Posts Tagged Book Review
Book Review: ANCESTOR
Posted by "Book"Mark in Book Reviews, WInkyPost on August 10, 2010
ANCESTOR
By Scott Sigler
Greetings faithful reader(s) of my inspiring book reviews.
I am torn about this review. I love Sigler writings and have enjoyed INFECTED and CONTAGIOUS as much as any great book that I have read. Waiting for the third installment of the proceeding books, I picked up ANCESTOR. Needless to say, this novel left me un-inspired. I know it’s not the best way to dive into a book with great expectations (wow what a good name that would be for a book), so I was shocked when I read a remake of Jurassic Park. Generically altered carnivores implanted in cows wrecking havoc and eating everything in their sight, including each other. Enter the usual dinosaur-type creatures munching their way through blood and guts. HOWEVER, and this is the fun part, the creatures are black and white with cow hide inherited from mom (very funny). What kept me reading this entire novel was the following question: Was Scott writing this tongue-in-cheek as a parody of similar novels?
Read it for your self to figure out what the author’s intent is. I say –it’s a goof! 
Book Review: The Covenant
Posted by "Book"Mark in Book Reviews, WInkyPost on April 20, 2010
The Covenant
By Naomi Ragen
Dear faithful reader(s) of my outstanding reviews, DO NOT read this book if you are closed minded regarding muslims (no capitols intentionally) or have any sympathy for those fucking towel headed terrorist motherfuckers. This book will dispel any foolish notion you, or anyone else for that matter, may have regarding the real intentions these freedom fighters (WRONG WRONG WRONG). I know what cowards these religious fanatics are; however, this great book reinforces my own beliefs and hopefully will enlighten you as well.
What we have here are four women huddled together at a Nazi camp making a ‘covenant’ that if they survive their ordeal with the scum of the earth (SS), they will always come to each others aide if needed for the rest of their lives. In flashback style, we as readers learn of the atrocities these women suffered but alas they all survived. Fast forward to the present and the lives of these heroic women (grandmothers) have been very successful-just being alive being the greatest success. And just when all is well, the fucking q-tips kidnap one of our hero’s granddaughter and son-in-law. Pissa!!!! Can you imagine the visions these women had to endure AGAIN? I for one cannot but this excellent book help us all to understand what we as human being can withstand.
Not to give too much away, I can sum up the entirety of this book briefly. First: faith works. Second: ones word means everything. Third: don’t fuck with one who have suffered and survived. And finally, them chicken shit Arabs have paid dearly for their misguided hatred.
Read it and God Bless our real FREEDOM FIGHTERS.
Book Review: One Door Away From Heaven
Posted by "Book"Mark in Book Reviews, WInkyPost on March 18, 2010
One Door Away From Heaven
By Dean Koontz
Hello faithful reader(s). As all of you who follow my reverting columns, I’m a huge Koontz fan .Therefore, my reviews of his works are a tab askew (look it up).I enjoy his works, have read reams of his stuff and cant remember any of his stuff I haven’t liked. So, you stop reading now or continue to read to find out a little about this older Koontz novel (2001).
An alien boy. Gun toting ex-strippers. Psychotic father and a spaced out drug addict mother of two handicapped kids. Area 51. Humor. Tragedy. Sound like some elements you want to connect in this typical Koontz novel?? I know: how can these all these seemingly unrelated parts be entwined to make a good story? Well that’s what Koontz does and he does it in the style that only he can do. No need to go into too much detail here; if you want to enjoy another easy read and need to do something besides watch the boob tube, than this novel may be for you. As you all know, the aliens are already here so this book is more fact than fiction.
Anyone needing proof of the above statement, please comment and I will fill you in!! May the swartz be with you!
Book Review: Satan’s Circus
Posted by "Book"Mark in Book Reviews, WInkyPost on February 3, 2010
Click here to buy Satan’s Circus from Amazon.com
Satan’s Circus: Murder, Vice, Police Corruption, and New York’s Trial of the Century
By Mike Dash
I reckon the subtitle of this true life novel says it all. All the ingredients needed to publish a great read are included within the pages of this historical work. Picture, if you will, NY City circa 1900. Ethnic neighborhoods; horse and buggies; gambling parlors; prostitution; corruption; protection rackets; payola; iron fisted law and order provided by unscrupulous police. Then add greed, territorial disputes and general chaos and you begin to get the flavor of Satan’s Circus. You want to travel back in time? Feel the need to relive the experience that our grandparents had to deal with? Want to feel the whack of a night stick by a beat cop? Well faithful reader(s) on my riveting reviews—pick this book up. You will be transported back in time to a time when men and women were trying to survive in a rough and tumble era and a very tough city-NY.
If I may add some personal insight to anyone who is still reading at this point: we as a people have made lots of progress since the 1900’s and have learned from the past on how to improve the present and hopefully the future. But in the course of reading this book, I found some of the crimes committed by both the law and the citizens of yesteryear are the same as are commented today. The moral—read history now before it’s too late.
Book Review: Forced Out
Posted by "Book"Mark in Book Reviews, WInkyPost on January 2, 2010
Click here to order Forced Out from Amazon.com
Forced Out
By Stephen Frey
How do you tie a Forced Out professional NY Yankee scout with a very (extremely) talented minor league baseball player and a hit man for the mob into a very readable book? Beats me—that’s why I’m doing the review! But alas dear faithful readers, it’s all done here in this pretty good novel. The plot is loaded with many twists and turns that takes the reader closer and closer to understanding all these seemingly random facts/characters together. Not really a sports book, but sports are involved. Not really a who-done-it book, but one that has some mystery elements. Not really a wise guy book, but the mob is evolved. Sound confusing? I felt the same way. But I must say, it was a book worth reading for the novelty of the plot and the interesting characters involved. So, faithful reader(s) of my riveting reviews, this book may be something you want to pick up for a little winter entertainment.
To finalize this short review (if I may pass a little advice)—READ READ READ.
Book Review: The First Commandment
Posted by "Book"Mark in Book Reviews, WInkyPost on December 18, 2009
Click here to order The First Commandment from Amazon.com
The First Commandment
By Brad Thor
Read this authors books! Love back-ops novels? Rouge agents? Real time (like post 9-11) believable terrors excite you? Kill the bastards before they kill us (aint no PC here) is what you get in this fast-paced action novel. Thor has done it again. I rate him equal to Vince Flynn (read him too). This 2007 thriller has all the elements that are required to keep the reader on the edge of his/her pillow throughout. What’s unusual about this novel is the way the villain (a Gitmo resident- surprised?) uses Biblical readings to spew his terror on innocent (revenge) victims. Our hero, Scot Harvath, is up to the task to hunt down and destroy the usual suspect until he zeros in on the real terrorist. Not to spoil the easy plot, the killings and mayhem brought on by the dick head terrorist is aimed at Scots family and friends. Even a direct order by the President can’t stop Scot; so guess who becomes the hunted?? Another plot involving a weak government (ours-ugh) adds tension and intrigue to this entire novel.
If you have any interests in this type of genre or reading a good author with a few novels out there-get this one to start you on an enlightening reading experience. The really scary part of Thor’s novels (as well as Flynn’s) is that all the scenarios covered are possible and may be based on what our brave warriors have done to protect us from a pack of murderous cowardly thugs.
Expect more Thor reviews-second one on.
Book Review: Limb from Limb
Posted by "Book"Mark in Book Reviews, WInkyPost on December 12, 2009
Limb from Limb
By George Hunter and Melissa Preddy
What we have here is a true murder story depicting a pathetic husband who commits a heinous act upon his loving wife. Sound familiar? Is it me or do these brutal douches have some kind of genetic malfunction causing them to assume they can commit these crimes and walk away? All this ‘nice guy’ did was beat the shit out of his wife, strangler her, dismember her, scatter here body part in a remote Michigan forest (keep the torso in a Tupperware container in his shop) and they file a missing persons report. And of course, like most narcissistic assholes, cried to everyone who would listen. Oh by the way, the two kids were home during the crime.
I really don’t need to tell you faithful readers what these ‘true life’ crime novels are about. We all know about Albert DeSalvo, John Wayne Gayce, Son of Sam, Chuck Manson, etc,etc,etc. But the unique aspect of this novel is the authors choose to quote the entire confession as recorded by the detectives that nabbed this piece of shit. To hear the murderer’s words, verbatim, is well worth the read. So kids, lets keep our guns so we can cull the population of these ever present creeps.
Book Review: Hostage
Posted by "Book"Mark in Book Reviews, WInkyPost on November 7, 2009
Click here to order Hostage from Amazon.com
Hostage
By Robert Crais
Hello faithful readers (besides you DL). Want a good book? Want a book with twist and turns? Want a quick read? How about one that takes the hostage genre to another level? Well kidos- this is the book for you.
Picture this—retired SWAT hostage negotiator moves to a sleepy town; no crime; opps wrong town! Let me nutshell this really good book. Creeps take over house; father and two kids home; tension; hostage situation; main character gets involved; big time stand off; but the MOB needs to get to the creeps as well cause – umm read the book.
So, what we get here is a former negotiator, guido wise guys and the local real and not so real cops trying to settle the situation. Did I mention that the hostage’s dad is an accountant for the grease balls?
The plot thickens!
Not a bad book to read. Fast paced. Lots of unexpected plot twists especially when our hero’s family gets kidnapped by the MOB. Oh dear! Did I ruin the story for you? Doubt it—have to learn how to read first to ruin a book. Enjoy next time you want to use your brain to read words between two covers (a book).
Book Review: The Lost Symbol
Posted by "Book"Mark in Book Reviews, WInkyPost on October 13, 2009
Click here to order The Lost Symbol from Amazon.com
The Lost Symbol
By Dan Brown
This book is good, however, nothing new. Being a Brown fan, I really enjoyed his latest as much as I have enjoyed all his books. This review is slightly jaded for I love the style, the pace and the action that Brown always portrays in his novels. If you have read The Da Vinci Code, then you will understand why I call this book The Da Vinci Code Goes To Washington. Basically what we have here our hero, Robert Langdon, in the nations capitol searching for Masonic signs and signals and doodles and markings and droppings and clues to solve a centuries old puzzle hidden somewhere in D.C. Most every chapter ends in a cliff-hanger that keeps the reader turning page after page. As SnowCrash mentioned to me “the characters are a bit retarded and gullible.” He’s right but a good action story nevertheless.
I must state here that the last part of the book was a bit too much of a lecture on religion for my liking. Actually, I found myself being put off by Browns beliefs. I didn’t buy this book to be lectured to. I didn’t buy this book to be told about what religion is or is not. I bought this book to be entertained. Read it if you want to be entertained but be aware that you may take offense to the last few chapters. One thumb and one finger up for The Lost Symbol.
Book Review: Frankenstein: Dead and Alive
Posted by "Book"Mark in Book Reviews, WInkyPost on August 12, 2009
Click here to order Frankenstein from Amazon.com
FRANKENSTEIN: Dead and Alive (Book 3)
By Dean Koontz
Koontz fans rejoice! The trilogy is complete and worth the wait. I do understand the delay (New Orleans-Katrina), but after speed reading the final book (?) I suggest to anyone to get the whole series and get ready to be scared shit. Book 3, however, is not only scary; it contains many comical exchanges between all the characters involved – a nice touch here by Koontz. I found myself giggling to some of the most horrific scenes of death, destruction and total mindless murder by some of the most hideous monsters ever brought to life in print. This novel again put Koontz on the top of my “must read” author list.
We all know about Frankenstein and the evil creator. Boris Karloff; Bolts in the neck; Angry townies; Fire; Good and evil; Etc. But flush all those concepts down one of those pee socks so nicely shown on a previous Winky post. Koontz creates a world of evil that surpasses all other monster/man books that I personally have ever read. Add the element of dark humor and the wit that permeates this entire book and you will see why I rate this book of the year for me. Don’t miss out on the chilling trilogy. Book 3 is a masterpiece to end (?) a journey into the lives and minds of good and evil and more evil.
Book Review: My Sister’s Keeper
Posted by "Book"Mark in Book Reviews, WInkyPost on June 17, 2009
Click here to order My Sister’s Keeper from Amazon.com
My Sister’s Keeper
By Jodi Picoult
Picture this, an average family. Dad a fireman, a stay-at home formal lawyer mom, a whacked out son, and two lovely daughters. Good schooling for all. Good parents. Good kids. Sounds like the great American dream, right? Not even close. The sisters (Anna and Kate) are best friends and truly love each other. The son (Jesse) has some serious issues that the book gets into. Mom and Dad are what Moms and Dads are. Other charterers enter the book through out. But the bulk of this inspirational book is the relationship of the sisters. And how decisions made by Mom and Dad to keep one sister alive will leave the reader questioning ones own concept of life and death. Simply put Anna was conceived to be a donor for Kate’s cancer. Using advanced technology, Anna was conceived using selective genes, to keep Kate alive through blood transfusions, bone marrow transplants and even, if needed, organs. Sounds like a fiction? NOPE! This is a true story and now a major motion picture. Now that’s scary.
I must say now that the facts in this book are chilling especially when we see how the girls react to some of the procedures that they both must endure. Not to ruin this emotional read, each chapter is named after one of the main characters and we follow their thought processes as events unfold. This book can bring tears to some, amazement to others, but all who read this book will be moved. The emotional ending, which I did not see coming, will having you grabbing for the tissue box. Read it, enjoy it, share it and be grateful for the life you have and how life is a precious gift. I found my self identifying with what a parent will do to save a child. Moving and eye opening To be read by all.
Book Review: To Kill a Mockingbird
Posted by "Book"Mark in Book Reviews, WInkyPost on June 9, 2009
Click here to order To Kill a Mockingbird from Amazon.com
To Kill A Mocking Bird
By Harper Lee
What can be said about a book that has won a Pulitzer Prize (1961), an Academy Award, and has over 18 million copies in print? This classic book lives up to all the accolades and praise it has received since its printing 1960. I, probably like many others, have never read the book but have seen the movie a few times. Granted the movie is a classic as well, however, reading it for the first time has been a very rewarding experience. You want a sense of life in the Deep South in 1935? Care to find out how good folk behave? Need to know about the simplicity of a by-gone era? Are you inquisitive to learn about race relations between two classes of people? How about what it takes to raise a loving family during extremely difficult times? This book may be for you.
The story line is simple but the subtleties’ are very complex. Basically you get in this book all the elements needed to hold the reader. From a father’s love for his two kids, to their growing of age, to a wise old housekeep, to a rape, a court drama, a murder, this classic novel did it for me. There are many more elements included within that the reader will find himself wondering how progress has taken us backwards. Seems to me, hard times and controversy create decent people-need I say today we are spoiled and take many things for granted. Read this book to return to an era that was made up of people who cared for one another despite all their hardships, racism and different upbringings. You won’t find any graphic violent, sex, foul language here, however the story line will stimulate all your senses.
Finally, books become classics for one reason: the lessons and morals learned in the first printing are and will always be pertinent to the current reader. A must read.
Book Review: Opening Day
Posted by "Book"Mark in Book Reviews, WInkyPost on June 1, 2009
Opening Day:The True Story Of Jackie Robinson’s First Day
By Jonathan Eig
Simply put, this is a baseball story. Baseball in 1946-the players were cigar smoking, booze drinking, womanizing, dirty playing, WHITE men. Yes, in 1946 there was the National League, the American League and the Negro League. And taint no way we white boys are going be playing with them colored boys (N-word emitted by me). After reading a few chapters in this historical period correct book, its easy to see that segregation was the norm in all areas of the day. Jim Crow was alive and well and Martin Luther King was 17 years old. 1947 opening day was about to change baseball and set the ground work for the 60’s civil rights movement.
On a more complex level, this book is about what one player had to endure from a very hateful society and do it with grace, style and class. Thanks to the innovative and outspoken maverick of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Branch Rickey, baseball was about to forever change. Having the foresight to see that baseball needed a boost, and Rickey wanted a bigger pay day for his investment, he made the decision to send scouts to the Negro League to find the right player to integrate the game. Right Player? Rickey was looking for a black player with talent, for sure. But the major consideration was a man who could take the taunts and abusive racial attacks there were surely going to be spewed upon whoever was chosen. Enter Jackie Robinson.
Robinson was that man. Being a war veteran, a son of slaves, and used to racial bigotry, Jackie was the right choice. Not the best Black player available at the time, Robinson fit perfectly into Rickey’s plan. And guess what? Players, fans, owners, newspapers, radio personalities, and any one else who had a chance to belittle Jackie did. Number 42 had to withstand severe treatment by most everyone AND play good baseball. Not easy!
Read this book to find out how this average player turned the entire baseball world upside down. Paved the way for the totally integrated baseball and set the footprints for most if not all the changes in White/Black relations. One important note that may help you decide about reading this book- Number 42 is the ONLY number retired by every major league baseball team in existence today. From average to greatness to immorality—THANK YOU 42.
Not really a book review
Click here to order Upgrade Your Life from Amazon.com
Ok first, this isn’t really a book review, I wouldn’t want to step on the toes of “Book”Mark. Second, I think a lot of you “computer users” out there need some serious help!! And I mean SERIOUS HELP! So let’s just say this is a Winky Public Service Message. All jokes and cynicism aside, this book is AMAZING so if you haven’t checked it out, you really should. Don’t let the title fool you. It’s not a hippy self-help book. To pirate a couple quotes from the back of the book.. “Spend more time getting things done and less time fiddling with your computer. This book isn’t a computer user manual, and it isn’t a productivity system. It’s a mashup of both”.
Now it doesn’t matter if you use a Mac or a PC (well to me it matters, but that’s a post for another day), if you have been using a computer for a week of a lifetime, if you are a master or a novice. The tips in this book will help everyone who uses a computer. The more you use a computer for work and productivity the better some of these tips are but even the novice casual user can pick up productivity tips that can help in everyday use. Trust me I found this book useful and I’ve been around for a while, I beta tested 14.4 kbit/s dial-up while everyone else was rockin their 9600.
Instead of being creative and since its late night I will just list some of the sections and subsections so you can get a feel for what the book has to offer: “Control Your Email” where there are tips about effectively using your inbox. Subsections include “Empty Your Inbox (and Keep it Empty), Decrease Your Response Time, Master Message Search and Filters. “Organize Your Data” with subsections dealing in tagging bookmarks, track passwords, organize doc folders etc. Other main sections include “Streamline Common Tasks”, “Automate Repetitive Tasks”, “Master the Web” and well you get the idea….
Now this isn’t a book you would read cover to cover and it’s not really a manual either. It something you pick up from time to time and look at sections and put some of those tips to use. Use some, pass on some or just forget some. To go along with the book I would suggest you make you way over to LifeHacker.com on a weekly/every other week basis (hell I check it out everyday myself). Lots of the tips in this book started over at the LifeHacker site. As with the book the site is geared towards multi-platform tips and tricks. Today for example they have a killer post about Google Wave “Is what email would look like if were was invented today”. Where are else you gonna hear about that? Here at Winky? At your favorite porn site? See you can actually learn some stuff from the internet if you know where to look. So it’s about time you stop shopping, stop looking at porn, and back away from the internet fluff and start to fuckin’ learn something already! I’m tired of helping you all out. RTFM
Book Review: The Sinner
Posted by "Book"Mark in Book Reviews, WInkyPost on May 19, 2009
Click here to order The Sinner from Amazon.com
The Sinner
By Tess Gerritsen
Murder, mayhem, mutilation, mystery and down right madness are the trade marks of this wonderful author. Having read most of her publications, and been scared shit-less as a result, The Sinner is a tad disappointing. Granted, all the key elements are included here, however I found the sub-plots (ie-romantic interests / personal lives of characters/etc) to be a distraction from the crime to the search to the capture of the killer. As usual my attention was focused on the initial brutal crime, the crime scene, the appearance of the best homicide detective (Jane Rizzoli-love her) and the smart dialogue between all the parties involved in this case. Dead nuns, blood everywhere, defiled church, CSI, freaked out cops-what more can one ask for to give the reader the willys?
I would suggest The Sinner to anyone who has never had a Gerritsen fix. She does all the right things to keep the reader involved in this easy read. However, if you have read any other Gerritsen books you may want to skip this one or breeze through it on a rainy weekend. I personally will read anything new by her. I really enjoy her style and her very bazaar mind. Give any one of her books a shot- scary stuff.
Finally for all you Boston people; most of all her plots take place in the city area and usually have lots to do with local hospitals. So if you are admitted into one of the city’s fine medical facilities, ask them if Dr. Gerritsen (real life PHD) is on duty, and then get the fuck outta there.
Book Review: Censorship
Posted by "Book"Mark in Book Reviews, WInkyPost on May 12, 2009
Click here to buy Censorship from Amazon.com
Censorship: The Threat to Silence Talk Radio
By Brian Jennings
This is a tough review to write for two reasons.
1. If u know about the ‘Fairness Doctrine,’ than this book will be a reinforcement of your knowledge.
2. If u don’t know about the ‘Fairness Doctrine,’ GO BUY THIS BOOK NOW.
The premise of this book is simple: When one party (either) controls all the power, we as a free people are fucked. Basically we see here, page after page, how political agendas erode the freedoms of the individual and destroy our right to debate, argue, and comment or criticize. Remember before ‘talk radio’? Remember the silence of opposing views? Remember when radio station programming was bland, sterile and mainstream? Well that’s when the Fairness Doctrine was in full swing and the power people had no one to answer to and no reason to act responsible. At the time, criticism was against the law , stations that tried to shed some light on the of political shenanigans of others were either forced to pay hefty fines or not get there license to broadcast renewed—don’t you love the FCC?
Enter President Reagan. When the ‘FD’ bill was passed again by the house and senate, our great leader did one of the most important things to open up the airways and bring back freedom of speech to radio, television and the press. VETO VETO VETO! Thu his wisdom and total understanding of the Constitution, he single-handedly opened the gates of great ideas (either right or left) and gave this country the ability to hear all sides of any given issue. From a scantly few stations then to thousands today, one can get any side of any issue at any given time. 24/7 cable, talk radio, religious teachings, etc, etc. Thank you Gipper.
But alas, the cockroaches are out of the pantry now. A renewed attempt to re-instate the ‘FD’ is afoot. It may be called something else but no matter how u spell it or say it the final product is CENSORSHIP. So my advice is stay tuned to your favorite radio show, tv station or newspaper and get involved, protest, speak out loudly and please VOTE.
Book Review: Out of Bounds
Posted by "Book"Mark in Book Reviews, WInkyPost on May 4, 2009
Click here to get Out of Bounds on Amazon.com
Out of Bounds: Coming out of Sexual Abuse, Addiction, and My Life of Lies in the NFL Closet
By Roy Simmons
Ok so we have a NFL player who’s a drug addict, an alcoholic, and a fag. Not just any NFL player butt a star for the NY GIANTS. Super Bowl. High draft. Big bucks. Prime offensive player. Mean mother fucker. For sure a read that may tempt most to delve into the mind set of someone as famous as Roy. I found myself enjoying the first part of this book when our man is down and out, wasting away, getting fucked up and losing all. Roy is a very big, mean, desperate man. From spot lights to street lights. Roy almost gets his addictions licked. Butt his pride and ego keep him on the street looking for more crack. I’m not sure he will ever get over his obsessive behavior. Its sex and drugs and rock and roll.
The end of the book is interesting as well. Trying to recover, relapse, again, again, again. This boy keeps trying to get it butt cant and blames all his troubles on others. Tough road Roy. First and last part of the book is interesting and shows what addiction does to all—Yale or jail.
Now for the bullshit gay ‘I scored him-he scored me’ meat of this book. I was expecting a story of a man’s struggles to overcome the stigma of being gay in the NFL and what mind set it took to achieve that feat. Butt no! All I read is about is bath houses, gay bars, promiscuous sex and just down right stupid behavior. If I wanted a blow by blow description of gay behavior, I would have went to a Harvard Sq book store and looked around the alternative behavior studies section. Is it me or do gay people need to bloviate on there behavior? Seriously folks, I was ready to trash this book. I read the hole book and my opinion is as follows. The name of this book should be Out Of Behinds not Out Of Bounds. That, to me would have told me more about what this flaccid book was about.
Book Review: Stolen Innocence
Posted by "Book"Mark in Book Reviews, WInkyPost on April 29, 2009
Click here to buy Stolen Innocence from Amazon.com
Stolen Innocence: My Story of Growing Up in a Polygamous Sect, Becoming a Teenage Bride, and Breaking Free of Warren Jeffs
By Elissa Wall
“The work of God is a benevolent dictatorship. It is not a democracy.” Quoted from the prophet Warren Jeffs, the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints (FLDS).Of course this self-righteous, sadistic ass hole gets the word of God spoken to him directly. In this book we see how the misguided mind of a religious cult leader has caused the destruction of many families, the ruin of many children’s futures and the havoc wrought upon a community of peaceful devote people.
Written by a woman who escaped the closed confines of the FLDS, this book is a frightening look inside the workings of a religious community gone amuck. Polygamy, fear, punishment, reprisals, child abuse and forced underage marriage are the norm. Speaking out against any of the ‘prophets’ directives was considered a strike against God and a sure ticket to Hell. Using this tactic to install fear into the hearts and minds of the members of FLDS, we see why no one has spoken up to expose the truth.
Elissa Wall, having been born into the cult, knew at an early age that things weren’t right. Having 3 mothers, 11 brothers, 12 sisters and a father that was an elder in FLDS, she questioned many of the tenets and teachings of the ‘prophet.’ Because of here outspoken attitude and questioning of many issues, she was forced to marry at 14 to keep her ‘sweet.’ She was forced to abide by all the rules that a married woman of FLDS were subjected to. Have babies. Obey your husband. Pretend you are happy. Do not speak out. Be a loyal member. Pray pray pray. Any infraction was justification for swift punishment. However, Elissa was not one to blindly accept her fate. She fights back. Not an easy decision for one person to take on for she had little or no support from her family or the community.
This is a good read. From the inside look at FLDS, to the struggles that a young girl must endure to the final day of the trail, I enjoyed reading her story. The lessons to be learned though out this book may help us all to stand up to evil and bad behavior. One brave young woman made a difference and saved many others from being abused by using courage and determination. I for one was thrilled she brought down the son of a bitch that was reasonable for much sadness and grief. His community name by the way was Uncle Warren. What a joker!
Book Review: The Soloist
Posted by "Book"Mark in Book Reviews, WInkyPost on April 21, 2009
The Soloist
By Steve Lopez
Yawn! Another do-gooder tries to inspire a wacked out, paranoid, schizophrenic, musician into making a better life for him by leaving the streets to join the real world. Boring! Nathaniel, our music genius, is very satisfied to play his 2 string violin, anywhere and anytime he can without the pressures of everyday life. Granted, Nat, has much talent but I am amazed why others feel the need to intervene in ones own pursuit of happiness. Leave it to a main stream reporter to interfere in the lives of others. Mr. Lopez, our worker of miracles, neglects his family and finds his current job as a reporter to be secondary to saving Nat’s soul. Is this JC? Mildly inspirational at best, this story has been written numerous times with the same result-not all wacked people are wacked and not all normal people are normal.
Personally I very really see a movie after I read a book and in this case, with our racist friend JAMIE FOXX (click link to see WinkyFace story about FOXX) playing Nat—it’s a no go for me. One of the high spots in this bland story is the dish on Tom Cruise and his foolish Scientologist statement about the mentally ill homeless people needing vitamins to return to a normal productive life. What a douch!
Another weak aspect of this story is the constant battering for the reader on the plight of the homeless. Ummm if I’m not mistaken it’s the government cutbacks on services and the mistrust of the affected people that is the problem. Not my or your inability to help the downtrodden. I for one don’t need to told that my uncaring is the problem. RUBBISH!
Fortunately, the third part of this book has a bit of interest, although nothing new. The same old ups and downs of the mentally ill, the mood swings, the unpredictability, and the helpers reactions. Gee u think a person with a server mental illness is going to get better just because u wish it to happen? Of course the ending leaves the reader hoping good old fruity Nat is on the way to recovery just because someone cared a bit and showed some concern. If that be the case , save the money you might spend on the book and give it to a homeless or mentally ill person on skid row and let the poor bastard have whatever fun he or she chooses.
Book Review: The Shack
Posted by "Book"Mark in Book Reviews, WInkyPost on April 19, 2009
Click here to buy The Shack on Amazon.com
The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity
By W.M Paul Young
Read this book. However be prepared to have all your tenets concerning love, relationships, fear, religion, god and creation turned upside down. Through a tragic event in one mans life, and an extended period of grief relating to the event, the main character, Mack, is summoned to the place where the event occurred by 3 entities that proceed to explain the true nature of life, death and everything in-between. Using humor and some soul searching ‘facts’ Mack, as well as the reader , begin to understand what we as humans have done to dispel all the goodness that is here now for all to enjoy. This is not a religious book written by some bible thumpers or religious zealots but a wonderful story of hope, reward, kindness and most of all love. The potential for change in ones life is ever present in the pages of the wonderful work of fiction. It’s a book that should be read by all. Using the ideas and concepts expressed as a daily understanding about what we as individuals can do to live a more peaceful and rewarding life; not just for us but for others as well.
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