BOOK REVIEW # 2015-133 - THE OLD MAN AND THE CAT

I received an ARC [Advanced Reader’s Copy] of this book from the publisher through a GoodReads giveaway; and the following is my honest opinion.

My dear OH and I are cat lovers and have at least one cat for over 20 years.  And no matter what you might think you might out, as the author of this book found out, a cat adopts/owns you and not the other way around.

Shortly after the author and his wife return from a trip to Namibia in Africa a small kitten appeared at their bedroom window. The kitten kept on appearing in their garden before Mr. Uddenberg realized it must have been spending the nights in the shed he had, sleeping curled up on his gloves. After returning home from a two-week trip to Stockholm he figure it would no longer be there, and would have gone back home. However it was still there, and began to increasingly endearing itself to the author.

Once he allowed it to enter their home, he began to use his experience as a psychologist to analyze its behavior. The author never had a pet, and didn’t expect to have one now, but he did. The author wrote this book to show how their relationship grew and both developed a need/respect/understanding for each other. This is endearing book for anyone who loves the relationship they share with their own cats/dogs.

When we adopted another cat when our second cat had died, we were taken into one of the rooms the shelter had their cats in and while there were several beautiful young cats there, one in particular came over to me and gave me head-butts on my hand demanding my attention to rub it and to take it home.

In reading/reviewing the ARC copy of this book several things had to be kept in mind. First and foremost is the fact that it’s an UNCORRECTED proof copy of the book; meaning errors might be found throughout the book. Furthermore, since this book is the English translation from the original Swedish, errors might be found regarding the translation as well. When I looked at the preview pages of the German translation of this book, I read the first paragraph, and given the knowledge I still have from my college days, I found it to be more of what the English translation should look like.

There’s been no change in the preview pages for this book from what I have in my ADVANCED UNCORRECTED PROOF copy so I’ve got to wonder if the necessary changes have been made, which leaves me to give this book 3 STARS. However, I love the endearing story which has been presented here I would like to give it 5 STARS. In the end, given the quandary which has presented itself here, I’m giving this book 4 STARS.

US:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1250059755

UK:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1250059755

BOOK REVIEW # 2015-132 - HOW TO WRITE A SIMPLE REVIEW

I received a e-book version of this book through a giveaway on LibraryThing from the author, and the following is my honest opinion.

To set the record straight I’ve been a Book Reviewer since last August and when I saw Ms. Abbott’s book being offered as a giveaway I decided to enter it basically to see if I’ve learning anything through my own experiences writing reviews. Surprise it to say I’ve not, which means the author has done a thorough job in presenting the information contained in this book.

I didn’t start being a Book Reviewer, I started as an author almost three years, and currently have two books written and self-published. I began reading/reviewing books as a way of increasing my writing knowledge with books I’d obtained through giveaways throughout the internet.

Ms. Abbott is correct is saying authors are always looking for reviewers of their books which is why many times they use giveaways. The unfortunately thing is while they hope they get a review for each book they giveaway, they seldom get it.  So if you happen to receive a book through a giveaway, kindly right a review for the author in return. And if you do write a review for such a book, there is a FTC regulation which states you need to disclose this information in the review, just like I have here.

There are several kinds of reviews prevalent on sites like Amazon, and they run the gamut from quick one sentence jobs to those are filled with spoilers [giving away the plotline/detailed information about the book].

The real function of a review is to whet a potential reader’s interest in the book; that they wind up buying. One of the things I try to do in my review is to personalize it or to give a reference to a movie or even a song which someone reading the review can relate to.

While the author had mentioned authors being published by traditional publishers have an advantage over indie authors is the publishers handle promotions of the books. The fact of the matter is many times these authors at times have to do quite a bit of the promotions on their own.

How can you tell if you’ve written a good review? One of the ways is the HELPFUL votes your review has review. As for myself, it’s when the authors sends a THANK YOU message telling you how much they’ve enjoyed reading your review.

For educating others in becoming a book reviewer, I’ve given Ms. Allyson R Abbott 5 STARS.

NOTE: The author has used the British spelling of certain words and phrases in writing her book.

US:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015FQ85SW

UK:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B015FQ85SW

BOOK REVIEW # 2015-131 - ST CLAIR'S DEFEAT

I received a mobi.File [KINDLE] copy of this book from the author through a recent giveaway he had on LibraryThing and the following is my honest opinion.

One of my best subjects in high school was history where I had about a 92/93 average, and American History was my favorite of all the history classes I had.

One of the main reasons I can see this defeat has been repeatedly passed over is the lack of flamboyancy General St. Clair had when we compared him to General Custer. This is in spite of the fact that General Custer’s massacre had been only a fraction of the one St. Clair and his army experienced.

Native American history has for too long been swept under the rug and forgotten about. Although the historical documentation exists it has, in my opinion, been tucked away in archives gathering dust. I know how hard it is to research a particular event in history, as I’ve helped someone doing research on such an item, and had gone with this individual to Washington, D.C. where I was given access to the stacks of the Library of the Library of Congress for a given range of the LC classification system for books.

One interesting thing about this event is, if you recall all the history you ever took, while any major event in history has been usually been named for its location, this event was named for the person most responsible for it happening.

It is for this reason I admired the tenacity Mr. Walker had in gathering the information contained in this book and for presenting it in readable form which is so prevalent in most history books. Not only has this author merely given the information pertaining to this tragic event in American History, he has given the readers of this book some insight about the event. This is why I’m giving this book the 5 STARS it so richly deserves.

US:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016C7B11G

UK:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B016C7B11G

BOOK REVIEW # 2015-130 - THE SECRET NO-GIRLS CLUB

I received a mobi.File [KINDLE] copy of this book through a LibraryThing giveaway held by the author and the following is my honest opinion.

When I saw the title of this book I immediately got a nostalgic memory of my childhood, watching episodes of the original Hal Roach’s “Little Rascals” on the Black/White television we had at home. The particular episode was entitled He-Man Woman Haters Club and got started because no boy got invited to a certain party given by a girl. Spanky wanted to elect Alfalfa because . . . no need to go into any further details here.

While this story’s plot is not as complex, I loved the innocence portrayed by Logan and Caleb with their separation of the sexes by wanting to form a secret club which would allow no girls to join; even their rules excluded them. Boys and girls of this young age tend to keep apart from each other.

They ran into problems when it came to selecting their President. Ultimately they allowed Logan’s sister, Isabella, to join their secret club and somehow she got elected as their President.

It’s interesting; this is how the episode of The Little Rascal episode ended, with Darla Hood, Alfalfa’s “love interest,” getting elected as the President of their club. I know many grandparents will the connection between these two items, and will have the same kind of nostalgic memory as I have.

I found the language used in this book when it came to the dialogue to be authentic for the ages of its characters, and well suited as a whole for the audience this book has been written for; and is the reason I’ve given Ms. Cole 5 STARS for her endeavor here.

US:   http://www.amazon.com/dp/B013I197M4

UK:   http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B013I197M4

BOOK REVIEW # 2015-129 - PATTY CAKES and the STOLEN BALL

The best kind of children’s books I love to read/review are the ones which teaches its young readers important life lesson in an entertaining manner, while at the same time doesn’t hit its readers over the head with the lesson.

Patricia Lowry or Patty Cakes as she’s known to her friends is a sweet girl who unfortunately has the tendency to be blame for things she didn’t do. Being a child of the 1950’s, this became somewhat nostalgic for me as I remembered watch a TV series segment of the Mickey Mouse Club entitled “Annette” in which Annette Funicello played a country bumpkin living with her upperclass relatives. She gets picked on by her classmates and at a party gets accused a stealing an expensive necklace worn by her school’s most liked and admired girl during a party, which ruined her existence. At the end of this series, several months later, at another party, the necklace is finally found when someone is asked to play a song which had been played at the first party. The girl who had blamed Annette for the theft apologize, and the two became good friends.

When Patty’s brother, Thomas, loses his “treasured” lacrosse ball naturally she’s the one who gets blamed for its disappearance. An interesting thing is, Patty seems to be able to skillfully reduce serious problems when she’s faced with them. However, she apparently can’t do the same when it involves him. Needless to say, at the end of the story the missing lacrosse ball is found in a place no one seemed to bother to look previously.

Ms. Carr’s simplistic writing style in this book, reminds me of the Dick and Jane reader I read in first grade, which lends itself perfectly to the way many children talk amongst themselves and brings them into the story and the important lesson it attempts to communicate.

For the reasons I’ve attempted to address in the above, I’m happy to give this book 5 STARS.

US:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MGBOJTE

UK:  http://www.amazon.co.ok/dp/B00MGBOJTE

BOOK REVIEW # 2015-128 - DONALD GASKIN - The Meanest Man in America

After having three books written by Jack Rosewood in his “True Crime by Evil Killers” series; when I found he had added this book to the series, I had requested an e-book copy of it in return for my honest opinion and which he’d graciously honored my request.

Donald Gaskins didn’t earn the title of “The Meanest Man in America” for nothing; just read the life destiny had “forced” him to live. Try to imagine if you will being brought my a mother who had totally neglected you in your formable years to such an extend you didn’t even know your own name until your first appearance in court when they called your name and someone had to tell you it’s you.

Having no supervision from his mother he became a wild animal and the fact he received regular beatings from his various “stepfathers” didn’t help matters either. Given his relatively small stature he got the nickname of “PeeWee,” which is the probable cause of his getting repeatedly raped at reform school.

To Gaskins, killing became a way of life; he killed because of a variety of reasons which even included getting paid. He even killed a death row inmate for money. In his autobiography, Final Truth, Gaskins wrote about his having a mind which told him he had the "permission to kill" certain to kill.

Once again this author has succeeded in culling out all of the unnecessary information regarding this infamous serial killer to give his readers a concise biography. For giving all those who read this book, I’m giving Mr Rosewood’s endeavor here 5 STARS.

US:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015WS37CM

UK:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B015WS37CM

STATUS REPORT @ 64

In the past week I’ve read/reviewed a total of 7 books from four different genres, which for being a Book Reviewer is quite refreshing experience.

With two WIPs still sitting on the back burners, why am I looking at releasing the recycled short story I’d mentioned last week? Perhaps it’s my wanting to have a bigger variety of books of different genres published under my belt.

If this isn’t enough, having reviewed 190 books so far, from picture books for children to erotic romance novels, with one being actually being pornographic in nature, I figure it’s about time for me to step out of my comfort zone and write a short novella in the GLBT/Erotic category. So far, since yesterday, I’ve written about 750 words. I’m not going to give any details of it, but I’m going to post my progress on in each Status Report here on my blog.