Day: March 10, 2018

Greetings, fellow creatures who never sleep! I’m here with another book review, this time a Book based in an amalgamation of various mythologies the likes of which I’ve never read before. Of course, as is the case with many such amazing books, this one is mostly based in Greek mythology as a way to tie together several mythologies from around the world. The book reviewed in this post is Hubris (The Siren Tragedies Book 1) by Sarah V. Hines.

Mnemosyne created humanity. It was a science project for her, really, that grew into so much more. She had their best interests at heart, even to the point of choosing her husband based on his intentions–or lack thereof–with humans. Unfortunately, it was the wrong choice for Mnemosyne, one which left her and her daughters in an endless cycle of physical and psychological abuse. When pregnant with her final daughter, Mnemosyne is at her wife’s end. What if this child got the worst of her husband’s abuse? What if she couldn’t survive it? The best which Mnemosyne can do for her is to turn to Zherneboh–her husband’s brother with ages-long infatuation with her, for one last desperate attempt at protection.

Fast-forward to the present day. Earth is in chaos from all the pacts which humans have entered with the Dark One and his minions, the Dark Lords. Alexandros, in charge of the Light World, Earth, and all who inhabit both, plans to cleanse the human race and start anew. Yet he has gained a powerful enemy: Telese, his youngest and most rebellious daughter. She wants to save the human race and gain her own freedom from her father’s abuse, and she’s desperate enough to do whatever will take to accomplish these goals–and foolish enough to involve humans and Dark Lords. Will her plan succeed? Will she suffer more than ever at her father’s hand after he quashes the rebellion? Or, like fire, will she rise from the burning embers of her pain more powerful than before?

Hines has created a complex and layered world of magic and mythology which admittedly envy some. She has taken tidbits from mythology and legends from multiple parts of the world and created one comprehensive universe in which these all have a foundation which is based not in the human mind but in something very real and very threatening to human existence. From Greek mythology to Arthurian legends, Hines at least makes nods to several major European tales. I admire her ability to find the similarities among these cultures and use them to reverse-energy an imagined source to use in her fantastical world.

Of course, all of this dazzling world development did leave me a little dizzy at points. I found myself distracted for most of the book trying to make sense of the origin story used in this novel–and if, in fact, the one told by Telese is all the truth, especially when compared to the prologue. I also grew distracted by trying to figure out who might be who in different mythologies which I have a basic understanding of, but that might more be my own wandering mind looking for patterns as it always does rather than any flaw in the book’s part.

The characters, I think, are my favorite part of this book. I especially have an affinity for Telese and Eric, as well as a twisted and amused fascination with Mortimer. Telese is so powerful and independent, how could I not love her? She’s a bit antisocial, but I’m sure anyone would be if they endured what she has to. Similarly, Eric is withdrawn and bookish, a linguist major with a master for translation. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t automatically bind with him over him being a linguist. I saw so much of myself in his fascinations and pursuits that a bond was inevitable. Mortimer,on the other hand, is cocky, arrogant, and very self-assured. I would have smacked him given how he was in the beginning, but by the end he fleshes out into an almost sympathetic character–as much as a butt-kissing troublemaker can be–and I grew to kind of like the SOB. I don’t trust him as far as I can throw him, but I have a little affection for him.

The plot is also strong and intriguing. It wasn’t the main appeal of the book for me, but it certainly caught my attention and made me think. What if you had the fate of the world in your hands but also risk your own life in doing so? Would you walk away or do what you’re asked? I also wanted to see who would join Telese and who would side with Alexandria out of fear…not to mention who would live and who would die. There might be such a thing as a bloodless coup in politics, but not among family members, and this is the biggest family you will ever see.

I think that my classes in comparative literature gave me an edge in reading this book which others would not have, allowing me to relish in some references that might go over another reader’s head. Then again, I might just be underestimating the audience! Yes, some of the references will initially go over some readers’ heads, but Hines resolves most issues involving that as the book goes on. Whatever she doesn’t clear up, well, there’s always Google for that.

I was able to predict one character’s downfall early on, but it was the mechanics of the situation which I did not know, nor did I know exactly how it would affect the other characters. Needless to say, there are no damsels-in-distress here, and not one of them will stay extinguished for long.

Overall, I think Hubris by Sarah V. Hines is a great book. Anyone interested in mythology and diverse cultures will definitely not want to miss this story. Not only does she try and cover several mythologies, Hines also depicts several races and ethnicities through the Sirens, who reflect that people of whatever region they are assigned to. The reveal of much of the information about this world is a bit jumbled, but that accurately reflects the state of chaos the Earth is in this book. I highly recommend this book to fantasy fans, mythology fans, and anyone interested in not-so-subtle political and social commentary. I can’t wait to see where Telese’s hubris takes us next!

You can buy Hubris by Sarah V. Hines on Amazon.

Do you know of any books I should read? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com and let me know!

Final review for the night! I’m covering another historical novel in this review, but this time, the book is about an Irish immigrant coming to America in the 1840s. This book is called Billy Gogan, American: A Novel by Roger Higgins.

Billy Gogan, only 15 years old, is sent to his cousin Seamas’s home after the death of his father and being dismissed from St. Patrick’s College in Ireland. While he is soon tracked down by Father O’Muirhily, one of his teachers from St. Patrick’s College, Billy is not headed back the familiar setting of the school. Instead, Seamas gives him a ticket for the Maryann, a ship headed to New York City. With no other family and nowhere to go, Billy has no choice but to make his way to the promising shores of America and new start where no one knows of him or his father.

Unfortunately for Billy, this fresh start brings him even more baggage than what he had in Ireland. From witnessing the murder of Father O’Muirhily by a man in black to befriending a fellow passenger of the Maryann and falling in love with a mulatto girl, Billy’s voyage to and arrival in the Great Melting Part is filled with adventure, scandal, voter fraud, love, and mystery. While wrapped up in the new life he is trying to build for himself, Billy does not realize that the man in black who killed Father O’Muirhily is hot on his trail. What does the man in black want? Why did he kill Father O’Muirhily? And exactly how much trouble will Billy get himself into in the slum that is Five Points?

The most fascinating part of this novel, I think, is the narrative voice and structure. Higgins could have easily fooled me into believing that it was a true memoir. With a forward by Niall Gogan, the grandson of Billy Gogan, and authentic-sounding nineteenth-century narration, Higgins went to great lengths to give the reader an immersive reading experience. Perhaps the most impressive feat, in my opinion, is Higgins’s use of truly Irish names. Of course, being British by birth himself, I suppose that Higgins should know better than to use Anglicized versions of Irish names unless the Irish characters are trying to seem less British, such as Billy’s second cousin Evelyn. Readers will probably stumble over the Irish names, but they enhance the authentic feel of the narrative established by the use of Irish colloquialisms (including swearing and ethnic slurs).

On a similar note, there is some language here that might not be considered politically correct today. In fact, the descendant of Billy Gogan says as much in the forward and argues not removing them because it would change the context of these situations. Really, the slurs aren’t too glaring, but some readers might still want to keep this in mind while they are going through this book.

Higgins’s research is truly impeccable. As a bit of a history nerd myself, I was impressed by how well he captured the Irish immigrant’s experience in the 1800s. The good, the bad, the very bad, all presented in a way in which the reader could empathize with Billy. He shows the deplorable condition of the slums which Irish immigrants and ex-slaves had to call home, as well as the divisive social hierarchy. However, Higgins ensures that there are enough positive points to keep the negatives palatable. In America, Billy completes his education, gets work, falls in love, and reunites with Mary Skidder, a fellow passenger of the Maryann, and forms a brother-sister bond with her. Unfortunately for poor Billy—and sensitive readers—the darkness might just overtake the bright points in his life.

Even as Billy does some questionable things, I couldn’t help but to feel for him and want everything to turn out all right for him. I even found it hard to fault him for something as serious as beaning another boy in the head during a game of cricket (the kid had it coming, if you ask me). I still wanted life to work out for Billy. Higgins doesn’t exactly give me that pleasure, but as this is only book one and he clearly ends up with a family eventually, I suppose I just have to be patient and read the next book.

While Billy’s experiences as an immigrant are a huge focal point for the book, much of the narrative centers on mystery and crime. From the man in black following him to the political corruption of Tammany Hall, the reader is never short on intrigue and tension. I even have to wonder about his father’s “death.” Billy had not been allowed to see him in jail for quite some time, and then his father dies of some illness just weeks before the Great Liberator is pardoned? And then an unknown man tells the Headmaster of St. Patrick’s College of Billy’s father’s death before disappearing? It’s all very suspect, and I deeply hope that Higgins returns to it in book two.

I noticed maybe one or two proofreading errors in the almost 400-page novel which could not be accounted for by the use of the Irish language. However, they are so minor and infrequent that they do not detract from the reading experience and are pretty much negligible.

Overall, I loved Billy Gogan by Roger Higgins. I’m simply floored by the depth of Higgins’s research and his ability to capture the speech and spirit of the Irish immigrant. If you aren’t a history nerd like I am, you might find this book a little tedious, although the mystery element could still be enough to pull you in. If you are a history nerd, I doubt I need to sell you on this book any further. Just get ready for a big time commitment. The book is long and not all of writing is easily acceptable to the average American reader. You’ll probably make good use of the glossary provided at the beginning as there’s naturally a lot of Irish slang used, but this book is worth the extra effort. Besides, it’s not every day that you get to learn a little Irish slang! I personally can’t wait to see where Billy’s story takes us next. Based on the sneak peek at the back of the book, it looks like we’re heading for the Mexican-American War!

You can buy Billy Gogan by Roger Higgins as an eBook and in print on Amazon.

Do you know of a book I should read?  E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com and let me know!

 

Here’s the next review, folks! This time, I’m reviewing an interesting throwback to the 1950s which I think can best be described as Stand by Me mixed with The Outsiders twisted by a sense of humor and adventure unique to this author. The book I’m reviewing in this post is The Little Bastards by Jim Lindsay.

As with each decade since the turn of the twentieth century, growing up in the 1950s was an experience unlike any other, even more so in logging and other rural areas away from the big cities. No war to suffer through and the Great Depression come and gone, it was a time to be wild and push the limits—unfortunately, some limits are there for a reason, and pushing them can have unintended consequences.

The Little Bastards takes the reader through the teenaged years of Sonny Mitchell and his close group of friends, appropriately nicknamed “The Little Bastards”. From bicycles to hot rods, corpses to girls, and chump change to summer jobs, this book follows the transformation of these boys into blue-collar young men. Along the way, readers get to watch as The Little Bastards’ personalities change as well as their interests. Some loosen up, some fall in love, and some reveal a side to themselves that no one knew they had, maybe not even them. All the while, Lindsay reveals what it was like to grow up in the 50s, including some of the stupid sh*t that boys would do. For The Little Bastards, as their risk-taking gets wilder and their need for adventure and rebellion grow, so do their brushes with danger, until it all but becomes too much for anyone to handle.

The first element of this book which caught me off-guard was the seamless way in which Jim Lindsay wrote in the colloquial style of a boy growing up in that decade. Of course, it probably helped that he grew up during that time himself. I didn’t know some of the terms used, given that I wasn’t even born for four more decades, but they’re easy to figure out from context. (Anything I couldn’t figure out I could just look up on Google.)

Still, keeping true to such a voice also meant saying a lot of things which might make some readers uncomfortable. Mostly, the boys swear a lot and use phrases which are not considered “appropriate” nowadays. No big deal for some readers, but a really big deal for others. (I, for one, expect it, especially in a book about this time period.) The swearing also adds even more humor to the tale than there already is, along with some of the other colloquialisms you would probably not say in polite company. Jake’s explanation of Sonny’s erection, for example, had me all but bursting out laughing, but I doubt you’d want to use the phrase “lover’s balls” in mixed company.

Lindsay also develops a wide range of three-dimensional, dynamic characters that I couldn’t help but fall in love with. They certainly deserve their nickname, mind you, but it’s in an almost endearing way. Each of these little bastards have strong, individual personalities and histories which add depth to their character. For me, among the most memorable in the group were Joe, the tough SOB who was practically left to fend for himself due to a bad home life; Billy, the leader of the group as well as the most academic, the only one with plans to go to college; Johnny, the youngest and most gullible in the group, eager to please; Miles, a quiet guy with a beast inside that even his friends don’t expect; and my personal favorite, Archie, the son of a mortician with a grim sense of humor. Sonny is also quite the character, a risk-taker but also hardworking and rather valiant when he wants to be. They each border on stereotype at first, but it doesn’t take long for Lindsay to turn that idea on its head.

The escalation in the costs of their risk-taking had me on the edge of my seat. The narrative grows darker as the boys get older and the risks become more…daring, but, for the most part, the humor still remains to alieve some of the tension. This escalation was aided to an increasing emotional investment in these characters; honestly, I felt as though I could’ve been reading the journal of one of my mom’s older cousins. The voice and strong character development made it easy for me to become emotionally attached. In fact, sometimes the line between fact and fiction became minimal as everything that happened seemed possible. The result: an even stronger reaction to the boys’ misfortunes.

The ending left me surprised. In a way, I’m glad that it didn’t get as dark as it could have. On the other hand, it also left me stunned. I felt as though Lindsay could have easily kept on telling Sonny’s stories and I wouldn’t have gotten bored of them. Still, with a show-stopping conclusion like this, it probably would’ve been pretty hard to top it. Unfortunately, that’s all I can say without giving away too many spoilers.

I noticed a couple minor proofreading errors, but no more than is acceptable in a professionally-published novel.

Overall, The Little Bastards by Jim Lindsay is a great book. It’s funny, engaging, and gripping. Frankly, I think it captures the era perfectly, at least from a teenager’s perspective, and I think that would make it perfect for anyone interested in that time period. For those who aren’t, the characters are entertaining and well-developed, and the situations—all of which are like short stories themselves—will pull you in anyway. There’s nothing better than a couple of fourteen-year-olds getting the crud scared out of them inside a funeral home!

You can buy The Little Bastards by Jim Lindsay as an eBook or in print on Amazon.

Do you know of a book I should read? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com and let me know!