Review of Daughters of the Dragon

DAUGHTERS of the DRAGON

A Comfort Woman's Story

WILLIAM ANDREWS

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

Mr. Andrews' historical novel of Korea and one of the many atrocities of war inflicted on it by Japan during World War II and continued through the Korean War is an eye-popping reality, the abuse of women and children. The Japanese take Jae-hee, fourteen, and her sister, sixteen, from her mother to work as comfort women, sex conduits for their soldiers, during the World War II.

In Daughters of the Dragon, a golden comb becomes an instrument of hope in Jae-hee's horrific journey through the depravity of dominance by ill-educated men. Jae-hee tells her family's story giving her grandchild a history lesson years later. 

The close to violent events that play out in that story will have the reader thinking as to how the Japanese could inflict such crimes against Koreans, knowing how docile they are today. However, they did, and that is still a deep-seated mindset in North and South Korea's psyche, I believe.

Mr. Andrews writing style is smooth explaining this Korean experience that few know. Unfortunately, it is a story repeated and hidden throughout history about wars. Women and children of the opposite combatants become commodities in the quest to win the war or conflict.

Purchased at:  http://amzn.to/2haqJsh

Review of NO EXIT

NO EXIT

TAYLOR ADAMS

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

We don’t know what we are made of until we are confronted with a life threating event. From 7:39 p.m. until 6:22 am, Darby, a young college student on her way to visit her mother in the hospital, is stranded on a highway visitor’s stop because of a major snowstorm.

She is confronted with a predicament that we all find repulsive, a kidnapping of a child. The problem is who did it, how to face the criminal, and how she can save the child in the cage.

From the moment Darby enters the small building at the stop, the challenges begin. One after another, the confrontations get deadlier. Darby’s makes many errors when communicating with the people involved and seems to always land on her two feet each time, literally.

The twists and turns are well placed that the reader will think the end has arrived for Darby, but the criminals underestimated her resolve. Others would have given up in their quest, but not little Darby. Will she die for her cause?

Mr. Adams did an excellent job developing the characters, plot, and pace of this heart stopper. You should read this or one of his other novels.

Purchase: http://amzn.to/2jjvCn1

Review of Just Stop

JUST STOP

                         

A Brief Guide to Rational Thought

For the Modern Conspiracy Theorist

Ross Elder

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

As an Ex-Green Beret in Operations and Intelligence, Vietnam Service, and Bronze Star recipient for thinking in action, I can say I found this paper, because it is not a book, to be an interesting dissertation on “How to think?” Mr. Elder makes one point I agree with immensely: If a person is first trained incorrectly to think, it 's hard to correct his mindset. Green Berets are teachers, and I have had this problem.

Mr. Elder uses a few items to show how some people conflict truth with falsehoods. Item #1: Not caring about UFOs, I will bow to Ross’ interpretation of if there is or is not a UFO conspiracy going on.

Item #2: As far as JFK’s assassination, unless there is confirmed ballistics showing the bullets came from Oswald's gun, I think more evidence is needed to prove he shot the deadly one. I don't reflect on it. If you are still worried about it, give up and don’t waste your time. And Mr. Elder gives no answer for it or will anyone else.

Item #3: 9/11 Conspiracy thoughts: I have yet to get an acceptable answer as to why Building 7 collapsed the way it did. I was concerned at the time because my son worked as an intern for Credit Suisse on the date in that building. I didn’t know he was moved to 5^th Avenue office a month earlier.

So, when it fell, literally fell, I doubted and still question the event as told in the media nor the commission. Having worked with the CIA in Nam, I know anything is possible

After I knew my son was safe and interrogating him over the phone from my Dominican Republic office, I was happy to let the implosion out of my mind. But today, a little something in my well-trained mind tells me something is wrong in Denmark, so to speak.

I’ll let it be. I have better things to do with my life. If you’re reading this review, Mr. Elder has nothing new for your mind; save a dime. This review is almost as long as his so-called book.

 

Review of Nomad

NOMAD

A Thriller

(The Earth Series, Book One)

Matthew Mather

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

The end of the world as we know it is coming. Are the governments of the earth telling you the truth? Only time will tell.

Jessica's father, Ben Rollins knows the facts, and he has known for a while. She and her mother Celeste are in Europe to meet him after he attends a conference. The human race goes nuts after hearing rumors and a government press release by Ben and his scientific cohorts. 

Jess is in Italy with her mother waiting to meet dad.  Each is trying to get free from dangerous situations so they can comfort each other. Those side conflicts enhance and intertwine with the Armageddon approaching.

The forces are against each of the main characters at every turn, but Ben has the key on his laptop. Some will survive, but few will understand the impact. This thrilling set up for the series keeps you hoping all will remain alive.

As in life adventures, Mr. Mather's character's will not all make it into book two. He keeps you hoping until the end. You'll have to read this page-turner to see who does live for another day, including a few I haven't mentioned.

Purchase at: http://amzn.to/2eutkwc

Review of Jack of Hearts

JACK OF HEARTS

A Detective Jack Stratton Novel

Christopher Greyson

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

Jack, visiting his parents in a community for mature adults with his girlfriend and a large dog, is hoodwinked into solving a small crime wave. The mature adults are less than knowledgeable involvement.

Behind the petty thieves is hidden a deadly crime that comes to light because of Jack's probing and the mature adult's interference.  The large dog Lady, and Alice, Jack's soon to be, play their parts in uncovering the real crime which started when his parents and others returned from vacation cruise in the Caribbean.

The story has "It's close calls," mini adventures, and funny instances including a baby alligator confrontation. When mommy gator comes out of the water later, it's a big bite missed.

As far as a detective story goes, Hearts is a simple, straightforward case. I must have read too many mysteries because I solved the case faster than Jack.

However, the story was an enjoyable read with the introduction of Jack, Alice, and their big dog, Lady who stole the show in this book. All in All, I may read another of Mr. Greyson’s many novels.

Purchase at: http://amzn.to/2wzJIX9

Review of ON BULLSHIT

ON BULLSHIT

Harry G. Frankfurt

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

Humbug, Lies, Short of Lies, Bullshit, and Pretentious Bull, are among the items that Professor of Philosophy Emeritus at Princeton University Frankfurt discusses in his book/thesis on how humanity has conducted itself when covering up something it doesn't want to reveal. His work is apolitical but resonates in the multi-media world we live in today 2017.

Not mentioning names, he notes “that the contemporary proliferation of bullshit has deeper sources in various forms.” I believe he is referring to the TV news media, Facebook, Twitter, and all opinion driven outlets.

Frankfurt's definition of the above mention shades of deception is clear and easy to digest for the average reader. However, the thesis is more appropriate for an academic audience, i.e., college Philosophy majors.

Somewhat humorous, Professor Frankfurt keeps the reader's attention in this short but dangerous work. The reader may, after reading and analyzing "On Bullshit," reevaluate their rhetoric, that of the talking heads in the TV media, and fellow humans.

I read the thesis twice before this review. It’s only 81 pages.

Purchase:  http://amzn.to/2xfMdKV

Review of Old School

OLD SCHOOL

Life in the Sane Lane

Bill O'Reilly &

Bruce Feirstein

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

'It is not often that people learn from the past, even rarer that they draw the correct conclusions from it.' I paraphrase Henry Kissinger who, by the way, is not one of my favorite people. However, his words are related to O'Reilly and Feirstein's thesis on human conditioning.

With the loss of truthful history and discipline in our schools, Old School values of the past are in the most cases lost in American culture. The authors wove into this book their knowledge of their cultural growth intellectually, using short stories of each families' past.  

Many of those stories resonated with me. I am a Baby Boomer who lived through the same period, albeit I served in Vietnam where my core values changed somewhat. Participating in war does that to you.

Snowflakes, however, live in the now and won't look at the psychological development of the past to add value to their life, unless there are core family values already installed. It’s an endeavor losing ground, according to the authors.

Unfortunately, this declarative historic on values will be only read by Old Schoolers and maybe psych majors who want to understand human conditioning. Americans are being conditioned at a faster rate today than in the 60s, 70s, and 80s via sound bites. The authors allude to this conditioning.

Mr. O'Reilly and Feirstein have put together a fast-moving book with laughs and interesting observations. However, its fundamental theories, although somewhat factual, won't work in today's world. Few young Americans read history, Snowflakes won’t.

I enjoyed the read because I am Old School. Buy at http://amzn.to/2wFr3pL