Books

Starbucks and Mocha

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The New York Times’ recent piece Melville’s Whale Was a Warning We Failed to Heed is actually a quite serious look at human nature, racism, the environment… but here is a fun selection from it that belies its erudition: Melville had read Jeremiah Reynolds’s violent account of a sperm whale “white as wool,” named — … Read more

THE GOOD KILL – A Review by Meg Orton

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In conclusion this is a novel that took me completely by surprise in the best way possible. Brindley has an impeccable grasp of the English language, as well as an extraordinary gift for writing a damn fine tale of intrigue, epic action, a little mystery, one hell of a conspiracy, and what I really hope is a fantastic introduction to a character that I adore for so many reasons, whom I hope to meet again and whose place in literature is sorely needed at present…

THE GOOD KILL – A Review by Joan Wiley

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I was absolutely drawn into this story right from the beginning. This is a gritty and enthralling novel. Kurt Brindly is a great story teller and provides such knowledgeable detail to make one consider he was there, in this dark and dangerous world, if not experiencing it – then certainly taking serious notes! Incredible. The skilled way he draws us into the mind of each character is not only impressive but keeps the reader even more captivated by the story. The character development is outstanding. The dialogue, which some authors struggle with, I found to be very natural and realistic…

An American Pope by Paul Xylinides – A Review

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BOOK | FICTION | LITERARY
AN AMERICAN POPE
PAUL XYLINIDES
RATING: ★ ★ ★ ★

A modernizing American has assumed the papal throne. One of His first acts is to select a seventeenth century priest for canonization. The Congregation for the Causes of the Saints recoils in horror at the new pontiff’s choice. Against a backdrop of Vatican intrigue and infighting, a long-unsolved crime comes to the attention of a retired detective. The forces that contribute to it reach far back into the distant past. No one can truly fathom the life of the candidate for sainthood including the nun and priest who join forces to prepare the submission to Rome.

Amazon Book Description
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What a Bizarro World We Live In

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So, it’s kind of becoming a thing for me to head straight to the WordPress reader after publishing a new post to do a search on whatever it is I have just posted about so I can see what others have written about it. I like to do this especially after posting reviews since I … Read more

AND THE HIPPOS WERE BOILED IN THEIR TANKS — A Rapid Review

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BOOK | FICTION | LITERARY
AND THE HIPPOS WERE BOILED IN THEIR TANKS
BY JACK KEROUAC AND WILLIAM S. BURROUGHS
FORMAT: AUDIOBOOK
RATING: ★ ★ ★

In the summer of 1944, a shocking murder rocked the fledgling Beats. William S. Burroughs and Jack Kerouac, both still unknown, we inspired by the crime to collaborate on a novel, a hard-boiled tale of bohemian New York during World War II, full of drugs and art, obsession and brutality, with scenes and characters drawn from their own lives. Finally published after more than sixty years, this is a captivating read, and incomparable literary artifact, and a window into the lives and art of two of the twentieth century’s most influential writers.

Book description, grammar errors and all, as found at Amazon

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THE CONTORTIONIST’S HANDBOOK — A Rapid Review

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BOOK | FICTION | LITERARY
THE CONTORTIONIST’S HANDBOOK
BY CRAIG CLEVENGER
FORMAT: AUDIOBOOK
RATING: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

This is the book’s description, as diminutive as it may be, and as it may be found on its Amazon page…

John Dolan Vincent, a forger who suffers from migraine headaches and mental illness, invents a new identity for himself in order to be released from a mental hospital and build a new life.

And this is my review of the book, as diminutive as it may be, and as it may be found as follows (huh?)…

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