Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Before You Ask About A Review....
I remain pretty much closed to review requests at this time.
I am still making the occasional exception for authors I have read and enjoyed
before, and will make exceptions on a case by case basis for books that
directly relate to my review column at Senior News. The main way to be
considered for my Senior News column is to be either currently living in Texas
or having written a novel where the setting is here in Texas.
My refusal to accept your book for review is not a
reflection of you, your talents as an author, or of the book, or your mode of publication. It truly is not
about you at all.
“Kevin’s Corner” is not a paid review site. I am just one
guy doing the level best that he can. I
remain buried with several hundred books going back years. That fact, and the
situations with my own worsening health issues and Sandi's terminal cancer,
mean that just isn't possible for me to accept still more books beyond what I
already have here.
CrimeFictionWriter: USA Today
CrimeFictionWriter: USA Today: Along with the other contributors to Cowboy Heat, I'm quoted in this USA Today article: " Cowboy heroes: Can you feel the heat? &...
April 2014 Reads and Reviews
Below is the list for the “April 2014
Reads and Reviews.” My thanks again to Barry Ergang for all his help with
the blog and for being a friend in good times and bad.
A
Readers Book of Days: True Tales From The Lives And Works Of Writers For Every
Day Of The Year by Tom Nissley
Too Late For Tears by Roy Huggins (FFB
Review--Barry)
Cover of Snow by Jenny
Milchman (Barry)
Wrecked by Tricia
Fields
A Patchwork of Stories: 9 Tales from
Sunny Side Up to Over Hard by Kaye George (FFB Review)
Stuffed: The Ultimate Comfort Food Book by Dan Whalen
Fast One by Paul Cain
(FFB Review--Barry)
Destroyer Angel: An Anna Pigeon Novel by Nevada Barr
The Scent Of New Death by Mike Monson
The Education of H*y*m*a*n K*a*p*l*a*n by Leonard Q. Ross (FFB Review by Barry)
Miles To Little Ridge (Cash Laramie and
Gideon Miles series) by Heath Lowrance
Sentinel’s Choice by Mike
Witzgall
The Axeman of Storyville (Cash Laramie
and Gideon Miles series) by Heath Lowrance
We roll forward into May with warmer weather
and more…..
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Via Crimeculture-- A Night For Screaming
A short piece from Texas author Bill Crider on A Night For Screaming by Harry Whittington here.
Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: Update from Bob Randisi
Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: Update from Bob Randisi: The word has come down from Speaking Volumes that the early Gunsmiths AND the Angel Eyes, Mountain Jack Pike and Tracker series have all ...
Mystery Fanfare: Cartoon of the Day: Best Murder Mystery Award!
snicker......
Mystery Fanfare: Cartoon of the Day: Best Murder Mystery Award!: This is perfect for Edgars Week! HT: Ken Van Durand
Mystery Fanfare: Cartoon of the Day: Best Murder Mystery Award!: This is perfect for Edgars Week! HT: Ken Van Durand
The Education of a Pulp Writer: Miles to Go
The Education of a Pulp Writer: Miles to Go: Gideon Miles is getting some serious love this week. First, it's great to have Cullen Gallagher back from, well, wherever great reviewer...
Review: "The Axeman Of Storyville (Edward Grainger's Cash Laramie And Gideon Miles Series)" by Heath Lowrance
It is 1921 and former U.S.
Marshall Gideon Miles is far from the Wyoming Territory and his old job. Miles
is 67 now and these days he and his wife Violet run a jazz club in New Orleans.
The “VioMiles Club” opened on Royal Street just a few months ago and business
is good except for all the paperwork involved. Miles had quite a colorful
career before retiring in 1910 and had done himself and the job
proud. But,
that was then and this is now and the paperwork hurts him more than anything the
outlaws ever did.
His frustration with the
paperwork has to be set aside when two ladies of the District show up to see
him before the club opens. Miles knows that means they are “soiled doves” and
he has no want or need of prostitutes in his club. But, that is most definitely
not what is on their minds. Miss Tilly and Celissa have come to ask Gideon to
help in the wake of the brutal murder of a prostitute. Eva-Lynn worked in Miss
Tilly's brothel and a man killed her last night before escaping the scene. Eva-Lynn
is not the first in recent weeks and months to be killed by a man wielding an
axe. Because the women have been prostitutes the local police have pretty much have
done nothing to catch the killer. Miss Tilly desperately wants Gideon Miles’
help as she has nowhere else to turn if the former U.S. Marshal turns her down.
Turning her down is exactly
what he does as Gideon is well aware of his age and responsibilities. Married
with a club to run he simply does not do that kind of work anymore. However,
other factors soon come into play, and he begins the hunt for The Axeman
Of Storyville.
Written by Heath Lowrance,
this latest in Edward Grainger's Cash Laramie And Gideon Miles Series is
another good one. Highly atmospheric with complex characters and plenty of
twists and turns the novella is a fast and highly entertaining read. Whether
you are new to the series or not this read is a good one and highly
recommended.
The Axeman Of Storyville (Edward
Grainger's Cash Laramie And Gideon Miles Series)
Heath Lowrance
Beat To A Pulp
December, 2011
ASIN: B00JJTV8Y0
E-Book
76 Pages (estimated)
$0.99
Material was purchased to read and review by me
using funds in my Amazon Associate account.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2014
Monday, April 28, 2014
Rough Edges: Renegade's Revenge - Jack Badelaire
Rough Edges: Renegade's Revenge - Jack Badelaire: I've enjoyed Jack Badelaire's action and war novels, so I was eager to read his first Western. RENEGADE'S REVENGE is a short ...
FROM DUNDEE'S DESK: Interview: Richard Prosch (author of ONE AGAINST A...
FROM DUNDEE'S DESK: Interview: Richard Prosch (author of ONE AGAINST A...: In the past couple of years, Richard Prosch has become one of my favorite contemporary writers. Maybe that's partly because I know...
Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: King of the Weeds -- Mickey Spillane & Max Allan C...
Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: King of the Weeds -- Mickey Spillane & Max Allan C...: This is another in the series of posthumous collaborations between Collins and Spillane, and it finds Mike Hammer getting close to Medicar...
Via Criminal Element-- 15 Fierce Female Roles: Women in Westerns
Edward A. Grainger's latest column --15 Fierce Female Roles: Women in Westerns
Do Some Damage: Is My Book Too Dirty? by Mike Monson
This is a posting by the author regarding my review of last week and the warning I included concerning the content of the book. While I have no issue at all with the blog posting, I have made a comment on the Do Some Damage blog explaining my position.
If you missed my review you should read that first and it is here:
Do Some Damage: Is My Book Too Dirty? by Mike Monson: by Mike Monson The Kindle edition of my new novella, The Scent of New Death , was released on April 21. That day, a review appear...
If you missed my review you should read that first and it is here:
Do Some Damage: Is My Book Too Dirty? by Mike Monson: by Mike Monson The Kindle edition of my new novella, The Scent of New Death , was released on April 21. That day, a review appear...
Review: "Sentinel’s Choice" by Michael E. Witzgall
It is a cold February night in
Dallas, Texas and the body of Father Robert Lanton has been found on Jefferson Street
near I-35. Homicide Detective Renee LaFleet and his partner Danny “Tex” Beers
have been assigned to the case because of Assistant Police Chief Harold “Harry”
Wong. Wong is not only very good at his job; he is tough on the officers below
him. Chief of Police Chief William Smyth III wants the case solved fast and
though the body has just been found in the last hour he is already pushing Wong
hard to get results.
Despite the fact that both
Wong and Smyth are despised by most, LaFleet likes them and respects them. The Chief
of Police knew the victim, Father Robert Lanton, and believes a Catholic, even
one who has fallen away from the church a bit, should work the case. LaFleet
has done some volunteer work with two of the department chaplains. Taken all
together that means he and his partner, Tex, have the case whether they want it
or not. A complicated case that will eventually lead to a final showdown in an
ice covered Cotton Bowl.
Buried in this book self-published
by the author’s own police tactical company, Charlie-Mike Enterprises is an
interesting story. At nearly every point through Sentinel’s Choice the
story is bogged down with overly long and unrealistic conversations between
characters as well as long descriptions of situations. Frequently when a one or
two sentence paragraph or comment from a character would work far better, the author
choose to give a multi sentence paragraph result in a text that is overly wordy
from start to finish. While the large paper back is only 314 pages, the read
seems considerably longer as the author shows off his extensive military and
police experience as he slowly takes readers through various things point by laborious
point.
That being said, there is a
story here worth reading beyond the noted issues with the book. The many
characters are interesting and a fair number of them are fully developed. The
action scenes work well as do the various complicated angles to the case. The
moral quandary at the heart of the novel is a difficult one with no easy
answers.
A small sample of the next
one in the series titled Sentinel's Dilemma is included at
the end of the book.
Sentinel’s
Choice
Michael
E. Witzgall
Charlie-Mike
Enterprises, Inc.
December
2013
ISBN#
978-0615938905
314
Pages
Large
Paperback (e-book also available)
$13.95
Material supplied by Publicist PJ Nunn of
BreakThrough Promotions for my use in an objective review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2014
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Upcoming Reviews
Below in order of appearance is just some of what is
currently scheduled in coming days here on the blog……
Sentinel’s
Choice by Mike Witzgall
The
Axeman of Storyville (Cash Laramie and Gideon Miles series) by
Heath Lowrance
Fast
Track by Bill Crider and Ed Gorman
Strange
World: A Biff Bam Pop Anthology (various)
Big thanks to my son, Scott, who has been typing out all the reviews that I write in longhand.
Big thanks to my son, Scott, who has been typing out all the reviews that I write in longhand.
Mystery Fanfare: SPOTTED OWL AWARD
Mystery Fanfare: SPOTTED OWL AWARD: Friends of Mystery in Portland, OR, have awarded Mike Lawson the Spotted Owl Award for House Odds . The Spotted Owl Award is given f...
RTE This Week--- New Crime Fiction Reviews at RTE - A Milestone Issue
As posted elsewhere earlier today and sharing here with sincere heartfelt congratulations on an epic achievement....
At RTE this week we celebrate posting our 10,000th review, all of which are archived and available - just use our search function. But we also have
Fifteen new crime fiction reviews:
http://www.reviewingtheevidence.com
Lev Raphael in the 'Sixty seconds with . . .' interview hot seat:
http://www.reviewingtheevidence.com/interviews.html?id=180
Reviews this week:
TITLE AUTHOR REVIEWER
SECRECY Rupert Thomson Yvonne Klein
Zummo, a late 17th century sculptor in wax, arrives in Florence and is employed by Duke Cosimo III to sculpt a life-size woman to replace his absent wife.
YET ANOTHER DEATH IN VENICE Tim Heald Christine Zibas
British Board of Trade detective Simon Bognor tries to find out who shot a UK film director with a crossbow while he was on a visit to Venice.
THE LONG SHADOW Liza Marklund Barbara Fister
Swedish reporter Annika Bengtzon heads to Spain to cover the murder of a Swedish family in a part of the Costa del Sol that is home to luxury-loving Swedes – and a lot of corruption.
DEAD PEOPLE Ewart Hutton Sharon Mensing
Sergeant Capaldi discovers a series of dead and buried bodies in the vicinity of a new wind farm and must fight both the murderer and the police establishment to uncover the truth.
THE RED ROAD (Audio) Denise Mina Karla Jay
The latest in the Alex Morrow series offers a searing view of contemporary Glasgow through the lens of two murders that took place in the 1990s.
DEATH MONEY Henry Chang Yvonne Klein
Called uptown to aid in the investigation of the death of a young Asian man, NYPD detective Jack Yu has trouble even identifying the victim, let alone discovering why he was killed.
DEATH ON BLACKHEATH Anne Perry Anne Corey
The mutilated corpses of attractive young women which keep turning up in a gravel pit near the home of a scientist doing important government work may not be what they appear to be and create a challenging situation for Thomas Pitt, who must solve the crimes and discover what is really at stake.
THE MARATHON CONSPIRACY Gary Corby Sarah Dudley
Nicolaos must solve the murder of a missing school girl, locate another missing daughter and solve the murder of a tyrant, who was believed to have died in battle but whose skeleton was located in a cave near the Sanctuary of Artemis
EVERYTHING TO LOSE Andrew Gross Diana Borse
Hilary Cantor, divorcee with deadbeat ex, newly unemployed and caring for a handicapped child, discovers and steals half a million dollars that she finds in the wrecked car of the dead driver she meant to help -- lots of others want the money, many of them really bad people.
WARRIORS Ted Bell Christine Zibas
Counterspy Alex Hawke must rescue a kidnapped American scientist as the United States and China move dangerously close to all-out nuclear war in this adrenaline-fueled thriller.
BLOOD ALWAYS TELLS Hilary Davidson Paris Abell
Dominique Monaghan comes up with a plan to exact revenge on her cheating ex, but then the tables are turned on them both, leaving her brother, Desmond, to find out what truly happened.
WITHOUT WARNING David Rosenfelt Anne Corey
The opening of a buried time capsule begins a series of murders that directly involve small town police chief Jake Robbins, who is either a demonic killer or the victim of an elaborate revenge plot.
THE POOR BOY'S GAME Dennis Tafoya Cathy Downs
Frannie and Mae Mullen's father, a thug in the protection racket in Philadelphia, burned their mother to death when they were children; now he has escaped prison and is hunting down his daughters.
MORIARTY RETURNS A LETTER Michael Robertson Meredith Frazier
Reggie Heath and Laura Rankin's trip to announce their engagement is interrupted by a schizophrenic murderer with possible connections to a crime dating back to 1893, as well as more recent evils
We post more than 900 new reviews a year -- all of them are archived on the site -- as well as a new interview with a top author every issue.
Yvonne Klein
Editor: ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com
At RTE this week we celebrate posting our 10,000th review, all of which are archived and available - just use our search function. But we also have
Fifteen new crime fiction reviews:
http://www.reviewingtheevidence.com
Lev Raphael in the 'Sixty seconds with . . .' interview hot seat:
http://www.reviewingtheevidence.com/interviews.html?id=180
Reviews this week:
TITLE AUTHOR REVIEWER
SECRECY Rupert Thomson Yvonne Klein
Zummo, a late 17th century sculptor in wax, arrives in Florence and is employed by Duke Cosimo III to sculpt a life-size woman to replace his absent wife.
YET ANOTHER DEATH IN VENICE Tim Heald Christine Zibas
British Board of Trade detective Simon Bognor tries to find out who shot a UK film director with a crossbow while he was on a visit to Venice.
THE LONG SHADOW Liza Marklund Barbara Fister
Swedish reporter Annika Bengtzon heads to Spain to cover the murder of a Swedish family in a part of the Costa del Sol that is home to luxury-loving Swedes – and a lot of corruption.
DEAD PEOPLE Ewart Hutton Sharon Mensing
Sergeant Capaldi discovers a series of dead and buried bodies in the vicinity of a new wind farm and must fight both the murderer and the police establishment to uncover the truth.
THE RED ROAD (Audio) Denise Mina Karla Jay
The latest in the Alex Morrow series offers a searing view of contemporary Glasgow through the lens of two murders that took place in the 1990s.
DEATH MONEY Henry Chang Yvonne Klein
Called uptown to aid in the investigation of the death of a young Asian man, NYPD detective Jack Yu has trouble even identifying the victim, let alone discovering why he was killed.
DEATH ON BLACKHEATH Anne Perry Anne Corey
The mutilated corpses of attractive young women which keep turning up in a gravel pit near the home of a scientist doing important government work may not be what they appear to be and create a challenging situation for Thomas Pitt, who must solve the crimes and discover what is really at stake.
THE MARATHON CONSPIRACY Gary Corby Sarah Dudley
Nicolaos must solve the murder of a missing school girl, locate another missing daughter and solve the murder of a tyrant, who was believed to have died in battle but whose skeleton was located in a cave near the Sanctuary of Artemis
EVERYTHING TO LOSE Andrew Gross Diana Borse
Hilary Cantor, divorcee with deadbeat ex, newly unemployed and caring for a handicapped child, discovers and steals half a million dollars that she finds in the wrecked car of the dead driver she meant to help -- lots of others want the money, many of them really bad people.
WARRIORS Ted Bell Christine Zibas
Counterspy Alex Hawke must rescue a kidnapped American scientist as the United States and China move dangerously close to all-out nuclear war in this adrenaline-fueled thriller.
BLOOD ALWAYS TELLS Hilary Davidson Paris Abell
Dominique Monaghan comes up with a plan to exact revenge on her cheating ex, but then the tables are turned on them both, leaving her brother, Desmond, to find out what truly happened.
WITHOUT WARNING David Rosenfelt Anne Corey
The opening of a buried time capsule begins a series of murders that directly involve small town police chief Jake Robbins, who is either a demonic killer or the victim of an elaborate revenge plot.
THE POOR BOY'S GAME Dennis Tafoya Cathy Downs
Frannie and Mae Mullen's father, a thug in the protection racket in Philadelphia, burned their mother to death when they were children; now he has escaped prison and is hunting down his daughters.
MORIARTY RETURNS A LETTER Michael Robertson Meredith Frazier
Reggie Heath and Laura Rankin's trip to announce their engagement is interrupted by a schizophrenic murderer with possible connections to a crime dating back to 1893, as well as more recent evils
We post more than 900 new reviews a year -- all of them are archived on the site -- as well as a new interview with a top author every issue.
Yvonne Klein
Editor: ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com
Sample Sunday: Excerpt "SIBYL DISOBEDIENCE" from "PUN-ishing Tales: The Stuff That Groans Are Made On" by Barry Ergang
Barry
is back this week with another excerpt from PUN-ishing Tales: The Stuff That Groans Are Made On. His work FEEDWAY from the book can be sampled here.
SIBYL DISOBEDIENCE
by Barry Ergang
Her people clamored against its oppression, but the provincial government responded savagely, killing hundreds. She made it her mission to find an inspirer to unify and lead the protesters.
“I’ve written to a prophetess in Manchuria
I’ve read about,” she said, “who follows the peaceful precepts of Mahatma
Gandhi. I’m meeting with her to beg her assistance in our cause.”
“That’s dangerous and probably futile,” her betrothed said. “I won’t
allow you to risk your life.”
“I’m going. You can’t stop me.”
He nodded, scowling.
“All right. But don’t expect me to approve of the Manchurian Gandhi date.”
“All right. But don’t expect me to approve of the Manchurian Gandhi date.”
Barry Ergang © 2013
Saturday, April 26, 2014
The Non-Gamer's Gamer's Blog: Whatever Happened to the Arcade?
The Non-Gamer's Gamer's Blog: Whatever Happened to the Arcade?: Whatever happened to the arcade? I could just as well ask whatever happened to the mall, as for the most part, that's gone as well, ...
KRL This Week--- Clea Simon, Melissa Bourbon, Ann Purser, Coming Attractions, giveaways, video interview & more in KRL
As posted elsewhere late this afternoon...
As always, you can find all of these and much more by going to our home page and scrolling down http://KingsRiverLife.com
Lorie
--
Up this morning in Kings River Life Magazine the latest
Coming Attractions column by Sunny Frazier, along with some ebook giveaways of
"The Undercover Genius" by Patricia Rice, "The Libra Affair"
by Daco Auffenorde, & "The Murder House" by Nancy Jarvis http://kingsriverlife.com/04/26/coming-attractions-in-may/
We also have reviews & giveaways of 4 more fun mysteries
from Penguin-"A Killing Notion" by Melissa Bourbon, "A Roux of
Revenge" by Connie Archer, "The Blackwoods Farm Enquiry" by Ann
Purser, and "A Second Helping of Murder": A Comfort Food Mystery by
Christine Wenger, & we have a video interview with Connie Archer as well!
http://kingsriverlife.com/04/26/more-april-penguin-mystery-fun/
Also up, a review & giveaway of a new animal related
mystery by Clea Simon, "Panthers Play for Keeps"
http://kingsriverlife.com/04/26/panthers-play-for-keeps-by-clea-simon/
And we also have a review & giveaway of "Blood
Tango" by Annamaria Alfieri http://kingsriverlife.com/04/26/blood-tango-by-annamaria-alfieri/
And a review & giveaway of another pet related mystery,
"A Taste Fur Murder" by Dixie Lyle & an
interview with Dixie
http://kingsriverlife.com/04/26/a-taste-fur-murder-by-dixie-lyle/
Lastly, for those who enjoy some vampires with their
mystery, a review and giveaway of the latest Chicagoland Vampires book by Chloe
Neill, "Wild Things"
http://kingsriverlife.com/04/26/wild-things-by-chloe-neill/
--
KRL is now selling advertising & we have special discounts for
mystery authors & bookstores! Ask me about it!
Mystery section in Kings River Life http://KingsRiverLife.com
Check out my own blog at http://mysteryratscloset.blogspot.com/
mystery authors & bookstores! Ask me about it!
Mystery section in Kings River Life http://KingsRiverLife.com
Death by Killing: All Due Respect Issue 2: Featuring Owen Laukkanen
Death by Killing: All Due Respect Issue 2: Featuring Owen Laukkanen: We're proud to have thriller author Owen Laukkanen on board for issue 2. He has a hell of a story about deep sea fishing, plus an inter...
Review: "Miles To Little Ridge (Cash Laramie & Gideon Miles Series)" by Heath Lowrance
It was just a strange twist
of fate that bought U.S. Marshall Gideon Miles to Little Ridge. He is looking
for Edward Gandy who is wanted for bank robbery in two states. According to the
local
Sheriff from what little Miles could get out of him, Gandy has been a
farmer in the area for the past three years, has a daughter, and is a good guy.
The idea that Gandy could have ever done bank robbery is unthinkable to the
Sheriff.
Whether or not Gandy was
ever a bank robber is not an issue for Miles. He has been told to bring him
back and that is what he will do. The Sheriff is going to be useless with the
arrest of Gandy and that might be just as well as considering his attitude
about U.S. Marshals and African American ones in particular. He is also most
likely going to be worthless regarding other potentially dangerous events
involving Miles in Little Ridge.
Like others in this series Miles
To Little Ridge is another solidly good western. Interesting
characters, plenty of twists, and turns along with lots of action makes the
series as well as this one good.
Miles to Little Ridge (Cash Laramie
& Gideon Miles Series)
Heath Lowrance
Beat To A Pulp
December, 2011
ASIN: B006K5QR88
E-Book
33 Pages (estimated)
33 Pages (estimated)
$0.99
Material
was purchased to read and review via funds in my Amazon Associates Account.
Kevin
R. Tipple ©2014
Friday, April 25, 2014
Lesa's Latest Contest-- Women of Crime Giveaway
As posted far earlier today.....
Giving away 2 crime novels this week, Alafair Burke's If You Were Here, and Maggie Barbieri's Once Upon a Lie. Details on my blog, http://www.lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com. Entries from the U.S. only, please.
Giving away 2 crime novels this week, Alafair Burke's If You Were Here, and Maggie Barbieri's Once Upon a Lie. Details on my blog, http://www.lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com. Entries from the U.S. only, please.
--
Lesa Holstine
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Savage Harvest by Carl Hoffman
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Savage Harvest by Carl Hoffman: Reviewed by Jeanne For decades, the name “Rockefeller” has been synonymous with wealth and power. John D. and William Rockefeller es...
Ed Gorman's blog: Now Available from Rough Edges Press: Fast Track - Ed Gorman and Bill Crider
With Sandi in bed asleep after a very long day for us down at Texas Oncology at Medical City Dallas Hospital where she got her third IVIG infusion, I am sitting on my back porch working on an upcoming review of this book. If you have not already read FAST TRACK you truly should as it is a good one.
Ed Gorman's blog: Now Available from Rough Edges Press: Fast Track - Ed Gorman and Bill Crider
Ed Gorman's blog: Now Available from Rough Edges Press: Fast Track - Ed Gorman and Bill Crider
Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: FFB: Nelson Algren's Own Book of Lonesome Monsters...
Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: FFB: Nelson Algren's Own Book of Lonesome Monsters...: Did you ever buy an anthology just for one story? I wouldn't be surprised if some of you had done that very thing. Almost exactly five...
FFB Review-- "The Education of H*y*m*a*n K*a*p*l*a*n " (1937) by Leonard Q. Ross (Reviewed by Barry Ergang)
Friday means Friday’s
Forgotten Books hosted by Patti Abbott here.
Barry is back today with his review of The
Education of H*y*m*a*n K*a*p*l*a*n by Leonard Q. Ross.
THE EDUCATION OF H*Y*M*A*N K*A*P*L*A*N
(1937) by Leonard Q. Ross
Reviewed by Barry
Ergang
During the 1930s, Leo Rosten, under the pseudonym Leonard Q.
Ross, wrote a series of comical short stories published in The New Yorker about Hyman Kaplan, an immigrant attending Mr.
Parkhill's class at the American Night Preparatory School for Adults
("English—Americanization—Civics—Preparation for Naturalization").
Why the stars between the letters of Kaplan's name? Because
that's the way he writes it on the assignments he turns in, as explained in
"The Rather Difficult Case of Mr. K*a*p*l*a*n," the first story in
the book: "[Mr. Parkhill] turned the page over and read the name. It was
printed in large, firm letters with red crayon. Each letter was outlined in blue.
Between every two letters was a star, carefully drawn, in green." It isn't
long before Parkhill realizes that Kaplan's will be a challenging case, as
demonstrated by his efforts in Recitation and Speech, and in English
composition. In the former categories, for instance, he says the "most
famous tree American wriders" are "Jeck Laundon, Valt Viterman, and
the author of 'Hawk L. Barry-Feen,' one Mocktvain. Mr. Kaplan took pains to
point out that he did not mention Relfvaldo Amerson because 'He is a poyet, an'
I'm talkink abot wriders.'" The remainder of the story, which will
definitely elicit readers' smiles and, possibly, out-and-out laughter, concerns the meaning of the word
"vast" and Parkhill trying to answer Kaplan's question about the
meaning of what "sounded, in Mr. Kaplan's rendition, like 'a big
department.'"
In "Mr. K*a*p*l*a*n, the Comparative, and the
Superlative," Parkhill has delayed calling upon Kaplan for two weeks to
present his composition for an analysis by the class. But everyone else has
written his or her hundred-word composition entitled "My Job," so
Parkhill can't put it off any longer. The comments, corrections and debates
between Kaplan and Parkhill and Kaplan and classmates lead to a comical lesson
about positive, comparative, and superlative forms of adjectives.
"Mr. K*a*p*l*a*n's Hobo" has our hero once again
participating in a Recitation and Speech session, this time talking about the
joys of a vacation: "De sky! De son! De stoss! De clods. De frash air in
de longs. All—all is pot from Netcher!" He prefaces this by explaining his
"hobo," which leads to corrections by Parkhill and Miss Mitnick, and
arguments with Mr. Bloom, and Mrs. Moskowitz. (No, I'm not going to reveal what
"hobo" actually means.)
By now you get the idea, sparing me the need to mention the
premise of every story: each of the fifteen concerns Mr. Parkhill (whom Kaplan addresses
as "Mr. Pockheel") calling on various students to present
compositions or to answer questions about assignments, and Kaplan presenting in
his own unique manner his takes on said assignments, usually with bizarre logic
and comical results. I'd be remiss, however, if I didn't single out the
must-read "Mr. K*a*p*l*a*n and Shakespeare," in which Kaplan presents
his interpretation of the "Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow"
speech from Macbeth—as perceived by
"Julius Scissor."
If you love the English language and wordplay, and have a
sense of humor, you'll definitely grin your way through The Education of H*y*m*a*n
K*a*p*l*a*n and, most likely, laugh out loud more than a few times
as I did. Highly recommended.
Barry Ergang © 2014
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Cancer Doc Friday--We Try Again
Assuming the disaster caused by switching Sandi to COBRA at $900 bucks a month to maintain her coverage has been fixed this week and her insurance coverage has been fully restored in all the computer systems, we have a very long day planned tomorrow at the hospital. She will have blood work and an evaluation by the cancer doctor. Assuming permission is granted, they then will move her to the infusion room for the multi-hour IVIG infusion.
Apparently my long standing idea to cut the top of the bag and have Sandi drink it straight is not an approved medical technique. It would save considerable time though.
Since moving her over to infusion and starting her anti nausea meds and saline drip through the port may not happen until around noon tomorrow it means that what normally gets started around 10 most likely will be starting at least two if not three hours later. One hopes it goes well and there are no complications.
Hopefully, if all goes well, by sunset we can go back to UTD and pick up Scott who will have been out since noon from his classes. Once we have picked him up we can finally come home.
Apparently my long standing idea to cut the top of the bag and have Sandi drink it straight is not an approved medical technique. It would save considerable time though.
Since moving her over to infusion and starting her anti nausea meds and saline drip through the port may not happen until around noon tomorrow it means that what normally gets started around 10 most likely will be starting at least two if not three hours later. One hopes it goes well and there are no complications.
Hopefully, if all goes well, by sunset we can go back to UTD and pick up Scott who will have been out since noon from his classes. Once we have picked him up we can finally come home.
Scott's Foot
If you have been following the saga of Scott's latest foot injury in recent weeks, he had a checkup with the podiatrist today. The doctor says his foot is fully healed and Scott no longer has to wear the walking boot. Needless to say my son is extremely pleased with this news.
WELCOME TO HELL ~ by Glenn Walker: Superman Unbound
WELCOME TO HELL ~ by Glenn Walker: Superman Unbound: Superman Unbound ~ I was not expecting to like this. Many of the recent DC animated flicks have been just okay, significantly altered ...
Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: The future of the library
Make sure to read the link in the comment section on Bill's blog...
Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: The future of the library: The future of the library: How they’ll evolve for the digital age.
Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: The future of the library: The future of the library: How they’ll evolve for the digital age.
Senior News Book Review Column--- April 2014
For several years now I have been writing a monthly
book review column for the Senior News newspaper. The Senior
News is aimed to the 50 and over readership with news relevant to
seniors regarding various issues, humor pieces, and my review column among other
things. The newspaper is a giveaway at doctor offices, stores, etc. and can be
received by mail via a paid subscription. There are multiple editions across
the state of Texas and therefore there is some fluctuation in content in each
edition.
My column every month focuses on books of interest to the Texas audience. Therefore the books selected for the column, fiction or non-fiction, are written by Texas residents, feature Texans in some way, or would have some other connection to the Texas based readership. At least two books are covered each month in the short space I am given.
Below is/was my April 2014 column ……
My column every month focuses on books of interest to the Texas audience. Therefore the books selected for the column, fiction or non-fiction, are written by Texas residents, feature Texans in some way, or would have some other connection to the Texas based readership. At least two books are covered each month in the short space I am given.
Below is/was my April 2014 column ……
The
Last Death Of Jack Harbin: A Samuel Craddock Mystery
Terry
Shames
Seventh Street Books (imprint of
Prometheus Books)
ISBN# 978-1-61614-871-3
Paperback (also available as an
e-book)
250 Pages
Back in the day just before the first Gulf War, Jack
Hardin was quarterback of the Jarrett Creek High School Panthers and he was the
man. He wasn’t when he came home after serving in the first Gulf War. Blind,
crippled and confined to a wheelchair, abandoned by his mom and many others,
Jack primarily relies on his father Bob Harbin to take care of him. The same
Bob Harbin who just died of an apparent heart attack on the street in front of
his house in the opening pages of The Last Death Of Jack Harbin: A Samuel
Craddock Mystery by Terry Shames.
Bob Harbin’s death is just one of the many events
going on in this second book of the series. As he was in A Killing At Cotton Hill
Samuel Craddock, retired police chief, is the only real person around with
actual law enforcement experience and training. The past may have been buried,
but it coming back to life and taking a heavy toll on the town folk of Jarrett
Creek, Texas in so many ways and Samuel Craddock might be the only one who can
figure it out and stop those responsible.
Crochet
One-Skein Wonders: 101 Projects From Crocheters Around The World
Edited
by Judith Durant & Edie Eckman
Storey
Publishing
ISBN#
978-1-61212-042-3
Paperback
(also available in e-book format)
288
Pages
As the subtitle 101 Projects From Crocheters Around The
World makes clear, variety is very much at work here in this nearly 300
page book. The projects are divided up into seven categories reflecting the
weight of the skein. The explanation of those weights can be found in the
glossary as are explanations of the techniques needed, abbreviations used, and
other helpful information. Instead of
being at the front of the book as usually happens that informative stuff is at
the back so that Crochet One-Skein Wonders begins immediately with the projects.
Featuring project diversity and variety in skill
levels, the 101 projects in Crochet One-Skein Wonders are sure
to work for you as well as your family and friends. The projects selected by
editors Judith Durant and Edie Eckman can be made for recipients of all age
levels and would be treasured gifts.
Kevin R Tipple ©2014
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Dallas is Rocking!
Dallas is rocking tonight as the Mavericks beat the Spurs and the Stars beat the Ducks. Both series are now even! Good night for the hometown guys.
Via Criminal Element-- The Poor Boy's Game by Dennis Tafoya
The Poor Boy's Game by Dennis Tafoya is reviewed here.
Review: "The Scent Of New Death" by Mike Monson
One simply can’t judge a book by the cover. That is
certainly the case here with a picturesque cover that conceals an intensely brutal
novella that has, among other elements, incest, bondage, rough sex, and plenty
of violence and bloodbaths on nearly every page. Overall, this read is a good
one featuring a large cast of characters, a number of backstories for each one,
and multiple intense storylines. However, readers are warned that The
Scent Of New Death by Mike Monson is very much an adult novel that will
offend and horrify some readers.
It has been a bad June afternoon for Phil Gaines.
After robbing a Wells-Fargo Bank branch in Pleasanton near San Francisco, his partner
Jeff successfully drove them away from the bank and to a planned rendezvous with
Phil’s wife, Paige. Then Phil’s meticulous plan went out the window and things
went wrong in so many ways. Phil may practice “Zazen” (a form of mediation) and
strive to live an ordered life so as to not draw attention to himself, but that
is easier said than done. Zen training does not solve everything.
What follows is a hardboiled multilayered novella that
is very graphic in terms of language, sexual situations and descriptions, and near
constant violence. Shifting between
Phil, Jeff, Paige, and numerous other characters, author Mike Monson weaves
multiple complicated backstories of the various characters into a very
complicated present day situation. An
incredibly violent tale of lust and betrayal in and out of the bedroom, The
Scent Of New Death builds to a dark climax that changes all who survive
the final showdown.
Readers are again cautioned that storylines involving
incest of a child of the age of 18, bondage, rough sex, as well as frequent brutal
and bloody murders are present throughout the book. This is not a cozy style
read in any way possible as everything is fully on the stage for the reader to
see and experience. It simply can’t be stressed strongly enough that this is very much
an adult read and only suitable for adult readers.
The Scent Of New Death
Mike Monson
http://mikemonson.org/
Out Of The Gutter
http://www.gutterbooks.com/
April 21, 2014
ASIN: B00JUCXK4C
E-Book (print also available)
$2.99
Material supplied by the author in exchange for my
objective review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2014
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Via Patti Abbott--- NEEDLE MAGAZINE
I never have read one of these as they have always been way more than I could afford. But, I hear lots of good things. Spring issue details here.
Rough Edges: Rough Edges Press Website
Rough Edges: Rough Edges Press Website: Livia's put together a website for Rough Edges Press with information on all the books we've published so far. The last time I co...
Brings Barry Ergang To Mind
Just saw this and it immediately brings Barry Ergang to mind.....
Among other books Barry has written is PUN-ishing
Tales: The Stuff That Groans Are Made On available at Amazon and Smashwords.
Lady Sandra: Crochet project finished from the end of MARCH unt...
This is her most recent stuff......
Lady Sandra: Crochet project finished from the end of MARCH unt...: I made a whole bunch of slipper for the shelter. See below and and I made a pair of slippers for my neigh...
Lady Sandra: Crochet project finished from the end of MARCH unt...: I made a whole bunch of slipper for the shelter. See below and and I made a pair of slippers for my neigh...
Via Crime Time Preview: Poker in TV Crime dramas
Poker used to make an appearance in CASTLE from time to time....
Crime Time Preview: Poker in TV Crime dramas: WHEN is it appropriate to reference a high-stakes poker game in a TV series? When the stakes are high, of course. While there are certainly...
Crime Time Preview: Poker in TV Crime dramas: WHEN is it appropriate to reference a high-stakes poker game in a TV series? When the stakes are high, of course. While there are certainly...
Monday, April 21, 2014
CrimeFictionWriter: Published
CrimeFictionWriter: Published: My essay "Eat Fresh" appears in the May/June 2014 issue of Texas Gardener.
Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: Books Every Writer Needs to Read
I admit to not having read any of these.....
Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: Books Every Writer Needs to Read: Books Every Writer Needs to Read
Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: Books Every Writer Needs to Read: Books Every Writer Needs to Read
Via The Passive Voice--- Suing e-book reviewers and being a public jerk: Two bad ideas in one
I have noticed more and more authors advocating that reviewers should be sued for a review the author did not like......
Suing e-book reviewers and being a public jerk: Two bad ideas in one
Suing e-book reviewers and being a public jerk: Two bad ideas in one
The REAL Sam Houston National Forest
Last night the CBS show THE MENTALIST allegedly went to the Sam Houston National Forest to work a case. The first and most obvious problem was, upon arrival at the site, they showed land with mountains on it. Since the real life Sam Houston National Forest is just a little bit north of Houston anyone doing anything on the show should have known better.
Been there years ago and it was/is a great place. You can read more about the real place here.
Been there years ago and it was/is a great place. You can read more about the real place here.
Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: San Jacinto Day!
Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: San Jacinto Day!: Battle of San Jacinto - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia : The Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day Harris County...
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Little Big Crimes: Hunters, by John M. Floyd
Little Big Crimes: Hunters, by John M. Floyd: "Hunters," by John M. Floyd, in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, May 2014. So, where do you get your ideas? That's ...
A Writer's Life....Caroline Clemmons: KILLING SECRETS . . .SOME SECRETS ARE BETTER LEFT ...
A Writer's Life....Caroline Clemmons: KILLING SECRETS . . .SOME SECRETS ARE BETTER LEFT ...: Quick Facts R elease Date: April 17, 2014 Genre: Romantic Suspense ...
KRL This Week-- Easter mystery short story & much more in KRL's Earth Day & Easter issue
As posted elsewhere yesterday.....
In celebration of Earth Day Kings River Life Magazine is
only featuring ebooks this week. We have reviews & giveaways of 5 mystery
ebooks-"Unholy Matrimony": a Lucille Mystery By Peg Cochran, "Sketcher
in the Rye": A Portrait of Crime Mystery By Sharon Pape, "The Sleuth
Sisters" By Maggie Pill, "Twisted" By Laura K. Curtis and "Grand
Delusion" by Matt Witten
http://kingsriverlife.com/04/19/celebrate-earth-day-with-5-mystery-ebooks/
Also up an interview with one of the founders of Untreed
Reads, a leader in ebook publishing & publisher of many great mystery
novels & short stories
http://kingsriverlife.com/04/19/digital-first-publisher-untreed-reads/
Also this morning we have a review & giveaway of another
mystery ebook- "Killer Blonde" by Elaine Viets
http://kingsriverlife.com/04/19/killer-blonde-by-elaine-viets/
And we have a review & giveaway of a fun enovella mystery,
"Dummy of a Ghost" by Sue Ann Jaffarian
http://kingsriverlife.com/04/19/dummy-of-a-ghost-a-ghost-by-sue-ann-jaffarian/
Don't miss this fun Easter mystery short story by Gail
Farrelly http://kingsriverlife.com/04/16/in-your-easter-bonnet-an-easter-mystery-short-story/
Lastly this week in KRL check out this fun article by Sharon
Tucker about Susan Wittig Albert's mysteries about herbalist China Bayles
http://kingsriverlife.com/04/19/celebrate-the-rites-of-spring-with-three-mysteries-by-susan-wittig-albert/
As always, you can find all of these and more, including a
bunch of fun Easter & Earth Day articles this week, by going to our home
page and scrolling down http://KingsRiverLife.com
Happy Easter & Earth Day,
Lorie
KRL is now selling advertising & we have special discounts for
mystery authors & bookstores! Ask me about it!
Mystery section in Kings River Life http://KingsRiverLife.com
Check out my own blog at http://mysteryratscloset.blogspot.com/ mystery authors & bookstores! Ask me about it!
Mystery section in Kings River Life http://KingsRiverLife.com
Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Att...
Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Att...: Amazon.com: How the West Was Written: Frontier Fiction, 1880-1906 eBook: Ron Scheer: Kindle Store : The chapters of How the West Was Written...
Via The Passive Voice---What’s Barnes & Noble’s Survival Plan?
In the early 90s Barnes and Noble bought the chain I was working for called Bookstop. I still remember a 7 am staff meeting where we were introduced to Riggio who, among lots of things that were flat out wrong, proceeded to tell us all that we had been doing everything wrong to sell books. All books were created equal and could be sold like potatoes as all potatoes were equal. That was when I first was introduced to his mantra--"a potato is a potato is potato and a book is a book is a book." I never thought it was remotely true about potatoes, but I knew for sure he was totally wrong about books.
It is just unfortunate that those many of us who loved books and knew something were marginalized by those in charge who wanted nothing more than larger salaries, more and more perks, and fancy job titles while they drove the company right off the damn cliff.
What’s Barnes & Noble’s Survival Plan?
It is just unfortunate that those many of us who loved books and knew something were marginalized by those in charge who wanted nothing more than larger salaries, more and more perks, and fancy job titles while they drove the company right off the damn cliff.
What’s Barnes & Noble’s Survival Plan?
Sample Sunday-- Excerpt from "Bartholomew Mortiman" in "Mind Slices: A Collection Of New And Previously Published Stories"
Since this is Easter Sunday and a small part of the story, I thought I would share a sample from “Bartholomew Mortiman” today. Some of the themes that run through a lot of my work appear in this story which was first published long ago in Starblade Magazine.
BARTHOLOMEW MORTIMAN
STUDENT BARTHOLOMEW MORTIMAN
PRESUMED DEAD, FIRE UNEXPLAINED.
COMPILED FROM AP, UPI WIRE REPORTS. . .
Today,
fire fighters recovered the remains of a journal from the destroyed apartment
of Bartholomew Mortiman. Mr. Mortiman, undergraduate at City College,
is believed to have perished in the intense fire, even though his body has not
been recovered. While known for his odd behavior in a neighborhood famous for
eccentricity, in recent weeks his personal torment had apparently grown. Fellow
students said that the troubled Mr. Mortiman had caused several outbursts
recently in classes. While he had always questioned the usefulness of the
college experience and his course work, recently he had become more agitated
and prone to wild accusations. According to classmates, his quality of work
declined at the same time his comments about “something evil coming for him”
grew.
Reporters
were shown some of the recent artwork that Mr. Mortiman had created in the last
weeks before his apparent death. The dark images seem to make use of a
considerable amount of blood, gore, and a figure in various paintings that may
be a representation of Satan. Neighbors and friends dispute the suggestion by
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms agents that Mr. Mortiman was a collector of
firearms and possibly a known drug dealer and user.
However,
a portion of his personal journal, released by ATF agents, seems to confirm the
ATF position. ATF agents say that part of the journal was covered by a large
cross and accompanying rosary, which may have protected it from burning.
Despite the intensity of the fire, these few pages are almost perfectly intact
and do not show any signs of singeing or water damage. The following is,
according to the ATF, the complete portion of the journal that survived the
fire.
Friday, April 9th
The very positively reviewed book is available for
$2.99 at the following sites….
Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/243655
Barnes and Noble’s NOOK
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mind-slices-kevin-tipple/1113576100?ean=2940044983076
I hope you will take a look.
Kevin