Blackmoor by Edward Hogan

Blackmoor by Edward Hogan

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK (September 2009)

220 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $9.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing

Being an albino, Beth has been avoided and looked upon with suspicion in the small Derbyshire town she's lived in all her life, her husband George the only person who is interested in her beyond a curiosity. But the birth of her son and a bad case of postpartum depression, along with the environmental changes taking over the small town, all conspire to end in her death. This is an interesting study in the small insignificant things in a person's life that come together to form change and loss. The interaction between George and his son, Vincent, or lack thereof, highlighting the simultaneous avoidance and cleaving desperation that surrounds the memory of Beth. Thought provoking, with rich imagery and a blunt style, oftentimes conveying an uncomfortably accurate assessment of the grittiness of life, stripped of the glamour we wish it had. Great read!

God Believes in Love by Gene Robinson

God Believes in Love by Gene Robinson

Publisher: Knopf (September 2012)

208 pages, Audiobook (purchased myself for $9.56)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Content Note: Includes Sexual Topics/Language

From religion to government, the debate about gay marriage has stirred up many emotions. In God Believes in Love: Straight Talk About Gay Marriage, author Gene Robinson puts together a thoughtful argument for same sex marriage.  His arguments stem from both religious and secular perspectives.

This is not an “Us versus Them” type of book.  This is not a “rousing of the troops” book either.  It’s a sensible discussion about the merits of same sex marriage, spiritually and socially.  It was very refreshing to read a book about a sensitive subject matter with no emotional quips, no denigration of the other side of the argument.  

An easy read (it’s only 208 pages), this book has surprising depth in it’s arguments.  I highly recommend this book for anybody.

Neochrome Aurora by Thomas K. Carpenter

Neochrome Aurora by Thomas K. Carpenter

The Digital Sea Trilogy, Book 3

Publisher: Black Moon Books (December 2012)

377 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $7.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Content Note: Includes Swearing, Sexual References and Violence

While helping the Quicksilver Spider, Zel once again finds herself mixed up in the fate of the world when Quick falls victim to a worldwide plague and she must find a way to save him and the others affected by it. Though the characters in this book are ones introduced in the previous two books in this series, with the beginning of this book many have developed new relationships or relationships have changed and it was interesting to see their characters grow with those changes. I particularly like the relationship between Jengo, Liala and Sigh. There was an intriguing theme throughout the book, questioning the balance between intellectual pursuits and personal relationships, something that Zel struggles with throughout the series, but particularly in this story. All the characters were engaging and it was action-packed, keeping you riveted right to the end. Great series!

Alexa Stone and the Lake of Fire by Megan Boudreau

Alexa Stone and the Lake of Fire by Megan Boudreau

Alexa Stone Series, Book 1

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (December 2012)

290 pages, Paperback (provided by Author)

Book Rating: 4 Stars

Alexa Stone is a long suffering orphan found as a baby by her foster family in a basket by the lake behind their house. Her world is turned upside down when handsome Landon Knight shows up and informs her that she, like himself, is an Elemental, gifted in manipulating the element of water, and tells her she is in danger. Alexa enters the hidden world of the Elementals and discovers a mystery surrounding her parents and what happened long ago when she was a baby. This story reminded me a bit of a cross between Harry Potter and Twilight. It was fast-paced and I found the characters engaging, though I felt it was a bit heavy on exposition at times. The underwater world of the water elementals was fascinating and the slow unraveling of the nature of Alexa's powers, as well as the other elementals and their place in the world was great. I look forward to reading Alexa Stone's next adventure!

The Wettest County in the World by Matt Bondurant

The Wettest County in the World by Matt Bondurant

Publisher: Scribner (October 2008)

322 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $9.73)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Content Note: Includes Sexual Situations, Swearing and Violence

This is the story of the three Bondurant brothers (Howard, Forrest and Jack) and their adventures in bootlegging in backwoods Virginia during the throes of Prohibition and the repercussions thereafter. This is based on a true story, written by Jack’s grandson, though fictionalized when history didn’t provide enough to go on. This book has also been made into a movie called Lawless. This story plunges you into a harsh, gritty world with characters that are so vibrant you can’t tear yourself away. I was especially drawn to Forrest, a mysterious character, shrouded in myth and with all the determination and stoicism of a warrior, made all the more interesting by his undefined relationship with Maggie, a woman as mysterious as he is. Howard struggles with alcoholism and life, unable to let go of the horrors he had seen in war, his way of seeing the world almost poetic. Jack, so different from his brothers, was interesting as a contrast to the others and his simple courtship of Bertha, despite all that was going on, was touching. A wonderful glimpse into a time and place gone by.

Movie Adaptations/Modern Retellings/Related Works:

Lawless (2012)

Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Guy Pearce

Movie Rating: R

My Rating: 5 Stars

Adaption: Verbatim-Tweaked-Veiled

Eye Candy: Plain-Pretty-Sultry

Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander

Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander III M.D.

Publisher: Simon & Schuster (October 2012)

208 pages, Audiobook (purchased myself for $17.95)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

More of a recount of an experience then a scientific analysis, Proof of Heaven is an engaging read that gave me a greater understanding of our existence.  

The book is an account of Dr. Eben Alexander’s near death experience.  He contracts a severe form of E. Coli meningitis and quickly falls into a coma.  During the coma he experiences a journey to a place of peace. It starts as cloudy place, which he calls the worm’s eye view.  He then journeys to a sunny pasture land where he meets a lovely women who becomes his guide.  Finally he finds himself in a place that he describes as being in the middle of God himself.  After seven days in coma, Dr. Eben miraculously wakes up from his coma and fully recovers.

Even though this book is not empirical scientific proof of the existence of heaven, his neurological explanations of the impossibility of his experience gives me hope that there really is more to this existence that our short time here on earth.  I would recommend this to anybody with an openness to the possibility of an existence of life after death.  If you completely don’t believe in an afterlife, this book will most likely not help.

The Hunger Trace by Edward Hogan

The Hunger Trace by Edward Hogan

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK (March 2011)

368 pages, eBook (purchased myself for $9.99)

Book Rating: 5 Stars

Content Note: Includes Sexual Situations and Swearing

In the wake of David Bryant's untimely death, Maggie (David's widow), Christopher (David's son from a previous marriage), Louisa (David's former park falconer turned neighbor) and Adam (male prostitute) are all thrown together forming a complicated web of relationships, as the two women and Christopher deal with David's passing and struggle to get on with life.  All of the characters in this story are complex and fascinating, in their own deranged way. The story is told in alternating viewpoints, showing that each character has their own set of issues, while trying to deal with those of the other characters. I was absolutely riveted right to the end and only wish the ending hadn't been quite so open ended. I'll just infer that everyone involved received their happy ending, especially Adam. Excellent Read!