Drinking, Smoking and Screwing: Great Writers on Good Times Review

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(More customer reviews)It's a puritanical society we live in, and it sucks. This book makes for a fine release from that straightjacket.
This fabulous short story collection is pure, unadulterated (perhaps adulterous?), almost-illegal fun. Bukowski's unabashedly macho "Women", Erica Jong's Zipless...(can I say the word in a public review?), Eve Babitz's revelations on something called "The Green Death" (I must find some one day and see if it really is that good); well, it's everything your mother and the Surgeon General told you not to do, but you do anyway. Or at least you should.
Speaking of the Surgeon General, my favorite here is Fran Lebowitz's "When Smoke Gets In Your Eyes...Shut Them" (page 192), and I quote from it quite often in today's smokist, nicotine gum, get the patch society. For air pollution and my blood pressure, one would do better outlawing those pretentious, gas guzzling Suburban Utility Vehicles. I suspect that many of the writers in this book BECAME writers to be able to smoke on the job in peace.
I would quibble with a few of the inclusions. For instance, I would have used Anne Sexton's "Fury Of The Cocks" instead if "When A Man Enters A Woman". I would have picked one of Dorthy Parkers acerbic poems about love and sex rather than using "You Were Perfectly Fine". I would have left out the "Lotlita" excerpt altogether for something more overtly satisfying and taboo, such as Pat Califia's "Calyx of Isis". And I'd never have even touched the vapid, sexist, nonsensical and needlessly trashy "Candy", by Southern and Hoffenberg, which is in this collection is rather like a pimple on the chest of an otherwise exquisitely beautiful stripper.
However, the good "bad" stuff more than makes up for the, well, bad "bad" stuff, and this is a book I go back to again and again. Call it my bedtime reading, if you will....a book that goes deliciously well with a good Dunhill cigarette, a nice shot of Baileys, and a half dressed...oh, nevermind. There are kids here.

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Buried in Wolf Lake Review

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(More customer reviews)In the second book BURIED IN WOLF LAKE of the series A Winnebago County Mystery Thriller by Christine Husom, the heroine that we have come to know and love, Sergeant Corinne "Corky" Aleckson has been thrust into another frightfully in-depth investigation to find the identity of a psychopathic killer who targets women with specific features. After a family dog returns home with a young woman's dismembered leg, the investigation ensues as the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department attempts to unveil the mysteries buried in Wolf Lake. Will they work fast enough to keep another victim from the clutches of the evil that lurks nearby?
Christine Husom uses her past experience from when she worked for a sheriff's department to fill her books with realistic scenarios. Although fictionalized, the books are based on actual incidents. Christine has a natural talent when it comes to being able to immerse her readers into her books. The characters and atmosphere are rich in detail and realistic. I have to give Christine Husom great credit for being able to achieve such balance and readability. Her imaginativeness is to be commended and celebrated.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery/suspense or psychological thriller. I almost hesitate to label the book within these categories, because while the content is intense, it's not overboard. I would hate for anyone to pass up the opportunity to read this series based on book genre. Furthermore, the characters really become familiar and respected as you follow their daily lives and become immersed in their friendships, families and love lives.
Personally, I admire this series. After reading Murder in Winnebago County, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the sequel. I read Buried in Wolf Lake in one day. I couldn't stand to put the book down for long, because I was always wondering what would come with the flip of the page. The passion that Christine Husum writes with is powerful and compelling. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment and have high hopes that Christine will continue with this series. Do yourself a favor and pick this book up. Once you do, you'll be hard-pressed to set it back down.


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When a family's Golden Retriever brings home a woman's dismembered leg, the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department launches an investigation unlike any other. Who is the young woman and where is the rest of her body? Sergeant Corrine Aleckson and Detective Elton Dawes soon discover they are up against an unidentified psychopath targeting women with specific physical features. Can they find him in time to prevent another brutal murder?Buried in Wolf Lake continues the saga of the bright, lovely girl who just happens to be the best detective in rural Minnesota.Most of the marvelous characters from her first thriller, Murder in Winnebago County, have returned for this adventure--but the killer she is pursuing is colder, crueler and deadlier than before.

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Glad Hand Saloon Review

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(More customer reviews)"Glad Hand Saloon," Steve Scott's second Palm Springs novel, primarily concerns gay men with diverse attitudes about sexuality. In this case the former heavy hitters from Cafe Respect have moved on to a new venue, "Glad Hand Saloon," a gay bar and restaurant. Not to worry, mystery fans, where author Steve Scott goes, murder and mayhem are sure to follow. This book involves a naked body found dead under a pickup truck in the parking lot -- well, not entirely naked; the corpse was wearing a single, highly decorative boot, footwear that was two sizes too large.
Solving the problem of whodunnit in Scott's "Glad Hand Saloon" takes place amidst a swirl of subplots. Although a tour de force in "Glad Hand Saloon," the complex subplots and backstories sometimes threaten the main event -- the unidentified cadaver in the parking lot, e.g., almost all the major characters fall in love or at least in lust at one time or another, but they also kiss and tell which gets in the way of the real story.
"Glad Hand Saloon" introduces a dizzying array of unusual characters made memorable by their differences. In this book you meet a gay couple's response to monogamy -- and the lack of it -- and a bartender who seems to prefer chubbies and bears, but looks for love wherever he can find it; a Mexican American who struggles with his sexuality; a mystic-witch-clairvoyant whose predictions are invariably dark or deadly; and a bald co-owner who compensates for his hair loss by collecting hats.
For as many reasons as there are for "extended families," the Glad Hand has become the social center binding this diverse collection of older gay men together. Being an older crowd attracted to "country" or western attire, boots and levis are the clone uniform. And, sterotypically gay males, there's no discussion of major league sports in this bar. A strong point in author Scott's writing lies in his dialogue, crackling exchanges which can be coarse, sexually charged, and gender bending, a style that might have once been labeled "high camp." And in this western setting, the reader who hears the word "cowboy" used over and over, need only to close his eyes to hear Patsy Kline, Reba, and Dolly Parton crooning from the jukebox.
Another of Scott's many talents are his love of language. His use of extraordinary metaphor causes one to see things in new ways, perhaps creating indelible images the reader will never forget, e.g., "the crinkly sounds of breaking glass"; (coming out) "headed down the road to queersville"; "heard a hedge trimmer start its stutter"; "his black eyes stabbed then jerked away"; (his eyes) "scattering around the patio".
Finally, a contribution "Glad Hand Saloon" makes to the canon of gay literature is its expositions of major gay issues, e.g., AIDS, Hepatitis C, Separation from family and children, coming out, and suicide. Scott's new novel is recommended reading whether kept on your night stand, your beach blanket, or in your carry-on luggage.

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When a mutilated body is discovered in the alley behind a Palm Springs gay bar, known for its genuine rodeo posters and imitation cowboys, the Glad Hand Saloon becomes the epicenter of an investigation by a detective whose name-Kind-hardly matches his ambition to nail the killer. The dead body is wearing only one very fancy boot. In the detective's crosshairs are five gay men and a woman named Roper.

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The Tin Princess Review

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(More customer reviews)"The Tin Princess" is the forth book in the Sally Lockhart series - though it doesn't actually star Sally herself. Perhaps a better description of this book would be to call it a spin-off, as it is has several characters from the previous Sally books as its protagonists, and solves a mystery that has been brewing since book one. In the first book "The Ruby in the Smoke," a young street waif named Adelaide Bevan disappeared into the streets of London, and only now has she been found. Readers who may be unwilling to continue with this series due to the absence of Sally are instead rather forced to - it's the only way to find out what happened to that young girl.
Jim Taylor, the amateur detective (among other things) has finally managed to track her down, following the trail of young Rebecca Winter who has been employed in the service of a nobleman to teach a young woman in his household how to read and write. The two collide almost immediately, and soon it becomes apparent that the young woman in question is none other than Adelaide herself. But her situation has greatly changed - she is married to Prince Rudolf of Razkavia, making her a princess of that small country squished between Austria and Germany. Rebecca is appalled at the unlikelihood of the match, especially since she herself is a native of Razkavia.
And now things are about to heat up. With the assassination of Rudolf's older brother, Adelaide and her husband now find themselves heir to the thrones of Razkavia - but whoever was behind the conspiracy to topple the royal family is not going to stop till they control the country. Now with Becky as her translator and Jim as her bodyguard, Adelaide is travelling with her husband to the country she now rules - a country watched over by the Red Eagle flag. Legend says that so long as the Eagle flies over the Rock of Eschtenburg, Razkavia will always be free. Now in a strange land, with strange customs, and a plot against them, Adelaide, Jim and Becky must juggle politics, public relations, personal safety, betrayal within the court, assassination attempts and a mysterious missing member of the royal family. Needless to say (of any of Philip Pullman's books), it's a very exciting ride.
Pullman beautifully creates an entire country with vivid realness - its customs, economy, language, history, all of it comes across with perfect realism, but also a sense of intrigue that he can invoke so well: "The streets are so crooked and narrow that they have no names...the Devil went there once, and couldn't find his way out. Which means of course, that he's still there." Likewise, the characters are vivid and immensely likeable, and his themes of power and corruption (which appear in all of his books in one way or another) are in place. Of our main characters, only Becky is initially unfamiliar to readers of the Lockhart books, but she soon becomes an interesting figure, who wields her own type of power in being Adelaide's translator (often stating her straightforward opinions to Princess Adelaide in the course of conversations, or rewording Adelaide's informal slang to the listener).
But it's Jim and Adelaide that really take centre stage in the course of this story - passionate, strong, out of their league, star-crossed and determined, I have to say that I think they are Pullman's best romantic couple (disagree with me if you must, but that includes Sally/Fred and even Lyra/Will). Adelaide definitely foreshadows Lyra for the "His Dark Materials" trilogy - willful, spoilt, cunning and yet with a strange sense of innocence about her. Glancing at some of the other reviews, it's unfortunate to see she's rather unpopular - I thought she was a wonderful character, and every inch a queen.
Of those that are disappointed at the lack of Sally, there's no reason to completely despair. She is present at both the beginning and end of the story (as is Goldberg, her husband - sadly, no Harriet or Trembler) and is mentioned throughout by several characters. And in her own way, she plays a very big part in the course of the story - just watch how useful the knitted jersey she makes for Jim turns out!
Although this is not my favourite book in the series (that would be "The Tiger in the Well") it is the most re-readable, the most intriguing and the most poetic - the final passage in particular is beautifully written. I won't give it away, but I often find myself picking up the book just to read it again, and the images that Pullman invokes, especially in the escape from the old palace through the snow, are just beautiful. There is a certain amount of cynicism, but the barest touches of hope in the conclusion of the story. But whether you like it or not (because it *is* rather different from the first three books, and not just in the shift in characters) it is a necessary part of the series, to complete Adelaide and Jim's story.


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The Shadow in the North (Sally Lockhart Trilogy, Book 2) Review

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(More customer reviews)Pullman has a rare and valuable talent: his chosen field is the young adult novel, and he writes for young adults. Frankly, without condescension, and with a lively intelligence and subtle humor that shows he respects his audience as much as they (indubitably do) respect him. This novel shows a young woman in full command of her faculties being put into the teeth of an excruciating moral predicament, and if the road she eventually finds out of it is a simple one, that is because Pullman is not above granting a final bit of wish-fulfillment after he's run us through the wringer.
I'll leave the plot summaries to other reviewers; it's enough to say that it's a lively and political mystery / thriller and its coincidences, while implausible, do not betray their own internal logic. Pullman is first and foremost an observer of character, and what makes this book something that makes me, a 29-year-old guy who tends to read much more austere stuff, take notice, is the sheer aliveness of the characters. There's Sally, of course, a resolutely feminist young woman whose resolve and determination are surely of her time, even if some of her anxieties and dilemmas seem more resonant with the present than Victorian England; Frederick, her friend and peer who she loves, and with whom she argues helplessly and often; Jim, their young, streetwise friend, who is capable, brave, and eminently self-aware; and a large cast of supporting characters, many of them women, who are sharply limned and full of their own stories. The fact that Sally is living out what would have been, at best,a Victorian woman's fantasy is dealt with elsewhere; the fact that huge swathes of the dialogue is anachronistic is irrelevant.
What sets this apart from other young adult novels, even as it evokes them, is the very real sense of moral hazard and the awful consequences of the modern age that it portrays. The world into which Sally, Frederick, and everyone else is being swept is one where the old hunger for power is being given new, terrible means of finding its voice. The clarity with which Pullman evokes this sense of foreboding is remarkable, as is his restraint. At its heart this novel is a warning of terrible things that have already come to pass. It is insistent without being didactic, it shows rather than tells. In the end it convinces.
While the Lockhart trilogy is not as stunning as the His Dark Materials books, it's not trying to be. It's about one woman, her friends, and the world whose birth they must survive. If they are occasionally more than human, that might just be because something more than human is necessary to survive in this new world.

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Ready for Love (The Men of 3X CONStruction) Review

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(More customer reviews)As with the first story, I really enjoyed the tale of Red and his "baby momma" :-) Denise.
At first I thought this book would be the kind that is fraught with misunderstandings and miscommunication. That was one thing that pushed my buttons a bit in Ross and Cherise's story. That was not the case. Ross and Denise are the slightly dysfunctional couple you just have to root for. They love each other so much but they are both immature and have some growing to do. I was glad their relationship was positive for most of the book. The love scenes are hot and plentiful. I really enjoyed how well Red knew Denise, her moods, facial expressions and how her mind worked. Red was no saint and was real about who he was and how he operated. Denise knew her man and really came off as a wonderful, sassy, real heroine.
Now to the mystery, which still has to be solved. Unlike the first book, this story went in dept into an elaborate BDSM twist which I didn't see coming at all. In fact, a good bit of the story was the set up for this BDSM pyramid piece which will eventually solve the mystery of who is trying to ruin not only 3X Construction, but destroy the lives of the men as well. Anything you thought you knew can be thrown out the window because this plot is unsolvable in this book.
As usual, I love the Alpha Male persona's Ms. Knowles creates. Red was the hottest, baddest, Irish alpha male I have ever read a story about. Yummmm!!! his brothers were also big in this story and I am chomping at the bit to read a story about every single one of them so, if you are reading this Ms. Knowles, bring out the Irish beefcakes PLEASE!!!.
So now I sit patiently and wait for the final chapter in this trilogy: Smokes story. Part of me will be sad to see it conclude but I have so enjoyed the men of 3X CONStruction, I just want to submerge myself into the next tale.
***NOTE you MUST read the first story to understand this one. It is NOT the kind of story which can be read out of sequence.****

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Second book in Men of ThreeX CONStruction series. Red and Denise have been together eight years when she breaks it off. It couldn't have come at a worst time. His company is under attack and he's being targeted. He has to filter through all the mess to come up with a plan to both trap the crooks and save their relationship.Excerpt:Red sat in the driveway of the two-story brick home contemplating his next move. His partners in Three X Construction, Ross and Smoke, refused to allow him to quit over what they termed bullshit. He'd finally hopped in his Hummer and drove around to clear his head. At least that's the shit he'd told his boys. The look on both their faces called him a liar. Hitting the steering wheel, he yelled out his frustration.Why'd he always have to be the fuck-up?All his brothers had strong careers working for themselves. As the youngest, he'd had less responsibility and stayed in the most trouble.Smoke had called him out days before for straddling the fence in his non-relationship with his babies' mama and ex-girl, Denise. She'd been right. He needed to grow up. Ever since the fundraiser a few weeks ago, she'd been on his mind more than usual. That was hard to understand since she was buried so deep inside him, she was never far from his thoughts.The red sparkly dress she'd worn that night had his balls tensing and his cock straight hard. He lost his mind for a second when he saw her looking up at that asshole. Smoke had tried to stop him, but he was on autopilot. Nobody touched his woman. Fuck that they'd had a disagreement. She was still his. It was all he could do to keep from throwing her over his shoulder and taking her to a dark corner. He'd make her remember why they'd been so good together.When he heard her complaining to Ms. Connie, the construction company's office manager, and Cherise, something snapped. She'd broken up with him on a bullshit tip and wouldn't talk to him. Lord knows he'd tried.That was probably why he sat, like a lump of coal, in her driveway at nine pm. He had a shitload of mess on his mind and didn't want to be alone. He'd bypassed his townhouse, as well as Smoke's offer to crash at his beachfront condo. Now, like a jackass, he sat on the outside wanting in.Pathetic.That's what this insatiable need to be around her was fast becoming. He inhaled and glanced at his watch for the tenth time in the past twenty minutes, hoping to clear his head in preparation for a titillating exchange with Denise. She wasn't easy, but matched him perfectly. You'd never know she was a preacher's kid the way her mouth went off. Thinking of her mouth, led to visions of her full lips, which made him hard. He swallowed, pushing away his desire and righting his pants.Unlocking his door, he stepped out of his black Hummer and pocketed the keys as he moved slowly toward the door. A car sounded in the distance, the hum of a neighborhood settling for the night calmed his jangled nerves. The mat proclaimed ‘welcome.' Somehow, he doubted it extended to him.After ringing the doorbell, he stepped back so she could see him. He suspected she knew he'd been outside the moment he arrived. It probably tickled her that he took this long to knock on her door. Probably thought he'd been scared. He wasn't sure how far off she was on that. Not of her, but the whole situation with someone sabotaging the company, his role in it and since he was being honest, their relationship or lack thereof, worked his nerves.His hands stroked the cotton lining in his pockets searching for additional warmth as he ducked his chin into the collar of his heavy Burma jacket against the night chill. Light footsteps neared the door. Without conscious thought, he rocked side-to-side, digging in his pockets further.“Red?" a muffled voice asked surprised.“Yeah." Who the hell else would be showing up this time of night, he wondered.

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The Moment of Truth Review

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(More customer reviews)THE MOMENT OF TRUTH by Mark O'Neal is a Urban thriller. It has suspense, betrayal, dirty cops, ex-Marine, hit men,athlete, drug dealers,secrets, family and shows how life can change in an moment, the struggles of everyday life and the consequences of these decisions.The characters are full, and easy to relate to their struggles and their past secrets. It is a quick read and fast paced. If you enjoy drama and a thriller you will enjoy this one. This book was received for review from Bostick Communications and the author. Details can be found at Createspace and My Book Addiction and More.

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Maurice Ousley seems to have it all: his team captures first place after a gutsy win before All-Star Break, he's voted by the coaches to the NBA All-Star Game, and he plans a cozy evening with his girlfriend Gabrielle to pop the question.However, the evening begins to unravel as Maurice finds out about a dark secret that Gabrielle has hidden from him. He subsequently leaves her at the restaurant once the truth is revealed. He then goes to a party hosted by one of the All-Star basketball players to blow off some steam. There he meets a stunningly attractive actress and finds out that she has a huge crush on him.Finally, Maurice caps off the evening by small talking to some of his teammates, and his best friend on the squad drops another bombshell on him. Just when the night couldn't get any worse, he discovers he's also the target of the same federal fugitive who kidnapped his stepfather a year prior. Will Maurice leave Gabrielle for the actress, or will he stay with her? What news does his teammate tell him? And lastly, will Maurice survive, or will his past finally catch up to him?

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Murder In Winnebago County Review

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(More customer reviews)I highly recommend "Murder in Winnebago County" by Christine Husom to anyone who appreciates a good mystery. I particularly liked the insight that is provided into the plotting mind of the killer. Although you never quite know what will happen next. Also, Sgt. Corky Aleckson is a well-drawn and believable protagonist. I expect to read more of her adventures in the near future.
"Murder in Winnebago County" is a really good read.

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Murder in Winnebago County features a the most unlikely serial killer in the most unlikely little Minnesota town. The clever murderer leaves a dramatically growing chain of apparent suicides who have everything, and nothing, in common. As her intuition helps her draw the case together, Sgt. Corky Aleckson doesn't realize that she has made herself the killer's next target.

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Scat Review

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(More customer reviews)I teach 6th Grade Reading and this book is perfect for this age group. I loved it too so don't be afraid to read it if you are an adult.
The school setting and the stern teacher who disappears on a field trip will appeal to young readers. I particularly liked the sub plot with the Iraqi veteran. It added a timely dimension to the story.
I live in Florida and I have actually seen a Florida panther in the wild. They are very rare, and you really feel special if you get the chance to see one. If you live anywhere and love wildlife, you will love this story!


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The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break: A Novel Review

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(More customer reviews)If you read any synopsis of this book, you'd probably think, "Wow, how odd." Well, you'd be correct. However, putting the book down and not reading it because of that would be a grave mistake.
As debut novels go, this is certainly one of the better. It is not large, perhaps 350 pages, has a focused scope, great characters, and great writing.
Steven Sherrill's poetry background is evident in the book, but you certainly don't have to be a poetry lover (I'm not) to enjoy it. His writing is gorgeous, interspacing long lyrical lines with brief five word sentences. His descriptive talents are amazing. As one who worked in a restaurant in high school, I can say that the sights, sounds, and events that take place at the Minotaur's work are exactly correct.
Sherrill uses humor and humanity to great effect and by the first few pages of the novel, I did not find it strange at all that a creature with the head of a bull and body of a man was coexisting with humans in the modern South. I found myself identifing with some of what the Minotaur goes through, and found myself rooting for him.
If you've ever thought about taking a chance on a new author, this book is an excellent choice. It will make you smile and at the same time make you wonder about what it is to be fully human.

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Van Diemen at 17 Review

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(More customer reviews)Great characters, a foreign setting, lots of bratty mean girls, a prissy schoolmarm, and a hot guy to die for. The prescription for a page turner. Jeania Kimbrough's VAN DIEMEN AT 17 has it all, but never slips into genre cliches.
When an over-achieving American high school student decides to complete her senior year as a foreign exchange student in Tasmania, she encounters unanticipated expectations that bring her face to face with her biggest fear: failure. Throw in a sophisticated medical student from a prominent Tasmanian family and you have the recipe for a disastrous romance and unpredictable consequences that reverberate through the exchange program community.
I loved this book. It is told simply, with deep attention to the emotional complexity of even the secondary characters, but especially the star-crossed protagonists, who are lovingly crafted. As the story pulled me in I also gained insight into a culture that, like most Americans, completely intrigues me -- how similar the English speaking residents are, and yet how vastly different.
It was my pleasure to have Jeania Kimbrough as a student for several years, and she has made me very proud with this lovely story that goes beyond its coming of age roots to explore the impact change has on human beings and their relationships. I recommend Van Diemen at 17 to anyone interested in reading about triumphs of the human spirit.
-Connie Flynn
Published Novelist/Creative Writing Instructor


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An Altar by the River - Winnebago County Mysteries Book 3 Review

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(More customer reviews)I was up 3/4 of the night reading this book - couldn't put it down. Christine Husom's "An Altar By the River" is another riveting look at what happens when true evil meets "good guy" detectives Corky Aleckson and Smoke Dawes. Husom's quirky characters and small town Minnesota setting are the perfect backdrop for another compelling mystery. Christine is an expert at weaving in details and clues in just the right doses to keep you wondering until the very last moment. Loved it!

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A man phones the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department, frantically reporting his brother is armed with a large dagger and on his way to the county to sacrifice himself. Sergeant Corinne Aleckson takes the call, learning the alarming reasons behind the young man's death wish. When the department investigates, they plunge into the alleged criminal activities of a hidden cult, and disturbing cover-up of an old closed-case shooting death. The cult members have everything to lose and will do whatever it takes to prevent the truth coming to light. But will they find An Altar by the River in time to save the young man's life?

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The Reluctant Fundamentalist: A Novel Review

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(More customer reviews)In a recent article in The Washington Post" (7.22.07) titled "ROOTS OF RAGE: "Why Do They Hate Us?", Mohsin Hamid writes about an encounter at a book signing in Texas for "The Reluctant Fundamentalist." He was stopped cold when a man asked the subtitle question in a politely pleasant manner that put both author and reader in the "us" category. Hamid notes that he had spent almost half his life in the United States: emigrating from Lahore, Pakistan at the age of three with his father (who was accepted to a PhD program at Stanford), learning to sing "The Star Spangled Banner" before the Pakistan national anthem, playing baseball before cricket, writing English before Urdu, and other activities of a typical American kid. The question cut to the quick because in many ways he is, or it seems should be, one of us.
The Post piece goes on to lay out an autobiography which in considerable part became the plot of "The Reluctant Fundamentalist." Hamid returned to Lahore at the age of nine, growing up there pleasurably before the city was adversely impacted economically and culturally (strict morality codes, intimidation of politicians, academics, and journalists) by American backing of Pakistan's dictator Mohammed Zia ul-Haq in exchange for Zia's support of the mujaheddin, the Afghan guerrilla group fighting the Russian occupation which later became an American holy war adversary. Like the character Changez in the novel, he returned to the United States to attend Princeton University.
How much of the remainder of the book (Changez's outstanding performance in a business evaluation firm prior to being fired in debilitating disenchantment when he recognized the havoc his work was causing in the global workplace, the American girlfriend who ultimately fails him, et cetera) is unknown. But there is enough to support the notion that fiction, well written, can often articulate more basic truth than nonfiction. And "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" is brilliantly and beautifully written. There is no action (no bombs, no bullets, no noisy chaos) but there is suspense, gripping suspense (the feeling that something rather awful may happen at any moment), as Changez spends an evening over dinner telling his story to an American at a restaurant at a disquieting Lahore market. We never know the American's name or anything about him (whether businessman, tourist,, government agent)) except for his excruciating fear in the exotic foreign setting in which he finds himself. All this is conveyed through the narrative voice of Changez interpreting the American's reaction as the story unfolds.
The unnamed American is a stand-in, the nervous visitor in a strange foreign land, for all of us as we ponder the ghosts and goblins of the war on terror. Uneasy and watchful in that eerie marketplace, he could be any one of us anywhere. The girl with whom Changez falls in love is also, in a sense, a prototype for an America that cannot give up the memory of a dead lover (our nostalgia for the innocent security of a time that is past) and accept Changez for what he is: a smart, well-educated, if culturally different, Muslim foreigner who longs for acceptance.
In the Post article, Hamid answers the question of why they hate us as part envy and part reaction to American foreign policy. But his answer is less convincing that the one he offers to a reverse question, Why Do They Love Us?: "People abroad admire Americans not because they back foreign dictators but because they believe that all men and all women are created equal. That concept does not stop at the borders of the United States. . . .
"The challenge that the United States faces today boils down to a choice. It can insist on its primacy as a superpower, or it can accept the primacy of its values. If it chooses the former, it will heighten the resentment of foreigners and increase the likelihood of visiting disasters upon distant populations -- and vice versa. If it chooses the latter, it will discover something it appears to have forgotten: that the world is full of potential allies."
Readers of "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" will experience, at least for a few hours, some of the feelings of others across the world who are observing our fears and anxieties as we weigh the crucial choices which lie ahead. It could be time well spent.


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Smoke Screen (Antiquarian Book Mysteries) Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm really enjoying myself working my way through the Dido Hoare books. What an absolute gem of a series! Dido, Barnabas (her retired Oxford don father) and Eddie (her assistant) are a wonderful team and great fun to read about.
Dido Hoare, antiquarian book dealer, can hardly believe her luck when she is offered the opportunity to buy Clare Templeton Forbes's (otherwise known as Her Majesty) book collection. And in spite of the warnings both from another book dealer and her father, Dido eagerly makes her way to Oxford to peruse the collection and make an offer. She is surprised and thrilled to find amongst the collection of 19th century books, a comprehensive collection of Orrin Forbes first editions. Orrin Forbes was a minor American modernist poet and Clare's ex-lover. Realising that she is out of her league here, Dido suggests that Clare get hold of one of the more prestigious auction houses to handle these rare books. But Clare refuses, claiming that she needs the money now so that she can move form her falling apart Oxford home into something more modern. (She also wants everyting done quietly and without her daughter's knowledge.) Dido is leery. There seems to be something suspicious afoot but she has no idea what. And Dido fears she's being manipulated by Clare but is not sure to what end. And then Clare shows her a manuscript of Forbes's missing canto, and wishes to know if Dido will buy it. Extracting from this rather sticky situation, Dido pays a few books and leaves. That very night, Clare dies apparently from having set her bed afire from a lighted cigarette. And the next morning, Dido finds the missing Forbes manuscript in a box of books she bought just as the police arrive to search her premises in search of said manuscript. It turns out that Clare was murdered. Dido feels as if she's being set up -- but is it for murder or theft? With her reputation as a legitimate dealer on the line, Dido plunges in to discover who planted the missing canto on her and who murderd Clare and uncovers quite abit more than she bargained for.
"Smoke Screen" was a roller-coaster of a read. I was fairly glued to the pages as I read along, following Dido's every move as she tried to work out what was happening to her and who was fitting her up and for what. The novel unfolded smoothly and briskly. And Marianne MacDonald's prose style made this book all the more enjoyable and fun. So, if you're lloking for a good biblio-mystery, look no further -- "Smoke Screen" is just the ticket, and is just the thing to curl up enjoy on a rainy day.

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Throwing Smoke Review

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(More customer reviews)"Did you like *Throwing Smoke*?" I asked my ten year old son.
"Yeah," he said.
"Were the characters convincing?" I asked.
"Yeah," he said.
"What about the dialogue?" I asked.
"It was great. But there was too much baseball. Or something."
The baseball, of course, was why I bought the book, and it seemed an odd statement coming from a child who wouldn't put down Will Weaver's baseball trilogy even to eat. Then I read the book.
The dialogue *is* funny; the book, well written, but the author places *Throwing Smoke* in a limbo of genre. When Whiz starts printing up baseball cards for fictional team players who mysteriously come to life, the book (*strongly* rooted in baseball and baseball terminology) turns towards the gothic. These players, all ace at what they do, are zombie like. Where do they go at night? What do they secretly talk about together? Why does nothing more interesting happen with them? Where the heck is this plot going?
*Thowing Smoke* raises more questions about its tepid supernatural effects than the baseball frame of the story can contain. I will avoid details, but when a story enters the world of the supernatural, rules must be followed, expectations must be met. In *Throwing Smoke*, they aren't. As for the baseball team-comraderie part of the book, well, that's not very compelling either -- the supernatural material is too distracting. *Throwing Smoke*, much as I wanted to like it, pulls in two direction and can't come up with a reconciliation between the two. The book needs a fast ball, but it just can't deliver.

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Smoke Eaters: A Thriller Review

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(More customer reviews)The Justice Peak, Montana fire is raging out of control. In charge of putting out the conflagration out is Mattie McCullogh, the first female firefighter commanding a Forest service team. Already struggling with her male peers who demand the brass fire her and a hostile media expecting impossible miracles to occur, Mattie also worries about her son being in the front lines in the war with the inferno.

When her son's team dies in what is obviously arson, her superiors sacrifice Mattie to the public howling and fire her. To her surprise, her son's body is not recovered. Unable to sit back and accept being a scapegoat, Mattie begins her own inquires into finding a serial arsonist. She also plans to find out exactly what has happened to her son. Along the way she finds some help, but is unaware that her foe is watching and waiting.

SMOKE EATERS is a non-stop action filled plot that takes the readers on a wild ride from page one to the climax. The characters are fully developed and their reaction to the environment feels genuine to the point that the audience will swear they can smell, see, and hear the inferno. The taut story line will receive much acclaim from critics and fans as Christine Andreae has written one of the years top thrillers.

Harriet Klausner

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Smoke Screen (Malignant Mind Series, Vol. 3) Review

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(More customer reviews)THis new author did not disappoint us with her 3rd novel! THis book is well written, giving us perfect details and leaving us in suspense at the same time. Monique did an awesome job developing the characters and giving us the feeling as if we were actually there inside the novel. "smoke screen" is a must read novel and full of drama and suspense. THis book will having you hanging on until the VERY end, and if you arent a Fan of MOnique D. Mensah you will surely be one after reading her novels! It is tasteful, yet gives us that rounchy edge of real life details that we love.
This book is a continuation of "Who is He to you".. I recommend you reading that book first. You wont be disappointed. It left me speechless, literally with my mouth open. I read the book in 2 days.
I love her as an author and I am excited for her next release!
DO yourself a favor and buy ALL of her books!! you won't regret it!! I recommend Reading in this order:
"Who is He to You?"
"Inside Rain"
"Smoke Screen"
Monique is my New favorite author!

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Lauren, Ryan, and Simone meet again after the tragedy that brought them all together ten years ago. A serial killer is on the loose in Detroit, murdering men and leaving her mark, and each of these women has a motive to kill. Simone, a sexual abuse survivor and advocate for young girls, has begun to heal her wounds over the past ten years, but she is still trying to reclaim her life. Her mother, Jessica, thinks it's unhealthy for Simone to immerse herself into a world of pain and jaded love when she has yet to fully heal herself. A new, unexpected love interest only complicates things further. Ryan is willing to do whatever it takes to become a mother, even if it means betrayal. With her biological clock screaming and a shameful ten-year secret bubbling to the surface, Ryan is determined to get what she wants, but she may lose her husband-and her mind-in the process. Lauren, one of Detroit's most prominent defense attorneys, redefines justice and seeks a way out of the career that has left her feeling trapped and torn. She can't set her moral standards aside for a $400,000 salary, winning acquittal after acquittal for the demonstratively guilty. But how far will she go to rid Detroit of its criminal filth? As Lauren, Ryan, and Simone's lives collide yet again, forcing them to deal with the tragedies of their pasts, the three women regretfully learn that no one is safe behind the thin shield of a Smoke Screen.

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