Review of Better Living

BETTER LIVING

Through Criticism

A. O. SCOTT

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

“Who but a lunatic or an idiot would critique a rose or a mountain or a sunset, or for that matter an earthquake or a thunderstorm?” is a line from Mr. Scott’s inviting titled dissertation. I hope he got his doctor’s degree.

I am the lunatic that is reviewing a book about criticism written by a prominent critic. What a way to start a Sunday morning with coffee.

Kidding aside, I have been reviewing books since college and have as recent as three years ago been writing them for my blog to help promote my novels. If I weren't an avid reader with an eclectic background and a college education, I might be confused in Mr. Scott’s historical interpretation of criticism.

From the allegories of Titian or Rubens to Kant in the 1790s to Keats and then to the present century’s anointed, Scott gives the reader an education – information for the inquisitive mind. If you are in this user category or a college student studying World, English, or American Literature, this may be what you need to expand your mind.

His study into the psychological reasons humans criticize one another whether it be for poetry, writing, movies, theater or whatever, was an enjoyable read. I wasn’t surprised at the immense connecting content, after reading the Index and Acknowledgement sections while reading the core explanations.

As they say, “It takes a village to bring up a child,” I say about this book, “It took an army of critics, professors, and writers to put BETTER LIVING Through Criticism into print.” Mr. A.O. Scott spent his time wisely to get this thesis into print, but I don’t feel it was written for the general public, where I usually don’t fit.

A.O. Scott's discourse leads to what I already knew – The right way to make a criticism, in other words, is not to do it. It's another line from his book. But we are all consumers, and all consumers criticise, as I just did, the lunatic I am for starting this read.

Good read for the inquisitive mind: http://amzn.to/1RSJrk0

Review of The Bad Lady

 The Bad Lady

John Meany

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

Children are the most vulnerable of any species. A mother protects and nurtures their precious ones, so they can grow up to be sane and healthy adults.

In John Meany’s The Bad Lady, a child ten years old is left on his own and in a situation that no child should be. He has conflicting feelings from unwanted physical contact to a so-called friend of his mother, who is living in a dual personality world.

The child's contacts mushroom into ongoing events where the child’s innocents are changed forever. After a ride in a Good Humor van, the child is in conflict and informs his mother. Her ‘Bad Lady’ side comes out, and the community they live in is changed into a war zone – Bad Lady against the Good Humor Lady.

The story goes into overdrive and leads to a fatal end. The child’s character narrates the beginning, middle, and the aftermath of a controversial topic –the problem of pedophilia.

Mr. Meany’s writing meets much of the criteria a well put together the story that will keep the reader interested. The only fault I could find, if it’s a fault at all, is that when the child’s character tells the story, he comes across as a well-informed adult.

Other than that, I found this psychological thriller, a read time well spent.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1RCQRuX

Review of The Green Room

The Green Room

Written by Faith Mortimer

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

A well-known axiom is “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.” In Ms. Mortimer’s The Green Room, her protagonist Ella doesn’t know that her enemy is closer than one might believe.

Ella is living in an area where a serial killer is roaming. As a nurse in a local hospital, she tends to the sick and the physical pain that humans create. Her leisure time is with family, friends, and her boyfriend, who happens to be a police officer in search of the killer.

Ella’s knowledge of the events surrounding the rapes and her imagination leads to some interesting results. Her detective work uncovers information where two men are under investigation by her boyfriend.

The killer-rapist is close at hand; she knows. Convinced that the man who she just slept with and lived in the same building is the killer, she runs to the police officer. Then the truth comes out.

Faith Mortimer keeps the reader on edge throughout this thriller. Her character’s, especially Ella, are down to earth people caught up at the moment which leads the reader to believe the character’s conclusions.

When reading the prose, you feel the same as Ms. Mortimer’s characters. But when the ending arrives, and all revealed the astute reader could only say one thing, “Wow, I missed that.”

Purchased at Amazon: http://amzn.to/1peCY98

Review of I thought she'd be prettier

I thought she’d be Prettier

           Diana Lee

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

The United Nations rates the United States with the third highest divorce rate of 4.34% per 1,000 marriages. Of the richest countries on the planet, 53% of our marriages end up in divorce court. Other words, more than half of marriages in the USA end up divorced.

That said; we can put Diana Lee’s book/journal in perspective. The aspiration for that “Happy ever after” marriage is the fabric of most societies. Her protagonist is attempting to reach in her second marriage to a younger never-been-married man.

Ms. Lee’s main character Anna writes a journal explaining her one-sided interpretation of the events that transpired between her and her second husband. In the honeymoon stage of their bliss, they have two boys, and sex continues to be fantastic. I won’t delve into that; I wasn’t there.

Anna tells us of Sammy and his faults but never lets the reader understand hers. It might give the reader some insight into why he did some stupid things – funny at times and hurtful others  So be it. No self-analysis was included.

The writer of this journal goes on to tell us how she came across finding out her husband’s infidelity with maybe two women. She becomes a self-made detective to the end, while still living in the fantasy world of what I call the “Soulmate syndrome.” Wasn’t her first husband her soul mate at one time?

The writing was charming and comfortable to read, but a little wishy-washy. It’s wishful thinking that women are to believe that Mr. Right exists – he doesn’t. You gotta make do with what you got and be happy he comes home to you each night.

Purchase at Amazon: http://amzn.to/1noOca3

Review of Feast Day of Fools

FEAST DAY OF FOOLS

    James Lee Burke

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

There is so much going on in this thriller that a list of characters should be provided. It took me awhile to figure who the main characters were because each is brought into the scheme using hyper descriptions.

Mr. Burke’s novel is character driven, placing them into an unusual story where everyone seems to be criminals except the Sheriff Hackberry Holland, his deputies, a Chinese lady and a few others. Interestingly the criminals with their extremely complicated nasty foolish background, clash throughout the novel upsetting an American town.

Basically, this multilevel story with the backdrop of the Mexican border is a simple good against the evil narrative. The spectrum of good to evil and all its shade between is brought out using the characters personalities.

When the characters collide in a fight to show their superiority, again, Mr. Burke leaves the reader thinking – wow, that doesn’t seem right. His detailed style exposes leaves one wondering – are there people like his characters: so complicated. The answer is yes, we are all complicated beings.

Mr. Burke’s has written a well thought out novel, but I believe that his over description of each character slows down the beat of his prose. Less sometimes is better, leaving the reader to imagine a little.

However, the novel is worth the read. His more in characterization keeps the reader wondering what that character will do, and they don’t do what the reader may think while reading the beforehand narrative.

Purchase:  http://amzn.to/1TfhINN

Review of THE PRETTIEST ONE

THE PRETTIEST ONE

A Thriller by

JAMES HANKINS

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

Mr. Hankins writing keeps the reader engaged by opening intriguing doors. The first one is the front door of the lead character’s home. When opened, Caitlin/Katie is completely disoriented going through it.

Her husband, who is on the other side of that door, opens it, and her past comes into some focus. Where has she been all this time? What has she been doing? Did she kill someone?

Those questions and her real identity come out after the two of them proceed to literally and figuratively open many doors.  When the other doors open, you are lead on an interesting so journey of murder, theft, pedophilia events and criminality that unravel this thrilling ride through the protagonist’s life.

Locked in her mind is the answers.  They are so deep-seated because of her physiological state; she doesn’t know them. The doors must be opened to free her from her past.

Mr. Hankins’ writing keeps the reader on the edge while explaining how each character's story. Those individuals are colorfully put together.

Hankins’ main character has another side to her that appears when her brain clicks into a situation behind some of the doors. Her husband is confused, and her boyfriend is amazed, apprehensive about his part, and feels cheated.

The three reached the end of the complicated journey, walking through environments they thought they would never go through. It’s an adventure you’ll enjoy if you like THRILLERS.

Buy at Amazon:  http://amzn.to/1Tnwlhw

Review of Unexpected Gifts

Unexpected Gifts

Castle Mountain Lodge, Book 1

Elena Aitken

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry

You have been hurt by a relationship that went south. This is what happened to the two main characters. Each is getting away from the proximity of their situation, ending up in a predicament that they try to make the best of.

They converse, comingle to the point of complete intimacy, and reach a level of personal comfort they have not experienced in a long time. Their friendliness and possible love commitment are put to the test when their individual history is confronted head-on by an unexpected interference of the past.

The winter wonderland environment surrounds the mating process, and each is enjoying the results. Love is in the air, and both adults are still questioning the symptoms of their relationship.

The novel comes to a peak with the results of this romantic comedy close to dissolution.  The couple, Andi, and Colin will end up with memories. Only by reading this well-developed story will the reader be filled with their romantic fix for the day. I read it in one sitting.

The novel is put together to gently push the reader onto the next chapter/ episode in the couple’s life. It’s a series, so one must be content for now with the somewhat unexpected conclusion, and will want to see where the couple goes from Castle Mountain Lodge.

Free on Amazon 2/7/2016:   http://amzn.to/1QlHIjI