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Recommend this book:
Sorrow's Garden
A Novel
Anthony Carinhas
2020 Finalist
271 Pages
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Fiction - Realistic
Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite
The Sorrow's Garden: A Novel by Anthony Carinhas is set in the period just before World War II. Radulf Berliner is a compelling character in the way he is developed and in his personality, an architect and writer in Leipzig, Germany. If he hates one thing in people, it is their selfishness and mindless behavior and this is reflected in his treatment of Franziska, a girlfriend whom he claims threatened to tell everyone he is a fraud if he broke up with her. He puts her in a very embarrassing experience, with paintings of her nude pictures found in a men’s restroom. But he is worse than what he hates in others —a surprising irony! The reader encounters a character who is manipulative, intimidating, and who embraces duplicity. He lives by the philosophy that no one should ever turn against him, so he puts fear into people’s minds to keep them under control. This is a strong narrative with themes of art, education, relationships, manipulation, and murder.
Anthony Carinhas is a great storyteller who transforms the ordinary experience of characters into fodder that nurtures the plot and makes it exceptional, infusing it with realism and humanity. While I detested the cockiness of Radulf and his manipulative nature, I enjoyed how well the author explored this aspect of human nature, and this reflects the way of life of the society that produced this character. No doubt, the sense of humanity would be put to the test with the rise of the likes of Hitler. The prose is beautiful and given that it explores the theme of art, the aesthetics in the writing are just fitting for the genre. The Sorrow's Garden: A Novel is one of the finest novels that diligently and expertly explore the pervasive aspect of human nature, with a protagonist that curiously engages readers, a man who finds creative genius in the adrenaline rush from stress. It is captivating and hugely entertaining.
The Sorrow's Garden: A Novel by Anthony Carinhas is set in the period just before World War II. Radulf Berliner is a compelling character in the way he is developed and in his personality, an architect and writer in Leipzig, Germany. If he hates one thing in people, it is their selfishness and mindless behavior and this is reflected in his treatment of Franziska, a girlfriend whom he claims threatened to tell everyone he is a fraud if he broke up with her. He puts her in a very embarrassing experience, with paintings of her nude pictures found in a men’s restroom. But he is worse than what he hates in others —a surprising irony! The reader encounters a character who is manipulative, intimidating, and who embraces duplicity. He lives by the philosophy that no one should ever turn against him, so he puts fear into people’s minds to keep them under control. This is a strong narrative with themes of art, education, relationships, manipulation, and murder.
Anthony Carinhas is a great storyteller who transforms the ordinary experience of characters into fodder that nurtures the plot and makes it exceptional, infusing it with realism and humanity. While I detested the cockiness of Radulf and his manipulative nature, I enjoyed how well the author explored this aspect of human nature, and this reflects the way of life of the society that produced this character. No doubt, the sense of humanity would be put to the test with the rise of the likes of Hitler. The prose is beautiful and given that it explores the theme of art, the aesthetics in the writing are just fitting for the genre. The Sorrow's Garden: A Novel is one of the finest novels that diligently and expertly explore the pervasive aspect of human nature, with a protagonist that curiously engages readers, a man who finds creative genius in the adrenaline rush from stress. It is captivating and hugely entertaining.
Recommend this book:
The Widow's Mite
Allie Cresswell
2020 Honorable Mention
282 Pages
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Fiction - Realistic
Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite
After a few short years of marriage, a widow fights freezing temperatures and starvation, while her stepchildren threaten her efforts to survive in the heartrending novel The Widow's Mite by Allie Cresswell. Shy and unassuming, Minnie Price discovered love a little later in life. To the surprise of everyone who knew her, she married Peter, the most eligible and well to do widower at church. Enjoying life with Peter, Minnie never considered finances or even contemplated the future until fiscal reality was suddenly thrust upon her. After six joyful years of marriage, Peter succumbed to a heart attack. After his funeral, his two children informed Minnie she needed to vacate the manor in the next few months. Her former place of employment was gone, and Minnie didn't have any idea how to make money. Peter's income expired, and Minnie had very little money left in their joint banking account. Letting no one know of her dire circumstances, not even her friends, Minnie just barely managed to survive the following winter months. What is Minnie to do when her stepchildren take possession of their childhood home? Will she be forced to live in the streets?
A Widow's Mite by Allie Cresswell is a poignant and soul-stirring novel that evokes a haunting sense of sadness. Victimization is the core of the heartbreaking plot, realistically depicting the life of an introverted widowed seamstress. Portrayed as a vulnerable figure, Minnie encounters trials and tribulations, some of which could have been avoided. Her ability to withstand the hardships and survive indicates her character is strong. Adversely, instead of taking charge of her life and being proactive, she actually chooses to be a victim. The story excellently illustrates how fostering feelings of inadequacy prevent a person from taking affirmative action, which blocks future prospects and inevitably stunts emotional growth. This sensational novel is an emotionally charged drama that has the potential to inspire and motivate readers to step out of a victim mindset and step into personal power.
After a few short years of marriage, a widow fights freezing temperatures and starvation, while her stepchildren threaten her efforts to survive in the heartrending novel The Widow's Mite by Allie Cresswell. Shy and unassuming, Minnie Price discovered love a little later in life. To the surprise of everyone who knew her, she married Peter, the most eligible and well to do widower at church. Enjoying life with Peter, Minnie never considered finances or even contemplated the future until fiscal reality was suddenly thrust upon her. After six joyful years of marriage, Peter succumbed to a heart attack. After his funeral, his two children informed Minnie she needed to vacate the manor in the next few months. Her former place of employment was gone, and Minnie didn't have any idea how to make money. Peter's income expired, and Minnie had very little money left in their joint banking account. Letting no one know of her dire circumstances, not even her friends, Minnie just barely managed to survive the following winter months. What is Minnie to do when her stepchildren take possession of their childhood home? Will she be forced to live in the streets?
A Widow's Mite by Allie Cresswell is a poignant and soul-stirring novel that evokes a haunting sense of sadness. Victimization is the core of the heartbreaking plot, realistically depicting the life of an introverted widowed seamstress. Portrayed as a vulnerable figure, Minnie encounters trials and tribulations, some of which could have been avoided. Her ability to withstand the hardships and survive indicates her character is strong. Adversely, instead of taking charge of her life and being proactive, she actually chooses to be a victim. The story excellently illustrates how fostering feelings of inadequacy prevent a person from taking affirmative action, which blocks future prospects and inevitably stunts emotional growth. This sensational novel is an emotionally charged drama that has the potential to inspire and motivate readers to step out of a victim mindset and step into personal power.
Recommend this book:
White is the Coldest Colour
A dark psychological suspense thriller
John Nicholl
2020 Bronze Medal
282 Pages
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Fiction - Realistic
Reviewed by Gisela Dixon for Readers' Favorite
White is the Coldest Colour by John Nicholl is a dark psychological novel that is realistic and disturbing at the same time. The novel starts with a sadistic pedophilic scene in the sound-proof cellar of a psychiatrist named Dr. David Galbraith. To all outward appearances, Dr. Galbraith is a respectable, law-abiding citizen. However, what most people don’t know is that he is also a sexual abuser and sadistic pedophile. He torments and completely controls his wife, Cynthia, with whom he has two daughters. He preys on young boys and has already sexually abused, made videos of, and murdered a young child. That is when he is asked to take on a new case of a young seven-year-old boy named Anthony. Anthony is a troubled child raised by a single mother, and starts seeing Dr. Galbraith for therapy. What he or his family don't know, however, is that the psychiatrist has already marked Anthony as his next victim. What follows next is a realistic story of abuse, power, strength, and triumph.
White is the Coldest Colour by John Nicholl is a dark, powerful, gripping novel about themes that are especially important and relevant in today’s society: namely, childhood sexual abuse and its lifelong repercussions, the mind of a sexual predator, and the psychology of a pedophile. John Nicholl himself has a background in law enforcement and, as a result, the novel definitely has a ring of authenticity to it. None of the events described in the book seem far-fetched and, although this is a work of fiction, it is to be hoped that it will spread awareness of sexual abuse, such that all of us with a social responsibility are better prepared to watch for warning signs as well as the reporting and handling of such incidences. The writing is crisp and engaging; overall I would very highly recommend this book for everyone.
White is the Coldest Colour by John Nicholl is a dark psychological novel that is realistic and disturbing at the same time. The novel starts with a sadistic pedophilic scene in the sound-proof cellar of a psychiatrist named Dr. David Galbraith. To all outward appearances, Dr. Galbraith is a respectable, law-abiding citizen. However, what most people don’t know is that he is also a sexual abuser and sadistic pedophile. He torments and completely controls his wife, Cynthia, with whom he has two daughters. He preys on young boys and has already sexually abused, made videos of, and murdered a young child. That is when he is asked to take on a new case of a young seven-year-old boy named Anthony. Anthony is a troubled child raised by a single mother, and starts seeing Dr. Galbraith for therapy. What he or his family don't know, however, is that the psychiatrist has already marked Anthony as his next victim. What follows next is a realistic story of abuse, power, strength, and triumph.
White is the Coldest Colour by John Nicholl is a dark, powerful, gripping novel about themes that are especially important and relevant in today’s society: namely, childhood sexual abuse and its lifelong repercussions, the mind of a sexual predator, and the psychology of a pedophile. John Nicholl himself has a background in law enforcement and, as a result, the novel definitely has a ring of authenticity to it. None of the events described in the book seem far-fetched and, although this is a work of fiction, it is to be hoped that it will spread awareness of sexual abuse, such that all of us with a social responsibility are better prepared to watch for warning signs as well as the reporting and handling of such incidences. The writing is crisp and engaging; overall I would very highly recommend this book for everyone.
Recommend this book:
Songbirds and Stray Dogs
Meagan Lucas
2020 Bronze Medal
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Realistic
Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
Songbirds and Stray Dogs by Meagan Lucas is a Southern fiction novel that revolves around two characters who have both found themselves in situations that feel impossible, particularly at the tender early twenty-something ages. Jolene has been smacked down by life since her earliest childhood, abandoned and orphaned (and made to feel a burden about it), bullied, taken advantage of by a man who saw her as a prize, and tossed to the curb by literally everyone she knows in her time of greatest need. Chuck is an uncle who didn't expect to become a father-figure, but he's forced to take care of his nephew Cash and find a way to protect his sister—a task that is hindered when he helps a woman he doesn't know in a parking lot, offering a ride to a pregnant, vulnerable, and hopeless Jolene.
Songbirds and Stray Dogs is immediately engrossing and Meagan Lucas does an excellent job in creating a narrative that pulls a reader in and holds them there. Jolene is well developed as a character, with a growth in her almost immediately as she transitions from naivete into palpable desperation, which inevitably turns to strength. It's a natural progression that doesn't feel rushed; a fitting attribute in a storyline where the South is as much of a character as Jolene and Chuck are. Nothing moves quickly in Lucas' depiction of the Bible Belt, where ideas and progress are hindered by outdated principles. This is a really great book with a solid, heartache of a story. I enjoyed every moment of it.
Songbirds and Stray Dogs by Meagan Lucas is a Southern fiction novel that revolves around two characters who have both found themselves in situations that feel impossible, particularly at the tender early twenty-something ages. Jolene has been smacked down by life since her earliest childhood, abandoned and orphaned (and made to feel a burden about it), bullied, taken advantage of by a man who saw her as a prize, and tossed to the curb by literally everyone she knows in her time of greatest need. Chuck is an uncle who didn't expect to become a father-figure, but he's forced to take care of his nephew Cash and find a way to protect his sister—a task that is hindered when he helps a woman he doesn't know in a parking lot, offering a ride to a pregnant, vulnerable, and hopeless Jolene.
Songbirds and Stray Dogs is immediately engrossing and Meagan Lucas does an excellent job in creating a narrative that pulls a reader in and holds them there. Jolene is well developed as a character, with a growth in her almost immediately as she transitions from naivete into palpable desperation, which inevitably turns to strength. It's a natural progression that doesn't feel rushed; a fitting attribute in a storyline where the South is as much of a character as Jolene and Chuck are. Nothing moves quickly in Lucas' depiction of the Bible Belt, where ideas and progress are hindered by outdated principles. This is a really great book with a solid, heartache of a story. I enjoyed every moment of it.
Recommend this book:
Fall Out
Courage Always Stands its Ground (Gray Girl)
Susan I Spieth
2020 Silver Medal
284 Pages
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Fiction - Realistic
Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite
Fall Out: Courage Always Stands its Ground is the fourth book in the Gray Girl series by Susan I. Spieth. Hoping to end her final year at West Point on a high note, Cadet Jan Wishart wants to avoid trouble. She is a hard worker, tenacious, and the best at what she does, so she has high expectations for when she will graduate. However, her dreams are in danger of becoming nightmares. It seems as if her friendship with Dimitri will cost her a lot. She trusted him, but when things go south, it is Jan who is stuck in the middle. Her whole career is now at stake before it can even begin. Jan has to fight for her rights, stick to her training and prove she is innocent before it is too late. Can she do that? Or will her troubles finally catch up to her?
Oh, this was a ride. Jan is a firecracker; she is feisty and she knows it. Perhaps this is the reason why she is a magnet for trouble. The relentless fast pace and the momentum of Fall Out had me hooked the moment Jan was introduced. I didn’t like Dimitri; he was too sarcastic and sharp for my liking. I loved Jan’s dialogues and how shrewd she was. I enjoyed how Susan I. Spieth kept the mystery going, how seamlessly she involved Jan in the mess and then allowed her to dig her way out of it. Although I haven’t read the previous novels in the series, I had zero issues connecting with Jan and rooting for her. The descriptions are vivid, the mystery gave me an adrenaline rush and I bulldozed through this story in a single sitting. This is entertainment at its best.
Fall Out: Courage Always Stands its Ground is the fourth book in the Gray Girl series by Susan I. Spieth. Hoping to end her final year at West Point on a high note, Cadet Jan Wishart wants to avoid trouble. She is a hard worker, tenacious, and the best at what she does, so she has high expectations for when she will graduate. However, her dreams are in danger of becoming nightmares. It seems as if her friendship with Dimitri will cost her a lot. She trusted him, but when things go south, it is Jan who is stuck in the middle. Her whole career is now at stake before it can even begin. Jan has to fight for her rights, stick to her training and prove she is innocent before it is too late. Can she do that? Or will her troubles finally catch up to her?
Oh, this was a ride. Jan is a firecracker; she is feisty and she knows it. Perhaps this is the reason why she is a magnet for trouble. The relentless fast pace and the momentum of Fall Out had me hooked the moment Jan was introduced. I didn’t like Dimitri; he was too sarcastic and sharp for my liking. I loved Jan’s dialogues and how shrewd she was. I enjoyed how Susan I. Spieth kept the mystery going, how seamlessly she involved Jan in the mess and then allowed her to dig her way out of it. Although I haven’t read the previous novels in the series, I had zero issues connecting with Jan and rooting for her. The descriptions are vivid, the mystery gave me an adrenaline rush and I bulldozed through this story in a single sitting. This is entertainment at its best.
Recommend this book:
Bread Bags & Bullies
Surviving the 80s
Steven Manchester
2020 Gold Medal
288 Pages
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Fiction - Realistic
Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
It's often joked about that between the Boomers and the Millennials, there's an entire generation that hates them both. We are Generation X, and in the ranks is author Steven Manchester, an aficionado of all things 1980s, wrapped up in the pages of Bread Bags & Bullies: Surviving the 80s. In a moment of schooling his boys, Manchester unwittingly taps into the words of his father and it triggers a deluge of childhood memories, for better or worse. All of the quintessential elements are in play: a schoolyard bully, a bedroom split with an accordion door, bunk beds and Ghostbusters, fights and flatulence, a mutilated dog and a bloody hitchhiker... Herbie and Cockroach have much to be grateful for in spite of and as a result of an upbringing in the 80s style of parenting.
Steven Manchester has vindicated every parent of today who was raised in the 80s with the book Bread Bags & Bullies. As expected, there are a ton of pop culture references, brands, movies, songs, and all things Americana in the day and age. What makes Manchester's novel so much better is that it is used to enhance the experience of the reader as opposed to just being the abused vehicle that carries the actual story. The writing is clean and tight, the dialogue is authentic. If I'm being totally honest I could have done without multi-paragraph monologues written in italics, but it is forgiven in the context of a good story. This time. I think this book will resonate well with a wide range of readers in the same way that the resurgence of 80s iconography is having its moment in television and film. Overall, this is a fun romp that kept me chuckling at a few prize pieces long after I'd finished it.
It's often joked about that between the Boomers and the Millennials, there's an entire generation that hates them both. We are Generation X, and in the ranks is author Steven Manchester, an aficionado of all things 1980s, wrapped up in the pages of Bread Bags & Bullies: Surviving the 80s. In a moment of schooling his boys, Manchester unwittingly taps into the words of his father and it triggers a deluge of childhood memories, for better or worse. All of the quintessential elements are in play: a schoolyard bully, a bedroom split with an accordion door, bunk beds and Ghostbusters, fights and flatulence, a mutilated dog and a bloody hitchhiker... Herbie and Cockroach have much to be grateful for in spite of and as a result of an upbringing in the 80s style of parenting.
Steven Manchester has vindicated every parent of today who was raised in the 80s with the book Bread Bags & Bullies. As expected, there are a ton of pop culture references, brands, movies, songs, and all things Americana in the day and age. What makes Manchester's novel so much better is that it is used to enhance the experience of the reader as opposed to just being the abused vehicle that carries the actual story. The writing is clean and tight, the dialogue is authentic. If I'm being totally honest I could have done without multi-paragraph monologues written in italics, but it is forgiven in the context of a good story. This time. I think this book will resonate well with a wide range of readers in the same way that the resurgence of 80s iconography is having its moment in television and film. Overall, this is a fun romp that kept me chuckling at a few prize pieces long after I'd finished it.
Recommend this book:
Dark Blossom
Neel Mullick
2019 Finalist
224 Pages
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Fiction - Realistic
Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite
Dark Blossom by Neel Mullick is a novel with powerful psychological underpinnings. Sam returns home from a business trip a day before his son’s thirteenth birthday, only to be struck by a debilitating tragedy. At first, he thinks he can handle the loss on his own but quickly learns that he needs help, which is why he seeks out Cynthia, an experienced therapist. But Cynthia has her own demons she is struggling with, having suffered a painful divorce, and with an ex-husband whose shadow still looms over her daughter. It’s a story of two people who are deeply hurt and who are struggling to save themselves, but can they help each other? What about Cynthia’s daughter, Lily, who has a devastating secret?
Dark Blossom explores the drama and the tension in the lives of seemingly ordinary people. Neel Mullick’s characters are genuinely flawed and broken, which helps in creating the realism that permeates this narrative. I also enjoyed watching how Cynthia’s and Sam’s lives evolve as they seek answers. The idea of broken people seeking answers in each other is deftly developed in this novel. The plot is as unpredictable as the characters and the reader will be interested in finding out what will become of these characters. Can they find salvation in each other? The writing is beautiful, the plot tight, and the characters real and elaborately developed. I couldn’t stop reading, turning the pages and looking forward to what happens next.
Dark Blossom by Neel Mullick is a novel with powerful psychological underpinnings. Sam returns home from a business trip a day before his son’s thirteenth birthday, only to be struck by a debilitating tragedy. At first, he thinks he can handle the loss on his own but quickly learns that he needs help, which is why he seeks out Cynthia, an experienced therapist. But Cynthia has her own demons she is struggling with, having suffered a painful divorce, and with an ex-husband whose shadow still looms over her daughter. It’s a story of two people who are deeply hurt and who are struggling to save themselves, but can they help each other? What about Cynthia’s daughter, Lily, who has a devastating secret?
Dark Blossom explores the drama and the tension in the lives of seemingly ordinary people. Neel Mullick’s characters are genuinely flawed and broken, which helps in creating the realism that permeates this narrative. I also enjoyed watching how Cynthia’s and Sam’s lives evolve as they seek answers. The idea of broken people seeking answers in each other is deftly developed in this novel. The plot is as unpredictable as the characters and the reader will be interested in finding out what will become of these characters. Can they find salvation in each other? The writing is beautiful, the plot tight, and the characters real and elaborately developed. I couldn’t stop reading, turning the pages and looking forward to what happens next.
Recommend this book:
You Can't Force Love
Marie Drake
2019 Honorable Mention
215 Pages
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Fiction - Realistic
Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite
Marie Drake’s You Can't Force Love is a realistic novel with multi-layered characters. We encounter two sophisticated characters, drawn from two different worlds and thrust together in the same foster home. The only thing that Jordan Fry and Kimberly Orvine have in common is the fact that they have both lost a parent. While Kimberly is bent on self-destructive behaviors and determined to punish herself, Jordan thinks he can change his past and he believes that by focusing on Kimberly, he can trump his past and set out on a better path. He couldn't be more wrong because Kimberly only sees in him the provocation to plunge deeper into the darkness that pulls her. Can Jordan change her or will she end up unleashing the fire in him?
You Can't Force Love is a tale filled with powerful lessons on love, tolerance, and personal development. It is entertaining while asking serious questions on love and conviviality — can two people who are egocentric and diametrically opposed to each other find common ground and nurture a relationship? The author does a wonderful job with the characters, building them up with care and exploring the backgrounds that determine what they are today. From the beginning of the narrative, the reader sees that life is a huge challenge for Jordan but the way the author builds the conflict is impeccable. The world building is great with vivid elements of the setting, but what had me turning from page to page is the author’s exploration of the inner worlds of the characters — where the conflict begins. The dialogues are exciting and they move the story forward steadily. Marie Drake creates characters that readers will love and hate at the same time and a story that they won't put down even for a moment.
Marie Drake’s You Can't Force Love is a realistic novel with multi-layered characters. We encounter two sophisticated characters, drawn from two different worlds and thrust together in the same foster home. The only thing that Jordan Fry and Kimberly Orvine have in common is the fact that they have both lost a parent. While Kimberly is bent on self-destructive behaviors and determined to punish herself, Jordan thinks he can change his past and he believes that by focusing on Kimberly, he can trump his past and set out on a better path. He couldn't be more wrong because Kimberly only sees in him the provocation to plunge deeper into the darkness that pulls her. Can Jordan change her or will she end up unleashing the fire in him?
You Can't Force Love is a tale filled with powerful lessons on love, tolerance, and personal development. It is entertaining while asking serious questions on love and conviviality — can two people who are egocentric and diametrically opposed to each other find common ground and nurture a relationship? The author does a wonderful job with the characters, building them up with care and exploring the backgrounds that determine what they are today. From the beginning of the narrative, the reader sees that life is a huge challenge for Jordan but the way the author builds the conflict is impeccable. The world building is great with vivid elements of the setting, but what had me turning from page to page is the author’s exploration of the inner worlds of the characters — where the conflict begins. The dialogues are exciting and they move the story forward steadily. Marie Drake creates characters that readers will love and hate at the same time and a story that they won't put down even for a moment.
Recommend this book:
![](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=/book-award/known-entity&media=https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51HdfmQNxYL._SL442_.jpg._AA200_.jpg&description=Known Entity: An Unauthorized History by Phil Klahn is a fun read, a narrative that captures the soul and spirit of a band. It opens with a short prologue that explains why some bands disintegrate: "Bands come and bands go. Some fade quietly, eroded by neglect or changing interests. Others are consumed in the fiery flames of clashing egos, personal...){kind=link}
Known Entity
An Unauthorized History
Phil Klahn
2019 Bronze Medal
166 Pages
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Fiction - Realistic
Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite
Known Entity: An Unauthorized History by Phil Klahn is a fun read, a narrative that captures the soul and spirit of a band. It opens with a short prologue that explains why some bands disintegrate: "Bands come and bands go. Some fade quietly, eroded by neglect or changing interests. Others are consumed in the fiery flames of clashing egos, personalities, and creative visions." Known Entity explores the journey of a group of childhood friends who belonged to a folk rock band and how their lives were brought together by music. AP, Brody, Mert and other characters look back at the memories. The author explores the conflicts, the fun moments, and the fall outs, but then there is the undying love for music, which might rekindle powerful memories.
There is a lot to enjoy in this book; the writing that is atmospheric, humor that bites, and the characters that are real and that reflect a background that music buffs will love. There is a lot of drama in this book and the drama feels so real as does the conflict. Moments like longtime friends and founding fathers of the band, the lead singer and the lead guitarist, at each other's throats and trading blows on the side of a rural highway are aplenty in the narrative. The humor fills each page of the story and Phil Klahn knows how to translate it into great writing. Known Entity:An Unauthorized History is mesmerizing, a well-written story that is filled with realism and that reveals the challenges of a rock band. I loved it, loved the compelling characters, loved their world, loved the hilarity of their adventures, and the unique voice in which the story is told.
Known Entity: An Unauthorized History by Phil Klahn is a fun read, a narrative that captures the soul and spirit of a band. It opens with a short prologue that explains why some bands disintegrate: "Bands come and bands go. Some fade quietly, eroded by neglect or changing interests. Others are consumed in the fiery flames of clashing egos, personalities, and creative visions." Known Entity explores the journey of a group of childhood friends who belonged to a folk rock band and how their lives were brought together by music. AP, Brody, Mert and other characters look back at the memories. The author explores the conflicts, the fun moments, and the fall outs, but then there is the undying love for music, which might rekindle powerful memories.
There is a lot to enjoy in this book; the writing that is atmospheric, humor that bites, and the characters that are real and that reflect a background that music buffs will love. There is a lot of drama in this book and the drama feels so real as does the conflict. Moments like longtime friends and founding fathers of the band, the lead singer and the lead guitarist, at each other's throats and trading blows on the side of a rural highway are aplenty in the narrative. The humor fills each page of the story and Phil Klahn knows how to translate it into great writing. Known Entity:An Unauthorized History is mesmerizing, a well-written story that is filled with realism and that reveals the challenges of a rock band. I loved it, loved the compelling characters, loved their world, loved the hilarity of their adventures, and the unique voice in which the story is told.
Recommend this book:
Area Bird
Duty doesn't always follow the rules (Gray Girl Book 2)
Susan I Spieth
2019 Silver Medal
261 Pages
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Fiction - Realistic
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Area Bird is a work of military fiction based on real events, penned by author Susan I Spieth. This coming of age novel is the second in the Gray Girl series, following the experiences of women cadets in the 1980s when the US Military Academy first began to admit them. We follow Jan Wishart as her fellow female cadets start dropping out of the academy all around her, and Jan becomes determined to find out why before she too falls victim to whatever is causing the problem. When the issue turns out to be all over West Point, Jan is determined to reveal the brutal sexism taking place for all the world to see.
Social issues, realism, and military life come together in this fascinating slice of life work by author Susan I Spieth. The narration of Jan’s experiences is packed with realistic details from West Point Academy, recreated perfectly from the author’s own personal experiences, and yet Jan is very much her own character and the narrative stays true to her rather than becoming too much of a memoir. The plot is filled with characters who reveal the most horrible aspects of human nature and the gender divide, but there are rays of hope and moments of triumph that peek through the struggle, giving the novel its raw emotional quality and high readability. Overall, Area Bird is an important work in the history of women’s fiction, but it’s also an engaging, dramatic read and part of an inspirational series.
Area Bird is a work of military fiction based on real events, penned by author Susan I Spieth. This coming of age novel is the second in the Gray Girl series, following the experiences of women cadets in the 1980s when the US Military Academy first began to admit them. We follow Jan Wishart as her fellow female cadets start dropping out of the academy all around her, and Jan becomes determined to find out why before she too falls victim to whatever is causing the problem. When the issue turns out to be all over West Point, Jan is determined to reveal the brutal sexism taking place for all the world to see.
Social issues, realism, and military life come together in this fascinating slice of life work by author Susan I Spieth. The narration of Jan’s experiences is packed with realistic details from West Point Academy, recreated perfectly from the author’s own personal experiences, and yet Jan is very much her own character and the narrative stays true to her rather than becoming too much of a memoir. The plot is filled with characters who reveal the most horrible aspects of human nature and the gender divide, but there are rays of hope and moments of triumph that peek through the struggle, giving the novel its raw emotional quality and high readability. Overall, Area Bird is an important work in the history of women’s fiction, but it’s also an engaging, dramatic read and part of an inspirational series.
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