Sue Ross

L. T. FAWKES is now reading a book.

L. T. FAWKES reviewed a book.

“James Boyle $2.99 *** Stanley Quandary, literary professor days from tenure at his small college, begins to have unusual dreams, quick little scenes which he recognizes as snippets of Elizabethan life. As the dreams continue and he analyzes them, he begins to realize they are scenes directly...”

“James Boyle $2.99 *** Stanley Quandary, literary professor days from tenure at his small college, begins to have unusual dreams, quick little scenes which he recognizes as snippets of Elizabethan life. As the dreams continue and he analyzes them, he begins to realize they are scenes directly related to the question, Did Shakespeare really write those plays? Also as the dreams continue, ole Stanley begins to collapse mentally.

The first 70% or so of this novel is brilliant. If the final 30% had measured up I'd have given 5 stars. But I found the final 30% to be really disappointing. See what you think.

I don't usually review books I don't like (after all, the author put in the time and effort - the blood, sweat, and tears - to write the thing - at least respect that, is the way I look at it). This book posed a dilemma - I'm solving it by only reviewing the first 70%.

So anyway, was it Shakespeare or not? The intriguing point Boyle makes in this novel (while brilliantly lampooning academia and pop culture in general) is no, Shakespeare didn't. And he shows who did.

I know almost nothing about the ongoing dispute over who really wrote the plays, but Boles' argument seems pretty persuasive. Also he answers the two questions I've always wondered about the controversy - if S didn't write them, why was he given the credit? and why wasn't the real author ever outed by contemporaries or heirs?

L.T. Fawkes”

L. T. FAWKES reviewed a book.

“FREE **** Think your family's messed up? The Goodmans, the wealthy family featured here, will make you feel like your folks are the Cleavers.

A hateful wealthy family gathers together for the annual Christmas ordeal in the slowly-deteriorating family manse and a family of caterers...”

“FREE **** Think your family's messed up? The Goodmans, the wealthy family featured here, will make you feel like your folks are the Cleavers.

A hateful wealthy family gathers together for the annual Christmas ordeal in the slowly-deteriorating family manse and a family of caterers prepares to serve them Christmas dinner. Meanwhile, a blizzard is bearing down on them. What could possibly go wrong?

The roads are closed by snow, the power goes off, the roof begins to collapse, and none of the phones have reception. Completely cut off from civilization, one after another of the not-really-all-that-Goodmans begin to be picked off. The youngest male heir, nicknamed Ivy, and Holly, the caterer's Army reservist daughter, try to cope.

There are some editing problems with this book but it's very entertaining. I liked the characters, especially Ivy (he's pretty funny), and the plot's fun. Plus, it's FREE. And you know I like that!

L.T. Fawkes ”

L. T. FAWKES reviewed a book.

“The Gun Seller, by Hugh Laurie $8.25 ***** Yeah. The author is that Hugh Laurie.

If you've been reading these reviews of mine, you know I'm pretty tight with a buck when it comes to Kindle books. I love to troll through kinlib.com looking for promising freebies and I rarely buy a Kindle...”

“The Gun Seller, by Hugh Laurie $8.25 ***** Yeah. The author is that Hugh Laurie.

If you've been reading these reviews of mine, you know I'm pretty tight with a buck when it comes to Kindle books. I love to troll through kinlib.com looking for promising freebies and I rarely buy a Kindle book priced higher than $4.99. And this book is priced pretty steepishly at $8.25. Yikes, right?

HOWEVER . . . if you download the free sample, as I did, and read it, as I did, I'll bet you end up parting with that $8.25, as I did.

What a terrific book. A lot of the reviewers on Amazon called it a thriller spoof. Beg to differ. It's a thriller for real, but the narrator-protagonist is very funny and very clever. The narrative voice is GREAT.

And as to the plot, well . . . when the plot took a pretty big leap about a third of the way in, I started to worry it was going to run away with itself. But no problem. Believability was sustained all the way through and Laurie kept the twists coming all the way to the end.

I hope (maybe on the next "House" hiatus?) Laurie will resurrect his narrator/protagonist and treat us to another fine adventure. ”

L. T. FAWKES reviewed a book.

“$2.99 *** A timely novel in light of the approach of Dec 21 (end of the Mayan calendar). An archaeologist finds a mysterious bit of woven metallic fabric in a layer dated between 150-200 million years old.

WTF, right? A twenty-five year old psychometric (he can relive someone else's...”

“$2.99 *** A timely novel in light of the approach of Dec 21 (end of the Mayan calendar). An archaeologist finds a mysterious bit of woven metallic fabric in a layer dated between 150-200 million years old.

WTF, right? A twenty-five year old psychometric (he can relive someone else's experiences by touching a possession) is flown in to touch the metal and BOOM - his spirit begins to transport to an unbelievably ancient culture.

I like the young psychometric a lot - he's kind of a whiney wise-ass . . . in a nice way.

Lots of fun if you don't stop to think too hard and can ignore some minor editing and scanning errors. Lags a little in the middle third - nothing a few additional sub-plots wouldn't have fixed, but oh-de-well.

First of a series - I'll definitely read on. ”