Shelf Book Review: More Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin

More Tales of the City
by Armistead Maupin

This book continues the characters that are introduced in Tales of the City, which is the first of this particular series. One of the things that makes this particular book interesting is that each chapter is relatively short, so it is quickly read and makes it easy for a reader to find a stopping point when they need to put it down for awhile. The reason for this ease isn't because Maupin wrote them this way as a book, but because the chapters are originally articles that appeared in, I believe don't quote me on this, the San Francisco Chronicle. Each chapter was featured as the daily story and because of this the book seems highly dramatic at time because it would be fairly obvious that each article had to keep the reader invested to return to it the next day to read. The thing is though there are overarching themes that actually get solved as well, which makes it very interesting to read in its entirety. As a reader you want to know what the secrets are because Maupin makes you invested in each o the characters. Each character has their own individual life, but as a collective group they make a beautiful book. I really enjoyed this book and plan on reading the next in the series entitled Further Tales of the City. If you want a book that will surely turn out to be a guilty pleasure for you to read then look no further than this and the first book in the series. You will love them and thank yourself for reading them!!

5 solid Faerie Points

Kindle Review: Caribbean Moon by Rick Murcer

Caribbean Moon
by Rick Murcer
3 Faerie Points

Before I start in on the main review of this book I need to go on a bit of a rant about something that ticks me off about books, which was brought back up for me with this particular book. In one section of this book, I won't mention where due to spoilers, the author has a character talk about fags and queers in a basic derogatory manner. In Murcer's case I can forgive him somewhat because it is from the viewpoint of a killer, but a part of me can't even forgive him. If a writer wants to talk down about gay people I think there needs to be a bit of a balance in their book where they put something positive about them as well, so that readers that may identify in that particular persuasion do not instantly want to throw the book (or in my case their kindle) out of a moving vehicle. When did it become okay to just blatantly be hateful in writing with no balance? I would have given this particular book a higher rating if it hadn't been for this simple inclusion on Murcer's part.

There was another less minor issue that I had with Murcer's writing of "Caribbean Moon", which was that he included religion sometimes in the weirdest spots. A character would be dealing with something very profound on the case and suddenly they would mention God or have a thought about him. I understand a writer that believes in Christ including those elements in their work, but it needs to feel organic in the story. There was one point of the book where it was organic and felt very much a natural part of the story. This was in the preacher woman that was on one of the islands. This didn't feel like Murcer was forcing religion into his story. I understand that I am not an author and nor should I criticize heavily on any aspect of writing, but again elements of a story need to feel natural to the reader. The inclusions of religion in many spots of this book felt like an after thought that Murcer has shoved in to appeal to the Christian market. It doesn't work that well here.

The murder mystery aspect of this story and the character of Manny Williams, however, does work masterfully in this story. The story is just a fun little romp on a cruise ship that turns deadly. Murcer makes you feel like you have been on a cruise even if you never have (I never have been) because he tells us that the basic behavior of them is crazy and over the top. This drags us into the world that Williams finds himself in. The story develops in a manner that is believable and at times jaw-dropping. One of the only issues with the mystery aspect of the book is the sheer number of people that end up dead in the book or have something horrible happen to them. It feels like a bit much, but it adds to the urgency of the story as well, thus I am not sure I would have changed this aspect, but still it could be seen as a deficit to another reader of the book.

I would give Murcer's "Caribbean Moon" a solid three faerie points with a few knocks coming off for some of the above issues I have mentioned. If you are looking for a story where you can just try to figure out what is really going on in the story without a lot of moral questions then this could be the book for you. It is definitely one that I could see people sitting on their lawns in their lawn chairs devouring in a single sitting.

First Challenge Accepted: Get Ready! Get Set! Read! Summer Reading Challenge 2012

I have been looking around for the first book challenge that I would accept to put on this blog and I have decided to go with this summer challenge since I am currently off school. This challenge can be found at the following link: http://readingwriters-pet.blogspot.com/2012/05/getready-get-set-read-summer-reading.html

The criteria of the challenge is as followed with my selections if available:

Choose any title in the following categories:

1. A book in an unfamiliar genre [Read outside your comfort zone!]

The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow by Joyce Magnin- This book is considered christian fiction, which is a genre that I have never read in the past because of my deep-seated loathing of Christianity. I figured though that I shouldn't always judge before I have read something out of the genre thus I am giving this book a chance. One of the big reasons for choosing this is that it has a central female character directly in the title, which the focus of a female character sometimes makes it easier to read a book for me. We shall see if it is true in this case.

2. A book that is part of a series-

More Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin- This is book 2 in the Tales of the City series, which I have been meaning to read for years now. This challenge seems like a good time to knock it off my list.

3. A book that your friend or wider society has been raving about!

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer- This is a book that I personally never thought I would read, but the fact is a friend of mine talked me into it recently, so this seems like a perfect time to actually kill two birds with one stone.

4. A book that ‘could’ [This category is open to your interpretation*]

Effective Grant Writing and Program Evaluation by Francis K. O. Yuen- I am selecting this as my "could" book because this is a book that could help me graduate because it is one of the required books for a class I am in this summer. If I read it and get an A in the course I could graduate down the road with my bachelors in Social Work.


5. A book from the Modern Library's 100 Best Novels List.

I am going to read from this list number 33 "Sister Carrie" by Theodore Dreiser. I heard about this book a few semesters ago in a history course and based on the description it always sounded like something I would enjoy reading at least once. I recently found a copy of this book at my local used bookstore and hadn't gotten around to reading it. Now I have a reason.

6. A book that reminds you of your childhood.

The Wakefields of Sweet Valley from Francine Pascals's Sweet Valley High Series. This series is one that I always enjoyed reading when I was young, but my grandmother who raised me was always telling me the series was for girls. This eventually caused me not to be allowed to check out the books, but now that I am adult I have numerous books in the series that I haven't gotten around to reading. This is the one that I have wanted to read the longest, thus this would be the perfect opportunity to knock it off my tbr shelf.

7. A banned or contested book, OR a book that lied to us*

Lord of the Flies by Willam Golding. This is a book that I was actually never required to read as a kid (I hear the bibliophiles gasping, but tis true). I found from various sources that it has been banned numerous times due to the use of a particular old-fashioned word. This is another book that I have always meant to read, but simply never got around to.

8. A book you judged by the cover. [For whatever reason, the cover attracted you.]

Family Pieces by Misa Rush. The cover of this book has a green background. A weirdly designed female with a necklace on. This cover for some reason just dragged me in based on a purely aesthetic level. If I ever made a book I would want my cover to look that beautiful. I guess I have discovered a simple cover is what I like best.

9. Bonus: A blog turned book [OR a book turned blockbuster movie]

Going to go with the book turned blockbuster here and read Nicholas Sparks "A Walk to Remember", which was a book made into a movie featuring Mandy Moore. I have never read the first Nicholas Sparks book, so this will let me know if I like him or not as a writer.

10. Bonus: Free choice!

Wicked by Gregory Maguire!!! This is another book that has been on my shelf for far too long, thus it is time to actually get it marked off.
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When I finished one of these selections I will strike it out, so that there is a cohesive collection of what I have read. I will also mark my postings with the correct label for this particular challenge to make it easier for your finding. I look forward to completing this challenge!!!

When one love dies...

It has been said that when one love dies another comes to replace it at some point. That is what has happened for me. I used to be described as a comic book geek by my friends because I spent most, if not all, of my extra income on comics, but as I started getting older that love of comics started to die out. This last year has been one where I have discovered that I enjoy reading books/novels a lot more than I enjoy reading a comic book. There is so much more depth to a book than what I get from reading a comic book. I will always have an appreciation for comics because they are what started me on my path of reading, but I recognize now that the love affair is over.

This year I have been reading a lot more than I have ever in the past. I joined shelfari and goodreads to try to find other people that enjoyed reading as well. I have met numerous individuals that are awesome, but I always have felt that something was lacking for me and I think that it is the fact that I want to do a little bit more with reading than just reviewing on my accounts. That is why I am starting this blog.

On this blog I will post about any challenges that I am currently partaking in, reviews of books that I am reading, news on writing, or other things that come to mind, but it will always be focused on writing or literature. If you are more interested in my personal life you can join me at www.facebook.com/mrfluffy1981 by adding me as a friend or just faceboook stalking me, whatever is your cup of tea.

Goodbye to my DC.

Welcome to the New DC Universe