SuperSummary: Study Guide (2021, Independently Published)
English language
Published June 27, 2021 by Independently Published.
The end for the "Books of the Raksura" series... for now.
I really liked it. It's a good ending to the story that began with "The Edge of the Worlds", and a good ending to my year.
The end for the "Books of the Raksura" series... for now.
I really liked it. It's a good ending to the story that began with "The Edge of the Worlds", and a good ending to my year.
This book, the sixth in the Beth Haldane series, answers some questions about Beth’s past. It’s a bit different from the previous books in the series, with multiple murders and attempted murders over a fairly lengthy period of time.
And I had to laugh, because the game of bridge features prominently and I really related to Beth, who absolutely didn’t want to learn to play but finally did to please her difficult mother. In my case, it was a grandmother I never got along with who tried to teach me, and against whom I completely rebelled. That was probably 55 years ago, and to this day I refuse to learn. Families can do that to you. . .
It’s not often I get surprised by the ending, but I barely saw this one coming. This story includes a no-holds-barred look at parents who put careers and stuff ahead of paying attention to their kids, and still manages to stay entertaining.
Note:
I read the audiobook format of this book, so my review is based from that.
Well, here goes and my apologies to the author in advance.
This story was just beyond words and not of the take my breath away kind. It's more like the I'm speechless because I have no idea what to say regarding this book.
Spoiler moment:
The plot of this story was just so unbelievable in so many ways. Like seriously, your ass is unconscious and buried in sand, so how are you going to all of a sudden get up and be able to stock the people that hurt you. Like I get some stories have some, WTH, moments that leave you shaking your head or wondering what the heck will happen next, but things just get worse from here.
Now granted there are some that definitely like this story, but I definitely am …
Note:
I read the audiobook format of this book, so my review is based from that.
Well, here goes and my apologies to the author in advance.
This story was just beyond words and not of the take my breath away kind. It's more like the I'm speechless because I have no idea what to say regarding this book.
Spoiler moment:
The plot of this story was just so unbelievable in so many ways. Like seriously, your ass is unconscious and buried in sand, so how are you going to all of a sudden get up and be able to stock the people that hurt you. Like I get some stories have some, WTH, moments that leave you shaking your head or wondering what the heck will happen next, but things just get worse from here.
Now granted there are some that definitely like this story, but I definitely am not one of them and here's why.
Who in their right mind would go along with this set up that the dead, but not dead guy comes up with? When he finally confronts his killers you think he'd ask for something that makes sense, right?
Nope, wrong answer! He gives them no choice but to go along with this messed up plan of his. And, and, to make matters even more screwed up Cynthia starts to feel sorry for the dead, but not dead guy!
I'll stop there because I don't want to throw in too many spoilers because then you may hate me for doing so, smiles. Who knows, you may end up being one that likes this story.
A good thing about The Drive By Wife is the narrator Mark Torres. He has a great reading voice for this book and that's what held my attention and kept me reading until the end to see how things turned out. This is one of those cases where the narrator drives the book.
In fact, I think Mark Torres would have been another great narrator for Mike's other book that I reviewed called Baby Talk.
Note 2:
I'm not sure how this look in print format but I believe the audio one is all of the books in this series. Some reviews I read said that this was a series and the books were very short, but I didn't find that with the audio format. Just something to be aware of in case you decide to check out this book and get the print or EBook format.
Well, onto my next read. Maybe one day I'll catch a Mike Wells book that catches my attention, smiles.
I love DJ Jamison but I did not love this book. For one thing I didn't care for Turner. He seemed like a douche and I didn't pick up on any reason why Eli should like him except that he was hot. It was really frustrating how, when Eli accidentally found out Turner was bi, he right away was ok with Turner's dishonesty. Like even when Cam interrupted them at the bar Turner could've said sorry, can you give us a moment? And then told him. Because any idiot could figure out Cam was gonna say something and it would be better to get ahead of it since he didn't have the balls to say anything sooner.
And then Turner called Desiree "darlin'" and Eli was angry but then two seconds later he can barely breathe because he wants Turner so badly. Turner can basically do and say whatever he …
I love DJ Jamison but I did not love this book. For one thing I didn't care for Turner. He seemed like a douche and I didn't pick up on any reason why Eli should like him except that he was hot. It was really frustrating how, when Eli accidentally found out Turner was bi, he right away was ok with Turner's dishonesty. Like even when Cam interrupted them at the bar Turner could've said sorry, can you give us a moment? And then told him. Because any idiot could figure out Cam was gonna say something and it would be better to get ahead of it since he didn't have the balls to say anything sooner.
And then Turner called Desiree "darlin'" and Eli was angry but then two seconds later he can barely breathe because he wants Turner so badly. Turner can basically do and say whatever he wants and Eli always lets him off the hook because he's so unfathomably into him.
I just read 7 Minutes in Kevin by this same author so I'm surprised that I disliked this one so vehemently when I absolutely loved 7 Minutes in Kevin but I do not like this one at all. I liked Eli a lot but I wish Eli HAD gotten together with Cam. Cam seems cool.
I am a huge fan of movies like Sphere and Event Horizon, and this is true to the description as "the Shining in space". It's the Titanic meets Event Horizon meets the Mary (Marie?) Celeste mystery all wrapped up into a good length, great story. Highly recommend! My only complaint would be the main character's "abilities" are never fully explained for explored. A small, splitting hairs complaint, however.
I am a huge fan of movies like Sphere and Event Horizon, and this is true to the description as "the Shining in space". It's the Titanic meets Event Horizon meets the Mary (Marie?) Celeste mystery all wrapped up into a good length, great story. Highly recommend! My only complaint would be the main character's "abilities" are never fully explained for explored. A small, splitting hairs complaint, however.
The distressed mind provides a general overview of psychiatry, although certain parts of this text are outdated and modern science has refuted them, the text does allude to this possibility occurring in the (then) future.
Brown's writing initially starts off as what can be seen as a defensive stance on the legitimacy of psychiatry and psychology as respected scientific fields and branches out into the main topics regarding the fields. The detail of the writing itself is not immense but acceptable as the book itself covers a vast variety of topics ranging from Psychiatry's development, Freud/Jung/Alder's takes on psychoanalysis, psychopathology, the nervous system, psychosomatic disorders, et cetera.
The preface of this book is wrong to suggest that the material is centred on psychosomatic disorders as it only composes a mere chapter of the book and is not mentioned within the others.
3/5 Overall slightly ahead of its time in regards …
The distressed mind provides a general overview of psychiatry, although certain parts of this text are outdated and modern science has refuted them, the text does allude to this possibility occurring in the (then) future.
Brown's writing initially starts off as what can be seen as a defensive stance on the legitimacy of psychiatry and psychology as respected scientific fields and branches out into the main topics regarding the fields. The detail of the writing itself is not immense but acceptable as the book itself covers a vast variety of topics ranging from Psychiatry's development, Freud/Jung/Alder's takes on psychoanalysis, psychopathology, the nervous system, psychosomatic disorders, et cetera.
The preface of this book is wrong to suggest that the material is centred on psychosomatic disorders as it only composes a mere chapter of the book and is not mentioned within the others.
3/5 Overall slightly ahead of its time in regards to opinions held about those with known psychological issues but not a very in-depth piece. Great as a memory refresher...
3.5 I loved how it played with the chronology
2.5
3.3 / 5
While I did enjoy the world building and careful attention to detail that flowed into the story, at times it was somewhat ponderous and circuitous. The characters introduced in the book are interesting and well written, though the story doesn't delve too deep into any of them or their backstories, mainly due to so many characters being introduced in this initial installment of the series.
More than a few things were a bit contrived and stretched credulity, but the overarching plot and interactions between the character more than make up for it.
3.3 / 5
While I did enjoy the world building and careful attention to detail that flowed into the story, at times it was somewhat ponderous and circuitous. The characters introduced in the book are interesting and well written, though the story doesn't delve too deep into any of them or their backstories, mainly due to so many characters being introduced in this initial installment of the series.
More than a few things were a bit contrived and stretched credulity, but the overarching plot and interactions between the character more than make up for it.
The anthropomorphism is also very hard for me to took past. While I initially decided to read the book looking for poetic analogy between trees and humans, I was disappointed to find that the author rather tries to explain natural processes using analogy. This provides no new insight into the nature of humans or trees. Rather, it simplifies research for a much more capable audience.
In all, i feel that this book covers a fascinating and important field of enquiry using an inappropriate technique.
¿Cuántas veces nos hemos topado con un “donjuán”? Muchas probablemente. Ese típico macho que domina el arte de la seducción y que logra prendar a todas las mujeres u hombres a su alrededor.
Pues bien, José Zorilla nos presenta de forma magistral a don Juan Tenorio, un hombre que no solo se jacta de su poder sobre las mujeres, sino que además es un timador profesional al que no le tiembla el pulso para enviar al cementerio a quien se interponga en su camino.
El asunto es que todo tiene un precio, y el amor o la necesidad de él le llega a todos, incluso al duro Juan Tenorio, que tarde o temprano debe enfrentar las consecuencias de sus acciones más allá de la justicia terrena y el mito que llegó a crear.
Una gran obra para la posteridad. Me gustó mucho a pesar del formato de …
¿Cuántas veces nos hemos topado con un “donjuán”? Muchas probablemente. Ese típico macho que domina el arte de la seducción y que logra prendar a todas las mujeres u hombres a su alrededor.
Pues bien, José Zorilla nos presenta de forma magistral a don Juan Tenorio, un hombre que no solo se jacta de su poder sobre las mujeres, sino que además es un timador profesional al que no le tiembla el pulso para enviar al cementerio a quien se interponga en su camino.
El asunto es que todo tiene un precio, y el amor o la necesidad de él le llega a todos, incluso al duro Juan Tenorio, que tarde o temprano debe enfrentar las consecuencias de sus acciones más allá de la justicia terrena y el mito que llegó a crear.
Una gran obra para la posteridad. Me gustó mucho a pesar del formato de teatro poético.
This book provides a great number of tips, insights, and rules to live by if you want to make writing a full-time career. If you’re looking for something short and not too heavy, I recommend it.
Am interesting tale. It would also be fair to say that a story about a man locked in a hotel for 35 years doesn't really go anywhere! Still, an interesting dive into a particulars of the shifting socio-political environment of early communist Russia.
Am interesting tale. It would also be fair to say that a story about a man locked in a hotel for 35 years doesn't really go anywhere! Still, an interesting dive into a particulars of the shifting socio-political environment of early communist Russia.
My thanks to Crystal Lake Publishing - I read this as an advance copy.
The book pulled me in quickly. I haven't been in high school in a good many years, but social outcast feelings learned in that environment tend to stick around as memories - and I thought the story did a good job of reinforcing those memories. I developed fast empathy for the POV character (Jeff) and his plight at not only appearing wildly different from all of his fellow students, but also going through physical changes that seemed sure to drive an even larger wedge between him and them.
The first half of the story builds a compelling story: a social outcast bullied for his appearance, the discovery of an ally, budding romantic feelings - all things that add up to good YA fiction. The second half shifts everything into high gear, and characters feel as if …
My thanks to Crystal Lake Publishing - I read this as an advance copy.
The book pulled me in quickly. I haven't been in high school in a good many years, but social outcast feelings learned in that environment tend to stick around as memories - and I thought the story did a good job of reinforcing those memories. I developed fast empathy for the POV character (Jeff) and his plight at not only appearing wildly different from all of his fellow students, but also going through physical changes that seemed sure to drive an even larger wedge between him and them.
The first half of the story builds a compelling story: a social outcast bullied for his appearance, the discovery of an ally, budding romantic feelings - all things that add up to good YA fiction. The second half shifts everything into high gear, and characters feel as if they are acting out: unexpected racism, homophobia, and quickly escalating violence that erupts in a final bloodbath.
I'm left with mixed feelings. I found the horror elements as well-crafted as the setup, but the end result was losing my empathy for the protagonist - I liked the elements of the story, but less so the whole. While I might understand Jeff cracking under the pressure he was forced to endure, I also wanted some reason in the end to find him something more than a monster. Instead, it is a different character who travels that path from monster to redemption - and for him I felt no empathy at all.
