BOOK REVIEW: Woman's History of America (Christa Nonnemaker)

 

I wish my high school history books were this interesting and interactive. The stories are easy to read, with nice pictures/illustration and more interesting bits. They are clear, easy to digest, and informative. Difficult/unusual words/terms are highlighted, and readers can find the meaning when they flip the pages or scroll down the book. 

One of the keys to better learning back then, in my experience, especially for 'drier' subjects with a lot to memorize, was writing it down. It created another set of memories and helped me recall things when I needed them during tests, or helped anchor them in my mind to become fun at parties later. This book has a better approach, it organizes information into tables and diagrams, things I can easily picture being used as self-practice or homework or teamwork, together with critical thinking and essay parts to encourage students to be creative without being restrictive. It also helps to learn by allowing students to relate to the history. 

Overall, I think it's a useful book and more fun (in an educational way) at the same time. I'm not sure how relevant it is to the current international curriculum, because I certainly didn't need to learn this in my high school. I'd recommend this if the subject is indeed relevant for those who want to learn out of necessity or curiosity about Women's History of America.

5 of 5

The Sunrise Outing

 

Every morning, before the sun is even up, there is a group of elders in the water. Same spot, same time, same people with some additions and subtractions. The very first time I encountered them, I didn't see them. I heard them first.

It was one of our regular beaches, known for its beautiful sunrise and golden hour. I was walking with my dog, Locky, when I heard a song coming from the sea's direction. It was not bath day for Locky, so he was on the leash (otherwise he would play in the water). A wide stretch of sandy beach lay between the path we were walking on and the ocean.

I saw a few heads, some with half a torso, floating in the water (this sentence could be easily misunderstood). I needed to squint because the sun was glaring and I was staring in its direction. We walked nearer and parked our butts on the sand. We always took time to enjoy the sunrise, but this was not our usual spot.

The sound continued to echo; it was indeed a song, a live choir! It was sung by a group of older men, who were lounging around in the shallow water between small fishing boats (the water here is calm with barely any waves). Song after song, they sang their heart out.

That was more than a decade ago, and they are still doing that. Some of them use a walking stick; some have an inner tube around their waist to act as a float. There are around three to eight guys, sometimes more. Every morning at dawn, without fail, they would gather at the same spot, sing the same songs, and go about their days. I think it's a friendship forged over time, over the enjoyment of simple daily blessings, to catch the sunrise, to start the new day. Singing is very therapeutic, and what is better than having a killer view to back it up?

I think it's awesome, and I want to be chill like them when I grow up. Take time to enjoy simple things, and welcome the day with positive attitudes. I hope I'll keep seeing them.

As always, thank you for being here.

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BOOK REVIEW: The Captivating Flames of Madness (Jeff Parsons)

The feeling of reading a good book is hard to beat. I picked up this book without having high expectations, and I'm pleasantly surprised.

True to its title, The Captivating Flame of Madness is just that. It's a collection of short stories that are fast-paced, full of wonderfully crafted twists, well-written, with chilling plots.

Each story packs a strong idea, believable characters, and pulls readers into the madness as soon as the words start to flow. It doesn't drag. The stories are easy to read and follow, yet they are deep and carefully constructed.

The second story, The New Law, is one of the most intriguing dystopian short stories I've come across lately. It could easily be expanded into a book or novella. Although I could see the end coming, Control and Nothing Personal were entertaining and captivating throughout. There are many more other original stories that captivate me from start to end. How else can I walk between zombies? Face the bullies? The last story is chilling, although I have seen it done before in different permutations.

Highly recommended read.

5 out of 5 stars

BOOK REVIEW: Saint Joseph (J. Salvatore Domino)

I thought Saint Joseph was a biography for almost half a book. It feels like one: a slow-burn life story told from a first-person view, reminiscing about the character's journey from the beginning of his career and his personal life.

While some parts can feel slow and information-heavy, especially when there are many names and technicalities, I think the fact that the story reads like a biography is the strongest point that makes this book unique. It doesn't go over the top, and nothing is dramatized out of proportion, which makes everything feel realistic and believable, including the characters' flaws and conflicts.

It doesn't need cliché tropes, even though they exist in the book. A good chunk of the story feels a bit cheesy and repetitive, some investigations feel very coincidental and a bit hard to buy,  but it's also realistic in our messed-up world.

The ending sums up the overall story well.

4 out of 5 stars.

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!

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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.

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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