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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Review of "Profile of a Killer"

I had never heard of the film or any of the members of it's cast before finding it in the Amazon Prime Instant Video library tonight.  For a film with an unknown cast (at least to me), I found this film to be surprisingly good.  The acting was quite good and the concept was, while not entirely novel, an unusual approach to the serial killer sub-genre.  While I say that the concept was entirely novel, I mean just that.  It was a novel approach, but not entirely so.  It was something that isn't done everyday, but there are elements of it that you have seen before.  Frankly, I found it a refreshing take on the subject.  (I am a bit hampered here by my desire to avoid spoilers).

The film does have some gore, although most viewers of films about serial killers will find said gore to be mild.  If you are new to the sub-genre, however, I would recommend trying another film first, especially if you are faint of heart.

I found the writing to be, for the most part, entertaining and believable.

Quite well done, and I would recommend "Profile of a Killer" to anyone who enjoys thrillers and is not squeamish.

Review: Armed and Outrageous

Armed and Outrageous by Madison Johns

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I felt that the mystery itself was well-thought out. I had few issues with grammar, punctuation, or spelling (although there were a few issues there). What I objected to was the characteristics attributed to the elderly. The author claims in her foreword that she has worked with the elderly for years and assures the reader that the elderly truly can behave this way (adding the caveat that the exaggerated some behavior because she wanted her characters to be "over the top').

I can accept that. She wants her characters to be modern and sexually active (something that many younger readers may have difficulty accepting). She wants her characters to be wild and "cool" (like pot smoking and drinking). She wants them to be badasses (with the fighting and gunplay).

I'm OK with all of that.

What bothered me was the stereotyping. The SERIOUSLY INACCURATE stereotyping. The main character keeps her teeth in a class of efferdent. She has dentures at 72, which isn't uncommon, but it isn't the norm nowadays, either. With my grandmother's generation (the generation that would have been Agnes Barton's PARENTS' generation, this was the norm. But Agnes's generation is that of the Baby Boomers. I have several people in my life of this age group. I have 9 people in my life who I know closely enough to know their medical and social history (I will call them my "sample" for the purposes of this review). My sample consists of 5 women and 4 men. Their ages range from 65-75. Four members of this sample are couples (2 of the men married to 2 of the women). Two of the remaining women are not currently married (either widowed or divorced). The remaining woman and remaining two men are married to people outside of the sample (for whom I don't know these statistics)

ALL of the members of the sample still have their own natural teeth. Only one of them has any dentures, and that's a partial plate from when she was in an accident as a teenager.

She talks about how MOST of the seniors in this retirement community want to be in bed by 9 pm every night. Of the nine people in my sample group, only 2 of them like to be in bed by this time. Those two are a married couple. The other 7 in this group go to bed at various times AFTER 9 pm.

The author portrays sex at this age as somewhat of a rarity. The main character acts like no one would ever want to have sex with her again at the age of 72. Her best friend is 80, and will basically take whatever she can get in the sex department, because it's so rare to find. Of my sample, 7 of the members are currently sexually active. The other two are abstinent by choice, as neither is currently interested in joining the dating pool.

The author portrays seniors as being bad drivers. This is spoken of specifically about one character. I can live with that part, because maybe Eleanor is just a bad driver. And Aggie blames it on her age. OK, I can handle that. But later, Agnes pulls into a parking lot, and proceeds to tell the reader that every car in the parking lot was dinged and dented because most of the drivers in this retirement are senior citizens. THIS was the part to which I took the most offence. Evidently, other readers had similar qualms. Additionally, our main character actually drunk drives home from a party.

Firstly, a study just came out this last week that showed that seniors have a much LOWER incidence of accidents than younger drivers (including the age 26-45s). Of my representative sample, two members are aggressive drivers, two are frequent dent and dingers, and THE OTHER FIVE are excellent drivers. One of them has never had a ticket, in over 50 years of driving, and has only had one accident (when a deer hit her car - I specifically say that the deer hit her car, because the damage was all to the windshield and roof, because the deer jumped on top of the car, it never contacted the bumper). 2 of these drivers had issues with driving under the influence, but it was when they were younger, and none of them has driven under the influence in over 20 years. 7 of these group members have not had an accident in over a decade. The other two are (of course) our frequent dent and dingers.

The author also portrays gatherings with these characters (like their monthly card night) as a time for comparing battle scars. Everyone is talking about their aches and pains. Bowel movements and their frequency are considered normal discussion for characters of this age (the main character actually says that they talk about this EVERY month when the get together). In my sample, the only real discussion of aches an pains that I've seen occurs when someone has recently had some sort of major illness or procedure (example: chemotherapy heart bypass). I've never heard any of them sitting around talking about bowel movements. And their discussion of medical issues seems no more or less intense than people of my age (30s & 40s). I, myself, had a major surgery about 3 years ago, and afterwards everyone constantly asked me for medical updates. After a while, it subsided. I see the seniors in my life discuss their health issues NO MORE AND NO LESS than other adults.

There were some minor writing issues in the book, a few were distracting for the reader, but most were easily overlooked. It was the ridiculous stereotyping that I had an issue with.

I was also bothered by how disrespectful anyone under the age of 30 was. It seemed like if you were under 30, you were a rude, disrespectful jerk. I have not found this to be the case in the real world either.



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