Hashimoto Blues by Sarah Dupeyron

From the title of this book, I wasn’t very sure what to expect from it. Sometimes you can, and sometimes you can’t. After reading the synopsis I had a better idea and was interested in it.

Then when I started reading it…. Well, I just couldn’t stop.

It is one of those books that you go into not knowing what to expect and are so pleasantly surprised once you begin reading it.

The writing has a great flow to it, and the chapters are short. It makes the book go a lot faster, and is more exciting to read that way.

Hashimoto Blues is about three main characters – Ellie, Max, and Frank. They are in the business of drug smuggling between Canada and the United States as well as other illegal activities.

There are many great supporting characters. My favorite was Max’s sister.

Anyways, the book details their many adventures in the business. But one day, one of their plans goes very wrong when they try to steal from a man named Hashimoto. When he is crossed, you are most likely not making it out alive.

The book opens with Max and Ellie in trouble with Hashimoto, and then it flashes back to how they ended up in that situation. The ending shows the conclusion of their story.

The story had wonderful character arcs. I feel like they were really well developed and Sarah Dupeyron did a wonderful job of giving the story a great flow. None of it seemed forced.

It is fun. It is exciting. I loved it, and it was really hard to put it down.

5/5 stars. 

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Texas Jack by Bart Hopkins

If there is one thing Bart Hopkins does well as an author, it is making his characters relatable. Everyone can find a little bit of themselves in his books, and because of that, they pull you in and allow you to lose yourself in his fictional world for a few hours. 

It is hard to put his books down.

Texas Jack is no different.

Very simply, Texas Jack is about… well… a man named Jack from Texas.

Obviously, though, Jack is much deeper than that. Growing up with an alcoholic father isn’t easy on a kid, but he gets through it.

He grows up and has a son of his own and seems to have his life put together.

That is until that one tragic day..

His son’s life is as risk and no one knows if he will live.

It is emotional, and Bart expresses this emotion by having Jack flash back to earlier parts in his life. It happens throughout the whole book, but now these flashbacks are focused on his father and how his father was with him while he was growing up.

Texas Jack carries a lot of emotion, but it is always very fun.

Bart has a great writing style that keeps you captivated from the front cover until the very last page.

The character development is wonderful, the character arcs created through present time events and Jack’s flashbacks to earlier times in his life.

5/5 the story is great. The characters are great. The writing is great. Pick it up!

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If you havent read Fluke by Bart Hopkins and David Elliott, pick it up here!

Valley of the Shadows: Kingdom of Hillael by Amre Cortadino

Kingdom of Hillael is just as the title states, a story about this Kingdom and the royal family that has rule over it.

I feel like this book is a lot longer than it really needed to be. There was a lot of needless conversation, and some parts of the story dragged on, when maybe all it needed was a page or two. I found my mind wandering a lot at different times while reading this book.

I didn’t get attached to any of the characters which is maybe why the reading was so bland to me. I didn’t think any of them were relatable nor did I have any real emotion towards them.

While the creativity is surely there with this one, it is a very complex world with a lot of detail put into it, I think the flow is missing and as stated before, some parts really seem to drag.

2.5/5 stars. Good concept and imagination, but it just misses the mark. Maybe this just isn’t my genre.

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Blubber Island by Ismael Galvan

Hippies. Zombies. Gore. Bums. Drugs.

Lots of drugs.

So many drugs that I really believe the author was on drugs when this was written.

I would love to tell you what this book was about, but I don’t really know what it was about.

There were a few different story lines going at one time, but there was so real smooth transition between them.

Many times while reading this, I was just completely lost, confused, disturbed, or wondering why in the world the author decided to use the elementary insults that were in this book.

It seems to me that if this book falls into the right hands, it may gain a small cult following just because of all the zombies and hippies.

But, I just didn’t quite understand it.

1/5 stars. 

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Irv’s Odyssey: Lost in a Looking Glass by Irving H. Podolsky

Sometimes you encounter a book that is so full of craziness that you can’t really believe what you just read. This is one of those – in the best way possible.

Irv’s Odessey is a fictitious memoir told in first person.

If you are under 18 – this is not for you. If you do not like to read about the porn industry – this is not for you. If you like to laugh out loud while reading some disturbing and explicit books – this is DEFINITELY for you.

Now, this book is not erotic, just sexual humor, and Irving writes it wonderfully.

I was laughing out loud at many points in this book.

Through the whole journey you get to know Irving, his background, his desires in life, and also his drug habits.

When he cannot get a good film job after graduating college, he gets thrust into the porn industry, and no matter how hard he tries, it seems as though he can never escape it. That is, until he starts working with children that are just too much for him to handle.

Honestly, there is really no other way to describe this book without me telling you to just read it. It is a crazy ride and hilarious every step of the way.

5/5 Hilarious. Explicit… but hilarious. 

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Facebook Jeanie by Addison Westlake

Facebook Jeanie described in one phrase would be: A breath of fresh air.

It has humor (and a lot of it!), it has romance, and it is also a bit touching at times.

When Clara has a chance to go back in time to college and try to mend things with her then-boyfriend (instead of staring at his pictures everyday on facebook!) she jumps right at the chance.

Have you ever wondered how your life would be different if you could go back and change something?

Clara gets to figure out!

This book allows you to explore those thoughts without it actually happening to you. She goes through some pretty hilarious scenarios from living I a huge house while having an affair with a crazy man wearing a thong and dancing to Im Sexy and I Know It, to being a hippy with a limp leg and snake jewelry.

I found myself laughing out loud MANY times while reading this book.

I mean… cat turban, anyone?!

5/5 stars. It was hilarious, it was sweet, and just an all-around complete book. 

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While you're at it, check out Addison's other book Christmas in Wine Country

Annabelle by Nancy Christie

Annabelle is a very hauntingly dark short story. So, obviously, I was thrilled to read it.

Annabelle is the daughter of a painter. Her father’s artwork means everything. So much so that it controls the family.

Annabelle’s mother is her father’s model. She receives all of the attention because as I said before, the art is everything.

Annabelle becomes jealous. She wants to be noticed. She wants to be wanted.

When the twist in the story is revealed, everyone’s life is turned upside down and it becomes more dark and disturbing than I had originally thought it was.

There is not much I can say without giving away the whole story. Go read it!

4/5 stars. It was a little slow in places, but the story was good and I was able to read it in one sitting. 

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When Good Boobs Turn Bad: A Mammoir by Jill Foer Hirsch

As you can probably conclude from the title, this is a memoir (or “Mammoir”) about Jill Hirsch and breast cancer.

While cancer is a very serious topic, Jill was able to get through her diagnosis, treatment, and recovery by using humor. She displays that in this book of hers.

It takes you through every stage of her battle with cancer, and it is laced with humor the whole way through.

It is very informally written, almost as if you are reading a journal written by Jill. It keeps the book interesting and fresh.

Jill proves that you can get through any struggle with the support of family, humor, (plus making people feel sorry enough for you to buy you gifts….).

This is a lovely little book. Little because it is pretty short. It was very light hearted for such a heavy topic.

5/5 stars. Fun to read and very well written

It reminded me of a book I reviewed at the beginning of the year Chief Complaint: Brain Tumor by John Kerastas

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i and the Great Divide by Fiona McGlynn

i and the Great divide is a children’s book that deals with the topic of divorce. 

 In a home that is dealing or has dealt with divorce, many times a child may feel like it is his or her fault that their family is being broken up. Often, this is not the case. This story is told in a very unique way with letters of the alphabet representing people and families. 

I feel like when children who are going through a divorce look through this book, they will relate to it. They may not realize why at the very beginning, which I feel would be good for them. If they open a book knowing it is about divorce, depending on the family situation, they may have a certain attitude going into it. Once they get through it and realize they can relate it to their life, I feel as though it will shed some understanding on the situation and cause a child to understand it in their own way.

It is a very cute book. It is written extremely well, flowing from page to page seamlessly. The illustrations are adorable and match the words very well. It is easy to understand for all ages, and I feel that any child that is struggling through their parents’ divorce would enjoy having a book to relate to. 

 5/5 stars.

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i and the Great Divide by Fiona McGlynn coming to Amazon Create Space September 12th, 2013

New children’s book on divorce, “i and the Great Divide” sparks family conversations

Overview: “i and the Great Divide” is an illustrated children’s book, designed to leave kids in divorce feeling loved, peaceful, and self-expressed. Both print and kindle copies will be available for purchase online (via Amazon and Createspace) September 12^th, 2013.

Synopsis: In a world where alphabet letters are people, word families can go through big changes just like human families can.

The letter "i" experiences this one day when her parents, "t" and "n" start to fight. "i" gets into all kinds of trouble as she tries to make things go back to the way they were. Just when things can't get worse, she experiences a transformation that leaves her feeling loved, happy and grateful for her family (and the changes too!)

I appreciate where Fiona is coming from with this book. I think there need to be more books like this for children that handle tough subjects. Stay tuned - I will be posting a review of the book as soon as it is released!

Links:

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To Learn more about Fiona and the Illustrator Robin Urquhart, click through to the Read More