Tag: ebook

Categories
Books

The Cephalopod Coffeehouse #Review: The Dirty Parts of the Bible #fiction #book

The idea is simple: on the last Friday of each month, post about the best book you’ve finished over the past month while visiting other bloggers doing the same.  In this way, we’ll all have the opportunity to share our thoughts with other enthusiastic readers.  Please join us below.

Well, I guess it’s a good thing the New Year is fast approaching- I’m gonna need a fresh start. This is my first time posting with this hop and I’ve fallen short. I didn’t finish the book I was planning to review, so for today, I’m sharing another fairly recent read that I failed to review until recently. Next month, I’ll do better.

Title:  The Dirty Parts of the Bible
Author: Sam Torode
Genre: General Fiction
Pages: 278
Reading Level: Adult
Content: PG-13 (adult content and situations, language, sexuality)

I’ll tell you right now, the title sounds much more controversial than this book really is, but it definitely leaves you questioning some things upon reading it. What the title doesn’t imply is just how funny the story is.

Tobias is almost helpless as he sets out into the world for the first time, on a journey to find a treasure that will save his family. I know it sounds like a Grecian epic, but in its own way, it is. Tobias has been so sheltered by his strict Baptist upbringing, that the aid of a hobo name Craw is the only thing that keeps him from going astray. Together Tobias and Craw conquer Tobia’s greatest fears and help him discover who he is meant to be, all the while discovering who his father once was. And let’s face it, when I boy sees his father for the man he really is, he’s a boy no more.

This story is funny and quirky. Yes, it does have a few taboo moments for Tobias to learn from, but for the most part, it’s an honest portrayal of what happens when people stop thinking for themselves and shelter their children to the point where they can’t relate to the world. So many aspects of this story hit home to me, and while I’m sure many people will derive different meanings from this tale, for me it was reaffirming.

I guess this modern tale of adventure would be good for anyone 13 and older, considering the world we live in, but I’d check with the parents first before recommending it. I see this going over well with young men trying to find their place in the world and any adult looking for a good laugh.

I give this book a 4.

LikeIt

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

Also, I completed my reading challenge this year. Check out what I read this year at Goodreads.com.

If you’re interested in sampling some new-to-you reads, check out my #BooktagBlogHop category.

Please stop by and see what others have read and Merry Christmas to all. 😀

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

Categories
Books

#Review : Writing Affirmations #writing #book

Title: Writing Affirmations: A Collection of Positive Messages to Inspire Writers
Series: NA
Author: Rob Bignell
Genre: How-to, Inspirational
Pages: 122
Reading Level: Adult
Content: G

I’m not here to jump on a bandwagon, but for someone who struggles to read, what I consider “self-help”, I was amazed at how much I enjoyed this book and actually learned from it.

My original intent with this book was to read it as quickly as possible and focus on any positive points I could find so I could write a decent review when the time came. Fortunately for me, life got in the way of my plans and I had to take time to read pages of this book here and there, whenever I could squeeze it in. In doing so, I believe I tricked myself into seeing the true value of this book.

Yes, the book is motivational and helps wannabe writers gain confidence and encouragement, but it is also practical. Finding practical advice and examples to apply within my own path to publication was more than I could have asked for. I think it’s great that the book is broken down into weeks giving a new writer a chance ease into the role of author, but I think it’s versatile enough to be adapted to any schedule or writing plan.

I personally have started to use some of the exercises on projects I started, but never finished. I’m skipping around and using it as a reference. However, it’s still nice to know that should I need motivation, this book can help me get or find motivation.

I recommend this book to anyone wanting to write, whether for pleasure or a career. It’s a great desk top companion or nightstand accessory.

Disclaimer: I received a digital arc of this book in exchange for an honest review and later purchased a copy of my own.

I give this book a 5.

LoveIt

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

Categories
Books

#Review : The Campus Killer #crime #book

Title: The Campus Killer
Series: Detective Ali Ryan Series Book 1
Author: Andrew Hess
Genre: Detective, Crime Thriller
Pages: 359
Reading Level: Adult
Content: R (intense violence, mature subject matter, alcohol use)

I admit that I haven’t read a lot of crime thriller, but if they were all like this one, I think I’d read more. The Campus Killer pulls you in right from the start.

The story follows a hotshot female detective named Ali Ryan as she tries to convince everyone that a recent string of suicides is actually the work of a serial killer. Besides the case offering the reader tons of mystery and action, Ali also tries to have a life, which only makes her feel more real.

The story alternates points of view, between Ali and the killer, but we also get a chance to get into the mind of some of the other characters through the narrator who’s tapping us into the killer. It’s an interesting way to see multiple viewpoints of the story coming together. When I first realized that the pov changed I was concerned about being confused, but I wasn’t in the slightest.

My issue with some crime stories I’ve read is that I rarely like the hero, but I liked Ali and I really liked her sister. It was odd for me not to root for the bad guy, but this killer was so whiny that I couldn’t stand him, which only made me like the story more. You know how it goes; characters you love to hate.

The main reason I didn’t give this book a five was because of pacing and the ending. The pacing seemed to speed up and slow down, which isn’t bad, but I felt that it lacked a rhythm that would have it flow better. Of course, that could simply be one of my personal odd quirks. Honestly, the book is not hard to read at all.

As for the ending, it isn’t bad either. It’s quite good actually. It’s just not the ending I wanted. Some people want Cinderella to marry the prince and I want her to inherit her own kingdom. So the author and I didn’t have the same ideas for the ending; no big deal.

This is a really good adult “curl up next to a fire and sip something warm” read.

Disclaimer: I received a beta copy of this book for an honest critique and then later purchased the final product.

I’d like to give this book a 4 ½, but am sticking with a solid 4.

LikeIt

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