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Posts Tagged ‘fiction’

Want to talk about fiction but not sure if you can commit to reading a book each month? Especially if it turns out to be a book you don’t like. It’s one thing finding time for a novel you do like, but one that is a struggle just to turn the pages? No thanks.

So what is the answer. Short stories, of course! They can be read in a fraction of the time and then you can talk about them instantly.

So how does a short story club work? Basically the same as a book club but without the 12 hours of homework that it takes to read the novel so that you can join in the discussion.

First up you need to decide if you want to be in an online or offline club. If you are wanting to set up an online club then the best way to do it would be to use either an instant messaging service (Yahoo or MSN are too popular services) or an internet voice service like Skype so that you can chat aloud for free just like you would if you were all meeting in person (go to .skype.com/ for more details).

Whether you decide on an online or offline club, you will need to work out a few other details like how many people you’d like in the club. Too few members and it maybe difficult to get a discussion going, too many and it maybe difficult for everyone to get an opportunity to speak. Eight is probably a good number as it allows for a few people to be away each week but it would probably still work well with six. You could always start off with less and then invite more people in if you feel you need to.

You need to set the guidelines up front so that everyone knows how it will work.

1. How often will you meet? Once a week, once a month, once every two months. You probably wouldn’t want to go any further out than two months or you will lose momentum.

2. When will you meet? Lunchtime, after work, in the evenings, Saturday afternoons, over breakfast. It’s better to be consistent, say every Friday lunchtime or the first Monday evening of the month, so that you save on scheduling time and avoid confusion.

3. Where will you meet? This will probably be determined by when you meet but some possible options are a library, restaurant, someone’s home, a community centre or a caf

Want to talk about fiction but not sure if you can commit to reading a book each month? Especially if it turns out to be a book you don’t like. It’s one thing finding time for a novel you do like, but one that is a struggle just to turn the pages? No thanks.

So what is the answer. Short stories, of course! They can be read in a fraction of the time and then you can talk about them instantly.

So how does a short story club work? Basically the same as a book club but without the 12 hours of homework that it takes to read the novel so that you can join in the discussion.

First up you need to decide if you want to be in an online or offline club. If you are wanting to set up an online club then the best way to do it would be to use either an instant messaging service (Yahoo or MSN are too popular services) or an internet voice service like Skype so that you can chat aloud for free just like you would if you were all meeting in person (go to .skype.com/ for more details).

Whether you decide on an online or offline club, you will need to work out a few other details like how many people you’d like in the club. Too few members and it maybe difficult to get a discussion going, too many and it maybe difficult for everyone to get an opportunity to speak. Eight is probably a good number as it allows for a few people to be away each week but it would probably still work well with six. You could always start off with less and then invite more people in if you feel you need to.

You need to set the guidelines up front so that everyone knows how it will work.

1. How often will you meet? Once a week, once a month, once every two months. You probably wouldn’t want to go any further out than two months or you will lose momentum.

2. When will you meet? Lunchtime, after work, in the evenings, Saturday afternoons, over breakfast. It’s better to be consistent, say every Friday lunchtime or the first Monday evening of the month, so that you save on scheduling time and avoid confusion.

3. Where will you meet? This will probably be determined by when you meet but some possible options are a library, restaurant, someone’s home, a community centre or a caf

Want to talk about fiction but not sure if you can commit to reading a book each month? Especially if it turns out to be a book you don’t like. It’s one thing finding time for a novel you do like, but one that is a struggle just to turn the pages? No thanks.

So what is the answer. Short stories, of course! They can be read in a fraction of the time and then you can talk about them instantly.

So how does a short story club work? Basically the same as a book club but without the 12 hours of homework that it takes to read the novel so that you can join in the discussion.

First up you need to decide if you want to be in an online or offline club. If you are wanting to set up an online club then the best way to do it would be to use either an instant messaging service (Yahoo or MSN are too popular services) or an internet voice service like Skype so that you can chat aloud for free just like you would if you were all meeting in person (go to .skype.com/ for more details).

Whether you decide on an online or offline club, you will need to work out a few other details like how many people you’d like in the club. Too few members and it maybe difficult to get a discussion going, too many and it maybe difficult for everyone to get an opportunity to speak. Eight is probably a good number as it allows for a few people to be away each week but it would probably still work well with six. You could always start off with less and then invite more people in if you feel you need to.

You need to set the guidelines up front so that everyone knows how it will work.

1. How often will you meet? Once a week, once a month, once every two months. You probably wouldn’t want to go any further out than two months or you will lose momentum.

2. When will you meet? Lunchtime, after work, in the evenings, Saturday afternoons, over breakfast. It’s better to be consistent, say every Friday lunchtime or the first Monday evening of the month, so that you save on scheduling time and avoid confusion.

3. Where will you meet? This will probably be determined by when you meet but some possible options are a library, restaurant, someone’s home, a community centre or a caf

This 310 page saga is Scott Underhill’s second superbly written novel. I have had the pleasure of reviewing both of his books - and they are equally outstanding, yet profoundly different pieces of fiction.

Give a Little certainly provokes empathy for each of its characters. It is an emotional roller-coaster ride for the reader, while the family members in the book heal old wounds and the father battles alcoholism.

When the back cover states “Come meet Jaden and Simmeon Randel, two brothers you won’t forget” - they were not exaggerating. These two identical and opposing twins are the main characters in this novel.

One boy is a handsome football star that shares a love of the sport with his father. The other boy is portrayed as a deformed shadow. Both twins are struggling to find out who they are as individuals, and where they wish to take their lives in the future. Both make heroic sacrifices out of love for one another.

Never rivals (except for their father’s love), Simmeon and Jaden depend upon each other for their successes - until they fell for same girl. Events unfold that help these boys to see each other as individuals and as an inseparable entity. Give a Little portrays the deep connection twins feel through deep level psychic connections where they can actually feel when the other is distraught or in pain.

Get this book &ndash you won’t regret it.

ISBN#: 0975357182

Author: Scott Underhill

Publisher: WordPro Press

This 310 page saga is Scott Underhill’s second superbly written novel. I have had the pleasure of reviewing both of his books - and they are equally outstanding, yet profoundly different pieces of fiction.

Give a Little certainly provokes empathy for each of its characters. It is an emotional roller-coaster ride for the reader, while the family members in the book heal old wounds and the father battles alcoholism.

When the back cover states “Come meet Jaden and Simmeon Randel, two brothers you won’t forget” - they were not exaggerating. These two identical and opposing twins are the main characters in this novel.

One boy is a handsome football star that shares a love of the sport with his father. The other boy is portrayed as a deformed shadow. Both twins are struggling to find out who they are as individuals, and where they wish to take their lives in the future. Both make heroic sacrifices out of love for one another.

Never rivals (except for their father’s love), Simmeon and Jaden depend upon each other for their successes - until they fell for same girl. Events unfold that help these boys to see each other as individuals and as an inseparable entity. Give a Little portrays the deep connection twins feel through deep level psychic connections where they can actually feel when the other is distraught or in pain.

Get this book &ndash you won’t regret it.

ISBN#: 0975357182

Author: Scott Underhill

Publisher: WordPro Press

This 310 page saga is Scott Underhill’s second superbly written novel. I have had the pleasure of reviewing both of his books - and they are equally outstanding, yet profoundly different pieces of fiction.

Give a Little certainly provokes empathy for each of its characters. It is an emotional roller-coaster ride for the reader, while the family members in the book heal old wounds and the father battles alcoholism.

When the back cover states “Come meet Jaden and Simmeon Randel, two brothers you won’t forget” - they were not exaggerating. These two identical and opposing twins are the main characters in this novel.

One boy is a handsome football star that shares a love of the sport with his father. The other boy is portrayed as a deformed shadow. Both twins are struggling to find out who they are as individuals, and where they wish to take their lives in the future. Both make heroic sacrifices out of love for one another.

Never rivals (except for their father’s love), Simmeon and Jaden depend upon each other for their successes - until they fell for same girl. Events unfold that help these boys to see each other as individuals and as an inseparable entity. Give a Little portrays the deep connection twins feel through deep level psychic connections where they can actually feel when the other is distraught or in pain.

Get this book &ndash you won’t regret it.

ISBN#: 0975357182

Author: Scott Underhill

Publisher: WordPro Press

King Bartholomew and the Jester’s Riddle by Pina Mastromonaco is a wonderful, fun book with a humor level perfect for children aged four to eight. Entertaining riddles entice readers to try to guess the answer while enjoying the tale.

Childlike King Bartholomew is obsessed with toys and solving riddles. The chubby, balding King learns to balance play and work time so that he can take responsible care of his land and citizens, yet still enjoy a playful life. The moral-of-the-story is not laid on thick &ndash it is lightly applied so it will be easily accepted by young children. Teachers, librarians and caretakers will enjoy reading this pleasant book to children who like to play rather than accomplish chores or school assignments.

The illustrator, David Martin, is extremely accomplished and very gifted. Each page is filled with incredible detail that reveals more the longer one gazes at them. Many illustrations some form of nature included from the fantastically sculpted bushes, an array of birds and a maze of hedges with a big ‘B’ in the center (B &ndash for King Bartholomew). Richly colored clothes and hilarious costumes for the jester and the King’s servants prove to add an interesting twist to this fun-loving book.”

ISBN#: 0974430714

Author: Pina Mastromonaco

Illustrations: David Martin

Publisher: Merry Lane Press

King Bartholomew and the Jester’s Riddle by Pina Mastromonaco is a wonderful, fun book with a humor level perfect for children aged four to eight. Entertaining riddles entice readers to try to guess the answer while enjoying the tale.

Childlike King Bartholomew is obsessed with toys and solving riddles. The chubby, balding King learns to balance play and work time so that he can take responsible care of his land and citizens, yet still enjoy a playful life. The moral-of-the-story is not laid on thick &ndash it is lightly applied so it will be easily accepted by young children. Teachers, librarians and caretakers will enjoy reading this pleasant book to children who like to play rather than accomplish chores or school assignments.

The illustrator, David Martin, is extremely accomplished and very gifted. Each page is filled with incredible detail that reveals more the longer one gazes at them. Many illustrations some form of nature included from the fantastically sculpted bushes, an array of birds and a maze of hedges with a big ‘B’ in the center (B &ndash for King Bartholomew). Richly colored clothes and hilarious costumes for the jester and the King’s servants prove to add an interesting twist to this fun-loving book.”

ISBN#: 0974430714

Author: Pina Mastromonaco

Illustrations: David Martin

Publisher: Merry Lane Press

King Bartholomew and the Jester’s Riddle by Pina Mastromonaco is a wonderful, fun book with a humor level perfect for children aged four to eight. Entertaining riddles entice readers to try to guess the answer while enjoying the tale.

Childlike King Bartholomew is obsessed with toys and solving riddles. The chubby, balding King learns to balance play and work time so that he can take responsible care of his land and citizens, yet still enjoy a playful life. The moral-of-the-story is not laid on thick &ndash it is lightly applied so it will be easily accepted by young children. Teachers, librarians and caretakers will enjoy reading this pleasant book to children who like to play rather than accomplish chores or school assignments.

The illustrator, David Martin, is extremely accomplished and very gifted. Each page is filled with incredible detail that reveals more the longer one gazes at them. Many illustrations some form of nature included from the fantastically sculpted bushes, an array of birds and a maze of hedges with a big ‘B’ in the center (B &ndash for King Bartholomew). Richly colored clothes and hilarious costumes for the jester and the King’s servants prove to add an interesting twist to this fun-loving book.”

ISBN#: 0974430714

Author: Pina Mastromonaco

Illustrations: David Martin

Publisher: Merry Lane Press

Tracie’s Story: Book Review

Tracie’s Story, by Marguerite Ashton, had sucked me into the story right from the start, and I had difficulty tearing myself away from the book all the way to the end. This is very a moving tale that is based on a true story of a woman brought up by an alcoholic single mother.

As a child, Tracie bravely accepts the barrage of difficulties, disrespect and responsibilities of handling a helplessly drunken parent &ndash but it leaves her emotionally scarred. While driving under the influence, the thoughtless mother inflicts a permanent and visible disability on her child that serves as a constant reminder of her past. Every mirror, every pair of eyes reflects her abnormality and this becomes a torment for Tracie. As an adult, she struggles with her inner demons and the mind-numbing addictions to both alcohol and her work.

Marguerite Ashton uses a direct and simple writing style that envelops the reader in Tracie’s world so deeply that the real world fades away for a little while. The ending left me with a feeling that the book is not finished. Yet, because I was thinking about it for days, I would have to say the ending was quite effective.

ISBN#: 1-4137-7386-9

Author: Marguerite Ashton

Publisher: Publish America