Vampire genre has been popular for quite a while now, and perhaps not surprisingly this novel has been adapted into a film. Entitled Let Me In it was released in 2010 (in English), and I'll probably check it out. You can watch the trailer if you click here.

Ultimately, this was a disappointing read for me after reading so many rave reviews, but you be the judge.

My rating = ** 1/2

That's my four bucks!

Review: Women Food and God | Geneen Roth

2011-01-12T13:46:00.005+11:00

This is the book Oprah Winfrey has been excited about, and has been telling viewers to "read it now!" Written by Geneen Roth, Women Food and God is a book about getting in touch with the real reasons why some people eat more or less than they should.

Roth writes:

"All that you believe about love, change, joy and responsibility is revealed in how, when and what you eat.

The world is on your plate."

Author Geneen Roth was a guest on the Oprah Show which went to air in Australia on 21 September 2010. Immediately after the show, I logged onto my local library website to reserve a copy, only to find I was already number 22 in line for this book. My turn came on 22 December when I was able to pick up my copy and start reading.

After all of the Oprah hype, I was expecting a revelation while reading this book, and I've got to admit I was mildly disappointed. The book contains references to retreats run by Roth and the experiences and breakthroughs people have made during their stay which were interesting. Roth also takes the reader through the various relationships that can cause distress, including most importantly the relationship with yourself and the fears and stories we tell ourselves.

The book did contain one particular piece of information that struck me. In summary, Roth wrote that sometimes when a person wants to eat a particular food, they're not seeking the feeling they get when they eat it, but they may be seeking the feeling they experienced in the past when they were permitted or allowed to eat it. This gave me pause for reflection and was a valuable tidbit that was completely new to me and one to which I could relate.

Having said all of that, this was a good read, but ultimately didn't live up to my high expectations. Geneen Roth has published seven other books on this topic, including When You Eat at the Refrigerator, Pull Up a Chair. What a fabulous title! You can visit the author's website here to read more about her other books.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in understanding how to improve your relationship with yourself and others and how this relates to food. The book is also suitable for male readers, despite the title.

My rating = **1/2

That's my four bucks!

Review: The Shifting Fog | Kate Morton

2010-12-31T16:33:00.005+11:00

After reading Kate Morton's sensational novel The Forgotten Garden - and giving it 5 stars - I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into The Shifting Fog, also known (and printed in other countries) as The House at Riverton.

In the beginning of the novel, the reader is aware that there is going to be a shooting at the lake at Riverton Manor and a famous young poet will die - presumably by suicide - but we're not quite sure why. We meet Grace, who was employed as a servant at Riverton Manor at the young age of 14 and was ensconced in the household during this period. When Grace is in her late 90's and living in a nursing home, she is contacted by a film maker looking to make a film of the events leading up to the suicide. The film maker has researched the characters and the period, and asks Grace for her input to ensure the sets are an accurate portrayal of the manor during the roaring 1920's.

Grace begins to reflect on her time at the manor; observing sisters Hannah and Emmeline and the secrets she has protected since then. We are taken back to the period in long vivid flashbacks, and become immersed in the house and entranced by the characters. The book is very gothic in its setting and rich in secrets, long kept loyalties and a sense of tradition. We also witness the slow decline of Riverton Manor and the changing social landscape following World War I and the devastation that came with it.

Grace reveals the truth about the young poet's death at the end of the book, and for me it came as a complete surprise and I'd go so far as to say it was even haunting. As a result, we learn why sisters Hannah and Emmeline never spoke to each other again after that night.

Kate Morton has used a similar plot design as she did in The Forgotten Garden - two different time periods, characters haunted by the past, family drama, mystery and secrets slowly revealed - however it's such a magical and effective concoction and I enjoyed it very much. I have to say I preferred The Forgotten Garden, however the suspense and mystery in this novel had me completely gripped. I would highly recommend The Shifting Fog to other readers.

My rating = ****

That's my four bucks!

Review: Gentlemen and Players: A Novel - Joanne Harris

2010-12-31T00:18:00.005+11:00

This novel by Joanne Harris centres around St Oswald's Grammar School for Boys, which in itself becomes a central character in the early stages of the book. The school is rich in history and tradition, avoiding any kind of scandal and ensuring any mishap is kept from the local press. Order must be maintained at all costs.

The book shifts narrators from Mr Straightley, Classics teacher who is one of the longest serving professors on staff, and a mysterious new member of staff motivated by deep revenge and set on destroying the school from the very foundations.

Gentlemen and Players was published in 2005, six years after her very successful novel Chocolat, and was nominated for the Edgar Awards. I don't want to give away any more of the plot as there is a massive twist towards the end of the book that caught me completely by surprise. I thought I knew which member of staff was the impostor, but I was pleasantly surprised by the ending. The impostor has a dark character and years of hurt and torment, and a cleverly plotted method of revenge.

I enjoyed reading about this character in their younger years, and found myself cheering for Mr Straightley, the sharp -witted, Latin speaking Professor who tries to get to the truth of the sudden decline of his beloved school.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to all those who enjoy a thriller and a twist!

My rating = ****

That's my four bucks!

Review: Why Mahler? How One Man and Ten Symphonies Changed the World

2010-12-26T23:20:00.006+11:00

This is a non-fiction book about the great composer, Gustav Mahler, written by Norman Lebrecht. When I read somewhere that the music of Mahler was performed more often than Beethoven, I had to find out more about this man, and this seemed as good a place as any to begin.

Mahler was born in 1860 and died in 1911, and was a conductor as well as composing music. This book covers Mahler's personal life and music, much of which is very interesting. However; the reader quickly learns that Lebrecht himself has spent countless years researching anything to do with Mahler, almost to the point of obsession. The author can't resist including his own personal anecdotes here and there, which often disrupt the flow of the text. I often found myself confused, wondering if this particular anecdote was about Mahler or about the author. This appeared quite self-serving, and these segments should have been edited more clearly, or incorporated in some other way.

It was interesting to read about the times in which Mahler was composing, and how his music was received by others. He was liberal in his instructions to other conductors performing his music, so much so, that some performances of a particular symphony could vary by as much as 20 minutes, depending on Mahler's mood, or the interpretation of the conductor. Fascinating stuff! Mahler was one of the most accomplished conductors in his time, and was in constant demand, working long hours. According to Lebrecht, Mahler was a perfectionist when it came to the skill of those musicians in his orchestra and would often dismiss musicians who didn't meet his high standards.

According to Lebrecht, Mahler's music influenced many people, including those in important roles within society. (Lebrecht includes a few examples in his book). He claims Mahler was an important influence for musicians that followed, no doubt true. But did Mahler change the world? I don't think so, at least not to the extent the author has claimed.

Recommended for those interested in learning a little about Mahler, although you may find a better reference than this book.

My rating = **

That's my four bucks!

Name change?

2010-12-18T00:52:00.002+11:00

I've been wondering if it's a good time for a name change. This blog has been going for a number of years now, and has become solely about book reviews, so I'm wondering if a more fitting title is now called for.

Suggestions are more than welcome. What do you think?