BOOK AND GAME REVIEWS
WRITING TIPS AND ARTICLES
AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
Interview with
Author Stela Brinzeanu
Oceanview Publishing What makes them tick.
Meet Author J. Syndey Jones
Growing Up White Listen to our interview with author James Strobaugh
Summer Reading Roundup! Sculptor and Author Aidan Hart
Saving Lucas Biggs
Interview with Marisa de los Santos and David Teague
Reviews Inside! JUNE 2014 COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOEL ROBISON
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Modern Literature
An Officer and a Spy: A novel By Robert Harris Knopf, $27.95, 448 pages, Format: Hard
««««« Part spy novel, part detective story, and part dramatic action, this historical novel is based on the infamous Dreyfus Affair, in which a French military officer of Jewish descent was convicted, imprisoned and later exonerated of treasonously communicating military secrets to the enemy. The Dreyfus affair is one of the most notable miscarriages of justice in modern European history. Robert Harris skillfully weaves historical documents -- Dreyfus is portrayed in no small part in Harris’ narrative through actual letters that he wrote to his family from his prison cell at Devil’s Island -- into a compelling and careful narrative. The pacing with which he reveals the details of the mystery are impeccable. The real-life characters are employed to great effect. And the original historical materials which are included keep the reader aware that this affair, so unbelievable that it must be true, actually happened. A specter
running just under the narrative is that if injustices and cover-ups like this have happened in the past, they could happen again in the present. Harris is a master of his craft. Even those who usually do not read historical fiction will be transported instantly to 19th century Paris, and absorbed entirely in his story-telling. Reviewed by Robert Robinson
Mother Mary By Myra Sherman The Medulla Review Publishing, $11.99, 222 pages, Format: Trade
Modern Literature
«««« Melody Marcus is not crazy – at least she doesn’t think so. The main character of Myra Sherman’s novel Mother Mary is someone who could easily be anyone. She had a good life that deteriorated after the loss of a job. In this novel, Melody lives as Mother Mary, a homeless woman, drifting and subsisting, rather than living. Her life hits rock bottom as the book begins, and she finds herself embroiled in a tragedy involving the death of a newborn and is placed in a jail under mental health observation. Much like Flowers for Algernon, the narrative voice evolves as Mary slowly emerges from the haze of drugs and alcohol and deprivation of food, water, and sleep. The longer she spends in jail, contemplating her situation, the more lucid her understanding of her entire path becomes, and as the reader, you are absorbed in her struggle to make sense of her past, present, and future.
“MEN AND FOOD – ONE I COULDN’T HOLD ON TO, THE OTHER I COULDN’T GET ENOUGH OF.” The book is well-written and provokes thoughts of how quickly life can change. The story is as believable as it is heartbreaking, and each setback feels like a personal blow to the reader. While the first chapters feel shadowy and confusing, it reflects the same confusion the narrator feels, as she attempts to understand her situation. The novel is rich with description of life on the mental ward of a prison, creating a cold, yet realistic, depiction of Mary’s day-to-day. The only shortfall of the novel is a somewhat trite ending, which feels too good to be true after the stark realities of the previous 200 pages. Still, the book raises questions about what being homeless really means and who “those people” actually are. With a character whose background seems to be pulled directly from the stories of thousands who have found themselves upon hard times, it’s impossible to close the book without wondering – could it happen to me? Sponsored Review by Jennifer McCoy Tatum
Modern Literature
Gifts of the Peramangk By Dean Mayes Central Avenue Publishing, $15.95, 334 pages, Format: eBook «««.5 The Delfey family is struggling. Rex, the nominal head of the family, takes part-time work when he can find it and drinks the rest of the time, terrorizing his family. His wife, Belle, works successive twelve-hour shifts that leave her exhausted with little time to do more than sleep. His mother, Virginia, is slowly slipping, becoming inattentive and absent-minded. His oldest son, Jeremy, is angry all the time and has gotten involved with a local gang. His niece, Ruby, doesn’t understand why her aunt and uncle dislike her and worries about what will happen when her grandmother and guardian Virginia can’t take care of her any longer. It all comes down to history. A happy child in an aboriginal family, Virginia, was taken from her mother on the slimmest of pretexts by the Aborigines Welfare Board and delivered to “the Pastoralist” on a remote farm, essentially becoming a slave. Homesick and afraid, Virginia finds her only solace in violin lessons given to her by the Pastoralist’s wife. Fifty years later, she relives these memories as she teaches Ruby, who has inherited her musical talents. Ruby is the heir to all this history, its sorrows and gifts, and she will be the one to save the family when her musical virtuosity lands her the chance of a lifetime. I knew little about the history of Australia and was fascinated— and more than a little disheartened—to learn about the country’s treatment of aboriginals and ongoing racism. Mayes’s characters inspire sympathy, and I kept reading to learn more about them. The diction, however, made reading Gifts of the Peramangk difficult. Eight-year-old impoverished Ruby often speaks like an educated adult, as do the other children. The slang is jarring and awkward when used and detracts from the plot. That said, I finished the book feeling uplifted and grateful for the Australian history lesson. Sponsored Review by Tammy McCartney
The People in the Photo By Helene Gestern Gallic Books, $14.95, 240 pages, Format: Trade
««««« Hélène has never known very much about her mother, Nathalie, who died in a car crash when Hélène was just a little girl. Curious, she places an advertisement in the newspaper, featuring a photo of her mom with two unknown men, hoping to find out a bit more about Nathalie’s past. Surprisingly, she gets a response from
Modern Literature
Stéphane, whose father is one of those other men. Between the two of them, Hélène and Stéphane slowly start to unravel a tangled past that connects their families together in unanticipated ways. But in the process, they just may learn some secrets that were better left buried. The People in the Photo is quite possibly the best novel I have read in many months. The story, told through a series of letters and emails between two strangers who rapidly become close, is intriguing and well-written. Each chapter begins with the description of another photograph that is important in the truth they are seeking, and while face-to-face meetings happen, they are only alluded to in the letters. Author Hélène Gestern has an amazing way with words, writing a mystery that will quickly draw you in and refuse to let go until you know what really happened to connect these two people together. I can’t recommend this novel highly enough. Reviewed by Holly Scudero
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Mystery, Crime & Thriller
Watching You By Michael Robotham Mulholland Books, $26.00, 432 pages, Format: Hard ««««.5 Watching You is the seventh book to feature Professor Joseph O’Loughlin, a psychologist with a keen mind but a body falling prey to Parkinson’s Disease. It begins with him advising one of his clients on how to deal with the emotional trauma of a husband who has gone missing. But things grow more interesting when someone breaks into our hero’s office to steal her file. We then get into one of these rather magnificently ambiguous plots in which the client may be nuts, the client may have a stalker, or the client may be nuts and have a stalker. Everything remains delightfully unresolved until about two-thirds of the way through, when it suddenly bursts into thriller life and sweeps us down to the ending where everything becomes clear except for one rather annoying detail. Overall, this is a wonderful series of novels and, if you have enjoyed the others, this is yet another to savor. If you have not yet tried this author, this is a good place to begin. Although it’s always better to start at the beginning of the series, this is sufficiently standalone to let you get started in discovering just how good the series is. Reviewed by David Marshall
A Dark Song of Blood (Martin Bora) By Ben Pastor Bitter Lemon Press, $14.95, 246 pages, Format: Trade
«««« A Dark Song of Blood by Ben Pastor is the third novel to feature Martin von Bora, an officer in the Wehrmacht during World War II. We’ve now reached 1944 with the Allies working their way up the Italian peninsula towards Rome. Bora therefore has to balance his contribution to planning the defense (and, later, orderly retreat) and his desire to see justice done when three people are found dead in Rome. In many ways this is a historical novel dealing in some detail with the German army’s slow defeat through attrition in men and equipment, the increasingly hostile attitude of the Italian civilian population, the tangled political situation involving the Vatican, and the internal strains between the Wehrmacht and the SS. In the midst of all this, Bora and an Italian detective, Sandro Guildi, wrestle with first one death, and then two others who may have died as a murder/suicide. Although this is a dark period of history, the book rather nicely captures the moral dilemmas of all the different groups as the Germans more obviously begin to lose the war. Even though some of the events described are unsettling, this is a fascinating and powerful book as one man does his best to do what’s right. Reviewed by David Marshall
An Interview with
Oceanview Publishing By David Marshall
David Marshall: I should start by congratulating you on the rapid progress made by Oceanview Publishing. An alarming number of small presses spring up each year. Few prosper and only a tiny percentage persist and grow into something more substantial. How does it feel to have come so far since the start in 2006? Oceanview: Thank you, David. I have always operated under the philosophy that, if you don’t know you can’t accomplish something, you just might make it happen, against all odds. In essence, it is like acting as if you are successful, to become successful. The journey from publishing our first book in 2006 to where we are today is exciting, especially when you consider the range and talent of our authors.
SUMMER READING ROUNDUP By Erin Holtgreve, Publicist, SparkPoint Studio
The Matchmaker by Elin Hilderbrand 48-year old Dabney was born with the gift of matchmaking and with 42 happy couples together to date, she has plenty to be happy about. That is, except in the case of herself and Clendenin Hughes—a woman seeking Dabney’s help to heal the heart a green-eyed boy took from her 27 years ago. When tragedy strikes and threatens Dabney’s own second chance, she’s forced to share painful secrets with her family as she learns the meaning of love and loss. Love and Other Foreign Words by Erin McCahan Josie is constantly translating and speaking languages like High School, College, Friends, and more; however, only her best friend Stu and sister Kate speak Josie’s native language. When Kate gets engaged, Josie sees it as the mistake of a lifetime and vows to break the couple up. As the journey to the wedding day grows closer, Josie is forced to confront and decipher her feelings for her boyfriends, sister, and best friend. The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith The second in the highly-acclaimed Cormoran Strike series returns with a new investigation filled with the plot twists and surprise endings only Robert Galbraith can deliver. When author Owen Quine goes missing, his distressed wife calls Cormoran Strike to do some private investigating into his disappearance. Soon, Cormoran discovers that Owen has just completed a manuscript with damning stories that would ruin lives of almost everyone around him—a perfect motive for silencing the would-be tattle tale.
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Science Fiction & Fantasy
Turtle Recall: The Discworld Companion. . .So Far By Terry Pratchett, Stephen Briggs Harper, $27.99, 464 pages, Format: Hard
««««« Encompassing more than 40 novels, supplements, short stories, plays, maps, and science texts, the DiscWorld universe is among the most detailed, expansive, and elaborate in literary history. Turtle Recall has the unenviable task of serving as an encyclopedia of DiscWorld characters and lore, walking a tightrope between accessible to casual readers and complete enough for obsessive fans. And as the latter, I can proudly state that Briggs and Pratchett have done a topnotch job with this DiscWorld companion. Turtle Recall covers all aspects of the DiscWorld, from animals, items, and places to people, gods, and organizations. Whether it’s a magical occurrence or a scientific theory, you’re bound to find it
Science Fiction & Fantasy
First published overseas in 1999, it’s finally gotten an American release, so a few small snippets are out of date. (Reading the schedule of “planned” NASA missions was a little disheartening.) And yet, it remains a thoroughly enjoyable way to teach some of the more complex scientific ideas to readers. Reviewed by Glenn Dallas
Skin Game By Jim Butcher Roc, $27.95, 464 pages, Format: Hard
««««« Harry Dresden, wizard and general kicker of evil butt, is about to have a very bad day. His new boss, Mab, the faerie queen of winter, has ordered him to settle a debt by helping his most hated old enemy with a dangerous heist, which will put everything Harry holds dear at risk. But Mab, of course, has her own motivations, and just maybe wants him to sabotage the whole operation, without seeming to. Maybe. Oh, and there’s a crippling parasite in Harry’s mind that may burst out at any moment and kill him and his friends in the process. As if he didn’t have enough to worry about. Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series is always fun, and Skin Game is no exception, exciting, action-packed, and exhibiting the narrator’s trademark sense of humor and abounding Star Wars references. It’s a five-star nonstop thrill ride of a read. But it is worth pointing out how much Harry, as a character, has grown since the early days in Storm Front. The façade of the noirish private detective with magic has fallen away as Harry has, essentially, leveled up. In terms of story, this means that Harry spends less time wandering around trying to figure out what’s going on, adapting to and escaping from danger with pockets full of magical items, and more time putting his own plans and contingency plans into motion. Nothing wrong with that; it just indicates that the genre of the series has shifted from mystery-thriller toward action-thriller. All are equally entertaining, and if you ever feel nostalgic, you can re-read the old ones. Reviewed by James Rasmussen
Pirates vs. Dinosaurs By Richard Launius Jolly Roger Games,, $65.00 Format: Board Game 2-6 Players, Ages 10+ 60-90 minutes
««««.5
Games
Reviewed by James Rasmussen
Contents: 1 Game Board 6 Pirate Mats 12 Landmark Tiles 12 Map Fragments 6 First Mate Cards 12 Crew Weapon Cards 8 Relic Cards 42 Item Cards 60 Treasure Tokes 16 Curse Tiles 16 Envoy Tokes 85 Crew Pawns 76 Island Cards 6 Location Markers 6 Time Markers 5 Special Dice 1 Giant T-Rex
The name says it all, really. Players each command a crew of cutthroats and scalawags in search of a buried treasure… on a mysterious island full of dinosaurs. Pirates vs. Dinosaurs is a complex and action packed board game played in several phases, from crew creation to exploring the island to digging for the treasure. The game allows players to equip their crew with a variety of weapons and equipment to suit their play style. For example, the player who wants to excel in combat can bring along a cannon, and receive huge bonuses in battle, but will be slowed down in exploring for having to lug such an unwieldy piece of equipment. Another player, though, might bring along ropes and supplies to better explore the island, but be vulnerable to dinosaur attack. In addition to equipment, each player selects a first mate with a limited-use special ability, and a relic that provides a unique bonus throughout the game. Through all these options, experienced players can choose to specialize and excel in certain areas, or try to cover all the bases with small bonuses in a variety of situations. Once the crew is formed, the players are off to explore the various zones of the island for the landmarks that will lead them to the hidden treasure. While exploring, the pirate crews will have to cope with natural disasters, angry natives, occasional windfalls, and, of course, dinosaur at-
Art, Architecture & Photography
Bright Bazaar: Embracing Color for Make-You-Smile Style By Will Taylor St. Martin’s Press, $32.50, 192 pages, Format: Hard
««««« No one will ever accuse Will Taylor of being beige, boring, or bland. He is the professor of paint and the wizard of wash. With his ideas through this dazzling book, you can remake your furniture, your rooms, your entire house into a brilliant palette of color and texture. Gone are the days of white or off-white walls with the occasional mauve or toast accent wall. With Will Taylor’s book in your hand, you will be brave enough to try a kaleidoscope of colors yourself.
“AFTER ALL, TO ME COLOR IS ABOUT HAVING FUN AND EXPRESSING YOUR PERSONALITY, AND THERE’S NOTHING MORE HEDONISTIC THAN A MULTICOLORED PALETTE.”
Review
Tupelo Honey Cafe:
New Southern Flavors From The Blue Ridge Mountains By Elizabeth Sims and Chef Brian Sonoskus Andrews McMeel Publishing, $29.99, 240 pages, Format: Hard
History
Bourbon: A History of the American Spirit By Dane Huckelbridge William Morrow, $25.99, 288 pages, Format: Hard
««««« Bourbon: A History of the American Spirit by Dane Huckelbridge is a highly readable, incredibly entertaining history of bourbon and its twinning into the growth of a nation. From the discovery of distilling to the corporate liquor industry, bourbon’s history mirrors all major events in American history, including some not-so-remembered events, such as the great Boston molasses disaster of 1919, when 2.3 million gallons of Caribbean molasses washed over the city in a tidal wave of sweetness. This is the history you won’t get in history class, the kind of memorable, quirky, ironic moments that are every bit as much of the making of a nation as dry dates and memorization.
BOURBON WHISKEY, WHEN CAREFULLY EXAMINED AND HELD UP TO THE LIGHT, IS THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, DISTILLED, AGED, AND SEALED IN A BOTTLE. From the settling at Jamestown to the present day clamor for bourbon in all its incarnations, from artesian bourbons to corporate-owned factories, this book illustrates how no other beverage is as closely tied to American history as bourbon. And the footnotes are hysterical. The biggest flaw of Bourbon is that reading it will make you want to pour a glass three fingers full and sit back to sip. Reviewed by Axie Barclay
History
Inspiring Generations: 150 years, 150 Stories in Yosemite By Anniversary Story Book Committee Yosemite Conservancy, $19.95, 416 pages, Format: Trade ««««.5 There is no doubt Abraham Lincoln was one of our greatest presidents, but one may not realize one of the greatest gifts he gave to the people of this country was Yosemite Valley. He signed the Yosemite Grant Act to protect and preserve what became a beloved national park, one of the first designated in the late 1800s. In celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Yosemite Grant Act, a contest was held for people to write their memories of the park in stories and poems. From over four hundred entries, 150 were chosen. They have been put together along with quite a few photographs, including many historical ones, in one nice volume.
“MY REASONS FOR GOING VARY: SOMETIMES I JUST NEED A LITTLE SOLITUDE AND TO CLEAR MY HEAD, SO I GO ALONE. OFTEN I’VE GONE BECAUSE THE WEATHER WAS GORGEOUS AND THE FALLS WERE CALLING.” The writings are personal, honest, and heartfelt, each magnifying a moment that is extremely special to one or a few, allowing readers to share those moments and understand the extraordinary importance of place in our memories. The writings are arranged in ten sections, and each section has an opening photograph and a closing quotation. The stories span the history quite well by including stories passed down through generations to those who wrote them, and the collection really highlights the beauty of this incredible place. Reviewed by Rosi Hollinbeck
Music & Movies
FEATURED REVIEW
The Who FAQ: All That’s Left to Know About Fifty Years of Maximum R&B By Mike Segretto Backbeat Books, $24.99, 400 pages, Format: Trade «««« Reviewed by Hubert O’Hearn
I
It’s a bit of a fool’s game to choose a Mount Rushmore of classic rock bands. For one thing, given that The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and The Who each had four members, it would get more than a little crowded on that South Dakota mountain. Plus it would really piss off Abraham Lincoln and you don’t want to be around Abe Lincoln when he’s pissed off. The number of hotel rooms that man trashed in his time ... Such fun Presidential fantasies aside, the real point of choosing the Top Four all-time rock bands just leads to nasty arguments, as most people would draw up slightly different lists, although anyone who did not choose The Beatles richly deserves to spend the rest of his life on a desert island with nothing but a battery-driven Eight Track player with a single copy of KC and The Sunshine Band’s Greatest Hits to drive the castaway into madness. (Oh alright, we’ll throw in a DVD player and a concert film of One Direction. We are merciful. We believe in quick executions.) The Who would definitely make my list. When I reached university near the end of the band’s golden age, which stretched from The Who Sell Out through Who Are You, they were the first group I fell in love with. There were only two posters on my dorm room wall: one of Linda Ronstadt because you know, I’m a guy; and the second one was The Who in full concert fury. Pete Townshend was in mid-leap, Keith Moon’s drumsticks a beige blur, Roger Daltrey swirling a microphone above his bare chest, and John Entwistle looking on like a parent wondering what the kids had broken this time. Before heading off to exams, the last song I would play would be Underture from Tommy, for proper inspiration; and
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