Click here for merchandising baby!

Thursday, January 24, 2013

3-2-1 Chapter Review for The Desolate Garden




3-2-1 Chapter Review for The Desolate Garden by Danny Kemp.

A spy thriller where Harry Paterson is recruited by the British Secret Service to help solve the mystery of his father’s murder.

I was introduced to The Desolate Garden and its taxi driving author via Twitter (I guess it works!) and it was as much Danny Kemp’s varied bio and priors as it was the promise of a good thriller that influenced my choosing to review The Desolate Garden. This is my 3-2-1 Chapter Review:

The Good – Easy and thoughtful methods of introducing the lifestyle and looks of the main character, Harry.

The Good – Loved the confidence of Judith, you really want to get to know her more.

The Good – Great early twist to the tale and chapter one ends with so many mysterious open doors as to where the story will go.

The Bad – Some of the sentences could have been a little smoother in their execution.

The Bad – The information on the lamb-eye-eating crows seemed a little forced and over detailed considering it was an unknown policeman in his home and as a visit from one is usually associated with bad news, I would have expected the immediate focus to be on that.

The Beautiful - ‘The first time I saw her was three days after I was told that my father had died.’



Friday, January 18, 2013

3-2-1 Chapter Review for Slave: Escaping the Chains of Freedom





3-2-1 Chapter Review for Slave: Escaping the Chains of Freedom by Jacqueline Malcolm.

A freed slave goes against his principles and in turn becomes an owner of slaves.

Slave: Escaping the Chains of Freedom is the first novel masterpiece of my youngest sister, Jacqueline Malcolm. As I'm one of her first readers of early drafts, I've read this book around three or four times. Each time is a pleasure and keeps me on the edge of my seat. This is my 3-2-1 Chapter Review:

The Good – Hezekiah knows he is a slave, yet he does not see himself this way. He is Hezekiah, a husband, brother, son – a man.

The Good – The story telling is so natural, you don't even realise you're being educated about the slave trade and life in 18th Century New York.

The Good – Gloria is such a great character; a common enemy to them all, even her husband!

The Bad – When Hezekiah first meets Betty (his wife) he is carrying something very heavy, yet follows her quick retreat to find her home. My anal mind wondered how he kept up with her.

The Bad – Hezekiah gets covered in soot when cleaning the oven and complains of having to go and change again. As this was most likely a regular chore, wouldn't he have been prepared for this?

The Beautiful - ‘The old house is cold and I shiver at its command.’



Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Need To Know - Short Story by Marva G



Need to Know 
By Marva Gregorio De Souza

     The rain poured. A deluge. Dramatic proportions dodged, avoided by the majority; braved and embraced by the few. Abraham and Tina were among the majority and watched the water’s downward process through the window lining their table on loan from the cafĂ© owner. It was quiet, the settings within any kind of close proximity to them; empty. This suited Abraham’s plans in particular. He needed to talk to Tina. It was time and the matter was sensitive. Six months of dating was his usual marker. Difficult holding back for longer, the jitters difficult to control and mask. He was not sure what would happen if he allowed himself to endure beyond. He could not risk finding out. Control of all factors where possible was the key to his survival.

     Tina, unknown to her, was similar in looks and build to his other girlfriends. His type - desire - need. Abraham readily admitted to himself the connection with Tina was considerably stronger than any he had experienced. He wondered if this would have any bearing on her reaction to his news. Would it be enough for her to make the decision Abraham craved? It was time to find out.  Tina shuddered her wet skin in damp clothes then made eye contact with Abraham and smiled deeply warmly. He enjoyed her smile and its ability to touch his heart. A new experience for him, a relish. How he hoped her response would be wonderful. Taking a deep breath and Tina’s hand, Abraham looked deep into her soul and gathered the words in his mind.

     “I’m sorry I need to go to the loo.” He ran for the burrow, scattering squawking chickens in his wake.

     The mirror questioned him relentlessly. What was he waiting for? Washing his hands, Abraham took some time to collate his answer. He didn’t want it to end. Relationship history had clearly shown what the results of revealing all his dark secrets would be. They were not received well. Once told they could not be ignored. The knowledge and abhorrence of his predicament turned loves into disposable burdens. And he didn’t want to lose Tina as he lost the others. Not Tina. He loved Tina.

     How it was possible, he did not know. Up to this point in his life he had been text book perfect, the type of case professors would refer to in their lectures to drive home well established psychological theories. Regardless. He loved Tina. Her demise would devastate him. Her demise by his own hand as close to impossible as anything could be. Tina was not like the others and he, Abraham would not allow her end to be the same. Conscious of the length of time spent away he quickly finished his removal task of the fifth and final trophy and returned to the living oasis seated by the window.

     “Are you OK?” Tina tilled a small furrow between her brows. Abraham smoothed it away with his calm response.
     “More than.”
     “Shall we have another coffee while we’re waiting this… oh where are your earrings?”
     “I decided to take them out.”
     “Just now?”
     “Yeah.”
     “You’re so strange sometimes. But I guess that’s one of the things I love about you. And besides I thought they were a little on the feminine side.”
     “Do I scare you? Freak you out?”
     “Silly, of course not.”
     “Good. I’ll try to keep it that way. Same again?” Abraham conversed with the virgin bar tender and came back to Tina bearing gifts. Coffees placed on the table. Bottom placed on the seat. Eyes placed on eyes. Abraham smiled then mentally sighed the sigh of the content determinedly confident to overcome the jitters.

     The rain stopped as abruptly as it started.

The End

Saturday, January 12, 2013

3-2-1 Chapter Review for Jane Eyre



3-2-1 Chapter Review for Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.

Tells the life story of the title character in first person narrative.

I first read Jane Eyre when I was fifteen. I started it one morning and read all through the day and night. Finishing it the next afternoon. It is still my all time favourite and I’ve given up watching either movies, TV or stage versions as none of them come close.  This is my 3-2-1 Chapter Review:

The Good - Very smooth introduction to the characters and their personalities.

The Good - Started off with a day that for all intents and purposes should have leaned on the side of boring (a child stuck indoors because of the rain) and ended with a physically violent, blood drawing altercation.

The Good - By the end of the third paragraph the reader’s feet are firmly planted in the young heroine’s corner.

The Bad - The language of the book being read by Jane Eyre ‘Bewick’s History of British Birds’ seems a tad poetic for a factual book on birds. However, since Jane Eyre was first published in 1847 perhaps this was the norm.

The Bad - The novel is narrated by Jane Eyre and at one point she describes in detail the response of her cousin John’s Head Master to her Aunt. It caused me to wonder how an ostracized ten year old would have known his comments.

The Beautiful - ‘I feared nothing but interruption, and that came too soon. The breakfast-room door opened.’

3-2-1 Chapter Review


...and a good lipsmacking New Year to you all!

New Year's Eve is my favourite day of the year - time for contemplating, letting go, holding on, moving forward - in one word 'growing'. Love it!

This year one of my new endeavours will be to carry out what I'm calling a 3-2-1 Chapter Review on the first chapter of any book I so choose.  The first chapter is what sells a book for me, I'm not saying if it's a bad start I won't finish, but it will certainly set my mood for the remainder of the pages.  The first paragraph or so certainly determines whether I'll purchase a book as I'll often skip the blurb and go straight to reading it whilst in the bookstore. I remember picking up 'Bright Shiny Morning' by James Frey and I had to force myself to go and buy the book BEFORE starting Chapter 2!

The 3-2-1 Chapter Review will consist of 3 good things, 2 bad things and 1 quote or sentence which strikes a chord with my love for the woven word. They will be short as I'd rather they actually be read than skipped because they are longer than busy time schedules allow.

I do hope you enjoy them.

Lets go out of our way to make 2013 a gud un'!

MarvaG