BOOK REVIEW: The Creature of Oakmont Way: A Short Halloween Tale (James W George)

 A short tale indeed, with a bonus of another short story.

The story is entertaining, although I would say I could see it coming, because it's been done many times. I enjoyed the descent into madness, but I wish there were more progression or aftermath conclusion. The first half is great, but the second half is a vertical escalation. It feels like there is a missing season, like when a popular TV character descends into a mad queen.

I feel the same for the bonus story. The bonus story reveals the setting, timing, the system, and the parties involved only near the end, which comes across as quite abrupt to me as a reader with no knowledge of them.

I understand it is always a challenge to wrap up a short story. I think both tales would have decent, good endings if the paths to get there were paved more gradually.

4 out of 5 stars

The Exploding Drumstick

 Sandy dog is happy dog!

One morning, I prepared breakfast for my dog, a boiled drumstick. It was almost ready, and I was on a schedule because I needed to go somewhere.

Suddenly, there was a POOF, and the drumstick launched itself at least one foot into the air before it stopped defying gravity, made a splotch, hit everything on the counter, and landed on the floor, along with a mini fountain. What should be a straightforward routine turned into an annoying mess and created multiple chores along the way. I needed to do special washing instead of just wiping because it was a drumstick! It had some oil and some blood!

It was a body part of a dead chicken. Trust me, I checked. Apparently, the jumping could be caused by muscle contraction upon heating or tendon pulling. It was not a common occurrence, but I was ‘lucky’ to encounter it twice. So, this unexpected extra work got the well-deserved cursing. It was mildly infuriating, because it took out a significant amount of unplanned time.

Just like what I did these past few days. I haven’t sent out a newsletter in a while, because I was migrating. The email marketing provider had been cutting the free subscriber capacity because ‘it wants to make their website better by prioritizing AI function.’ I don’t understand why every company thinks it’s a good idea to push AI. They want to keep up, I get it, but I’m sick of them. I don’t want it I don’t need it grmblll @*#^&

Anyway, the website has gone through two cuts, and now the capacity is only 25% of what it had promised when I signed up. The verdict is: upgrade and pay, or I can’t use it for sending newsletters, which is the only thing I need it for.

Nothing is free; what do I expect? I get that. I do have to pay for author platform and domain. Those are the costs that I can’t recover yet, and I’m not sure when I’ll be able to. So, unfortunately, I really can’t afford to upgrade. Fortunately, there are many other free email marketing providers for starters. Their business idea is to allow users to grow before we pay a premium. The company I used offered a decent number. Initially, now it forces me to cull my subscribers (which I already did), pay, or move.

So, after some research, I found a new one that provides 10x the initial number, which means 40x more than my existing unfaithful provider, which is awesome! (Hopefully there is no catch) However, I need to relearn everything, reset everything, and unfortunately, moving a CSV file can only be done through the paid tier.

Unless… I do it manually. Moving my subscribers one by one, and that was what I did for a few days. It was like cleaning an exploding drumstick all over again.

If this newsletter reaches you well, it means I’m happy, and I have successfully moved my provider. By the time I write this, I still have tons of things to do. It’s taking much longer than expected. You might see slightly different formatting, but hopefully, this one is not going to betray me.

Thank you for sticking with me. Have a wonderful day and please take care!

BOOKS!

It's tough being a writer, but the little guy in my head won't shut up. I can't beat Amazon algorithm, and I am not a social butterfly. Writing is personal, private, and intimate. But it scares me that I have to be out there to get my work out if I want to continue doing this. I want to. Your support helps. You can get my books through Amazon and KU. But if that's not a preferable option, feel free to ask me for a copy in exchange for your honest review or download my free books. All are appreciated.

OTHER BOOKS YOU MIGHT ENJOY!

FREE DOWNLOAD

TO AMAZON

   

THANK YOU!

BOOK REVIEW: Seven Serpent Assembled (Seth Hobbs)

 

Seven Serpents Assembled is a dark fantasy that is hard to put down. It’s not my usual genre, but I have read a few excellent books in this genre, and it grows on me. 

At first, the readers follow six despicable characters who are serving their prison sentence but are still up to no good, led by a horrible man. They are set for a quest to find a stolen treasure until an unexpected turn separates them. The plot sounds ordinary, but everything else is not.

The story then switches to the target of the quest itself, and along the way, introduces more characters and side plots as their stories collide. 

While there are so many things and names to take in, the way everything comes together is entertaining, fast-paced, and the book is hard to put down. Most characters are horrible people, degenerate, some are the lowest scums in society, and the book is unapologetic about them. Some have the best character names, and although some don't last long, they are memorable, and each leaves a distinguishable mark in the book. I find myself remembering characters that haven't been mentioned in a while because they are distinctive, which says something about their quality. It also helps that the authors include reminders here and there about who they are.

The stories are rich and layered with some unexpected twists and turns. There are a lot of questionable mixtures I didn’t expect to find in one book, like magical entities and wars with cars and machine guns, not to mention a mummified antagonist with sunglasses and a sombrero. However, it works somehow! Not for the faint-hearted; you have been warned. However, if you are looking to enjoy a book with rich creativity, imagination, and originality, sit back and enjoy the tale.

5 of 5 stars

 

I Was the Chosen One!

 

It was year 1996/1997. There was a very reputable lecturer at my university, and he was known for not taking any shit or nonsense.

He was fair, very serious, and professional, which made him respectable in my eyes. It was difficult for lecturers not to be subjective, since we were in the design field. Since I wasn't a student who was good at schmoozing, I spent most of my time sitting at the back, hardly interacting, and was only seen when it was absolutely required to. I preferred this kind of 'blind' lecturer, who treated everyone equally and was immune to schmoozing attempts because he couldn't care less. He barely had any expressions. Everyone feared him.

In one of his subjects, he asked us to bring something to the class, one person, one object. The description is 'something ordinary in your house.' It could be anything.

The day came, and everyone had something. He then revealed the task and the subject 'Deconstruction.' Our task was to convert/restructure/dismantling the objects we brought and remake them into something else with a different shape and a different function.

The instruction was clear enough. Everyone started to get excited; some were hanging around him, asking more questions, seeking clarification, or perhaps making another attempt to get to know him better. After all, he was one of the most popular lecturers.

I just sat on my desk and stared at the thing I bought, jaw-dropping. The wheel in my brain was turning, but nothing came out. I looked at everyone and their ideas flying around. A classmate who brought a tote bag talked about converting it into a pillowcase. Another with a cardboard would turn it into bookends. Someone with half of a slipper could make it into a beer holder. One holding a soft toy was teary-eyed, but she wouldn't have any problem turning it into a table mat.

Not me. I stared at my object again and finally made a beeline for the lecturer's desk in front.

There were a few classmates up there who felt stuck with their objects as well, but his voice was loud and clear, "No one is allowed to change the object of your choice. You'll have to make it work."

Dang it. I stopped in my tracks and watched those who had asked for objects change walk back to their seats, their shoulders slumped. The lecturer was in the clear now; no one was too close, and it made him look scarier.

"But what am I supposed to do with this?" My voice wasn't loud, but he heard and turned to me. I lifted my hand and showed him what I brought.

What happened next was a historical event, I am not exaggerating and I am proud to say I was the only student who made him laugh that way. His roar echoed across the classroom, he threw his head back, and those deep, baritone HA HA HA HA in the main villain tone drew everyone's attention to us. I stood there, now facing my nightmare of being the center of focus, slightly offended yet amused at the same time, holding this.

Yes, I brought this.

How was I supposed to dismantle it and make it into something with a different shape and function in a few days?

My family had a lot of tools lying around in our house. Parents had a small hardware shop. I always had some fascination with this one and used to draw Smurfs carrying it around. This was a common household object for me. It was my favorite. How would I know we were supposed to destroy it?

Anyway, I am proud to say that I was also THE ONLY ONE who was granted the right to change my object. I was the chosen one!

What I want to say is thank you again for being here, as always, reading my ramblings. You are the chosen ones!

I'll take a break from sending newsletters while I look for a new mailer host. The current one has been cutting its capacity twice now, delivering only 1/4 of its promise by the time I joined, and I can't afford to upgrade to premium. Nothing will change on your side; just give me time to sort it out. Please take good care of yourself and your family. Always remember: you matter. I'll see you again soon.

I am still active, talking nonsense on X, hoping to market my books with my inadequate efforts. They are free with KU. Maybe you'll like them, especially the latest one, ATLAS, because it's as bizarre as my chosen object.

BOOK REVIEW: Rogue Sailors (Junaid Murtuza)

 

I have to admit I had some expectations when I chose this book. It seems intriguing, and I was not disappointed.

This book is gripping from start to end. I didn't know it was Book One, and I still didn't know until the last few pages of the book. There were some questions in my mind, especially regarding a character that only appears for a few short chapters. He seems important, but his story remains exclusive while other storylines have merged. Had I know about this being a first book, I would be more relaxed, since I had put a lot of trust in the author by that moment, after reading chapters and chapters of excellent writing.

Every story, every important character, and their intricate details are nicely done. The author is patient and is very good at making every scene come alive. The surroundings, the situation, the body language, the implications, and the subtlety are masterfully done. Nothing is wasted, and nothing is too much. Everything is necessary, and when the multiple storylines collide, I already have a very good understanding of each character. They are not only men in action, part of a mission, but they are well-built, well-understood.

The only clunkiness that sometimes takes me away from the reading experience is the formatting. I'm reading this on the Kindle app, but the formatting is a big mess most of the time. There are no paragraph breaks, and sometimes the speaker remains the same even though the punctuation indicates a separation. I'm not sure if this is technical errors or the original formatting. It makes it hard to distinguish who is talking.

Minor note: Some terms can be confusing for readers who don't know them, for example, CPF. Other, more general terms can be common knowledge, but this term is exclusive to Singapore. There are some nice touches of using Singlish. Kontrakan means a rented/rental property that can come in different forms: units in high-rise buildings or landed homes; it can be simple or luxurious, since kontrakan doesn't actually describe the condition, just the nature of a property being a rental. 'Rusun,' means stacked house, would be a more suitable term for the cluster described in the book (a very well-done description by the way), and 'kumuh' would be the adjective suitable for the condition.

Overall, this is a really awesome, very well-written book. I can visualize everything, every action, every feeling. The level of knowledge, research, and subtlety in every scene makes this a very satisfactory read. I'm very impressed with the quality, and I certainly recommend this book to readers who love good worldbuilding, characters, and action.

5 out of 5 stars

 

BOOK REVIEW: SCAMMED: The Inside Story of a Perfect Trap (Seraphine Martin)

SCAMMED: The Inside Story of a Perfect Trap tells the story of a scammer's victim. Personally, I had some experience with scammers because one of my parents was a victim. I also spent countless hours watching how they operate through scammer baiter channels.

While the story accurately portrays some of the methods they use, the story feels incomplete and repetitive. It's realistic, but feels more like an exposition narrative. Readers barely know the characters outside of one. The flow feels stiff, and their existence feels detached.

Scammers are everywhere, and they are the leeches to society, especially those preying on people's compassion and loneliness, targeting the elderly and people looking for human connections. This could make a compelling book that many people can relate to if it's a more complete tale. I assume this is close to non-fiction, and the resolution is not yet realized. It's understandable, but unfortunately, imho, it lacks the three-act structure to make it feel complete.

3 of 5 stars.

BOOK REVIEW: THE FIFTH SILENCE (SUEDE D. GOLDMANN)

The Fifth Silence is a whodunit that switches timelines as the protagonist investigates a mysterious death of a family member.

The book is slow at first, especially because there is a plethora of names to remember; this remains quite a struggle for me into the middle of the book, but it gets better. There are some details that feel quite jarring to me, for example, the stewardess offering breakfast just before the announcement of landing, the prosecutor (who seems like the investigator himself) communicates directly to the court audience, and the protagonist is able to see the reactions and expressions of people on the other end of the phone. Another detail I don’t disclose here is near the end, about a place, a clue, or a character that the protag decides not to investigate, which eventually becomes the key to the case. It would be fine if the plot doesn't try to convince me that she has tried to do everything, but ignores this particular one, despite how jarring it is, only to stumble on it again by accident.

The dialogues feel clunky at times, and there are scenes when I'm not sure who the character is talking to because the other have left/phone conversation is done.

Having said that, I enjoy the second half of the book and burn through it in a few hours. I like the creativity of the various storylines and characters. The time jump adds another layer to the mystery. This is a decent whodunit for the fans of the genre.

3.5 rounded up.