BOOK REVIEW: Round the World: A Life of Jeanne Baret (C.R. Hurst)

 

Round the World A Life of Jeanne Baret is a historical fiction about the character Jeanne, as she embarked on the trip that brings us along around the globe.

I applaud the amount of research that was dedicated to this book. This is the trip that many would never experience, even in modern times, so one could imagine how important it was back then.

While I understand that it was probably done to maintain accuracy and details, I wish the character were more relatable because instead of experiencing the journey through her eyes, I felt detached. There was barely any emotion, consideration, turmoil, but systematic thoughts and actions. I had no idea what she feels, her motivations, and what keeps her going, but the day-to-day, trip-to-trip technicality. People who are supposed to be important from her past are barely mentioned and seem to influence nothing along her journey until she is back with them. For example, I had no idea who Hubert was when he was mentioned again at the end of the book after one mention in the beginning. For his importance, especially when she reflects on her past with him and her decision to come back to the place, she never thinks of him throughout the other milestones of her life, which, imo, should be a very important detail.

There is also a mention of a particular flower that is very identifiable as Amorphophallus titanum as a huge, tall, green and red flower with a yellow pistil and a putrid, rotten cheese smell that is found in Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro. However, Tirta Arum, the common name of this flower, is endemic to Sumatra, Indonesia, and was first discovered in 1878, almost a decade after the time period of this book. I wouldn’t discount the possibility that it is only the official record, but one would wonder that for someone as famous as her in her field and a plant as peculiar as this one, this should be at least documented. While this is a small detail in the book, it would catch the eyes of people who might be familiar with it.

Having said that, readers to enjoy exploration journeys would find this book informative and inspiring.

3.5 stars out of 5

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I’m always impressed with people who have a lot in their lives but still maintain their positivity. As a contrast, I see many whine about every single inconvenient thing that happens to them to get attention.

I have just met a friend who survived cancer, hopefully it’s gone forever. We have been friends for over two decades, but just like with my other friends, we are not the type who contact each other daily, weekly, or even monthly. However, when we have an opportunity to meet, everything flows, and it feels like we have just met yesterday. For some reason, all my strong relationships are like that. We are not overly attached, but we are there when we need each other.

Everyone faces their challenges differently. To see the way she recalled the story, I was the one hanging my jaw because she had gone through such a shitty time from how she found out to her treatments, but she told it just like some inconvenience with jokes and laughter. I guess it helped a lot that she had good support around her, but her own attitude must have helped tremendously.

She is cleared now, but she has a long recovery journey ahead of her and has to learn to walk properly again. We are back to being thousands of kilometers away, each facing our own challenges in our lives. I hope we have plenty of opportunities to share laughter again in the future and to be as strong as her.

If you are one of those who are struggling with something you don’t talk about, I wish you strength and support, and know you have my admiration.

BOOK REVIEW: Collapse Years (Damir Solkovic)

Collapse Years is a book I would recommend for anyone who is looking for a good quality short stories. It exceeds my expectation, I like all the tales and how they are presented.

Touching deep and mature subjects, the stories are well-written, but the strongest factor of all is how every tale is presented through the lens of characters who experience it directly. It gives closeness, attachment, and readers are able to read along as if they are there.

The tales are dark and heavy, but they’re right up my alley. I also like that it explores various places and cultures. There are some minor nitpicks, like the first story is based on Indonesian culture, but chopstick is not the common utensil, especially not used to eat goreng, which is a term to describe how the food is prepared instead of the food. Komang is also a Balinese name, an area that has a very defined culture. It refers to the third child, while it’s not the case in the story, and usually, they would use the same way of naming for the first child as well. It can be important since there are a plethora of ghost types in the country, and Bali has its own, which doesn’t seem to be the type told in the story.

Almost every story ends on the right note. I can imagine this would make a good anthology for a TV series, similar to Black Mirror, but more realistic and sociological.

5 stars out of 5

BOOK REVIEW: Dusk (Mrs. Kimberly Tashner Shyu)

 

 

I didn’t have much expectation when I read the book, and I only read the blurb after I finished the book. I’m glad I did it that way.

The book follows a main character, Theo, in his younger days through his perspective, and the older him through the perspective of his android caretaker, set around five decades into the future.

The revelation between the two PoVs is clever, and the way the story goes back and forth, one moving to the future and the other reminiscing about the past, works well. It weaves readers into the plot, giving enough but not too much, with many intriguing world-building along the way. I kept thinking about 3 Body Problem, although it’s not similar, but imo, exploring humanity and how we deal with invasion threats are much more intriguing than the cliche Sci-Fi with green alien, especially when there is a relatable character with their ordinary lives. Older Theo is heartbreaking to read.

The characters are distinguishable and very believable. The only setback in this brilliant book, imho, is the ending. I like the ending, however, I don’t think there is enough build-up, not in terms of quantity, but more in potential and possibility. I feel that the attempt to hide the twist backfires a bit and dangerously leans into character inconsistency.

4.5 rounded up to 5

BOOK REVIEW: Treading Water (Jane C.R.Reid)

 Treading Water is an intricate tale that focuses on relationship between Saul, his wife, and his ex-mistress trying to rekindle their old relationship.

It's a tale as old as time. Most likely, everyone has seen, read, or encountered something like this before. However, what makes the book good is the consistency and realism of the characters. They maintain their respective traits like manipulative, doubtful, erratic, etc throughout the book and nothing is over the top, the scenario is very plausible and while personally the ending doesn't feel as satisfactory as what I would hope, it's a very realistic one.

There are hidden questions brought out but not addressed in detail, which is not necessary but it's good to ask in sync with reality, something probably controversial but shouldn't imho: should a man have a say in a situation when a fling ends up in pregnancy?

 

 

 

BOOK REVIEW: The Christmas Getaway (Flavia Labre)

 

The Christmas Getaway tells a story through two POVS: Bruno and Laura. They decide to spend Christmas in Bruno's family's holiday house, where Bruno plans to propose.

I think the author did a good job portraying the characters' body language and expressions, showing how they feel and what they think instead of telling them. The writing flows, and these two are the strongest factors of the book.

I can't decide whether this book is too short or too long, because by the time I have read 50% of the book, readers are none the wiser about what is going on, yet I have predicted the correct second half of the book. Imo, it's more optimal to be a short story since the effort to hide the character's real intentions from the readers becomes contradictory at the end. We are in the characters' heads in their own PoV, they shouldn't be tricky with their own actions. For example, without spoiling anything, Laura shouldn't clean the dishes first before doing the other thing.

If it's expanded to a longer story, more plots would be needed, but the potential is there.

4 out of 5 stars

BOOK REVIEW: Hypocrisy vs. Mysticism, Wisdom, and Morality (LInda Meris)

 

It’s great if others find this book inspiring, because the messages are great and thoughtful.

I love to think that I’m an open-minded person, and there are many things we can’t explain and justify. Things that have been experienced and told by people I trust, and those I have read. Still, for me, I would have to exercise a lot of suspension of disbelief for this book. Many non-fiction paranormal and spiritual stories I know have similar things in common, one of them is the need for heavy communication interpretation because of the difficulty in channeling the messages. I wouldn’t say it’s not possible, after all, there are so many mysteries in this world, but the level of details and coherence throughout the wide topics of aliens, terrorism, music, politics, to name a few, makes me question it, about the process, and unfortunately, it is never properly explained.  

Putting aside skepticism, unfortunately, the book feels preachy, and there is a lack of background for readers who are not familiar with the character. There is a need for personal touch, because it’s very important to help understand the history and personality of the main character. Many wisdoms feel detached and generic.

Having said that, this review is my personal opinion. Books are subjective, and other readers might enjoy this. I do applaud the thoughtful philosophy and wise idealism.

3 out of 5 stars

BOOK REVIEW: Ten Tiny Tales (Gene Kendall)

 

Ten Tiny Tales is a collection of short stories that vary from the light-hearted ones to those that pull your heartstrings. The tales are both about ordinary people with their ordinary problems and the more fugitive and hardcore ones. I’d say I prefer the first.

Sometimes I see the ending coming, but on others it makes me raise my eyebrows. My favourite tale is Save the Cat because of the mundane situations that are realistically relatable in real life, both in the problems and the frustrating side characters. Maybe that is also the reason that it’s this tale that still lingers after I have moved on.

Other less memorable ones are It Ends With a Tear and The Quotidian Struggle, in which I had to do a double-take to make sure I didn’t understand the stories wrong. There are other stories with common endings, but it’s enjoyable to get there with creative ideas like Mickey Mouse ones and That Is Not Funny. Bring on all the gross cards!

The tales are certainly worth reading, there are layers of meanings and relatable human struggles. I can also relate to the many Pop references.

4 out of 5 stars

BOOK REVIEW: The Borealis Queen (Henry Guard)

 

The Borealis Queen is a delightful read that exceeded my expectations. It follows Nin's transformation into the Borealis Queen.

Yes, there are some possible plot holes that raise my eyebrows and knock half a star for me, I still round it up. Although they significantly distracted me, fortunately, the rest of the book still makes up for them. For example, why would two prisoners have access to her weapon before her battle when the enemies know well what she is capable of? The other prisoner, access to her scout? The timeline of the princess's capture and how her tribe has sort of recovered within a short period of time. The powerful and conveniently forgotten sling through some moments like Artko's distraction and final square off?

Besides that, it's a very well-written and enjoyable book. When an enemy is conquered, others arise, keeping the readers on their toes. Although many prominent characters are introduced along the way, they each hold their own and are distinctive, leaving their own marks in the story. The story is fast-paced and very imaginative. The battles are great, vivid, and I feel like I'm there with them.

It's a very enjoyable read and worth every minute.

5 out of 5 stars

BOOK REVIEW: A Quick Spin Around the Galaxy (J.A. Freely)

I had my own quick spin around the galaxy by reading this book. It introduces itself in the beginning as a non-fiction, a statement that gets better and better as the book goes on. We start by meeting one of the most unremarkable humans (although I’d admit he would make a better candidate than me, even in the beginning, as I would just suggest, “Do it, but do it quickly, please.”

The beginning feels a bit clunky to me, and I was afraid I had to suffer through the mediocre, predictable jokes, excessive name-calling (literal), and poopy burritos. However, I was pleasantly surprised because apparently, I care about the whales, too.

After the initial nitty-gritty before the journey, it became a treat to read the book and the plethora of imaginations and nostrils that come with it. It genuinely drew laughs and smiles from me, and the author does a good job inserting real messages without being patronizing, preachy, or cliché.

While I, a sadist, would love to see how Jake probably faces with ‘nothing’ back on earth at the end, with no one acknowledging his effort with his possible new tin foil Youtube channel and three subscribers, I think the story ends in a good note.

I’m still unsure what is going on in Nimpossipho with all the ice cream, but pass me the road-kill stew, please, as I’d love to recommend the quick spin and its exquisite cuisines.

5 out of 5 stars

BOOK REVIEW: Children of Jotunheim (Mehmet Caliskan)

 

Children of Jotunheim explores an idea that is a reflection of many aspects in real life. It's not unique, as there have been many books and stories that touch this subject. The presentation, however, is unusual. It reads more like a detailed exploration and expedition report that stretches throughout time. While there is a standout character, most of the books stay away from it, as if we readers observe the situation from far.

The ideas and plot, especially about how the colonization is revealed, are intriguing. Personally, I think it would be much more powerful if the book were more immersive, if the readers experienced all this from a character's point of view and were more involved, attached, and conflicted. It might not be the author's intention for the book, but I can't help but think how much potential it has and how stronger the story and message would be.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. It just goes away very fast and feels detached to me. I wish to have a more immersive reading experience, as I love the idea and the world-building.

4 out of 5 stars

BOOK REVIEW: Afterlife (Ed Morawski)

 

I rounded up my rating to 5 stars, but not because the book is without flaws. In fact, I can list them, but I can also explain the rating in this review. 

Afterlife is an acquired taste. It touches on sensitive subjects and is very daring in exploring the topic. I have read multiple books from this author, and one thing remains consistent: there is always a burst of creativity and original ideas. Ed always prods deeper into unusual topics and delivers them with a bang.

The best part of this book is the first half, when readers learn about the reality of this dystopian society and when some characters go with their diabolical plan. Although I wish it were explored more, at least we learn things about these characters and their motivations. The intricate and grim society builds up to why this diabolical plan is necessary. Readers are left to decide whether the road to hell is really paved with good intentions, or the heaven on earth is built on blood and sacrifices. It’s intriguing, and the question I love to explore myself since I write in this genre as well.

The events before the ending are the weakest part, imho, where the suspension of belief has to be strong, and I admit it almost knocks a star off, but the ending itself is conclusive and probably provokes many potential close-minded readers, but it’s refreshingly unapologetic.

Overall, this is a read up to my alley. I finished it in less than a day, and if you are looking for something daring and original, I’d recommend this book.

5 out of 5 stars

BOOK REVIEW: The Eye of Ebon (P. Pherson Green)

 

 

The Eye of Ebon is a rich fantasy with two strong women as the main protagonists, navigating in a world dominated by men to fulfill their purposes and duties.

The author has woven a beautifully written story that promises many adventures to come. It doesn’t shy away from heavy subjects and intricate world-building. Readers are introduced to one of the main characters, Samiare, through the darkest moment of her life, which is very powerful.

I understand this is the first book of many, and there is much more to discover. Book One provides a complete story on its own. Almost. However, I think it’s missing an important bookend, Nechare. From something so prominent in the beginning, it dwindles down and disappears to nothing in the end. It doesn’t need to be resolved, but a reminder about an oath, something that is felt so strongly by the character. Samiare’s struggles and resilience in the beginning make her very intriguing. However, as the book progresses, we barely see that side of her anymore, and she unfortunately becomes less three-dimensional. The battles also feel repetitive after a few times.

Having said that, overall, this is an enjoyable book. It’s beautifully written, and there are too many characters to keep track of at times, but it will pay off over the course of the series.

4 out of 5 stars

 

BOOK REVIEW: The Millennial and the King (Miriam Schwellnus)

 

The Millennial and the King is not the book I thought it would be. From the title, it could be an awesome fantasy. When I found out about the actual content, I was ready as well.

As a late Gen-Xer, I can relate to the time period. Although Michael Jackson was not at the top of my preferences, I had one of his albums, which says a lot for a broke teenager who could only afford a few cassette tapes throughout the years. The quality of his music was mostly undeniable, and he was the greatest showman.

The book starts out great, but unfortunately, it goes downhill halfway for me. I like the parallel and how the author relates to her experience in life and as a fan. It was on par at first, but the book drags on for too long, making it feel forced and out of focus as it gets into 200+ pages. The out-of-focus is the one that doesn’t do it well for me. I think I’d be more prepared if this were categorized as part of an autobiography, because it focuses much more on the author. There are many relevant ones (and they are good), but there are many distracting ones that contribute nothing to the ‘plot.’ It makes me forget what I was reading. The author herself acknowledges this, but I have to agree with the unnamed beta readers. Two boring books are not a good option, but one solid, compact one is much better. I draw the number from the air, but maybe 35% of the book can be streamlined. The Screenplay chapter is an unnecessary filler, especially because it’s a mock screenplay. The first AI interview was okay; it tells many unspoken feelings, but the second one, although the last part is a good way to end the book, is also a very questionable filler, in my humble opinion. It blurs the facts and fiction. I’m not sure what the message is here. The other one that is absolutely out of focus is the political rants. Does the book really need this? Again, it distracts too much and weighs on the credibility, which is a pity because I’m sure a lot of efforts were put into making this.

Having said that, others might enjoy the book more. I admire the research, the sources, the details, and the experience of reliving the time again. It is nostalgic, and I reminisce about my own experience. That is the best part of this book. It is also raw and honest, which I appreciate.

3 out of 5 stars

BOOK REVIEW: Bird Streets Vampire Murders (Ed Morawski)

 

This is a creative book, and it quickly pulls my attention from the start. There are many characters, but almost all of them are distinctive enough. We follow the story from the main protagonist, Janice, who investigates bizarre murders after joining her new team. Unfortunately, some of the victims are famous, which escalates the situation and media attention.

I enjoy how this book doesn’t bother in being politically correct, and it’s both strange and cliché in a certain way. Although the revelation comes late into the book, it doesn’t frustrate me because it’s interesting along the way. My only but main complaint is the ending. It’s front-heavy with a lightning speed ending. While I don’t have any problem with how the plot is solved, it feels very rushed, and the best part is only fleshed out in a few pages. No spoiler here, but I’d love to see more of the catastrophe and the days leading to it. I can’t help but feel that the author wants to wrap it up and get it over and done, and it’s such a waste after all the build-up.

Then again, I don’t think this book is meant to be taken too seriously, after all, it’s a satire. There are many great details and interesting information along the way, including unusual characters’ behavior.

If you enjoy fast-paced mystery crime thriller with a touch of paranormal, try this book.

5 out of 5 stars

BOOK REVIEW: The Memory of Lost Dreams (Joseph Minart)

 

The Memory of Lost Dreams is an ambitious tale about a speculative world where we can enter and live in the dream. It explores the good and bad and how it can be used for the wrong purpose. It also brings readers to the world beyond imagination that exists far into the future.

The story is everywhere in the book's first half, and I had to recheck some parts to ensure I didn't miss anything. However, it's easy enough to pick up once readers understand the main idea of REQUIEM, the contraption to dream and mind control. It helps to follow one main character, although the story occasionally shifts to another area or perspective, but never in confusing moments, which I appreciate.

Imho, the book can be compacted because there are many mundane tasks and explanatory sentences that can be trimmed down. The dialogues are also clunky at times. While I'm not against using adverbs at all, there are too many of them everywhere. There are also some outdated references to what is supposed to be the future world, like manila folder, keychain, etc. I would imagine all these will cease to exist even in our current time soon enough.

Having said that, I applaud the original idea of the book and the way it's presented. Although it seems complicated, as mentioned, once readers understand the concept of the story, it becomes intriguing to see how it works back and forth between timing, the real and dream, past and present. It does get confusing at times, especially when characters have the same name, appear in the past and present, or when new characters are introduced late in the story, but one character driving the plot helps to keep it grounded. I also appreciate the story doesn't stray from the intended purpose, and the ending is satisfying to conclude everything.

4 out of 5 stars

BOOK REVIEW: The Breath of the Sea (Jeff Chapman)

 

 

The Breath of the Sea is another chapter of Merliss’s adventure. This time, it follows a very interesting journey of a family of a poor fisherman struggling to make ends meet.

I hate to say I saw the twist coming since the very beginning, when I had started to become familiar with the characters. However, it didn’t reduce my enjoyment in reading the tale.

The stories stand out great on their own, and when they intertwine, it becomes a massive tale of creative imagination. I like the characters, even the weird and despicable ones are intriguing. The sense of solidarity in this poor friend who sacrifices her best dress for a fishy smell reminds me of the childhood books I like, with beautiful illustrations about kids playing in the woods and doing all sorts of things like gardening, having a tea party, flying a kite, carrying a bucket over the river with their little goat companion. Somehow, I got that very nostalgic vibe from the scene, although my current self was on the edge about pushing them to hurry.

Besides a few jarring, questionable decisions made by the characters, like a secret that lasts a very, very short time, disregard for child safety, and distracting scenes, I really like this book. I’m lucky to have read the first book, because I think it could be confusing for others who don’t know anything about Merliss’s background, especially during the prolonged scenes about her magical friends that almost come out of nowhere for those unfamiliar.

Overall, this is a solid, entertaining read. I recommend this for readers who love fantasy or even someone like me, fantasy is not my preferred genre, but I can appreciate this. The story is captivating, the characters are realistic, the world is rich and imaginative, and it’s very well-written.

Also, it’s fortunate that I only read the blurb after the book because I think reading it beforehand could have diminished my enjoyment of many scenes’ revelations.

5 clumsy tea parties of 5 buckets of sea water

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Book Review: The Blackened Yonder (J. Gibson)

The Blackened Yonder is the first book of the series. The author plans for the series to have at least four books, based on a sentence I read at the end of this one.

The book follows three PoV, which I get to read from two different perspectives. This is one of my favorite styles because it’s always intriguing to see the opposites of a coin. Unfortunately, besides some mentions about the main conflict, the stories of both sides only start to integrate about 75% into the book, which, imho, makes this style non-beneficial. It makes me question the purposes, the timelines, or if they are in the same universe. At some point in the story, I even wondered if Garron’s PoV is set in the past for a brief period (it could be an awesome idea).

The characters start out very good. I’m invested in their causes, stories, and inner struggles. However, it becomes repetitive near the end of their journeys without much growth. I change from sympathizing with Athenne to feeling indifference about her wishy-washiness. The revelation of her backstory is also way too late and doesn’t have much impact to counter her reason to join the Saint in the first place. Her main friend/love and one of the reasons for leaning on her chosen path are probably not there for 90% of the book, and readers know almost nothing about him. I appreciate the humanity and how the two main characters are not following the path of The Chosen One, but Athenne is barely more than a pair of eyes. I would rather see the story from the other female Saint. (I will not attempt to spell more names)

The big task of the first book is that there are many names, places, histories, and lore to learn. It is common in fantasy, especially when it’s planned as a big series, however, some simplifications might help. For example, it’s hard enough to refer to the character as one name, but using the first name here mixed with the last name there and other attributes certainly doesn’t make it easy to follow. I understand that it could be intentional, depending on the conditions and the speakers, but it can work against the readers’ will to ensure who they are referring to. There are also a lot of ramblings at the end of the book where some characters go on and on with their monologues.

I think the plot has good potential. There is enough going on, but hopefully, the stories will be told by more intriguing characters. (Amun is good, and I like how she is built up before taking the task.) The world-building is rich, except for some questionable modern terminologies (I’m not sure about the time setting, but epoxy resin doesn’t feel like it belongs in this universe).

The best part of all is the writing style. It’s beautifully written, very imaginative, and descriptive. I feel like I’m really there absorbing the settings and scenery, where I can feel the grime on my skin, smell the air, and hear the noise.

If you are a fantasy fan and want to invest in learning the lore of everything in this universe and appreciate great writing, this book is for you.

4 of 5

Noisy Neighbors

 

When I read and write, I prefer zero distraction—no music, no conversation. This is amusing to me because I can multitask with everything else. I can fully concentrate on driving while listening to complicated stories or music or basically doing everything else, but not reading or writing.

When silence is not an option, my other way to do it is to blank out on the surroundings. I wrote my first book while confined in a small space with my parents blasting music and movies. They were there for me and to help me back then, so I couldn’t complain and wouldn’t anyway, so I created my own bubble and zoned out. It worked, in the expense of not paying attention to everything else, which I try not to do.

Now, three of my nearby neighbors are doing heavy construction, one of them directly next to me. The houses here are basically next to each other. Not only are there loud sounds like drilling, hacking, nailing, or whatever, but recently, they added one more thing: music. Not the kind of music that I like—that’s the worst part. There is no peace, and I have been having regular headaches.

While all my quest, life goal, and firstborn are dedicated to telling them off, either by barging in there or blasting it in the neighborhood group chat, HAVE YOU NOT DONE ENOUGH WITH YOUR NOISE TAKE EVERYTHING AND SHOVE IT… I grit my teeth and contemplate my decision.

I’m not a pushover, no, but I exercise caution for safety on everyone who can monitor my habit, schedule, and know where I live. However, on top of that, I consider something else.

Maybe you live in different places with different cultures, where one should comply with noise regulation, HOA, or everything is ‘proper.’ To put this into perspective, I know because I have worked in a construction-related field for a significant period of time in the past, the regulation here is very lacking, and so is workers’ welfare. They weld without eye protection, they work without earbuds, masks, or helmets, and there is no such thing as a drilling schedule.

The noise disturbs me a lot, but that is probably the only thing that helps them work. They don’t have earphones, and the volume is most likely to overcome the noise level of their work. When I hear them sing along happily, it’s like a confirmation that maybe I should put on my earphones (I try to limit this since I’m uncomfortable), or enter my bubble and try to endure it.

That is what I decided to do, but maybe one day I will barge in and yell at them with veins in my forehead. I can’t promise. Fortunately, the last few days have been better (or have I gotten used to it?). I believe they have toned down their volume, which is great. Maybe someone else had barged in and yelled at them.

Anyway, wish you peace and quiet, if those are your preferences.

Please take care, and thank you for enduring my ramble and not yelling at me.

If you are looking for books, here are some to consider

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How Introverts Make Friends

 

Locky: I found this stick, can we bring it home?

I used to chuckle at this meme, thinking it was not true, I am capable of making friends!

How introverts make friends:

1. They don’t
2. An extrovert found them, liked them, and adopted them 

Then, a few days ago, I answered a question on X about stray dogs we befriended on the beach. I told someone I was happy I still had the chance to meet a stray who had been adopted by a kind-hearted person, and she asked me how. This stray, Molly, was adopted by a dog feeder who goes to the beach regularly, bringing Molly so I get to meet her and know she is doing well. When I recalled the story, I realized the above had happened to me. 

I like to stroll the beach with Locky, my dog. We meet many strays along the way. Each usually occupies a territory, so I meet them in their respective places and get to know them over time. We play with them, I give them treats, and I sit and walk with them (they love treats/food, but most of them crave companionship and stay with us until we go back). 

Over time, someone (human, in case clarification is needed!) initiated a conversation with me. I imagine it was not easy because I remember her smiling and waving several times from a distance when I just smiled back and moved along with my entourage, thinking it was just a passing, friendly gesture. One day, she was on my path and introduced herself. That was when I realized she also had a group of dogs. I found out she fed the dogs regularly, that was why she always stood in the same spot while trying to catch my attention. She noticed I had my way with dogs, so we bonded and shared stories and knowledge about the strays around. We became friends, and from her, I knew several others who care about the strays as well. There was no drama, no agenda, just people with similar passions. 

If you are curious about the stray situation, feel free to ask me. I know things can be different in different places, but before you feel judgmental, don’t feed strays, and don’t blablabla (it happens!). Please educate yourself about the situation first. I find it surprising that people are very quick to judge and ‘compare’ the situation with their ‘ideal’ ones. It only shows me how little they know and how close-minded they are. Every place is different. Every situation is different. 

Anyway, in a way, I looked back to my history and realized that I was adopted as a friend by many, and when I make my own, they are fellow introverts.

What is the moral of this post? Nothing! Maybe I’m just grateful for those who give me a chance.

I just want to keep in touch. I hope you are not bored with my ramblings.

Here is Molly!

 

BOOK REVIEW: GORY STORIES (JOEY WEBB)

 

This is an interesting short story collection. The tales are short and fast-paced. At times, I could see the endings and twists coming, others, not so much. They don’t always provide satisfying endings, and sometimes, they end abruptly, but for some reason, I don’t mind them. The stories feel classic from the way they are told and unfolded, which feels like narration. They never dwell too long on the characters and plots, and this works fine for short stories.

There are some typos, like missing punctuation and alphabets. I’m not sure if it’s because of the format since there are some limitations to the digital e-book, like the fixed fonts. I can’t change the size, and the contents are not linked/clickable. I’m reading this with Amazon Kindle apps since it’s not compatible with my Kindle, which is another question for the format.

Other than the technical hiccups, I enjoyed the stories. Some are not my cup of tea, but they’re easy to read and still provide some entertaining value. They are engaging, some are unintentionally funny, and there are snippets of real-life facts. My favorite story is Life Imitating Art.

If you enjoy a quick-paced, creative read without the need to feel attached to the characters, this is the book for you.

My One and Only Co-writer Circa 1995

Just a few days ago, I reached out to an old friend from high school. We haven’t been in contact privately for 30 years (gasp). It was only during COVID time we had a group Zoom call (it was a nightmare for me, and I had only done it once voluntarily) between several ‘close’ high school friends. Close as in, three decades ago. To be honest, I struggle to find similarities now because we all studied in different places, took up different majors, and grew up with different adult aspirations. The video call was awkward (to me, at least). Every question felt like interviews or strangers stuck in the same place trying to pass the time by asking basic but invasive questions.

I guess they all felt the same because no one suggested another Zoom call. Actually, maybe they do it regularly without including me, and I’m very fine with that! We also have a group chat, and again, it feels bizarre every time just to have birthday greetings, golf claps, standard replies, and small talk, and it dies down again. I skipped some birthday wishes because I couldn’t take the formality anymore, but they are very lovely people. I finally go along with it, say my wish, and get it over with. We never seem to go beyond the mandatory small talk and occasional jokes. I think the problem is too many parties in the group. Everyone would talk to everyone and ask generic questions because we don't want to alienate the others, so it’s hard to make actual connections after so long.

The one friend I reached out to privately was my best friend back then. We clicked well, we played together, and we were the only two who never used staircases to go down because we preferred to slide down through the railings (we still had to go up manually, dang gravity). Unfortunately, we grew apart during the significant phases of adult life and never caught up again except through the awkward group.

However, she holds a special place in my heart because she was my best friend and was and still is my one and only co-writer. Both of us developed a novelette together for fun. I wrote a part or a chapter, she continued, and we passed it back and forth without knowing what the other had in mind. Most times, we also had no idea about how to continue the story until we wrote it. It was handwritten, of course. It was 1994-1995.

The good thing about that time was that we didn’t have handphones, internet, or other entertainment that consumed time the way they do today. That was why we had a flock of fans, our schoolmates. We wrote that in the third year before we graduated. We were in different classes, so we could only exchange the story during recess time and took turns to bring it home. I still remember how the ‘book’ looked, a stack of torn (neatly) pages from books (with lines) stapled together. Many would read it during the day. Those schoolmates studying in the same class would pass it around and snuck it between textbooks to read them when the teachers faced the other way. It would get back to me or her so that we could continue the story.

We finished the novelette in a few months, with holiday and examination breaks. We ‘published’ it. Each fan got a copy, and I asked her to hold the original because she initiated the writing.

I can’t speak about other authors, to me, books are very personal. It sounds exaggerated and mushy, well yes, sometimes I feel like it’s like baring my soul, and I have to kill those who have read it. Don’t worry, I only feel this way for people who know me in real life. (I’d love for you to read my books. No harm will be done! Promise!) It took me years to tell a handful family and friends. Only after my latest book above did I reveal it to my two good friends, the current one who only knew I write but didn’t know my pen name or books, and the long-lost one mentioned above. How? With tremendous difficulty. I know I shouldn’t feel that way and make this more difficult than it should be, but I couldn’t help it.

After doing that, it feels liberating. I want them to like my books, of course, especially my one and only co-writer. We loved each other’s writing back then, so I hope the odd is in my favor. Whatever it is, I am at peace. I think I have done what I need to do. I have reached a point where I feel confident enough and have pulled the band-aid.

 

P.S. Locky is my current 'co-writer.' He always makes sure I get enough love and attention.

P.S.S. It's hard to type with a dog on the lap but not impossible.

My book A Scarred Drifter 

A heartfelt post-apocalyptic dystopian about human struggles in a world where almost everything has been replaced by automation. 100% human effort, with sweat, tears, and a tiny bit of blood.

I hope this is your cup of tea/coffee/beer/any beverage of your choosing.

If you pick up the book, thank you so much. It really means a lot and keeps me going. Again, a very special thank you to my beta readers.
And, of course, to you all, thank you always for being here.

Have I said too many thank you? NEVER!

 

Two Celebrations!

 

Two celebrations!

My buddy, sunshine, and best friend Locky celebrated his tenth birthday yesterday. We went to his favorite beach, named after him (Google magic), and I gave him a haircut, a hand-drawn birthday hat, treats and toys. Long may he reign and many happy returns. 

 

I'm also happy to announce that my newest book is ready for pre-order. I was too afraid (please keep this a secret, I want to be fearless in Locky's eyes!) I'd expect something by setting up a pre-order, but then again, I'd never know if I'd never tried. After all, this has been a challenging journey, and why not make it more torturous? I hope you'll give my book a chance. 

Here is the pre-order link, the blurb and the cover. I made the cover from scratch, it's not much, but 100% human. Same thing with the book, genuine human author's blood, sweat, and tears.

CLICK HERE FOR PRE-ORDER

A Chopped Index Finger

 

It's great to write about things without first-hand experience. Research, reading about them, just like today when my search history is full of questionable things like how to knock someone unconscious, collapsed lung recovery, which side is more damaging when you stab a neck… Yeah, I have asked around before, and this is the problem with every writer who doesn't write in normal, harmless genres. My search history is sparkling, totally not a serial killer's vibe. Definitely normal, move along, nothing to see here. Oh, besides the grim stuff, there are many light research topics as well, such as how to make a pencil a certain way, types of berries, etc.

It feels even greater to write about things I've experienced before. There are several of them in my upcoming book: a chopped index finger, riot, fish attack, and mountain climbing, to mention a few. I don't want to be dramatic, so I will write about the lamest one: a chopped index finger. It sounds fantastic as a title, too.

It was late at night in my hostel. I needed to make a model for my design, which was the big task of that semester. With so many things to do, I didn't sleep for more than a couple of hours for days. We didn't have good facilities and resources, so I had to do everything on my floor and save on more cost-friendly materials, like real wood instead of fancy model wood (that is softer and much easier to cut but much more expensive). As you have guessed, after many slices, it happened. I was pushing my left fingers hard on a metal ruler on top of the wood. I needed multiple slices before I was able to break the wood, since, again, a saw would be a more appropriate tool instead of a box cutter (we call it a pen knife or just a cutter), but it would be difficult because of the small size, and a box cutter was all I had. I had done this countless times, and each time I got more confident and faster, increasing recklessness came with it, too, with the desire to get it done in less time. Every time I sliced, the position of my hand would move a little because of the pressure and movement. I had to adjust it, but there was a time when I sliced way too fast before proper adjustment, and the box cutter sliced through the top of my index finger. It had gone beyond its original position and protruded from the metal ruler. Since the knife followed the metal ruler outline, and the tip of my index finger was on the way, it took a good chunk of it.

They said (actually, it's my own theory) the pain in the fingers connects to the heart, while the pain in the mouth connects to the head. Think about the headache that comes with a toothache. Anyway, it was bloody painful, but I concentrated more on the missing tip, from where I could see a dancing mini fountain now. I don't know if it's anatomically or medically possible, but I swear the blood spurted from its centre pulsed like a tiny fountain (Apparently it's a sign of arterial bleeding, thanks to Google search). I don't know if my mind fooled me, but the memory of the sight was engraved into my mind. I had learned many shabby first aid courses and knew I had to put pressure, but there was so much blood and it didn't stop. So, I ran out of my hostel room, thinking of haunting some people and banging on their door asking for a bandage or whatever. Thankfully, one of the occupants was there watching late-night football, and he had some knowledge. It sounded ridiculous then, but we didn't have the luxury of a proper pharmacy or anything in the middle of the night (or day!). He tied those basic rubber bands (not the fancy ones, think of the only type that existed thirty years ago) on the middle of the finger, asked me to elevate it above my head so the bleeding would stop, and of course, abandoned the assignment that night.

So, I slept, pointing at the ceiling, and it actually worked. It took a while for the tip to grow back after I had resigned on looking forever at the slanted shape. To my delight, that assignment got an almost perfect score of 95 out of 100. Blood sacrifice? I guess so.

The next day, when I told my classmate about what happened, she shared a similar story, but it happened on her big toe. Like an empathetic person I was, I laughed out loud, thinking about the slanted big toe. To her credit, she laughed with me, and she became one of my good classmates.

Okay, this story is real, just like every ramble in my newsletter. My books are fictional, of course. The latest one is coming up soon. I finished drafting it in two months but took a year to refine and edit it. I'm very happy with it and want to try setting up a preorder. It's scary to hope because they say the key to happiness is low expectations. Argh! My target is to have the link by the next newsletter. I shall not fail to do so! However, there is no blood sacrifice. Just sweats, aching fingers, dark moments as I immersed myself with the character, and many edits with the help of my awesome alpha and beta readers.

 

Thank you always for being here.

I wish you a great life, no blood sacrifice required.

Grandma Is Mine!

Blogger is moody today and doesn't allow me to upload pictures.

Here is the complete post elsewhere: https://sotto.substack.com/p/grandma-is-mine

When I adopted Locky, I had given up my desire to have a dog because I traveled frequently. Then, a colleague who found out asked me to take him because they had too many dogs at home (with a new puppy litter). It came with a perk that Locky could stay with them anytime I traveled. I hesitated. I liked bigger dogs and almost adopted one from a shelter, but this perk and a pup that needed a home won the consideration. The arrangement is still ongoing, although all the other dogs (six of them, including Locky’s mom, siblings, half-siblings, and another dog) have crossed the rainbow bridge.

My colleague’s parents are always the ones who take care of the dogs. They are very kind, and although their way of caring for the dogs is more ‘traditional,’ they love those dogs unconditionally. They are always happy to see Locky, and Locky loves them all the same. Besides the lack of visual communication (they don’t keep up with technology), I feel safe leaving Locky to them when I have to. When all their dogs had passed not too long ago, I would bring Locky to the market where his ‘grandma’ works so they could meet for a while.

Now, they have another dog. He is still a puppy, less than one year old, but unexpectedly a big puppy (they were misled), and when I called yesterday, I found out that Locky is a demanding bully. He would walk with a swag and give this Kiddo a yap whenever he felt like it (he is probably 1/3 the size). Kiddo is not allowed to walk in front of his space, which is basically everywhere he could see. He seems to emphasize that although Kiddo stays there now, Locky was there first, and Kiddo doesn’t want to mess with this small, cute, but grumpy old man. Then, my little aholish fluff demands that his grandma pay no attention to the Kiddo. He doesn’t want to share his grandma; she is ‘not allowed’ to do anything with the Kiddo, and he complains whenever his grandma even walks in the Kiddo’s direction, while his grandpa, whom he loves slightly less than grandma, is allowed. Grandma doesn’t mind, and we laugh about it. It makes her feel special in a way.

So, yeah, I am currently away for family health reasons and miss him so much. How I wish I had a way to travel through space to meet my loved ones at any time.

Enough dog story for a day; I have plenty for another day. Now, books!

I want to say thank you to my beta readers; you all have been wonderful. I really appreciate your time and effort. I read and consider all inputs, they really help in making this WIP a better book. This has been an ongoing, wonderful, and humbling journey. My cover is almost ready, and I have finally decided on the title. Woohoo! My schedule is still on track, and everything is shaping up great.

Thank you always for being here.

I hope that today, everything that troubles you will be resolved, and that everything that makes you happy will be cherished and stay with you. Take good care of yourself.

The Curse of the Left Staircase

 

My second job working abroad was with a big corporation. The first one didn’t really count, it was a start-up, and the company went bankrupt in less than a year. However, it gave me some credentials to apply for permanent residency in that country. This second job in this corporation was somewhat related to my field, but I wasn’t very good at it yet (It was a new skill). I had no idea why they hired me after multiple interviews, maybe because it wasn’t a common skill back then, and I was a fresh graduate, just obtained my Permanent Residency; therefore, they could pay me peanuts.

I lasted five years there, but my first year was torturous. I felt anxious; I had no one to ask, and the internet was not that common/readily available yet, so I couldn’t just google what I didn’t understand. I had to be able to do what they paid me to do. I acted confident, but behind that, I struggled like a duck paddling underwater while pretending to be calm and collected. I learned, practiced, and worked late on my own so that I could deliver results and survive another paycheck to pay for rent in the foreign land, or I would die!

Fortunately, I improved as time passed, and most of my colleagues and my boss were decent.  However, there were nightmarish times and restless days. Unhappy boss, unreasonable deadline that I wasn’t good enough to tackle, and uncooperative hardware and software.

Then, I noticed one peculiar thing.

I had to take the subway every morning. Just like that daily montage in mind-numbing movies, I would take the same-timing train, board the same car, and alight at the same station through the same door in the middle of the train. It was as mundane as it sounds. After alighting, before me was a wide stair that would branch into two sides, right and left, because there was a lift core in the middle. Both sides of the stairs led to the same exit platform, so it shouldn’t be a problem whichever side I took right?

Wrong!

Every time I took the left staircase, my day would be horrible. I wasn’t happy with my work, anxious time, had imposter syndrome, high stress level, computer crashing, unsaved work, my mug looking at me funny, my colleague trying to kill me, something along those lines. I started to notice and didn’t believe it at first, and of course, it must have been a coincidence, with a splash of logic. The left staircase was closer to the exit, which I chose whenever I was in a hurry. Sometimes, when we were in project competition season, the schedule would be very tight, so I wanted to get to the office faster. The irony! Those were the times when the stress level and demand were high; therefore, it linked to horrible days.

Still, why would I risk it? I started taking only the right stairs, and for some reason, my days were better. The logic was that I was getting better at my work and was able to juggle the tasks, schedule, and expectations better. But hey, the stair theory worked!

Am I a superstitious person? I don’t think so. I am not superstitious, but I am a little stitious. However, I grew up in a family that respected tradition, including ‘good days.’ This belief exists in many cultures, there are good days to do important things. My mom uses this practice as needed. She picked our wedding dates (it works well!). She doesn’t just open up the calendar and select a good-looking number (just like all volume levels should be even numbers or dividable by five or the world will end!), but there is a ‘calculation.’ Date of birth, time of birth, type of thing to do, etc.

I have been asking her to pick my book publishing dates. So far, it doesn’t work well because I could never get the dates right (yeah, that is the reason, not because I suck at marketing) because of the time zones. Amazon’s time zone was in a twilight zone because I swear, on my last book release, I stayed up late to sync the timing, the one I am alive in and the one in Amazon’s universe so they both would fall on the same date that Mom had picked for me. It still didn’t work and the date was still wrong!

This time, hopefully, I will get it right, although I have no idea how to do that since I did everything right the last time. Yes, all these rambles are just a long-winded way to let you know that I’m happy to announce that my new book is coming out soon. It was supposed to come out in 2024, but my and my dog’s operations occupied us too much. Yeah, I’m stubborn and will continue to write if there is another person who likes it.