Tag: contemporary fiction

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Books

Review: The Between

by Glynis Rankin

I give this book a 4.

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Everyone at some point feels like the black sheep of their family and it seems Michele is no different. I wonder if we, as people, sometimes project how we feel about ourselves onto others and blame them for feelings they may not actually have.  Add in an intense sense of grief and you have The Between.

I won’t give away the full meaning of the Between, but I’ve been there and I know others have too. This story is a typical triumph for this author. She has a talent for not only building emotion, but for expressing it and evoking reactions to it. This story is a long emotional journey through the altered perception of someone who is lost and hurting.

This isn’t the kind of story I typically read and was uncomfortable with the style, but after it was all said and done, the uplifting message won my heart. For those who read books like this all the time, I’m sure this would be quite a treat. This is a short story that packs quite a bit of punch in the category of drama.

I recommend this story to adult readers of fictional dramas and even non-fiction biographies and memoirs.

This review has been posted to GoodReads. If you’d like to obtain a copy of this book, try this link.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

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Books

Review: Linger

Linger and Other Short Stories by Glynis Rankin

I give this book a 3.

Okay

I am not a fan of short stories in general, though they are growing on me, and I’m not a fan of intense, emotional, realistic dramas (I read a lot of fantasy and sci-fi), but I enjoyed this book, if enjoyed is the right term. This book, this collection of stories, is more of an experience that you either appreciate or not. There are moments that I enjoyed, but overall this book is a reaction seeker. It’s not really something you enjoy, but something you experience and react to.

Many aspects of this collection made me very uncomfortable, but if it didn’t I’d wonder about the kind of person I am. I know myself very well and understand that I intentionally stay away from certain topics, but that doesn’t mean I’m afraid to address those issues head on. I’ve recommended this book to many people because it is powerful. I’m sure there are others who’ll receive it even better than I have, but for now, I’m glad to have had the experience and am ready to return to my world of fantasy.  😉

I do not recommend this book to children, and only recommend it to teens under strict parental supervision. This is an intense adult read worth experiencing.

This review has been posted to GoodReads. If you’d like to obtain a copy of this book, try this link.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

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Full Moon Sample Sundays

Sample Sunday 79: FULL MOON

samplesunday

Here is approximately 100 – 150 words from a randomly selected original piece for your enjoyment. These samples can include excerpts from my all my WIPs and my Eternal Curse Series, but only as works in progress (not the final products). These samples of published and unpublished works are protected under the U.S. Copyright agreement.

It’s Like the Full Moon- chapter 7.0 (wip)

“Oh come on Mr. T, you know we’re buds. You don’t have to play it off just because Paul’s coming home,” said Teddy standing up and spinning around. “There’s enough of me to be shared by all.”

“I hate to wonder what calamity is going on between the two of you now,” said Paul as he walked up behind Teddy. Teddy turned, picked Paul up, and spun him around in circles.

“Dude, how was Cancun?” shouted Teddy giving no concern to the hundreds of people he’d just startled at four o’clock in the morning.

“It was fine, Teddy really. We’ll talk about it later,” he said walking over to his dad to help him up out of his seat. “Dad you didn’t have to come all the way out here just to pick me up?”

“I know I didn’t, but I figured as long I can, I should,” he said giving his son a big bear hug.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords