Review: "The Metabolism Miracle Update"

This book, "The Metabolism Miracle Update" was well-written and clear.  I appreciated the new information (none of which conflicts with the first plan).  This new information is in the form of some enhancements in the program.

My only issue with this book (the reason that it gets only 4 stars) is that I felt that it relied too heavily on the author’s website.  The author maintains a fee-based online community .  This book frequently recommended joining the community.  It began to feel as though I’d paid $7.00 for an ad for the website.

Still, the new information is helpful and valuable.  Therefore, it was well worth the purchase price.

One major issue:  The description states, “Learn about bogus low carbohydrate foods that can thwart your program.”  And this is technically true: you do learn about them, you learn that they exist.  And the author mentions two examples.  Then, the reader is told that there is a more extensive list of these bogus low carbohydrate foods on the website.  The website that you have to pay to read the list.  I was disappointed in that.

All in all, this is another good resource in your Metabolism Miracle or Diabetes Miracle arsenal.  If you are utilizing this plan, it wouldn’t hurt to own this book.

Review: "A Tragedy at Midnight"

               The other night, while scrolling through Amazon Prime Instant Video, I came across the film “A Tragedy at Midnight” (1942, Republic Studios).  The film revolves around a “Radio Detective” and his wife who are involved in a murder investigation when the Detective himself is framed for murder.  If you are wondering what a “Radio Detective” is, he’s basically a True Crime broadcaster who, in this case, has a better solve rate than the police themselves.

               While I was watching this film, I was immediately struck by the similarities to the Nick and Nora Charles series (1934 – 1947, MGM Studios), similarities which I will address later, and had to verify which came first.  When I went to check IMDB for the date, I found another little oddity about this film:  the Amazon Prime runtime was listed as 54 minutes while the IMDB runtime was listed at 68 minutes.  Fourteen minutes of missing film!  Research led me to a quick resolution to this conundrum, the original film was 68 minutes long but was cut down so that it would match TV runtimes when it started to air on television.  Amazon Prime Video runs the TV version, as does Neflix, evidently.

               During my research on the runtime discrepancy, I found several reviewers who stated that this was of great concern because it set up who several key characters were for the viewer.  According to these reviewers, this was of great detriment to the viewer.  I have to respectfully disagree here.  I found no difficulty following the plot or understanding the relationship of all characters to the protagonists.  I think that the missing fourteen minutes might seem far more relevant to someone who had watched the film in its entirety and now feels the absence of the deleted scenes.  And I might agree with them if I saw the missing scenes myself, but as it stands now, I fully understood the relationships of all characters, and I found the setup easy to follow.  The additional scenes might be fun to watch, and might add more meat to the story, but their absence doesn’t ruin the film.

               As to the casting, this film stars John Howard (who I recognized from “The Philadelphia Story) and Margaret Lindsay (who I recognized from “The House of the Seven Gables").  I really liked Lindsay in this film, and I feel that she, for the most part, carried it.  Howard, who I think was a really handsome man, didn’t play that way in this film.  He had his moments of being amusing or heroic, but, for the most part, his styling combined with an uncharacteristic smirk, gave him a feel of being a poor man’s Clark Gable.  Gable was just far better at pulling off that mustache and that smirk.  He had the charm to make the smirk seem, well, charming.  With Howard, it just plays as inappropriate, even condescending at times.

               Now, for the elephant in the room.  This film is VERY similar to “The Thin Man” series.  It is done to such an obvious point that I thought that this film might have come first.  I thought this for two reasons.  The first was that the production quality was not as good as “The Thin Man”.  These lower production issues made the “A Tragedy at Midnight” feel older than “The Thin Man.”  The second reason was that the parallels were so obvious that it was hard to believe that any studio would be that obvious about their knockoff.  

So, yes, the comparisons must be made between this film and “The Thin Man,” the banter, the wife who feigns jealousy, but who sometimes really is jealous, right down to the husband calling his wife “Mommy.”  It’s there.  Anyone who tries to tell you that they don’t see it must not have ever seen Nick and Nora in action.  And it’s not poorly done here.  It’s fairly well done.  It’s just not well done to the standard of William Powell and Myrna Loy.  And we shouldn’t expect it to be.  Powell and Loy had a really rare and special chemistry together.  It was an amazing thing to see.  Amazing in ALL of their films together, not just their Nick and Nora films.

               He was charming and debonair.  She was beautiful and quick as a whip.  They had a biting humor that was based on a mutual respect for each other, both in character (Nick and Nora’s relationship was so fun BECAUSE they were a couple who truly respected and valued each other) and in real life.  So much so in real life that when Powell got cancer, he continued to perform in the films while undergoing treatment, even though he was warned that doing so might dramatically shorten “the time he had left”.  He ended up living almost half a century after that.

               But that’s neither here nor there.  I’m not reviewing “The Thin Man.”  I’m reviewing “A Tragedy at Midnight.”  The problem is that the comparison has to be made.  It is always made.  It will always be made.  This film was a direct homage (or a total rip-off, depending on the opinion of the person discussing it).  You could actually see Powell and Loy in these roles.  You could see them doing it better.  But that’s not this film’s fault.  It’s not Howard and Lindsay’s faults.  You just have to chalk it up to Powell and Loy having better chemistry.  You have to chalk it up to that and move on.

               Because despite being Nick and Nora imitators, despite the missing scenes, despite the perma-smirk, this is actually a good film.  I really enjoyed it.  It was humorous.  It was fun.  It was entertaining.  The resolution made sense.  How that resolution was made (Green versus Blue – not a spoiler, you won’t understand until the main character tells you) was ridiculous.  I just found it difficult to suspend disbelief for that little bit, but the actual Who in Whodunnit made sense.  The motive made sense.  The movie was fun and made sense. 

               I think that my favorite scene was the “Shadow Scene”.  You’ll know it when you see it.  I thought that was cute and clever, all while being a little silly.

               Despite all of the things that should be drawbacks (especially for me, as a Nick and Nora obsessed fan), I thoroughly enjoyed “A Tragedy at Midnight”, so I give this film a 4/5 (or an 8/10 in IMDB).  This movie is like Nachos:  a little corny, a lot cheesy, and completely fun to devour.

               

Review: A Raging Storm

A Raging Storm by Richard Castle

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



“A Raging Storm” by Richard Castle is the second novella in the Derrick Storm trilogy. The most common complaints that I’ve heard about this book is that it is formulaic, trite, pulpy. All of these things are true. It’s also entertaining as hell. Seriously, not every book that you read has to be highbrow literature. Sometimes, you just want a little pulpy, ridiculous entertainment.

Enter Richard Castle.

For a more indepth review of this novella, you could just check out my review of the first book in the series “A Brewing Storm,” because there’s not really much more to say about this second book than what was said about the first.

Now, for the things that are not in my review of the first novella. Here are the things that are especially relevant just for this book:

First, this book has a nice overview of the “A Brewing Storm”. It’s not so indepth as to feel like rewarmed rehash, but it is enough that if you haven’t read the first book, you won’t be lost in this one. Of course, they’re novellas, so why not take the two hours to read the first one. But, if that’s not in your schedule, or not in your budget, there is enough of a recap to keep you from being lost (you will lose a little bit of character development, though. I’m not sure that this matters in pulp fiction).

Second, they do resolve the cliff-hanger from the previous book. So, for those who felt that it would be dragged out over all episodes, not to worry: the cliff-hanger is resolved; the overall myth-arc remains intact. Also, a new cliff-hanger is introduced to lead the reader into the third book.

Finally, I found the characters more likable in the second installment. Frankly, I feel that this is due to their being more fleshed-out. This is partly because the first book allowed some of the details that function as character building blocks for this book. It is also partly because, as the characters become more familiar with each other, they let their guard down slightly and expose more of themselves to one another (therefore the reader).

All in all, I found this book to be a solid piece of ghost-written pulp mystery, and worth the read when you are interested in a bit of light crime fiction.




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Review: The Metabolism Miracle

The Metabolism Miracle by Diane Kress

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I've never really been a fan of Low Carb diets, but when I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes (DM), my doctor suggested that I look into a Low Carb diet for weight loss. Atkins and South Beach have never really set well with me (I think that the carb level is far too restricted, and that they don't have a solid plan in place for returning carbs to the diet when the weight is lost).

Then my mother suggested the Metabolism Miracle. It is the only thing that really works for me (I've tried DASH, which I highly recommend, but with my DM combined with some food allergies, I found it difficult to meet the requirements of DASH while still maintaining my Blood Sugar.

Kress has come up with a Carb-controlled Lifestyle Plan. I don't call it a Low Carb diet, because Kress has made a complete plan, not only for Weight Loss, but for Weight Management after weight loss goals are achieved.

It is important to note that this diet APPEARS to only allow you 5 net carbs every 5 hours. This is a common complaint that I hear about the Metabolism Miracle plan. However, if you read the book closely, you realize that that isn't factual. The diet allows you 5 bonus carbs every 5 hours. You still get carbs out of the "Free" foods that you get to eat. Vegetables have carbs. Anything that has fiber has carbs. This diet allows you a sizable list of foods that you can eat WITHOUT counting their carbs (meats, veggies, nuts, dairy, etc), but requires that with all other foods, you limit them to 5 net carbs per five hour block. So, you get more than 5 carbs, you just only get 5 carbs from foods that require counting.

Their are only two negative points about the book, as far as I am concerned, neither of which is significant enough for me to subtract a star from my rating.

The first draw back is that the book is LOADED with anecdotes. Anecdotes about Kress's clients. Anecdotes designed to clarify points and rationales about the diet. I think that they are a bit excessive. I didn't really need THAT many success (and failure) stories to drive home the points of the plan. I don't deduct a star for this because I realize that many people PREFER to read many stories to provide anecdotal evidence for proof of concept. I'm not one of those people, but I do think that many people prefer it.

The second (and final) drawback to the book is the title. "The Metabolism Miracle" makes this sound like another crash diet or fad diet. It is not, it is a complete lifestyle, designed to promote healthy living, long term, in the real world. Unfortunately, the title may turn some people away, as it sounds very "fad."





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Review: Gone Girl

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



It is difficult to review this book without giving away any spoilers. I found the book both well-written and entertaining. I found the main characters (Nick and Amy) to be both unlikable and easy to bond with at the same time. This fact is somewhat disconcerting.

Both characters are extremely flawed, and it is difficult to decide for whom to root. Both had intellect and stamina worth admiring. Neither had moral fortitude worthy of admiration. The author did an excellent job writing in each character's voice. It was evident from the reading who was speaking (and not just from the chapter titles), each character had a unique and specific voice.

Their relationship was complex and intriguing. At times I sided with one, other times I sided with the other. In the end, I shrugged my shoulders and sided with Boney.

The author dealt with some fairly intense relationship issues in a way to make the book engrossing and thrilling. I am one who can put a book down and walk away for a month, then come back and pick up where I left off. That was not the case with this book. I had great difficulty putting this book down at all, much less for any length of time.

In reading the reviews, I see that many people HATED the ending. Without adding spoilers, I believe that this was no mistake on the part of the author, but was actually intentional. The characters are so fully irredeemable that no other end would have suited them appropriately.

The book is well worth reading, although I would not use this book as relationship advice.



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Review: A Brewing Storm

A Brewing Storm by Richard Castle

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



First, let's start with the fact that I gave this book 3 stars. That is not an indictment of the book itself, it's just that the book was not one of my favorites. I liked it, but I didn't "really like" it (which would be 4 stars) or "love" it (which would have been 5 stars). I liked it. It was a solid read.

Spy fiction is not my thing. Private Detective's are. This was a little of both.

Short Fiction is also not my thing. This was a novella, which made it just long enough for my taste.

The book was solidly written by a ghost writer. It is not fine literature, but it was a fun read. I applaud that. I'm a fan of fun. I think that if all of the books in the world were fine literature, the world would be a beautiful but boring place.

Most of the negative reviews of this book were complaints that the book was "part of a book" or "unfinished" or "a trick to get you to buy the next book." But those things don't worry me. I'll address each of them in kind.

First, the book is not "part of a book". It is a stand-alone novella in a novella trilogy. That means that the book should have some resolution at the end, while still leaving enough loose ends for it to run into the next book.

I'm going to use one of my favorite trilogies as an example* (and, mind you, this trilogy is no LOTR): In "Lord of the Rings", Frodo does not reach Mordor at the end of the first book (because one does not simply walk into Mordor). There is resolution in the first book on some of the smaller plot points, but the final objective carries forward into the next book. I don't think that anyone would complain that "The Fellowship of the Rings" is not a complete work of fiction. But it is part of a trilogy, and was designed as such, so therefore the most central plot point carries further into the following books.

So it is with "A Brewing Storm". The first book's mystery is solved (what happened to the money and why). But the overlapping myth arc is not solved (who is the source of the "conspiracy", if it should actually BE a conspiracy.

The novel is designed to be a stand-alone novella in a larger trilogy, and is successful in doing so.

The novella is NOT unfinished. See my points above. It RESOLVES the current mystery, while giving a hook for the overall arc.

And finally, the book is NOT A TRICK to get you to buy the next book. It's DESIGNED to be part of a trilogy. Just like a TV series is designed to be a series. So, when you watch a series, it not resolving EVERYTHING in EVERY episode is NOT A TRICK, it's the nature of writing for a series. It's WHY you make it as a series, and not as a stand-alone film. My example for this is "The X-Files"*. In this series, each episode (or couple if they are two-parters) resolved the current case, but we still don't know who is behind the conspiracy. We still don't know what the Cigarette-Smoking-Man is up to or all about. That doesn't make it "A TRICK", it makes it writing for a series.

That is what this book does.

The book is a fun read, if you take it for what it is supposed to be: Light Fiction and a part of a series (specifically a trilogy). If you like spy-craft (of which there is a little) and detective fiction, you will likely like this novella. Be prepared to read all three, if you want to know the final answers.

*I realize that comparing this book to LOTR or The X-Files is near-sacrilege in some circles. I fully recognize this. PLEASE DON'T REVOKE MY NERD-CARD.



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Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I realize that the trend is always towards a series of books. And this is a trend that I fully support. This book is part of a larger series, which was obviously intended at the time of its writing. I have no issue with any of that.

This book is a complete story, that is strong enough to stand all on its own. It is clever and well-written. I find the dialogue, both in the present and in the past, both in America and in Britain, to ring true. I find this to be quite a feat. It is often difficult for an adult writer to accomplish believable teen dialogue. The fact that this writer was able to do so over two centuries and two continents is really impressive.

The only issue that I have with the novel (and it is what keeps it at 4-stars instead of 5) is that it feels, throughout to be expository. Throughout the reading, I kept thinking, well, now, if the story doesn't start soon, we'll have no book in this book.

And, yet, the book IS there. The story DOES progress. It does have rising action, it does have a climax, it does have brief falling action, and even more brief denouement. All of the elements are there, and in the proper order. All are well-written and entertaining.

Yet, for some reason, I continued to feel that this book was the mere exposition for a much longer book. I recognize that the first book in any series is heavy on expository data for the rest of the series, but this one just felt, although it is fully a stand-alone novel, like it was not part of a series, but part of a larger book.

I can't explain this feeling. And I can't describe in any way how the author could have avoided this issue or altered the book to correct the issue. It's just a feeling I had during reading, and it is a feeling that I can't pin down.

Also, I felt that the photographs were formatted well for Kindle.  I was able to view them easily on my Kindle Paperwhite.



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