Review: Winter World

Winter World by A.G. Riddle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So, I’m a self-professed fan of post-apocalyptic lit, but I prefer it without zombies, monsters or “nerdy” elements that make me feel like an outsider. I was surprised, then, to find that I actually LOVED this book, in spite of the sometimes lengthy intellectual passages that explicated aspects of astronomy and space travel. What impressed me most was the character development. Author A.G. Riddle has breathed life into a variety of personas, each unique, interesting and, most importantly, believable. Additionally, the I was completely engaged, from page one through the edge-of-your-seat conclusion—so much so, in fact, that I hated to turn the final page! I was, however, thrilled to discover that there’s a sequel, which I intend to begin tonight!

If you long for a good story, with characters you will love, look no further and make this one your next read!

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Review: The Overdue Life of Amy Byler

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This light-hearted novel is the story of Amy Byler, a high school librarian, abandoned by her husband, John, and left alone to raise her two young children. When John suddenly reappears three years later and wants to reestablish a relationship with his kids, Amy reluctantly agrees to allow him to spend a week alone with daughter Cori and son Joe, while she attends a librarian conference in NYC. What begins as a short trip blossoms into a full-blown “momspringa”, as Amy rediscovers herself and finally realizes what is truly important.

The format of the novel is at once a bit confusing and brilliant. Chapters alternate between those told in first person from Amy’s perspective, and those written as reading journal entries from the point of view of teenage daughter Cori. The voices are well-developed and unique, capturing the essence of both a brooding, witty and sarcastic teen and a harried mom in search of herself.

This novel may be a niche piece, as much of the enjoyment comes from the ability to catch the literary references. Well-versed readers will delight in the Latin puns and jokes, as well as the clever nods to John Dewey, and those with an affinity for YA lit (especially those who teach it) will find the subplots relatable and perhaps even enlightening and educational. There are a few things here that I will certainly attempt to implement in my own classroom next fall.

My only misgivings about the book relate directly to the conclusion. It seemed almost “soap-operaesque”, overly affected and a bit melodramatic for my tastes, but considering the laugh-out-loud moments sprinkled throughout, the sappy conclusion can almost be forgiven.

Overall, this is a must read for librarians and English teachers, though it is also a pretty good beach read for anyone with a sense of humor.

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Review: One Final Gasp

One Final Gasp by Jacqueline Druga
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

One Final Gasp by Jacqueline Druga is a book I really WANTED to like. After all, Druga is a fellow Pittsburger with a penchant for post-apocalyptic fiction—a combination right up my proverbial alley, and one that I had hoped would result in solid gold. Unfortunately, this book laid waste to that optimistic bent, leaving in it’s a wake a tarnished and pitted brass finish that failed to conceal the cheap materials beneath. It is this lack of substance and editing (editorial?) polish that relegates the novel to two star status. I could write a dissertation regarding the holes in the plot, but I’ve decided to instead regale you with a boatload of quotes, thereby allowing you to form your own opinion. So, let’s get started, shall we?

”Matt had the gourmet, daily special sandwiches and coffee, they were on the outside table ready and waiting for when Hailey arrived.”

Punctuation is your friend. On the off chance Druga peruses this review, I offer this link, which will explain comma splices and run-on sentences. http://guidetogrammar.org/grammar/run...

”It was chilly out, but he kept his jacket zipped. The cooler air helped him stay awake.”

::sigh:: In all fairness, this one *might* be a result of my own inability to puzzle it out, but indulge me for a moment. So, it’s chilly. Shouldn’t that mean he KEPT his jacket zipped? Why the “but”? Or....should it read “he kept his jacket UNZIPPED”. That would make the next sentence more logical, no? He kept his jacket UNzipped so that the cool air could help him to stay awake? Clearly I’m overthinking this one, as there are so many more exciting editing errors to discuss. Moving right along...

”Elias had an entire statement prepared that he read it for the committee.”

*humming* One of these things is not like the others! One of these things doesn’t belong! If you guessed the word “it”, you’re absolutely right! *end of my off key attempt to channel Sesame Street.* Let’s just edit this one together and motor on, ok? “Elias had an entire statement prepared that he read for the committee.”

”Now, we can beat the plague now, but if a new Disease X emerges, seventy-five percent...”

Easy one. I mean this is just a throw away example. I’ll let you figure it out. Hint: redundant.

”The sat in a booth, Glen across from Eve.”

Ok, I’ll bite. THE WHAT?? Perhaps “they”?

“I asked Damien how he think it went.”

How he THINK it went? That isn’t even good slang. *shaking my head*

”It was her father, Luke expected for his face to face with him to be far worse than Matt’s.”

Sorry, but this one is just too convoluted to even attempt to fix.

“Like tried to stay calm, but he cried the entire way home.”

Like, that’s totally badass that the main character, Luke, has been transformed into a verb posing as a noun. For shame.

”You would have to of been in close proximity to someone that early to pass it on.”

So this is a pet peeve. HAD TO HAVE BEEN. *sitting down to calm my frazzled grammar-sensitive nerves.*

“I understand and the agency can you help you.”

Oh you good you! I was concerned! *God help me to not scream and frighten my neighbors*.

”Once and awhile I’ll cough, but it's really painful.”

It can’t possibly be as painful as reading this nonsense. *sobbing*. Once IN a while.

”It was twenty-four hours later and the first time since being on the plane he had been able to sleep, it wasn’t by choice.”

Sleeping wasn’t by choice? Was he drugged? (No). Was he hit over the head? (No). Additionally, please again refer to the link for run-one posted above.

”He’d work a little bit more, then head back out to search the streets for that homeless mad.”

If this were used in a novel full of colorful language, from an author known to take liberties with language in order to drive home a point, I would have applauded “searching for a homeless mad”. Unfortunately, it’s yet another typo and should have read “homeless man”.

”His final last moments in Boston were with the senator on a speaker phone call with the president in a conference room at NIEDL.”

Final last? Final LAST? Wtf? Additionally, ambiguity here just doesn’t work. Fix it, damn it! *sorry, my patience is wearing thin.*

”Conner said. “According to Marvin’s research there...”

OMG! The man’s name is MARCUM—THERE IS NO MARVIN. Seriously, how was this missed?

”However, it had been hours, Elias didn’t want to see if they were still there.”

I. JUST. CAN’T.

”The church bells rang for the eleven a.m. service, but no one really showed.”

STOP! Hang on! No one “really” showed? Did they or didn’t they?? TELL ME DAMMIT!

”Matt undid the draw sting on his shorts...”

*eye twitch* This shit would be funny if it weren’t so sad.

”Walking out the door into the hall was like part of a dream. She even felt a little dizzy as if she were suffering from algophobia.”

She was suffering from a pain phobia? That just doesn’t even make any sense! She had been holed up in a room for weeks—perhaps agoraphobia? The dictionary is a lovely resource, and the mind is a terrible thing to waste. I have no idea why that came to mind, but it seems pitifully appropriate.

“Okay. Stew sung out the word. “Can we all agree on this? It doesn’t matter how many people remain.”

Please. Make. It. Stop. They are now murdering punctuation. THAT SHOULD BE A FELONY!

“I know. We supposed to bring about two dozen people there in the next week or so.”

We supposed to. We SUPPOSED to? We ARE supposed to? Jesus be a proofreader. My heart hurts.


There you have it. If you’ve made it this far, you’ve read but a tiny sampling of the myriad errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation and common sense. I need a nap and the ability to recoup the hours I spent between these pages.




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Review: Supermarket

Supermarket by Bobby Hall
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Ok, I debated rating this a two, instead settling on middle of the road. That doesn’t mean I liked it—at ALL. In fact, I couldn’t wait for it to end. The three stars, then, reflect only the ingenuity of the author. With that said....

It’s difficult to discuss this one with some spoilers. So, here they are!

(view spoiler)[ When the book opens, we are introduced to the narrator, Flynnigan. He is twenty four, lives in his mother’s basement, and was recently dumped by his girlfriend, Lola. His father is deceased, a victim of suicide after a schizophrenic breakdown. Flynn is actually a writer, who in the midst of his own depression suddenly receives a substantial advance to finish his first novel. With that advance, he rents his own place, adopts a dog and takes a job at the local supermarket in order to research background for his book. Immediately, his circumstances are suspect. For example, when he walks his dog, Bennett, he describes the reactions of those around him. CLEARLY something isn’t right. Couple that with the hereditary nature of schizophrenia, and you’ve figured out the hook. There is no dog. There is no supermarket. Instead, Flynn is a patient in a mental institution, where he mentally turns doctors, orderlies and fellow patients into coworkers.

The book changes direction enough times to have left me dizzy, and the reader is never sure what’s real and what is being created by Flynn. This idea of an unreliable narrator is nothing new, but it felt like author Bobby Hall was pushing the envelope with the concept. The writing felt forced, juvenile and immature, and read more like a rough draft than an edited and published novel. (hide spoiler)]

Overall, for me this just fell flat.

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Review: All These Beautiful Strangers

All These Beautiful Strangers by Elizabeth Klehfoth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book, though I wasn’t sure exactly into which genre the author intended it be placed. On one hand, this is adolescent lit, as it tells the story of high school junior Charlotte (Charlie) Calloway as she comes of age in a prep school environment. On the other hand, however, I felt like much of the subject matter (suicide, murder, sex, drugs, etc.) were handled in a way that would demand a certain amount of maturity in order to appreciate.

The plot that drives the novel is actually two fold. First is the story of Charlie and her initiation into a secret prep school “club” known as the A’s. Second is the tale of Charlie’s mother, who disappeared years earlier under suspicious circumstances, though Charlie was always led to believe that her mother abandoned her and her sister in search of greener pastures. The story of the A’s and that of Charlie’s mother intersect, delivering a powerful message about the destructive nature of secrets and lies.

The writing here is sound, and the characters are exceptionally well developed. The point of view is first person, with alternating speakers from chapter to chapter. The author handled these transitions beautifully, with a separate and distinct voice for each of these characters as they offered facts and background critical to a full appreciation of the work.

I always consider a book to be a success when first, it sticks with me, and second, when I can become so wrapped up in the reading that the room around me “disappears”. This novel did both. I still find myself wondering where those characters would have landed had the author written a follow up.

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