So Long, Chester Wheeler by Catherine Ryan Hyde (Review)

Jan

27

So Long, Chester Wheeler by Catherine Ryan Hyde (Review)

5 out of 5 stars Book Review

Spoiler Alert: In order to write a formal review (which would include telling a little about this fascinating story), it would be riddled with “spoiler alert” warnings. So I won’t.

Instead, I want to write about this author’s uncanny talent for concepts. She writes about people, everyday people, about life, and how messy it is. It may not be a conscious thought, but somewhere inside you, you are wondering, ‘How did she come up with this concept for a story?’

In my interview with Catherine, she addresses how she comes up with her stories:

Q. Where/when do you first discover your characters?

CRH. When I have finished a novel and turned it over to my agent, I know I need a new idea. I open up to a new idea, and I meet a character. I generally see a glimpse of them, having some sort of life experience. Then I spend a few weeks in my head, with nothing down on paper yet, coaxing them to tell me more. (end quote)

That’s what I tell my writers (fans); to keep their eyes and ears open because you may get a mere glimpse of your next character. Just waiting there, in the shadows, for you, so they can tell you their story.

But I digress. If you have never read another book, be certain to read So Long Chester Wheeler. It’s a distillation of everything that’s so wonderful and horrid about the humane species. Beautifully written. Like Catherine examines each word to make sure it’s worthy to be in her story before she lays it down. And, as with most of her books, there are lots of surprises, plot twists and turns the reader never sees coming.
This author is everything we mere mortal writers should aspire to be. Sharpen your pencils!!

Available now at your favorite book store!

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Watch for more interviews with authors. November: Horror writer, Kevin J. Kennedy, December: Marc Cameron, writing for TOM CLANCY

A few BOOKS BY TRISHA SUGAREK

Jan

13

Women of Straw ~~ Book Review

Trisha

1 out of 5 stars

This book was a real disappointment. The writer has few, next to no, writing skills.

The dialog was average in this book, relying heavily on colloquialisms and platitudes. This writer needs to focus on her dialog writing skills rather than using these crutches. The story is told with “one voice,” and I suspect that voice was the author.
The fact that the uncle was a predator, set loose in a house full of women, was telegraphed way too soon in the storyline.

The POV was jumping around. As frequently as in the next paragraph rather than in a specific time span or the next chapter. I found it very distracting.

The women were too namby-pamby ( regards the uncle), considering that they had survived the father’s death and still maintained the running of their business.

The straw hat-making was the most interesting thing in the story…it should have been the story. And there were a couple of characters that were not fleshed out (developed) and should have been.

I try very hard to read books I know will win a great review. As my mission is always to lift up and support other writers. Couldn’t do it this time, sorry!
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Watch for more interviews with authors. November: Horror writer, Kevin J. Kennedy, December: Marc Cameron, writing for TOM CLANCY

A few BOOKS BY TRISHA SUGAREK

Category: 'the Art of Writing', A Writer's Take......, How to Write, How To Write Fiction, Reviews, The Writer's Corner Tags: create, female writers, new fiction, new fiction for women, reviews, storytelling, writers Leave a Comment

Nov

27

Robert B. Parker’s FALLOUT by Mike Lupica (a review)

Trisha

5 out of 5 stars ~~ Book Review

Mike Lupica returns to write this most current release, FALLOUT. Another Jesse Stone true crime created by Robert B. Parker. And it’s flawless, as usual. Mike writes in the voice of Parker effortlessly and I really enjoyed this one.

The small town of Paradise is devastated when a star high-school baseball player is found dead at the bottom of a bluff just a day after winning the team’s biggest game. For Jesse, the loss is doubly difficult—the teen was the nephew of his colleague, Suitcase Simpson, and Jesse had been coaching the young shortstop. As he searches for answers about how the boy died and why, he is stonewalled at every turn, and it seems that someone is determined to keep him from digging further. (www.amazon.com)

I never cease to marvel at these authors who keep Parker’s storytelling alive for us. All successful authors in their own right. Lupica, one of the most prominent sports writers in America, and Reed Farrel Coleman for Jesse Stone. Ace Atkins for Spencer and Sunny Randall. There is a list too long to list here. All speak with the same clarity and write as if they are Robert B. Parker incarnate.

Check out my fascinating INTERVIEW with Mike Lupica and Ace Atkins.

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Watch for more interviews with authors. October: Simon Gervais for ROBERT LUDLUM, November: Horror writer, Kevin J. Kennedy, December: Marc Cameron, writing for TOM CLANCY

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Category: 'the Art of Writing', A Writer's Take......, Best Sellers, Creative Writing, How To Write Fiction, Reviews Tags: create, interviews with authors, murder mysteries, new fiction, reviews, storytelling, writers, writing Leave a Comment

Sep

03

Book Review ~~ Where The Sky Begins

Trisha

4 out of five stars ~~ Book Review

This stand-alone novel by serial author Rhys Bowen (Molly Murphy series and Royal Spyness Mysteries) is well written and a remarkable story. Set in war-torn London during the Second World War air blitz, the reader crawls with Josie Banks from the rubble of her home and her life. The ‘pace’ of the story is just right, relaxed, with just the right amount of detail. So typical of this author…getting it right.

Until the last sixty pages or so, Bowen jams years worth of story into these pages. This reviewer found the change of pace disconcerting. Josie’s lover is pronounced officially missing and presumed killed in action. She goes to work for the government, all very top secret until Bowen winds up the whole book with one last surprise. (I am trying to avoid a spoiler alert.)

While I enjoyed the story and appreciated the fine writing, I felt the book deserved better. I recommend this book to my readers despite the few stumbles.

Did you catch my Interview with Rhys Bowen?
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Jul

30

Book Review ~ Revenge Tour

Trisha

3 out of 5 stars

Revenge Tour by Mike Lupica. This critic/reader prefers it when the (antagonist) villain in the story has a tiny bit of redemption. A cutting edge sense of humor, a good brother, or a slice of empathy. When the victim (so-called) has not an ounce of redemption that does not bode well. In the case of Revenge Tour, please somebody just shoot Melanie Joan Hall immediately. Or shoot me and end my misery.

I could have cared less if Sunny Randall and her helpers kept the famous author safe. She was a miserable human being. But, other than that I always enjoy Sunny’s escapades. Many of the old gang is back in this one…which readers always appreciate. The dialogue is cutting edge, very Robert B. Parker.

Special Note: I hadn’t realized that it literally takes a village to keep producing Robert B. Parker novels. I read the ‘Acknowledgments’ (page 321) which lists the team who is involved, with the author, to create another story. David and Daniel Parker (sons? grandsons?), a senior editor, Lupica’s editor, and the curator of the RBP’s collection, Esther Newberg; all keep Parker’s stories alive.

Did you miss my Interview with Mike Lupica?
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Coming soon! August: Author, Jay Hartlove

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Jul

08

Book Review ~~ Sugar and Salt by Susan Wiggs

Trisha

3 out of 5 stars ~~ Book Review

A charming story to be sure. Love finally conquers, maybe. A breath-taking story of how the system fails sexual assault victims and the justice system turns those women into suspects when they are forced to defend themselves. Shocking, but true if you are poor, a woman, and NOT white. Deftly told by Susan Wiggs.

I rarely comment on book covers but this cover does the story such an injustice. The beautiful cake, on the cover, suggests that a bakery is the focal point of the story. A woman with blond hair (the only part they got right) with ugly hands and an even uglier manicure. Sure, the love interest has a bakery, but it plays such a minor role that it doesn’t even deserve a mention.
This story is about BBQ and I would have thought (if the cover designer had read even the first few pages), a big platter of BBQ ribs would have been on the front. Always, ALWAYS use a hand model if you’re going to stage a cover with ‘hands’. Cooks don’t have manicures (gels), nail polish (very unsanitary). They have short clean, unpolished nails and knife-nicked hands.

But I digress. The woman in this story is sympathetic, without being a typical ‘victim‘. There are times when all she has in the world is her BBQ and the custom sauces she has invented. The reader likes her. If the reader is a woman, she can relate to Margot. No one likes a happy ending more than me, but it’s touch-and-go.

On sale: July 26th
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Did you miss my Interview with Susan Wiggs?
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Coming soon! July’s author interview with Donna Ashcroft.

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Category: 'the Art of Writing', A Writer's Take......, Creative Writing, How to Write, Reviews, The Writer's Corner, Women's Fiction Tags: create, female writers, reviews, storytelling, writers, writing Leave a Comment

Jul

01

Book Review ~~ The Impulse Purchase by Veronica Henry

Trisha

5 out of 5 stars Book Review

‘Ah, well, thereby hangs a tale. I’ve just bought the village pub. Rather on impulse.’ And what a tale it is! The only trouble with author, Veronica Henry’s books is, we (readers) never want the tale to end.

Stock-in-trade is Henry’s excellent writing. Deeply developed characters that we love (or hate), that we fall in love with or wish they were our kids. Believable and likeable and human. A delicious read. The exact perfect balance of descriptive writing and dialogue. One of this reviewer’s pet peeves.

I don’t write synopses of the books I review. That’s not a reviewer’s job. Just know that you will miss out on a terrific ‘tale’ if you don’t read this book.

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Did you miss my interview with Veronica Henry?
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Jun

18

Review ~~ Dreaming of Flight by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Trisha

5+ out of 5 stars Book Review

Odd, loveable, quirky characters are sprinkled throughout this story. From the first page they seduce and beguile the reader.

Stewie, a 10 year old boy (when we first meet him) is passively neglected by his overly taxed, older sister. His Gam has recently died and as a way to stay connected to his much beloved grandmother, he adopts and takes over the care of her chickens. During his ‘egg route’ he meets Marilyn, another grandma-type with the same rough edge as his Gam.

And that’s where I’ll leave the spoiler alert. The writing is done with the same brilliance we have come to expect from Catherine Ryan Hyde. Her turn of phrase is unapparelled. Her balance of descriptive text and dialogue is near-perfect. And my readers know how too little dialogue irks me! This will never happen in a Hyde book. The characters are well thought out and deeply written. Hyde ‘shows’ you her characters; never tells you who and what they are. And who else could get a beautiful story out of a young boy and his chickens?

I highly recommend this book to my readers. If you loved Allie and Bea (and I did!) you will certainly love Dreaming of Flight.

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Did you miss my interview with Catherine Ryan Hyde?
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Jun

05

Book Review ~~ A Spanish Sunrise

Trisha

5 out of 5 stars ~~ Book Review

Sigh. Another delicious, wonderful story from Boo Walker. Perfecto! Magnífico! We all know him for his fabulous series, Red Mountain. Plopping his readers down amongst the vines in northern California. Introducing us to wonderfully drawn characters that we could savor through the series.

With A Spanish Sunrise, he takes us on a journey of loss, grief, fear and love. A Dad and his little girl, each seeking peace in their own way. And then a surprising and shocking email arrives one day. Enough said, I try not to write spoilers.

A little while ago I wrote a “teaching” book review about the writer who ‘tells’ the story instead of ‘showing’ the story with the actions and dialogue of his characters. This book is a perfect example of ‘showing’ the story. Through the characters’ voices I could smell the loam in the olive tree orchards. Feel the hot sun on my shoulder, taste the pungent, spicy oil on my tongue. Because Walker showed me, through his characters’ actions and dialogue. He didn’t tell me “the oil was good.”

I’ve read most of Walker’s books; maybe all of them. A Spanish Sunrise is my all time favorite from this wonderful writer…..so far. It would be divine if this was book 1 of a new series. Boo, are you listening?

Did you miss my Interview with Boo Walker ?
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May

28

A Teaching Book Review

Trisha

This could have been a great story, a fascinating, enjoyable family saga spanning several generations.

Instead, the writer, Bill Kitson, chose to tell his readers the story, instead of showing them. Chapters of telling, telling, telling. Then a half page of dialogue and ‘showing’. For example, the rift between patriarch, Albert, and his son, James. Albert’s decline into dementia would have been an interesting sub-plot if the writer had shown it; not told it. Jesse’s arduous journey from war-torn Europe back home to England. The First World War (section) was reduced to a few chapters of ‘telling’. Ugh. Leaving this reader not caring about Kitson’s characters much at all.

The characters that this writer created were interesting, predictable in places, but on the whole pretty good. But, with the storytelling style of ‘telling’ rather than showing who these people were they were not deeply drawn. Dialogue enriches not only the story but the characters. Telling rather than showing is, to my mind, a lazy way of writing.

for the story. For the writing.

The formatting was distracting. The pages were not titled with the traditional title and author’s name. In the front or back, there was no list of Kitson’s other books; a missed marketing opportunity. There was no author biography.
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