Book Review - Murder in the Garbage by Jerry A. Greenberg

 

Murder in the Garbage by Jerry A. Greenberg begins by introducing us to Raoul Martez. Raoul has just retired from a career in the army, where he had become a shooting instructor. He is now looking for a job to support him while he returns to night school to get qualifications and better career prospects. Raoul becomes a garbage collector joining Trinity Waste Management, the biggest waste management company in the town. The work is backbreaking, and often the trucks go out with a two-person crew when they are supposed to be manned by three men.

Mr. Samuels, the vice president of operations, is always angry. He thinks nothing of yelling at his staff or beating them up. Then the CEO of Trinity is found murdered,  stuffed into a large garbage bin. Enter Hank Boucher, an ex-U.S. Navy Seal for fifteen years who decided to retire at thirty-six. Having had six months of intensive training, Hank is now a Central Intelligence Agency agent, and investigating the murder is his first assignment. Why has the FBI not been assigned to the case? How are Raoul Martinez and his driver Hubert Manton involved? Moreover, is Mr. Samuels the murderer? Read Murder in the Garbage by Jerry A. Greenberg to find out the answers to these questions.

The only thing I liked about Murder in the Garbage was the deference and respect with which Greenberg portrays the job of garbage collection. Greenberg makes some essential points about our throw-away society; he makes one of Raoul Martinez's hobbies, upcycling. He also includes a conversation with Martinez and his partner about the different types of rubbish thrown away in rich and poor areas. This made me reassess my efforts to recycle and reuse.

I am disappointed that there was little else to like about Murder in the Garbage by Jerry A. Greenberg. The book has yet to be edited or proofread; there are a lot of grammar and spelling errors. I was not impressed that the author changed his mind about the name of the waste disposal company partway through the book. For example, on page eight, "Hello, Triangle Waste Management, Linda Bailey speaking, may I help you?" but by page ten, it is being called Trinity Waste Management example "What you said is true. Might I ask why you picked Trinity to apply to?". Moreover, many long-winded conversations lead nowhere, and every new character, no matter how small their part, is described in great detail, including their height and weight. This makes the book boring!

I rate this book 2 out of 5 stars as it needs proofreading and editing, there needs to be clarity over the company's name, and Greenberg uses unnecessary descriptions to make the story appear a lot more interesting than it is!

I would recommend this book to adults who like gentle murder mysteries which have mild swearing but no sex. There is some stereotyping of Mexican people. Moreover, no man can walk past a woman in this book without fancying her. So if you find these attributes offensive, then Murder in the Garbage by Jerry A. Greenberg is probably not for you.

Book review - 28 Disastrous Dates: A (Mostly True) Humourous Memoir by Poppy Mortimer

 As a child of divorced parents, Poppy lost herself in romantic novels and romantic Hollywood films with dashing, handsome heroes. Furthermore, she blames these pastimes on her lack of intuition when going on a date. The book is a memoir of Poppy's dates which range from the funny to the scary, over ten years and three continents. How does Poppy find herself on a scary date with a fireman? How does Poppy deal with the date who asks her out by sending her a photograph of his penis? Moreover, does Poppy's memoir finish with her finding the love of her life? Read 28 Disastrous Dates: A (Mostly True) Humourous Memoir by Poppy Mortimer to find the answers to these and other questions. 

I liked that Poppy Mortimer starts each chapter with details of her age, where she is living, where she meets each man and how they ask her out. Which helps to visualize the scene created. The end of each chapter has Poppy reminiscing over what she has learnt from her date and what she will take from it. Sadly by the next chapter, she has forgotten most of what she has learned and gone out with another disastrous man!

I was disappointed with this book. For me, it was like reading a teenager's diary. Some dates were mildly funny but less humorous than the author would lead us to believe. The book is well written and flows very well, and I enjoyed the first half of the book; it was interesting being an onlooker of someone else's disasters. Unfortunately, the stories became formulaic after a while, and I felt that Poppy Mortimer needed to try harder to make the book funny, which made it boring. I struggled to read to the end of the book. 

I would recommend 28 Disastrous Dates: A (Mostly True) Humourous Memoir by Poppy Mortimer to young adults. There is no swearing in the book ( as Poppy can not bring herself to type expletives), but there is a fair sprinkling of penises, so I would not recommend it to a younger audience! 

I want to give 28 Disastrous Dates: A (Mostly True) Humourous Memoir by Poppy Mortimer 3 out of 5 stars. The book did not live up to my expectations; it was more of a groan-out-loud than a laugh-out-loud book. There were some spelling and grammatical errors, and the book could do with another proofreading, although these did not distract from the stories. The dates became too formulaic and similar the more I read, which made the last half of the book boring, and I struggled to finish it. I did enjoy Poppy Mortimer's style of writing, and the fact I was not keen on 28 Disastrous Dates: A (Mostly True) Humourous Memoir would not stop me from reading another book by this author.

Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill

 

Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill begins by introducing us to Kim, the book's main character. Kim lives in a world where only the gender-neutral colors beige, pale blue, and pale green are allowed. Kim's is a world where robots called house bots are the norm and help people's lives run smoothly. Kim has been working for the Artificial Intelligence Company training automatons. When she joined the company five years before, she wanted to prove herself and get promoted. 

Outside of work, Kim lives in a nondescript house in this world where there is no freedom or private life. She is expected to abide by many rules, covering all aspects of life, from food choices to childbirth, conversational topics to entertainment choices. Everything is monitored and evaluated; not sticking to these rules results in quick and savage punishments. Kim has begun to find that her work has turned repetitive and boring, and she has realized that her so-called perfect world is deeply flawed. How can Kim break away from the controlling world she lives in? Who or what is Kimberley, and why does she increase Kim's frustration with the life she has? Furthermore, how does an incident with a friend change Kim's life forever?

I thoroughly enjoyed Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill. He handles the subject of a world where nothing is questioned and every day is the same as the day before brilliantly. The story has been well thought out and planned. There could have been some confusion between the robots and the humans, but Stanfill describes the personalities of every character and robot so well that I could easily picture each one. Stanfill's writing expertise makes understanding all areas of this dystopian world easy. In some ways, the living conditions are similar to the world now; there is still a divide between the rich and the poor, but machines rule Stanfill's world. My thoughts about my own world's future were challenged, which I also enjoyed.

There is absolutely nothing I disliked about Terms of Service, the debut novel by Craig W. Stanfill. I recommend it to adults who enjoy science fiction and fantasy. There is no swearing in this book, but there are a lot of erotic and descriptive passages about intimacy and sex. Moreover, much of the sex is fuelled by excessive alcohol and drug taking, which makes this book inappropriate for a younger audience.

I want to give Terms of Service by Craig W. Stanfill 5 out of 5 stars. I did not find any spelling or grammar errors; the book has been edited and proofread perfectly. 

I would like to thank Craig W. Stanfill for giving me a copy of Terms of Service in exchange for my impartial and honest opinion.

You can find more of my reviews here : http://onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-tara-d-morgan.html

Book Review - Visiting With An Angel by Jerry A. Greenberg

 

Visiting With An Angel by Jerry A. Greenberg begins with Jerry mulling over his life. He has two children he sees little of as they live so far away; his wife is dead, and so are many of his friends. He knows that he is getting older and won't be alive forever. Jerry thinks about what he will leave behind, which makes him wonder about his ancestors and how their lives may have influenced him. He wonders if he is the black sheep of the family. Jerry has been a writer, while the ancestors he knows about have been professional people. 

Jerry decides to research his genealogy. From his parents, who were born in the United States, back through his grandparents, who were Eastern European Jews. His first stop is the cemetery which is one hundred miles away! What work did Jerry's great-grandpa do? What has happened to the pine forest, which was next to Jerry's family home growing up? Which of Jerry's ancestors ran away to join the circus? Read Visiting With An Angel by Jerry A. Greenburg for the answers to these and other questions. Along the way, you will also meet Ray, Jerry's cat, his best friend, and confidante.

The history that Jerry found out about Poland and America is fascinating. He traced his fourth great-grandfather back to Poland in the late seventeen hundreds and discovered that Polish people did not have surnames then! I felt the deep emotions in Jerry's life. His love for his family and his overwhelming loneliness now most of them have died. It was clever how Jerry A. Greenberg transitioned from the present day to the nineteen fifties by visiting a café he had visited often as a child. Exiting the café, he could only see the people and places of his youth. Visiting With An Angel by Jerry A. Greenberg is well-thought-out, and the characterization is brilliant. Greenberg writes about the past, but he writes so vividly that I felt the story was taking place now. 

I disliked nothing about Visiting With An Angel. The cover art is beautiful and fits the story well. Jerry's humor and love for his family and friends shine through the book, making it a delightful read. There are also no swearing or sexual references.  

I recommend Visiting With An Angel by Jerry A. Greenberg to adults who enjoy history and autobiographies. But this book is so much more. It is also about ghosts, the supernatural, and the mysteries of life. Greenberg uses all these elements to tell the story of his life and the family and friends who influenced the man he is today. 

I want to give Visiting With An Angel by Jerry A. Greenberg 5 out of 5 stars. It is well-written, and the editing is perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Jerry's life and all the wonderful family and friends he has made along the way.

I would like to thank Jerry A. greenburg for a free copy of Visiting With An Angel in exchange for my unbiased review.  

You can see more of my reviews here :  http://onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-tara-d-morgan.html

Book Review - The First Time Father by Thomas Alfie

 

The First Time Father by Thomas Alfie is a step-by-step guide for first-time fathers. From preparing yourself mentally and physically for the birth to coping with the new addition while also supporting the new mother. The author says, "It covers every aspect related to pregnancy, childbirth, and early childhood roles in a simple language that can be understood by anyone." Every angle to being a new dad is covered, including a cheat sheet and special tips. Thomas Alfie wrote this book because he struggled when becoming a dad. 

Thomas Alfie felt that there were not enough books for dads, and he wrote The First Time Father to share what he has learned from his and his wife's experiences of bringing three babies into the world. Am I giving my partner the support she needs? What should I do when my baby cries? How do I cultivate a bond with my new baby? Read The First Time Father by Thomas Alfie to discover the answers to these and other questions.

When I first saw The First Time Father on the bookshelf, I thought it was a brilliant idea for first-time dads. The mum is growing the baby, and she gets most of the attention. Some dads struggle with how they fit into this new world. Thomas Alfie has covered every aspect of a dad's journey through pregnancy and looking after a new baby.

There are so many things I disliked about this book. I appreciate that Thomas Alfie has written this book to be user-friendly. However, some of the humour is not acceptable. For example, on page thirty-seven: " Even the most hardened tightwad will struggle to take a trip to this store without absolutely spunking their load, which is what got you into this predicament in the first place." A paragraph also describes how a woman's breasts become more prominent and tender, and she does not want the dad anywhere near her. The author feels that for the dad, it is like seeing cute puppies in a pet shop window and not being able to buy them! Also, I did not particularly appreciate that the author describes his wife as lazy when she is heavily pregnant and too exhausted to do household chores in the evening. In contrast, an exhausted new father should take every opportunity to rest!

I would not recommend The First Time Father by Thomas Alfie to anyone in its current form. The book does not appear to have been edited or proofread at all. Numerous errors on most pages make this book very difficult to read. The humour is inappropriate and sometimes borders on what I would expect from a Playboy magazine. Moreover, Thomas Alfie puts the new dad in a great light whatever he does while saying the new mum should be able to cope because she is the one who has had the baby! 

I rate The First Time Father by Thomas Alfie 0 out of 5 stars as I did not enjoy reading it. In particular, there is a need for proofreading and editing. The fact I found some of the passages unnecessarily crude. Moreover, the lack of empathy for the mum is dangerous because if first-time dads were to behave in some of the ways described, the relationship would not last long!

I would like to thank Thomas Alfie for a free copy of The First Time Father in exchange for my unbiased review.  You can see more of my reviews here :  http://onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-tara-d-morgan.html

Book Review - Angel Falling by A.D. Landor

 

A group of angels led by Archangel Prince Anael is known as the Seventh Flight. It has been their job to clean every planet of false idols and to leave them peaceful and calm. However, they had not counted on the Succae, a race of immortal vampires who live on the planet Cerule. Years before, the Seventh Flight had fought many bitter battles with the Succae, which lasted over one hundred years. The Seventh Flight was systematically reduced in number, but the Succae were able to replenish their ranks with freshly possessed bodies. Eventually, this led to an uneasy truce between the angels and the vampires. Azshael is a fallen angel. The rest of his race shuns him because he fell in love with Ischae, a Succae diplomat. Angel Falling by A. D. Landor tells the story of Azshael, who is asked to investigate the murder of a Succae elite on Angel's soil. He soon realizes that the murder is like that of his dead lover. To get answers, he teams up with the Succae's Serrate Lytta, and together, they discover a conspiracy that could destroy the uneasy truce and once again ignite a war, fighting good versus evil. Azshael has enemies on both sides. Will he survive to find out who the murderer is?

I loved so much about Angel Falling. The art used for the cover of an angel in battle armor, ready to fight, is precisely how I pictured Azshael. I particularly liked Landor's writing style; some of the sentences are beautiful and poetic; for example, on page eighteen, "He was the Succae Warlord incarnate, and all around him light diminished as inevitably as the dusk devours the day." A.D. Landor uses unusual names for the characters, which are relatively easy to pronounce. I liked this as it allowed the story to flow well. Landor describes a fantastic fantasy world of angels and vampires that is the perfect environment for Azshael and Serrate Lytta's murder investigation. The diverse mix of characters is well-defined and gives the story great depth. Many plot twists kept me turning the pages to find out whether this unlikely angel and vampire duo found out the truth behind the murders!

There was absolutely nothing that I did not like about Angel Falling by A. D. Landor, and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to adults who enjoy fantasy and science fiction stories with the added element of a murder mystery.

I want to give Angel Falling 5 out of 5 stars. Apart from one grammar error, the book was well-edited, well-written, and absorbing. I look forward to reading more books by A. D. Landor.

I would like to thank A. D Landor for a free copy of Angel Falling in exchange for my unbiased review.  You can see more of my reviews here :  http://onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-tara-d-morgan.html

Audio book review - 1979 by Val McDermid

 

1979 is the first instalment in the Allie Burns series set against the bustling backdrop of nineteen-seventies Glasgow. The story introduces us to Allie Burns. Allie is a young journalist whose investigative work leads her into a world of murder, corruption and terror. It is January nineteen seventy-nine. The year has brought strikes, blizzards, political unrest and power cuts. However, the bad news is a chance for Allie to move on from the "women's stories" to which the editors at the Scottish daily The Clarion have confined her. She becomes close friends with budding investigative journalist Danny Sullivan. Together, they uncover a story of international tax fraud involving Scots ultranationalists who plan to cause mayhem ahead of a referendum on breaking away from the UK. Danny and Allie's stories quickly get attention and create enemies for the two young reporters. As they get closer to breaking the news, will Allie and Danny find their lives on the line? Read 1979 by Val McDermid to find out.

Drawing on McDermid's experiences as a young journalist, 1979 is redolent of the thundering presses, hammering typewriters, and wreaths of the smoke of the Clarion newsroom. It is the latest suspenseful addition to McDermid's crime pantheon. It is compulsive, enthralling, and atmospheric. It not only looks at crime and the city's gritty underbelly but also touches on the changes in technology, fashion and music. The novel explores class, gender, sexuality, and politics alongside a high-stakes investigation into corruption and unrest in Glasgow in the Seventies. A riveting, captivating, and propulsive start to a series that shows much promise.

I was surprised to read that in Scotland it was still illegal for people to be gay until 1981. I liked the way McDermid dealt with the fact that Danny was gay and how that had an effect on his life.

I listened to the audiobook, which is eleven hours and six minutes long. Sadly the thing I disliked about this audiobook was the fact that the reader, Katie Leung, often mispronounced words. I thought this was because she is Scottish and the book is set in Scotland, but having researched the words, they should be pronounced the same as in England.

I want to give this book 3 out of 5 stars. It is an exciting read, but the ending is disappointing, and the Allie I got to know whilst listening to the audiobook would not have jumped into bed with Rhona after hearing that her best friend Danny had been murdered. I am also taking one star off for the mispronunciation of the reader as this should have been picked up on and is as bad as grammar and spelling errors in a print book!

Book review - LIFE IS UNFAIR THE TRUTHS AND LIES ABOUT JOHN F KENNEDY by EDDY J NEYTS

 

At the age of fifteen, on November 22nd, 1963, Eddy J Neyts heard the news that American President John F Kennedy had been assassinated. Ever since Neyts has been passionately building the most extensive private collection of written material he could find about the man he thought amazing. He found that many authors who have written about Kennedy have yet to write accurately due to poor research and sensationalism. Who was Kennedy's father, the ruthless, womanizing businessman, Joseph P. Kennedy? Why was John Kennedy described in the family as the sickly brother? How did Kennedy injure his back? For the answers to these and other questions, read LIFE IS UNFAIR THE TRUTHS AND LIES ABOUT JOHN F KENNEDY by Eddy J Neyts. The historically accurate documentation of Neyts lifetime collection of all things John F Kennedy. 

Everything about LIFE IS UNFAIR THE TRUTHS AND LIES ABOUT JOHN F KENNEDY is fantastic. The genealogical research and family trees at the beginning of the book are beneficial. I enjoyed the chapter dedicated to Kennedy's father, which gives interesting information on the early shaping of Kennedy's character. John F Kennedy has always been a romanticized figure throughout my life. I was not born when he died, but my mum loved him, and I have been told she cried for weeks when he was assassinated. 

For many, Kennedy is remembered as the handsome, young, debonair thirty-fifth President of America. Neyts writes that all of this is true, but I was interested to read the chapter on Kennedy's family. John F Kennedy's older brother Joe was the golden boy; he was robust and consistently predicted to do well. In contrast, John was the frail and sickly younger brother. It is a testament to how his father bought him up that Kennedy was elected President. Another chapter in the book which I read with great interest was about The Cuban Missile Crisis, a part of American history I have never understood.

There was nothing to dislike about LIFE IS UNFAIR THE TRUTHS AND LIES ABOUT JOHN F KENNEDY by Eddy J Neots. The book is extensively researched and provides a complete history of the life and times of John F Kennedy.

There are quite a few grammatical errors in the acknowledgments. However, as this part of the book is the personal thanks of Eddy J Neots, a Belgian author, I was pleased to overlook them, especially as the rest of the book is well-edited. I enjoyed learning about John F Kennedy and am delighted to award it a resounding 5 out of 5 stars. 

LIFE IS UNFAIR THE TRUTHS AND LIES ABOUT JOHN F KENNEDY by Eddy J Neots is a weighty tomb; there are lots of facts and dates to take in. I recommend this book to historians who want factually correct history. Furthermore, this book would be appreciated by anyone interested in American history and John F Kennedy, his life, election, marriage, health, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and all the things that make JFK's legacy live on! 

Book review - House of Eire by June Gillam

 

House of Eire by June Gillam begins with Hillary Broome, a writer, and her husband Ed, a detective. They live in California. Hillary is busy finalizing plans for a two-week belated honeymoon in Ireland with Ed, their seven-year-old daughter Claire and Ed's mother, Sarah. They will stay with their friends Seamus, a solicitor, and his American wife, Bridget, living in Galway. Bridget has been studying the history of Ireland and wants a memorial built to honor the Irish people. Seamus has been working with Dermot Connolly, an American developer who plans to buy land to build a Disneyland-style theme park. Connolly has decided on land where Bridget wants to build her memorial and is taking devious measures to get his way.

Hillary has been trying to trace her family tree. Her mother ran off, leaving Hillary when she was ten; she hopes that researching the Irish family background will help her find out why. Why has Bridget been receiving strange dolls in the post? Can Seamus convince Bridget to build the monument outside the theme park? Is the rumor that Connolly runs an Irish Mafia true? Why do nightmares plague Bridget? Moreover, what is Seamus not telling Bridget? For the answers to these and other questions, read House of Eire by June Gillam.

I liked the sensitive way June Gillam approaches Irish history. Having traced my Irish ancestry, I felt the pain Bridget suffers every time she finds another piece of evidence of the troubled times the Irish poor went through. Quote from page fifty-one "But, there are hundreds and thousands more who lived and died without mention—I feel for them, and I wasn't even born here!" Many interesting themes are touched upon, and the tension builds slowly. House of Eire is the third book in the Hillary Broome series, but I found it easy to read as a stand-alone book.

The first half of House of Eire is unnecessarily long and detailed. The story takes a long time to build up, and the many long-winded conversations really could have moved the story along more. June Gillam tends to end each chapter with something dramatic, which often feels forced and awkward. I did not find the conclusion was worth the wait. The book was described as a mystery, but there are very few surprises, which I  found disappointing. House of Eire does not seem to have been edited or proofread at all. I found many errors in spelling and grammar throughout the book.

I recommend House of Eire by June Gillam to adults who enjoy reading fictional books about Ireland, murder, and mysteries. There is swearing in the book, which makes it inappropriate for a younger audience.

I want to give House of Eire 3 out of 5 stars. I have removed one star due to the lack of proofreading and the other because the conversations were far too long-winded, making the book drag. I would have liked there to have been more depth to what could have been an exciting story, and the ending was disappointing.