Review of : Chef Wanted For Violante by Saira Musa

 

Chef Wanted For Violante by Saira Musa begins during a competition run by Amando Violante, Violante's co-owner and restaurant manager. The winning chef will become the Head Chef of Amando's prestigious Santa Cruz restaurant. Claudia Sequeira had just been eliminated, leaving two men to compete in the final round. As Amando calls, "Time is up!" Alonzo, the head waiter, bursts into the kitchen to tell Amando that Claudia has passed out. She is taken to the hospital and remains out cold for sixteen hours. Her friend Sofia sits in a chair by the bed when she wakes. Amando has been worrying about Claudia and turns up at the hospital to see how she is. When he enters her room, there is sexual tension between the pair. Amando discovers that Claudia cannot afford to pay her hospital bill and takes it upon himself to pay the bill for her. However, he has an agreement written up which makes Claudia and her friend Sofia liable for the repayments, and this causes a massive argument between the three of them. Will the argument make it difficult for Sofia and Claudia to continue as housemates? Who wins Amando Violante's cooking competition? Furthermore, will the sexual tension between Amando and Claudia lead to a relationship?

I am disappointed that I liked nothing about Chef Wanted For Violante by Saira Musa. The book does not appear to have been edited, as there are several grammatical and spelling errors on most pages, and a lot of the book does not make sense. For example, Amando is included in the consultation between Claudia and her consultant. Amando only knows Claudia because she has participated in a competition at his restaurant. Why would he be part of the consultation at the hospital? Amando then pays Claudia's hospital bills and gets his legal counsel to draw up an agreement for Claudia to repay it within what appears to be minutes! In the agreement, he makes Claudia's friend Sofia jointly liable for the payments. Everything about this is ridiculous, and I would have been quite happy to throw the book in the bin at this point.

Saira Musa has made Amando too good to be true. He is tall and stunningly handsome. He is a restauranteur and co-owner of the family's business. He is also a renowned Portuguese pathologist and is retained by the Santa Cruz Forensics Department, who find his expertise invaluable.

The whole story is full of ridiculous offshoots. For example, because Amando has made both Claudia and Sofia liable to pay him back for Claudia's hospital fees, Sofia has set an investigator to tail Amando! The sexual tension between Amando and Claudia is overworked, and the descriptions are laughable when they eventually have a sexual relationship. For example, on page forty-three, "His morning erection swung as he moved."

I rate this book 1 out of 4 stars. I would not recommend it to anyone, as the storyline is weak and utterly ridiculous. There does not appear to have been any proofreading or editing, and Musa uses complicated wording in an attempt to make the story appear a lot more interesting than it actually is!

Review of - Of Zots and Xoodles: Theodil Creates a Universe by Zarqnon the Embarrassed

 

Of Zots and Xoodles by Zarqnon the Embarrassed explores the idea that an architect designed the universe. If that is the case, where did the architect live? And does his design have an end date? Theodil is that architect, and we meet him in his world, where he presents his ideas for the universe to a committee. Theodil shows that decisions can be made by a roll of the dice. One roll shows spots, and the committee names them Zots. When Theodil distorts a Zot to look like a noodle, the committee says it is a Xoodle. Where Xoodles collide, light is formed. A child enters the room and begins to play with the Zots and Xoodles. As they continue to clash and divide, they become Super-Zots, Mega-Zots, etc. What happens if you decimate a Zot or a Xoodle? What happens when energy collides? Will the committee accept Theodil's plan?

The creator of Of Zots and Xoodles is JW McLaughlin. He chose Zarqnon the Embarrassed as his nom de plume because it made him laugh. McLaughlin discovered he was on the autistic spectrum in his forties, which explained his eccentricities. McLaughlin says he challenges the norm because he usually doesn't understand it. I liked the way Of Zots, and Xoodles challenges everything we have been taught about the creation of the universe.

The Illustrator of Of Zots and Xoodles, Frank Louis Allen, is also on the autistic spectrum and, amazingly, is legally blind! Allen's approach to art is to let his brain roam freely. His illustrations work well with McLaughlin's storytelling, being both beautiful and chaotic!

I loved the way the members of the committee were described. From experience, only a tiny percentage of any committee pays attention at a meeting. The rest will be planning what to have for dinner. The best route to drive home. And what they are going to wear to the next party. McLaughlin gets this across in a paragraph of madness giving life to those thoughts, for example, on page ten "Has anyone seen my loofah? These chairs stink! They're the wrong color, the wrong size, the wrong shape, and padded completely incorrectly ( note: most of them brought their own chair)"

I didn't always understand this book despite reading it three times. It is very scientific in places, almost describing atoms and charged particles. I don't know if there is any scientific value in the book or if it is just the workings of an eccentric brain. I liked that the committee in the book starts to become agitated and annoyed when they don't understand what Theodil is doing. Also, I didn't particularly appreciate that the page numbers on the contents page do not match the numbers at the bottom of the pages. There are a lot of grammatical errors, and I feel the editing should have been better.

This book is weird and whacky and would appeal to anyone who enjoys the bizarre. I think it would mainly be enjoyed by Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy and Monty Python fans. I appreciate a lot of work has gone into the writing and presentation of this book. There are no swearing or sexual references, but I would still recommend that adults read it, and it would probably be more enjoyable to someone with a scientific background.

Because of the errors in grammar and spelling and because I found it very difficult to follow, I rate this book 2 out of 5 stars.

Review of Ubiquita by Gary Winstone

 

Ubiquita by Gary Winstone begins with Daniel fighting his way through a forest. He is exhausted, has various injuries, and is wet through. We do not know why he is there or where he is going, but it will soon be sunset, and he is not safe! Daniel builds a fire to ward off animals and keep him warm; he removes an unusual golden necklace with a triangular medallion from around his neck, which he inherited from his grandad. Daniel is taken back to when he was eight and his grandad was dying. His grandad gives him a journal in which he has written down all his adventures, and he makes Daniel promise to continually explore and try new things. Daniel became a palaeontologist fascinated by nature and travelled the world. He is so wrapped up in his own life that he loses touch with his father until a telegram arrives saying his father has had a severe decline in health and he needs to come back to England. Daniel's dad is dying, and while he sleeps by his bed, Daniel is woken by a strange light as the medallion glows and moves and gives life to three golden, winged creatures. What is this magic? Why did Daniel's father hide the medallion and journal from Daniel and pretend it was missing? What will Daniel find when he explores what happened in Peru a hundred years before? Furthermore, who or what is Ubiquita?
 

Ubiquita is Gary Winstone's first foray into writing science fiction. I was fascinated by the adventures in this well-written and well-thought-out novella. I loved how Gary Winstone describes death and how eight-year-old Daniel understands it. This is beautifully descriptive and pulls at the heartstrings. Winstone is very poetic when he waxes lyrical about the medallion, for example, location ninety-six "Before long a rippling sphere filled the centre of the medallion, gently rotating, swirling, casting warm light across the room." I particularly like this sentence which I think should be a mantra for everybody, location six hundred and ninety-three "The more you know, the more you know you don't know." Gary Winstone shows an excellent knowledge of physics and astronomy. This book has a slow build-up to an exciting ending which I did not expect.

The cover is the one thing I dislike about Ubiquita by Gary Winstone. It looks like someone has drowned, and it does not give the reader an insight into this brilliant science fiction story which takes the reader on a mysterious adventure.

I recommend this to adults who enjoy science fiction, adventure and mysteries. There is some swearing in the book, which is inappropriate for a younger audience.

I absolutely love Ubiquita by Gary Winstone. There are several grammar and spelling errors, but these do not detract from the story, and I rate it a resounding 5 out of 5 stars! The book is brilliantly written and beautifully captivating right from the start, and Ubiquita is a novella I will remember long after reading it. I look forward to reading more books by Gary Winstone!

Children's book review - Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula by R. F. Kristi

 

Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula by R.F. Kristi begins one Sunday morning. Inca, the Siberian cat, and head of the detective agency, has gathered with her friends to admire a magnificent Siberian tiger painting. It has been purchased by Solo, the owner of the mansion, and the tiny cottage where Inca, her animal family, and their human mom, Missy, live. Later that day, Inca's ears prick up when she hears Missy telling Solo that she has been chosen to judge a prestigious patisserie competition in South Korea. Missy is an award-winning cheese maker. Moreover, the organizers will arrange a special event to introduce Missy's new cheese creation. All the animals have passports and are very excited to hear they will be going too. Solo and his dog Terrance are also joining them on the trip. When the family and friends arrive at Incheon airport, they are met by Mr Ye-Jun, their tour guide. Missy is pleased to hear that he will also be their translator. Mr Ye-Jun is a sad man, and when Inca and her detectives hear it is because he cannot see his sister in North Korea, they devise a plan to reunite the siblings. Who is Enzo, and why do Missy and her pets hate him? What does Missy find is missing when they arrive at the airport? Furthermore, do the cat detectives succeed in their mission?
 

Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula is the eighth book in the Cat Detectives series. However it is unnecessary to have read the rest of the books. R.F Kristi has spent some time researching the different types of animals and has put much work into making the story entertaining and, at the same time, educational. Children will love learning about the types of animals, Korean culture, and the divisions between North and South Korea. I was pleased to see a family tree at the beginning of the book, which details which cats belong to Missy. There is also a page with pictures of all Inca and Company detective agency members with some background information.

My one dislike was the use of baby words. For example, on page thirty-one, "Terrance had transformed from a mild-mannered gentlemanly doggy to a fierce snarling Terrance."

I recommend this book to younger children who enjoy mystery stories featuring animals and can read by themselves. It would also be an excellent book for parents to read to their younger children.

There were a couple of grammar errors but not enough to stop me from rating Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula by R.F. Kristi 5 out of 5 stars. This is a delightful book that entertains while also educating young children. I look forward to reading this series to my granddaughter when she is old enough to enjoy it!

 

Thank you to R. F. Kristi for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

Book Review - Solaris Seethes (Solaris Saga book One) by Janet McNulty

 

Solaris Seethes by Janet McNulty begins by introducing us to Rynah. Rynah works as a Security Officer at the Geothermic Center based in an underground laboratory on the planet Lanyr.  Once a year, all systems are shut down for fifteen minutes to be cleared of unnecessary data. Today just as everything is shut down, Rynah is appalled to see people from the Lunyra Movement break in, led by Klanor, her fiance! Klanor steals a crystal that controls Lanyr's magnetic fields. Without the crystal, the magnetism becomes misaligned. It causes, amongst other things, volcanoes to erupt, earthquakes, and disruptions to the weather. Rynah escapes through a secret tunnel to find that her planet is dying. All around her is carnage. She remembers a hangar where her grandfather had hidden an antiquated ship. This ship is the mysterious Solaris. It is over fifty years old but in fantastic condition. Escaping the destruction of Lanyr, Rynah must put her trust in Solaris while following an archaic story that has come down through the generations of her people. Together with four humans, each from a different time in Earth's history, Rynah tries to track down Klanor before he can find the other five crystals. Why are the crystals so important? How are humans able to help Rynah? Will the antiquated Solaris be up to the job? Furthermore, what was the argument that cut her off from her grandfather? 

I liked that hidden moral lessons show the reader how to become a better person and understand their friends, seeing them for who they really are, not just the side they show the world. It was clever to make Solaris intelligent and sassy. I read about the growing friendship between Solaris and Rynah with interest. I particularly enjoyed their arguments. I love all the colorful descriptions in Solaris Seethes. For example, on page eighteen, "Rynah sat up, allowing her emerald hair to flow over her lavender-colored (a very light shade at that) skin; specks of gold accentuated her waves of dark emerald tresses, forming highlights that even the dim lighting failed to hide." Janet McNulty's descriptions, especially of Rynah, are beautiful.

Solaris Seethes is science fiction. However, I would have found it more enjoyable and interesting if it had been believable. The story is based on another planet, meaning they have different words for things, yet when Rynah is in pain, she takes aspirin. As aspirin is a word used on Earth, I think it would be unlikely that another planet would also have aspirin in its vocabulary! Also, Rynah teleports four people from Earth who have no concept of her world even existing. Solon from 751 BC, Alfric from 1163, Brie from 2014, and Tom from 2099. They are supposedly intelligent, grounded people but ask a few questions after being teleported, then go with the flow. If I had been suddenly zapped up to another ( and very different) planet, I would want to know: Why have I been chosen? What can I expect? and when will I go home?

I rate this book 2 out of 5 stars due to the dislikes mentioned. The idea for the storyline is brilliant. However, the author executes her ideas poorly, from the long-winded sentences, which make the book boring, to the unbelievable and two-dimensional characters. As this is the first in a four-part series, I hope the books get more interesting as the author progresses!

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fast-paced science fiction, particularly younger adults or older teenagers; there is some swearing but nothing sexual.

Thank you to Janet McNulty for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

 

Book Review - Now I can See The Moon by Bonar Ash

 

Now I Can See The Moon by Bonar Ash begins in nineteen fifty-five in Surrey, England. It begins by telling us about Milly and her best friend, Izzy. The girls are seven years old and are inseparable. They spend much of their time in the attic, where Milly feels closest to her mother. Milly's mother, Miranda, died the year before. Luke, who grew up next door to Miranda and was her lifelong friend, becomes Milly's guardian and caretaker of their big house. The story then moves on ten years, and we begin learning about the other people who live in the house. The two lodgers are Esme and Felix. Babe, the housekeeper, is a surrogate mother to Milly. Also, Pascale, the one person in the house who hates Milly, was Miranda's childhood nurse. By this time, Luke is an award-winning carpenter running a successful business. Several women in the village are hoping he will want to have them as romantic partners.

Since her mother died, Milly has been plagued by a recurring nightmare: she falls off a boat into the water. She always wakes up at the point where she would have drowned, but Milly has no memory of ever being on a boat, and no one in the house can help her. As Milly gets older, she starts to see that most of the people she knows have secrets which they have been keeping from her. What is the nightmare all about? Why is Felix estranged from his daughter and granddaughter? Why does Pascale, who worshipped Miranda, hate Milly so much? Furthermore, what is the secret that everyone but Milly seems to know?

I loved the description Bonar Ash used for the child's view of where people go when they die. For example, on page one, "I could lose myself in the night sky with its overwhelming stars. I would search the glittering mass, looking for answers. I wondered if Grandma and Grandpa and my mother had somehow got tangled up in them and were wandering about, wondering what on earth had happened and why they couldn't come home." Some of the writing is almost poetic, which was beautiful to read. For example, on page thirteen, "I reached under the bed, which lolled like a vast beached boat in the middle of the attic floor."

I learnt a lot about the social history of the sixties. Babe loves music, so the top singers of the day are mentioned at one point, as are the advertising jingles. For example, on page eighteen, "go to work on an egg", it was lovely to have these reminders of a life my parents grew up in. However, as the book progresses, there are constant quotes from books and songs; these start to feel like padding; they are distracting and not helpful in helping the story progress. I would prefer the author to take all the quotes out and have a shorter book!

There are also many quotes from French songs which Miranda loved. It would have been nice to have a translation at the back of the book. The flow of the story was interrupted by having to keep googling to find out what the translation was.

Now I Can See The Moon by Bonar Ash started with great potential. However, the continuous quotes soon became tiresome. They were used to pad out the story, did not feel relevant in most cases, and I felt they were lazy on the author's part. The overuse of french song lyrics with no translation also spoilt the flow of the story considerably. Furthermore, I  feel the storyline is an unlikely one. Luke would have been eighteen or nineteen when Miranda died. Nevertheless, he was happy to take on the responsibility of a six-year-old girl. I have never met a teenage boy who could look after themselves, let alone a young child!

The editing was very good. I only found three errors. However, due to the mentioned dislikes, which spoiled the book for me, I want to give Now I Can See The Moon by Bonar Ash 3 out of 5 stars

I recommend this book to adult readers, especially people who enjoy a mystery with a hint of romance. There is some swearing, so I do not think this book is appropriate for younger audiences.

Thank you to Bonar Ash for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review.

What Next You Bastard by Ken Hall

 

What Next You Bastard by Ken Hall is a biography telling the story of Ken's sixty years getting to where he is now. Ken was a very sickly child born without tonsils or adenoids meant he could not fight illnesses. When Ken was eight, his appendix was removed, and he died on the operating table. Ken is constantly in and out of the hospital; the children's ward is very much home to him. However, he gets to twelve, is declared an adult, and ends up in Ward 1A, the adult terminal ward. Rheumatic fever enlarges his heart, tuberculosis weakens his lungs, and St. Vitus' dance means he has involuntary muscle movements. Ken is not expected to survive and is sent home to spend his last Christmas with his family. Against all the odds, he survives! 

Throughout his life, Ken is plagued by bullies. The lack of oxygen when he dies on the operating table affects his short and long-term memory, making it impossible for him to learn to read, write or do even the most straightforward math problems. At thirteen, Ken applies for an apprenticeship; he must pass his school scholarship certificate and signs up for an evening class. Here the tutor makes Ken stand on a chair in front of the class and then says on page thirty-five, "This is the world's only human baboon that you and I will ever know in our lifetime. His composition was the greatest heap of shit I have ever read." Luckily Cortisone is invented, and Ken is the first person in Queensland to have it; this makes a big difference to his health, but as he is still unable to read, write or do even simple maths, how is he going to survive as an adult?

I was initially put off reading this book, the cover picture looked like a thug smoking drugs, and I was not sure it would be a story I would enjoy. However, I found so much to love about Ken Hall's biography What Next You Bastard. Ken's optimism and passion for living the best life he can, shine through even the darkest moments. Ken is truly inspirational, and I found that by the end of the book, I had so much respect and admiration for him. Ken puts up with many knockbacks in life. However, he soon picks himself up and has another go. 

What Next You Bastard is set in Australia, where I have never been, and I enjoyed learning about the bush, droving cattle, and the night horses, which are useless in the day because they cannot see but are brilliant for droving at night!

I know this is a biography, but I would not say I liked that there seemed to be too quick an improvement in Ken's health. He is sent home to die, having spent most of his life in and out of the hospital, but his mum immediately takes him on holiday, and shortly after, he is at work.

Even though Monika McFerran had only met Ken once, she was so inspired by his life that she ghostwrote What Next You Bastard; this was Monika's debut novel, and she has done a fantastic job. I found no errors in this book. The editing and proofreading are perfect!

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. One grammatical error caught my attention. I think there should be a question mark after the title What Next You Bastard. Nevertheless, the story of Ken Hall's life makes for a unique and wonderfully uplifting book. 

 

I recommend What Next You Bastard by Ken Hall to anyone who likes biographies or autobiographies about ordinary people who triumph over adversity. There is some swearing, and I do not think it is appropriate for younger audiences due to some of the subject matters covered. There are also some mild sexual references as Ken fumbles his way through getting to know various women, but most of these are rather comical.

 

Thank you to Ken Hall for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review. 

You can see more of my reviews  here 

http://onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-tara-d-morgan.html

Review of Swallow's also fall by CR Armeny

 

It is nineteen eighteen when influenza is sweeping Europe like a plague. The newly born Marcel-li is a sickly baby, his mother has died from influenza, and he is being fostered. Swallows Also Fall by CR Armeny tells Marcel-li Massana's life through an enthralling mixture of fact and fiction. From the point of view of his foster mother, his foster sister and Marcel-li himself. When the family gets the news that his father has died from a heart attack, Marcel-li is five. When he turns seven, his uncle arrives to take him back to Solsona to be educated and become a priest. Overnight, Marcel-li is taken from a loving foster family to a repressed and miserable life with his Aunt Teresa and Uncle Damia. After taking Marcel-li for his first visit to the Cathedral, Uncle Damia says to Marcel-li, "You're a big boy now, and you need to learn discipline." Marcel-li is terrified and soon learns that everything he does is reported back to his uncle! As Marcel-li grows up, his brooding resentment grows into a revolutionary obsession, and he joins the Maqui resistance movement based in France so that he can fight Franco's government. Does Marcel-li become a priest? Why does Marcel-li end up in a concentration camp? How does the book get its title? Read Swallows Also Fall to discover the answers to these and other questions.

I love the descriptions Armeny uses to set the scenes, particularly when describing countryside, landscape and nature. For example, on page four, "In the evening, as we gathered around the fire, the forest became alive with the sharp screeching of the barn owl, the ghostly ooh-hu, ooh-hu, ooh-hu! of the eagle owl, and, at times, the terrifying howling of wolves." I felt the deep emotions in Marcel-li's life, his love for his foster family and his parents. His hatred for his aunt and uncle and the environment in which they bring him up. I felt Marcel-li's passion for joining the resistance movement and fighting to break Franco's regime. Furthermore, I felt Marcel-li's constant struggle to survive it all. The story is well thought out, and the characterization is brilliant. One conflict follows another, and the characters' lives follow the thread of Marceli Massana's turbulent journey and his ambition to restore justice and democracy.
 

Swallows Also Fall blends fact and fiction well, but the Cardona concentration camp is mentioned at one point. Despite extensive research, I can find no details that there was ever a concentration camp in Cardona. I think CR Armeny mentioning something specific should be backed up by truth. Also, I did not particularly appreciate that the only explanation for the foster family moving to Berga was that they had too much bad luck on their smallholding and wanted a change. The family are poor, livestock have died, and presumably, they have even less money now, but they move to a farmhouse. How do they suddenly afford this?

I recommend Swallows Also Fall by CR Armeny to adults and older teenagers who enjoy factually based historical fiction. Due to the subject matter, I would not recommend it to anyone younger.

I would like to give Swallows Also Fall 5 out of 5 stars. It is well-written, and the editing is perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Marcel-li's life.

Book Review - The Sword Swallower and a Chico Kid by Gary Robinson

 

 

The Sword Swallower and a Chico Kid by Gary Robinson starts when a package is delivered, bringing back memories for Gary. Calvin notices his grandad is crying and wants to know why. Gary settles down to tell his life story, particularly all he learned from his sword-swallowing friend Duke.

Part one begins with Duke seeing the circus train arrive in town. Getting caught up in the excitement and magic, he follows the fantastic people and animals to the circus ground. Here he helps the performers set up for that evening's show. When asked how old he is, the fifteen-year-old Duke replies that he is eighteen, and he is offered a job as a casual laborer. Duke sees this as a new start and a way to escape his unhappy life, where alcoholism, fanatical religious doctrine, and abuse prevail. Duke regularly watches Carlos, the sword swallower, perform his act and is enthralled; when Carlos asks if he would like to be a sword swallower, Duke is eager to learn. Here is the beginning of Duke's life as a circus performer. It is a life Duke loves, but there is no guarantee that a circus performer will always have work. At different times in his life, Duke is a librarian, he studies music and sets up a band, he has a lengthy prison sentence, and he studies theology. Duke has many demons but leaves prison a different man!

Part two begins when Gary is at his graduation. As the school's student body president, he is about to make a speech. The Principal introduces Gary as one of the best students the school has had. However, Gary has drunk heavily since he was fifteen and left school without any plans for his life. He is popular with many friends, but they all float through college in a drug and alcohol-induced haze. After college, Gary parties hard. The downward spiral continues until, at thirty-five, with no money, no partner, and no job, he ends up in a tavern where a man tattooed from head to toe is on the stage with a microphone. Here is Duke performing his one-person show. Duke enthralls Gary. He thinks he is the most exciting man he has ever met, and when Duke leaves the tavern, Gary follows him. 

By part three, Gary is at his lowest, but introducing himself to Duke would be his making. Duke and Gary have an instant connection, and Duke takes Gary under his wing and becomes his mentor. 

I did not warm to Gary. He is a hypocrite because as soon as he reaches eighteen, he says to his mother, "Mom, I have had enough. You have a drink problem, and I cannot stand it anymore." ( Quote from page 145 ). He then tells her he will not see her again until she stops drinking. By this point in his life, Gary is an alcoholic and a drug addict! Until he meets Duke Gary's reckless, drunken excesses always end up hurting himself, public property, and other people. Until the end of the book, he always seems to get away with being a complete loser. I also could not understand why the preface to this book says The Sword Swallower and a Chico Kid by Gary Robinson is a work of fiction based on Gary and his friend Captain Don Leslie's lives. However, he changes the Captain's name to Duke but still calls the character based on himself, Gary. Either this is a work of fiction, or it is an autobiography. At the moment, this is not very clear!

I loved Duke and found myself laughing with him and crying with him. I like the way Duke turns every knock back and horrible experience into a positive and something to be learned from. I love that Duke wears his heart on his sleeve. The love for his circus family is there for all to see. I also liked the humor throughout this book; e.g., on page twenty-five, a Jewish man says he would never mutilate his body with tattoos. The reply to this is, "What the hell did you do with your foreskin? Carry it in your front pocket?"

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. The Sword Swallower and a Chico Kid has an exciting and fast-paced story line. I admire Gary Robinson for writing this book which does not show him in perfect light. There are some editing mistakes, but they do not detract from a great story. 

I recommend that The Sword Swallower and a Chico Kid by Gary Robinson be read by adult readers who should be aware of drug addiction, alcoholism, swearing, and sexual references. This book would be enjoyed by circus enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys a brilliant read based on real-life people and events.

Thanks to Gary Robinson for a free copy of this book in exchange for an impartial review. You can read more of my reviews here : http://onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-tara-d-morgan.html