Month: March 2018

Happy Sunday, folks! Well, technically (at least only “technically” in my neck of the woods). Let’s start off the day with another review, a book that’s drastically different from the last few I’ve reviewed but still completely worth a read. In this post, I’m reviewing Cursed!: My Devastatingly Brilliant Campaign to Save the Chigg by Idabel Allen.

Ginny’s about to start high school, an uneasy time in any boy’s or girl’s life. Unfortunately, that’s not the worst of Ginny’s problems: her beloved grandfather died the previous summer, the parents of two of her closest friends are keeping them away from her as a “bad influence,” and she’s lost her best friend. The icing on this “blucky” cake? Mr. Lan, her grandfather’s war buddy, has insisted on continuing his annual visit even after her grandfather’s death, and she has had to forfeit her room as a result. Not the best way for her to start this new phase in her young life.

With all of this turmoil, she needs to talk to someone about it. The closest available ear: Mr. Lan. And so Ginny begins to tell him the story of how she made and lost the best friend she could have ever had. Over the following 254 pages, a story of mystery, intrigue, curses, and friendship unfolds as Ginny and her new friend, nicknamed Chigger, seek out the truth of Chigger’s dark family history and what locals have dubbed the “Larson Curse.” Is there really a curse on Chigger and her family? What is the real story of her ancestors? And, most pressingly, how could a wonderful, vibrant girl like Ginny possibly lose her best friend?

Allen has created a gripping young adult novel reminiscent of Holes but with female (and, arguably, more entertaining) protagonists. She weaves layer upon layer of parallel narratives to convey her lessons of misunderstanding, cyclical mistakes, love, and friendship. The emotions are very raw and very real; I felt for Ginny in everything that she lost as well as for Chigger in her fear of the world and initial annoyance towards Ginny. I think that any young adult—any reader old enough to handle some of the darker scenes and violence, actually—will find something to relate to in these characters.

Perhaps the best thing about this novel is that it’s both compelling and hilarious. While not a quick read, I found myself turning page after page on my Kindle reader, desperate to discover the truth and see the ups and downs of Ginny and Chigger’s friendship. (I might be a little biased, though, because I love a good mystery. Then again, that means that Allen has created a good mystery!) The humor in Ginny’s rather delusional narration—delusional in a typical, hyper teenaged girl’s way—balanced the book nicely, making the tension more palatable.

Of course, at times I found Ginny’s goofiness over-the-top. I often agreed with Chigger—can’t Ginny take anything seriously for five minutes? However, Ginny does mature some thanks to her friendship with Chigger. Her core remains the same, but she at least tries to put Chigger first and understand her friend’s feelings. By the end of the book, Ginny’s still incredibly goofy, but it’s endearing and she has grown some.

The frame device of telling Mr. Lan the story is genius, especially as it begins to take a plot of its own. I can’t say anything else because of spoilers. Still, I can say that the dynamic between Ginny and Mr. Lan is both humorous and sweet. They might act as though they don’t like each other but, like any good frenemies, they care about each other even as they get under each other’s skin. And sometimes, loss and heartache can be a powerful bonding agent between two stubborn souls.

On top of the engaging plot and excellent character development, Allen adds in some of that good ol’ Southern charm to the mix. I’ve never been to a small town in Alabama before—or Alabama at all—but Allen’s descriptions through Ginny’s eyes made the whole situation feel very familiar. I should note that I did grow up in a small town in Northern California, so that may have helped me to build a stronger connection with the location than some city dweller would. Regardless, Allen describes Locust Fork in just enough detail that readers can imagine it without overwhelmingly them with paragraph upon paragraph about Main Street. Those illustrations combined with Southern terminology and sayings gives this narrative a Southern feel without driving it into the ground.

I came across a few proofreading errors. However, these errors were incredibly minor, a missing article here or there. Therefore, they did not detract from my reading experience or the quality of the writing.

Overall, Cursed! by Idabel Allen is a well-written, compelling YA mystery novel. It’s not just about the mystery of a small town’s dirty secret; it’s about human lives as real as yours and mine, and a girl struggling to become a young woman and cement new, lasting relationships. The ending is rather bittersweet, which won’t sit right with people who prefer books with straight-up happy endings. Nevertheless, readers who like books with realistically complex endings that aren’t entirely bleak will find this ending very satisfying. I think that young adult outcasts will especially enjoy Cursed! After all, everyone likes reassurance that being unique does not mean you’re evil or cursed.

You can buy Cursed! by Idabel Allen as an eBook or in print on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. To learn more about the author and her other works, be sure to check out her website, Facebook, and Twitter page.

Do you know of a book I should read? Want your work reviewed on this blog? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com or message me on Fiverr and we can arrange something.

 

Trigger Warning: The book reviewed in this book, The Amazon Legacy: Gods & Queens by Zenay Bekele Ben-Yochanan, contains illusions to and depictions or sexual situations, including a brief depiction of rape. If you are triggered by such depictions or otherwise wish to avoid them, proceed with caution.

Happy Saturday, everyone! I have a special treat for you today. As you’ve probably figured out by now, I’m a huge nerd when it comes to Greek and Roman mythology. In this post, I want to turn that obsession to a unique, untold story of Greek Gods and their mortal offspring by reviewing The Amazon Legacy: Gods & Queens by Zenay Bekele Ben-Yochanan.

Hera and Zeus are a passionate couple, but with passion often comes fiery tempers. You don’t want to get between them when these two hot-blooded gods get into a disagreement. Unfortunately for Elektra, Queen of the Amazons, that’s exactly what has happened to her. When Hera and Zeus enter a bet about the nature of the male-female relationship, Elektra proves to be nothing but a pawn—and collateral damage. But what would happen if this innocent bet led to the expulsion of the Queen of the Amazons and the rise of two fierce warriors in her absence? What will become of the mighty Amazons? The world? Most importantly, what could the Fates have in store for these powerful outcasts?

Ben-Yochanan weaves a narrative which is simultaneously familiar and refreshing in this gripping tale of love, loss, and trials. I could easily locate myself within the world of Greek Gods, Amazons, and ancient royalty. Despite the fantastical nature of the story, I never once had a problem suspending my disbelief, the sign of both excellent writing and excellent research into the setting. Yet Ben-Yochanan also puts new twists on the old myths and tropes to which we’ve become accustomed.

Perhaps, in my opinion, the best twist which Ben-Yochanan puts on these tropes is the fleshing out of familiar characters. I’m not afraid to say I’m no fan of Hera. I’ve always empathized with her because of her husband’s infidelities and carelessness, but I’ve also hated her for punishing women and children for her husband’s horrific deeds. She’s up to these same tricks in The Amazon Legacy, but there’s a strength and almost tenderness to her which I could never sense in other incarnations of Greek mythology. If future installments can get me to like Aphrodite as well (not the Disney version), I will know that Ben-Yochanan is a masterful wordsmith.

Most of the characters in this novel are both likeable and unlikable. Some characters are, as can be expected, a little more one-dimensional than others. At least one more major character, in fact, I can only describe as demented and evil, but I’ll stop there for fear of spoilers. Even the protagonists—rival warriors Teigra and Thea—are neither entirely likeable nor entirely despicable. Teigra comes across as strong, powerful, independent, and, sometimes, even compassionate. Still, everything she’s gone through has also left her callous and scarred, which leads her to make some decisions which I might label selfish if I didn’t know how hurt she was. Like Teigra, Thea is headstrong, stubborn, and a troublemaker, arguably to a fault. She is also kind and loving, courageous and capable of great good. Neither girl is perfect, nor are most of the characters, and it’s these flawed-but-real characters which I really like about this book.

The Amazon Legacy contains some sexual situations. Honestly, because this book deals with Greek myths, it would be weird if it didn’t. However, Ben-Yochanan handles these scenes with taste and discretion. They are not too detailed, just enough to stimulate the reader, either inciting excitement or raising despair. Better yet—at least, what I appreciate more—is that Ben-Yochanan includes homosexual relationships as well as heterosexual ones. The practice was relatively prominent in Ancient Greece, so the inclusion of it in The Amazon Legacy is not only more inclusive than even modern novels but also reflects a well-known aspect of that society.

Normally in this part of the review, I add an “unfortunately” and discuss some flaws in the book. I’m racking my brain here, but I can’t really think of any major flaws. Two possible deterrents for some readers are the size and complexity of the narrative. At around 360 pages, it isn’t exactly a light read. Ben-Yochanan also weaves many plot elements into this story, even plot lines which slowly merge with Teigra’s and Thea’s adventures. Such length and complexity might be a little much for some readers, especially those who are just looking for a fun, quick, fantastical read. Regardless, those looking for a deeper read with real characters and in-depth plots will be able to soldier on with few or no regrets.

Overall, I’m pretty excited about The Amazon Legacy by Zenay Bekele Ben-Yochanan. (I might be a bit biased because of the subject matter, though.) The story is gripping, the writing caught my attention right from the start, and the characters are wonderfully three-dimensional and relatable. Ben-Yochanan had me on the edge of my seat as I waited to see how this stage in Teigra’s and Thea’s lives would end, and I can’t wait to see where they are taken next. Fantasy and myth fans won’t want to miss it.

You can buy The Amazon Legacy by Zenay Bekele Ben-Yochanan as an eBook or in print on Amazon. Also make sure to check out the book’s official website, as well as the author’s Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages.

Do you know of any books I should read? Want your work reviewed on this blog? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com or message me on Fiverr and we can arrange something.

 

Good day, readers and writers! I want to start off the day with a rather specialized book review. Well, the book in this review isn’t so much a book as it is a booklet. A lot of you don’t know this, but there is one human vice which I literally cannot be around, at least not for long: smoking. I don’t condemn those who do smoke; after all, we all have our bad habits. Still, I cannot be around people who smoke because of my asthma. My lungs burn if I inhale too much smoke (and it doesn’t take much for “a little smoke” to become “too much smoke” for my body). That’s why I feel a particular obligation to share this review of Quit Smoken!!!: The Easier, Faster, More Effective, No Side Effects, Guaranteed Way to Stop Smoking Forever!!! by Ron Roesch.

In this book, Roesch provides a deceptively-simple formula to stop smoking without the expected pitfalls. Essentially, Roesch recommends a form of behavioral modification which involves replacing the seemingly-pleasant stimulation of smoking a cigarette with a negative physical reaction. He goes in-depth on why this method might work, how it worked for him, and what to do if it doesn’t work (but he’s fairly confident it will).

To me, the most unique aspect of Roesch’s guide is that he doesn’t fall into the trap of presenting the tasking of quitting smoking as soon incredibly-difficult mountain to climb. Whereas even doctors depict the process as something akin to Sisyphus’s punishment in Tartarus, Roesch more illustrates it as a Rubik’s Cube: frustrating and time-consuming if you don’t know how to do it—you might even stumble across the correct solution by accident—but far more bearable if you know the trick to it. He doesn’t spend his time trying to cover his butt with what readers could experience as a result of quitting. Rather, he focuses on conveying a method which might circumvent the side effects and encourage readers to take the plunge.

Roesch’s method to quitting smoking also intrigues me. I particularly trust him because of his B.S. in Psychology. After all, so much of the chemical dependency in addiction is based in the mind, so who’s better to help people get over the addiction than someone who knows the human mind intimately? I can also very clearly see the logic behind his method. I mean, we’re more likely to quit something we’re repulse by than something that we know we should stop but that still brings us even a twisted joy. (I’m considering trying a similar method to stop my habit of being hard on myself.)

I cannot say for certain that Roesch’s method works for stopping an addiction, let alone smoking. I simply haven’t tried it for anything, and as a non-smoker, I don’t need to use it for that. Still, Roesch explains his train-of-thought behind the concept, so I don’t have any real problems believing his claims.

Roesch’s easy-going but passionate and informal voice makes this book very engaging. Quit Smoken is not a book to pick up for entertainment. However, if you—or someone you know—want to read this book because you’re trying to quit smoking, you won’t be falling asleep at the wheel, either. You might even find a kindred spirit in Roesch, someone who knows what you’re going through because he has gone through it himself.

Of course, this book is not without its flaws. At times, Roesch’s insistence that his method works 100% of the time grew tedious. It made me think “Well, actions speak louder than words, and statistics speak louder than claims!” I don’t mind that he only using his personal experience to back up the effectiveness of his method; I just wish that he would cut back on claiming that it always works if he won’t offer up solid statistics. Regardless, he does balance these claims out some by including a money-back guarantee at the end of the book (only available through 2018, as far as I can tell).

The book is mostly well-edited, but I did notice a few minor mistakes. Nevertheless, these mistakes are so minor that I doubt that they’ll really detract from anyone’s reading experiences.

Overall, I think that Quit Smoken by Ron Roesch is a good resource for those looking to quit smoking. Heck, even if you just want a loved one to stop smoking, you could gift them this book as a “hint.” Roesch may not have the scientific data to back up his claims, but the logic behind his method is solid and you can’t really hurt yourself just by trying the method. Just remember to read the entire book, not just the formula, and for Pete’s sake, don’t actually make yourself puke while trying to initiate the gag reflex!

You can buy Quit Smoken by Ron Roesch as an eBook and in print on Amazon.

Do you know of a book I should? Want your work reviewed on this blog? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com or message me on Fiverr and we can arrange something.

 

Happy Friday, everyone! I want to start the weekend off with an easier read, only about 174 pages and very colloquial in its voice. I feel I should warn readers that there are Christian verses and references to worshipping the Christian God throughout the book, but those are not by any means the main drive of the book, so non-Christians should enjoy this book unless they really want to avoid Christianity in their reading. The book I’m reviewing in this post is The Story of Us: The Life and Times of Mel and Ray by Melissa Singleton.

Every life has its challenges. We fall in love and we fall out of love, only to fall back in love somewhere down the road; we gain loved ones and we lose them; we succeed and we fail; mostly, though, we learn and grow as people, so long as we don’t let our trial and tribulations to drag us down into the abyss. Melissa Singleton’s The Story of Us follows such an ordinary (and non-narrative) story of a couple who are very much in love.

Singleton takes readers through her life journey with Ray from the day of her birth to the very day she wrote this book. She speaks of falling in love with Ray, of separating, of reuniting, of starting businesses and a family, and watching loved ones, one by one, join and leave this world. While told in no particular order other than chronological (and even that form of organization falls to the wayside after a while), each of the mini-stories are tired together by Singleton, her husband, their love for each other, and their ability to learn from their mistakes (no matter how many times those mistakes had to be made). The result is a sweet story of two lives intertwined, for better or for worse—although more often for the better.

I want to begin by saying that Singleton’s narrative voice is very conversational and very Southern. I say this as a term of endearment; my mother’s mother’s side of the family is Southern, and so I cannot help but imagine one of them telling these sorts of stories with this sort of voice. (I can even hear my very Californian mother in this narration, bless her heart!) It’s that feel of an older family member sitting you down and telling you every family story there is to hear, whether you want to listen or not and whether you’ve heard them a million times or not. Singleton even has some “what’s going on with people nowadays” and “back in my day” moments that brought a roll to my eyes and a smirk to my lips.

Needless to say, this narrative voice sucked me in fairly easily, even without a proper introduction. One would have been nice, of course, to understand what to expect in the story before starting to talk about Melissa’s and Ray’s childhoods. Regardless, I was oddly OK with the seeming aimlessness of the book, of just reading it for the sake of reading someone else’s life story.

Unfortunately, the narrative voice got a little too preachy towards the end of the book for me. That’s not to say I’m uncomfortable with Christian books. Hey, you’ve seen some of the books I’ve reviewed before, I don’t shy away from a book just because of the religion discussed in it. (I’m a fairly open-minded Agnostic.) No, my problem was more with how heavy the religious part of the voice became so swiftly, namely in the second half of the book. Perhaps if the religious presence had been more prominent in the earlier chapters, the writing would have felt more balanced; as it is, without any real “epiphany” which would explain the sudden shift, I became annoyed by the imbalance.

I am also not a fan of how often Singleton uses “LOL”. I enjoy the Southern colloquial style of her storytelling, but the LOLs grew tedious. I felt as though I were reading a teenager’s (or even a young adult’s) texts or Facebook status. I understand it’s part of her voice, but it sounds immature and, quite literally, like laughing at her own jokes. That’s different from when she’s actually talking about laughing at what she’s writing; that’s funny in a breaking-the-fourth-wall kind of way, whereas LOL is just too informal even for an informal narrator.

Fortunately, I think that the stories themselves and the people involved salvage the book from any of these minor issues I’ve mentioned. They are all so real, and more so than just knowing that this is autobiographical. I felt as though I could meet any of these people just walking down the street (my mom could see Singleton’s stories and raise her five). I also related very well to Melissa and Ray, seeing a bit of myself in each of them as well as their family and friends. (I’ll join you in Unproductive Anonymous, Melissa!)

Frankly, despite it being only 26 pages shy of 200 and all the shiz I normally have to do, I read this book in about a day. It’s a fun read, although sometimes emotional as Singleton discusses various deaths in their families. I felt as though I were just having a heart-to-heart conversation with this woman, and I so desperately felt the urge to tell her some of my family stories as well. Thus is the magic of informal storytelling.

Towards the end of the book, Singleton mentions that the reader may have found some spelling or grammatical errors. She also says that there are a lot fewer than when she started and that she left some purposefully as that is how they are remembered. Still, I found many proofreading errors that could not be brushed off to that style choice. Many times there were apostrophes missing from possessives, i.e. “Rays” instead of “Ray’s”, and the use of “its” when “it’s” should be there. I also noticed some odd spacing issues in my Kindle eBook, mostly that there were spaces missing between some words and an odd extra space after the first letter of the first word in a chapter. Whether those are proofreading errors or something weird going on with Kindle, I don’t know. Nevertheless, I think that the book could do with one more look-over to catch mistakes such as those I mentioned above.

Overall, The Story of Us by Melissa Singleton is a sweet, cute story of a couple growing old and growing up together. It’s a glimpse into American life over several decades, the tale of hard workers pulling themselves up by their bootstraps not to become millionaires but to make something they can be proud of. If you’re looking for a clear-cut plot or spectacular drama and character growth, this book might not be for you. However, if you’re looking for a lighthearted read about real people you can relate to, you’ll definitely want to check it out.

You can buy The Story of Us by Melissa Singleton as an eBook on Amazon.

Know of a book I should read? Want your work reviewed on this blog? E-mail me at thewritersscrapbin@gmail.com or message me on Fiverr and we can arrange something.

 

 

Good evening, readers and writers! The book I’m reading today is more for the athletic writers among us. While this work has been written specifically for tennis players, athletes from all sports involving balls can benefit from it. Moreover, anyone interested in how human sight works and what makes certain athletes so good at what they do will find some entertainment value as well. In this post, I’m reviewing Visual Training for Tennis: Going Beyond “Watch the Ball” by Bill Patton.

We all know the saying: Keep your eye on the ball. But just how well does that serve tennis players? According to Patton, not as well as we think. Using a combination of scientific study, professional advice, and personal anecdotes, this teacher/tennis coach gives other tennis coaches and players advice on how best to utilize visual training for tennis. Patton covers everything from tracking a tennis ball and the bounce-hit training technique to the pros and cons of protective eye wear and the need to rest your eyes between shots. The result is a comprehensive guide which not only tells coaches and players what to do but why it works.

Admittedly, I’m not a tennis player. I’m not an athlete of any sort. My oldest brother is really into golf and even works at a golf course, but I’ve never been one for sports. While Patton makes it seem that anyone can be taught under visual training for tennis when given time, I’m pretty certain that my general lack of hand-eye coordination will keep me from playing the sport. Regardless, this book seems like it would be very helpful for anyone wishing to pursue tennis as well as those who want to teach it.

I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of research Patton put into his book. Still, the book is rarely dull. He uses a conversational tone even when discussing the scientific principles, which made the concepts much more readable. His passion for the topic clearly shows, and he explains his reasoning behind each technique, tip, and assertion thoroughly. I think that his points would be better made if he could incorporate some illustrations or photos which demonstrate what he is describing, but that’s more of a personal preference; I’m a visual learner, and images would have just made it easier for me to follow Patton’s train-of-thought.

I most appreciate his acknowledgement of the different kinds of learners when it comes to tennis. He discusses verbal learners versus visual learners, even illustrating the differences using examples from his own classroom. In order for a coach to best teach his/her pupil, he/she must first understand that each student learns in his/her own way, and so the coach must learn to see through the student’s eyes (to borrow Patton’s words). As someone whose mind doesn’t work quite like everyone else’s, I am very grateful that Patton emphasizes this point, and not just because it’s a clever play on words that goes with his topic.

Another unique aspect of Patton’s book is that it is continuously growing. Right off the bat, Patton invites readers to let him know about their experiences with the topics of his guide—what worked for them, what didn’t worked for them, adjustments that should be made, etc. Now, this concept is not new to literature or even how-to guides. After all, how many different editions of For Dummies books are there for any given subject? However, very few—I can’t even think of any—ask readers for contributions within the book itself. I think that this concept makes Visual Training for Tennis more open and inviting to the reader, something which is key in making people comfortable enough to try new ways of learning.

Of course, the book isn’t perfect. I had some minor issues with the organization of the guide. Namely, I would have preferred if some of the final remarks had been included in the introduction instead. For example, Patton talks about his own experience with being forced to “watch the ball” as a child and, thus, not do so well in sports for a while. I think that this example both proves his arguments and gives it a personal touch which would draw readers in immediately.

Overall, Visual Training for Tennis by Bill Patton is a wonderful book for tennis coaches and players. You probably shouldn’t approach it as a novice as some of the concepts won’t make sense. You can read it just for the information on eyesight and how it affects tennis players, if you like, but if you are serious about using the information while playing tennis, you’ll want to wait until you understand the game overall better. However, coaches can use it to improve their teaching techniques and players can discuss it with their coaches to see if Patton’s exercises could improve their game.

You can buy Visual Training for Tennis by Bill Patton 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!