Pen Projects

Book Reviews

Been a long time since I’ve posted a blog. So I thought I’d finish 2023 with some book reviews from other authors I’ve read over the past year. Below are 4 of my favorites. If you’ve read any of them, I’d love to hear your thoughts. 

The Reading List by by Sara Nisha Adams

Someone has created a list with the heading ‘Just in case you need it’ followed by 8 well-known fiction novels. This mysterious list is written in an elegant hand and there are multiple copies floating around a London neighborhood. The characters who encounter the list are struggling in one way or another. Two of these characters are the main focus of the story.

Mukesh is a self-conscious, aging man who feels lost since the death of his wife. She was his inspiration during their many years of marriage. Now he finds himself alone and lonely. At least until he discovers an overdue library book under his bed.

Aleisha is a teenage librarian for the summer break and would rather be any place else. Unfortunately, she and her older brother Aidan are the only breadwinners in the family. Their father left and their mother suffers from crippling depression. Aleisha feels lost and alone until she encounters Mukesh at the library.

An assortment of other characters pass through the pages. Each with their own unique challenges. But they all gain new insights after encountering ‘the list’. 

I loved reading this author’s debut novel because it demonstrates the power of a good story and the value of community, culture and tolerance. It is a book that I will read more than once.

Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward

Fifteen-year-old Esch lives in the fictional town of Bois Sauvage, Mississippi. She narrates this tale of her life with her father and 3 brothers. The family struggles to survive on their late mother’s ancestral land.  

Esch’s alcoholic father is currently obsessed with preparing for a hurricane, only 10 days away. Brother Skeetah only cares about breeding pit bulls for fighting. Oldest brother Randall hopes that his basketball skills will get him out of Bois Sauvage. Young Junior runs wild. And Esch stands in the center of this chaos in auto-pilot.

When Esch discovers she is pregnant by a neighborhood boy who doesn’t care about her, memories of her mother’s death during childbirth haunt her.

When the hurricane strikes it is with a vengeance and everything that Esch thought was important is lost.

I was impressed with the poetic prose in the voice of Esch, alternating between unsightliness and beauty. Esch narrates a day by day countdown of a community living in poverty while preparing for a category 4 hurricane. Her family is put to the test where survival of the fittest reigns. The losses are great but the community comes together, giving Esch a new sense of value.

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot: A Novel by Marianne Cronin

At Glasgow Princess Royal Hospital there is a ward for terminally ill children called the May Ward. 17-year-old Lenni will spend the rest of her life there. She will touch the hearts and minds of Father Arthur whose hospital chapel is always empty, New Nurse whose red hair clashes with her uniform, Paul the Porter whose arms are covered with questionable tattoos, The Temp who was over qualified to work at the hospital, Pippa the art therapist who is very good at her job and Margot whose 83 years added to Lenni’s 17 makes for a 100-page pictorial account of their combined lives.

Margot and Lenni share in the narration of their lives before and up to Glasgow Princess Royal Hospital. Although it is Lenni that this reader longs to interact with, Margot’s bits and pieces of her long life are a joy to read.

In Lenni’s words, “When people say ‘terminal’ I think of the airport.” Lenni has a way with words and her interactions with Father Arthur regarding God were a pleasure to read. She manages to distract others from her obvious ‘terminal’ outcome with humor and wisdom. In the end, Lenni will return to her airport metaphor in a beautiful and touching way.

The Jealousy Man by Jo Nesbo

Jo Nesbo, famous for Norwegian crime novels, has the reputation of creating scary bad guys and smart but flawed good guys. There are 12 stories in this collection, each with its own unique Nesbo twist.

One story takes place in an airplane’s first class section. A woman, seated at the window seat is leaving her unfaithful husband. But she wants to leave him with a message. She has signed an unbreakable suicide contract that ensures her death within a 3-week period. A death that will not appear to be suicide. Then she falls in love with her seatmate. 

Another tale takes place on a small island in Greece where identical twin brothers are visiting for rock climbing. One brother goes missing and an investigation reveals that both men were in love with the same woman. Without a body, the Athens detective must unravel what happened to the missing brother. All this while a storm pounds the island.

There is also a story that focuses on a Chemistry student working as a cashier and who hates it when people cut in line. She sees it often but she has a unique method for relieving the world of such people.

I’ve read many of Nesbo’s novels including the Harry Hole series. What I enjoy most is a common theme of the love and lust that drives his characters. And the unexpected which always shows up.

Happy Holidays and Well Wishes for the coming year.

Other Book Reviews

Note: This blog is sponsored by me, Karen J Adams. Any recommendations or suggestions are purely my own opinion without the exchange of money.

 Unpublished work © 2023 Karen J Adams

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

My last post was in November 2021. Yikes! After the chaos of the holiday season, I got busy on a huge writing project. A novel. First draft is finished. Hurray!

Will be doing some revisions and then on to the challenge of publishing. I’ll keep you posted.

In the meantime I have read many books. Here is a list of my seven favorites (not in any particular order):

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

A time travel story with a twist. Gaspery-Jacques Roberts is a detective living on the Moon’s Night City. He is hired to investigate an anomaly in the North American wilderness. On Earth. Beginning with a stop in 1912.

Turns out there are several people involved in this anomaly. As well as several centuries. Notably, an old man playing a violin in an airship terminal. Once he learns the source of the anomaly, Gaspery must choose between his gut and the rules of time travel.

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

This novel is a mosaic of time and space. At the center of the story is an ancient Greek book. Entitled Cloud Cuckoo Land. It is the fictional novel about a shepherd, Aethon. Aethon dreams of being turned into a bird so he can fly to a utopian paradise. Cloud Cuckoo Land has made it into the hands and minds of five characters.

Fifteenth century Anna is an orphaned seamstress residing within the walls of Constantinople. She crosses paths with Omeir, a village boy. He lives outside the walls. Omeir and his beloved oxen are conscripted into an army. One that will siege the city.

In present day, elderly Zeno, enjoys translating ancient Greek texts. He spends his days in an Idaho library. Seymour, an autistic teen, also spends time in the same library. Seymour becomes involved with ecoterrorists. He plans to bomb the library.

In the distant future, on an interstellar ship is 12-year-old Konstance. The ship, Argos, travels to a planet that her future offspring will inhabit. Konstance questions the purpose of the journey. She is familiar with the story of Aethon. Passed down to her from her father. It is a story that she will also pass along.

Each of these characters have a common need for survival and a longing for a happy ending.

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

This tale requires a small stretch of imagination. But it’s worth it. The widowed Tova Sullivan takes a custodial job at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. Staying busy helps her cope. Like when her 18-year-old son, Erik, went missing 30 years prior. Tova forms a relationship with Marcellus, a grumpy giant Pacific octopus.

Marcellus resides in the aquarium where Tova cleans. He was rescued at an early age. Although Marcellus thinks of himself as a prisoner. Here’s where your imagination must extend itself. Marcellus narrates his story and his observations of the human species as a whole. He is also aware of what happened to Erik all those years ago. How will he get that information to his friend, Tova?

A beautiful tale of love, loss and unexpected connections.

The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family by Ron Howard

Take a walk down memory lane with Ron and Clint Howard. Learn about behind the scenes activities of the Mayberry crew. The book includes details about Ron’s directorial debut and how he got it. Clint discusses his substance abuse. Both brothers speak warmly of their parents.

If you were a fan of nightly television in the 60’s and 70’s, you’ll enjoy this memoir.

The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward

You have your serial killer. Your stolen child. Revenge. Death. This novel is filled with surprises. At the beginning, you’ll be certain you know what’s going on. You don’t. Each chapter offers a new unexpected tidbit. Coming together for a satisfactory ending.

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead

Ray Carnie is almost completely legitimate with his Harlem Furniture Store. His cousin, Freddie, doesn’t pretend to be legitimate in his dealings. Then Freddie offers Ray a deal too good to be true. How will Ray maintain his stellar reputation, keep Freddie alive and get his fair share of the deal?

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

How does a High School Science teacher save the world? That’s what Ryland Grace is tasked with. However, when he wakes up from a very long sleep in an unfamiliar place, he doesn’t remember anything. Not even his name.

On top of that, there are two dead bodies in the room with him. Also with him is a set of robot arms that care for his needs. He remembers scientific data but doesn’t know why. It all comes back to him in short flashbacks. Until he realizes he is on a suicide mission. Earth’s last resort for survival.

With lots of science and plenty of mystery, the story unfolds. With some unexpected assistance, it may not be a suicide mission after all.

Note: This blog is sponsored by me, Karen J Adams. Any recommendations or suggestions are purely my own opinion without the exchange of money.

 Unpublished work © 2022 Karen J Adams

My Interpretation of Squid Game

Note:  Spoiler Alert

Netflix’s most watched series, Squid Game, is a phenom.  Why?  Is it the unabashed violence?  The exaggerated character dramas?  Its South Korean roots?  Could be the stark differences between the players.  Or maybe it’s just the idea of deadly child’s play.  Regardless, there seems to be no shortage of viewers or contestants who are dying to win. 

Despicable Ralph

The first episode offers up our main character.  I’ll call him Ralph.  Ralph is a 30-something “ne er’-do-well”.  He lives with his ailing mother who cooks and cleans for him.  Ralph lost his union job and works part-time as a chauffeur.  His wife divorced him and took their daughter. Ralph believes his luck will change so he steals his mother’s debit card and uses the cash to gamble.  He manages to win a bundle after several misses.  That’s good, right? 

Could have been if he didn’t owe money to the local loan sharks, who happen to chase Ralph at the casino.  Ralph runs and collides with a girl (I’ll call her Suzi).  Turns out Suzi is a skillful pickpocket.  Once cornered in the public restroom by the loan sharks, Ralph reaches for the cash, which is no longer in his pocket.  Uh-oh!  Ralph negotiates one last chance.  Repay on deadline or give up organs.  Hmmm, is that a “thing” in Korea?

The Thrill of Winning

By this point Ralph has proven his unworthiness to himself and to us viewers.  As he is slithering back home, via the rail, he meets a stranger who engages him in a game.  It’s a Korean version of Slap Jack – only different.  Each time Ralph loses, the stranger slaps him.  Across the face.  If only Ralph had money, then he could have avoided the slaps. 

Ralph finally wins and as he readies to slap the stranger, he is rewarded with cash!  The stranger also gives him a card.  On it is a phone number.  The other side is decorated with a circle, a triangle and a square.  An invitation to play more games.

Ralph makes the call and is picked up by a van filled with sleeping people.  He’s excited at the prospect of winning big money but quickly falls asleep when the van fills with gas. 

A New Kind of Child’s Play

Enter the House of Games!  Ralph finds himself in a warehouse filled with other people, all wearing the same crayon green warm-up suit.  And they are numbered.  Ralph is the last, number 456.  He buddies up with an old man, number 001.  001 is frail and doesn’t seem capable of playing any game, much less winning. 

Ralph notices Suzi is there and so is his neighborhood buddy, Sam.  Several other contestants emerge, all of which are in some form of financial distress.

The caretakers of the games are dressed in hot pink boiler suits with hoods and black masks.  A stark contrast to the green track suits.  Their masks have one of three shapes: square, triangle, circle.  We’ll call them the Pinks.  The Pinks are like robots.  Void of emotion and carrying weapons. 

Shock and Awe

The first of six games is Red-light, Green-light.  This is how it’s played: One player,  in this case a giant Baby Doll, turns their back on the other players. Baby Doll calls Green Light and the other players race toward her. She turns around and calls Red Light for all the players to stop. Baby Doll has roaming, movement-detecting eyes.  The players who moved are eliminated.  With a bullet.  Ralph is paralyzed by this new turn of events.  Which is good because he’s not moving.  But Sam reminds him that a clock is ticking and there is a finish line to cross. 

A lot of, not so smart, players freak out by the violence and run in the other direction.  Only to be sprayed with automatic weapons.  Improving the odds for Ralph and his friends.

Back in the warehouse, Ralph makes a stand.  He wants to go home and others agree.  It’s a good thing the Pinks have ‘Yes and No’ buttons handy so everyone can vote.  The old man has the last vote to break the tie.  He takes forever to decided, like the demented dude that he is meant to be.  Ralph’s team wins and everyone goes home. 

What Now

But wait, there’s eight more episodes!  You guessed it; they return but with different attitudes.  Every man or woman for themself.  Plenty of interesting sub-plots to enjoy that I won’t go into.  One has to do with organ harvesting.  I guess it is a thing.

Throughout the games we viewers feel compassion for some of the characters and learn to hate others.  So, in the sixth episode, many of our favorites are “eliminated” in the one-on-one game of marbles.  Sigh…

If you want to know more, you’ll need to watch it.  Or not.  My personal ‘shock absorber’ is to close my eyes at certain, uncomfortable parts. 

I am amazed at the record-breaking audiences for the show.  I am also, somewhat ashamed to have been one of them.  Squid Game is a source of entertainment filled with the unexpected.  Sharp contrasts of colors and themes.  And believable characters that are all dying to win.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Note: This blog is sponsored by me, Karen J Adams. Any recommendations or suggestions are purely my own opinion without the exchange of money.

 Unpublished work © 2021 Karen J Adams