Fiction
Righting my wrongs
Natasha sat on the tiled floor, legs crossed with the TV remote in her hand, her jaws dropped and eyes virtually bulging out of their sockets.
Dera SylviaPublished 7 days ago in CritiqueThe Wyrm King
'The Wyrm King' the third and final volume of Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. In this volume the fantastical characters are really showing themselves and their various talents. Nick and Laurie and family and still learning and making compromises as well as promises trying to be kept in helping the Nixie's and the other people and entities. Nick along with all the others learn how to help each other past and present. Once again Holly Black's artwork would make great coloring pages. All of these books thanks to Tony and Holly were great show and tell books for all ages.
Mark GrahamPublished 7 days ago in CritiqueA Giant Problem
'A Giant Problem' is book two of Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. In this story Nick and Laurie are still trying to help the Nixie's, but another adventure issue pervades their activities in helping them while more fantastical characters are introduced. Nick and Laurie are still learning more about family and friends and working through various ideas and issues. They meet an old man named Noseeum Jack who has a few stories for them. Again, Holly Black's artwork depicts various scenes really well and again would make great coloring pages.
Mark GrahamPublished 7 days ago in CritiqueThe Nixie's Song
'The Nixie's Song' is Book One of a three volume series of Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles created by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. 'The Nixie's Song' is the story of how Nick Vargas learns all about the magical world that no one else can see. Nick has a few issues that he needs to figure out family wise. His father meets someone and things change. He meets his new stepsister Laurie and a few other things begin to happen that can be somewhat unexplainable. This is a fast paced read and basically for the youth readers out there, but I found them interesting for adults could learn from them too. The illustrations that Holly created were well detailed and I thought they would make good coloring pages.
Mark GrahamPublished 7 days ago in CritiqueWHAT YOU NEED NOW
In an unprecedented and historic turn of events, President Joe Biden addressed the nation from the Oval Office, acknowledging the failure of U.S. efforts in Ukraine and Gaza. In a speech that stunned both allies and adversaries, Biden admitted that the complex geopolitical challenges had overwhelmed his administration's strategies and called upon former President Donald Trump to assist in finding a path forward.
lahsen ezahouaniPublished 8 days ago in CritiqueThe House at Pooh Corner
The last book that I received in my Winnie the Pooh collection is entitled 'The House at Pooh Corner' written by A.A. Milne. This is the book when their new friend Tigger bounces into the story. It is also the book where things begin to change, and it seems that they are all growing up in so many ways. Pooh and everyone try to change Tigger, become a little more organized for various projects, learning new things about each other and finding out what learning can do for you and others and just plain helping each other in what they do whether work or play. 'The House at Pooh Corner' can really be anywhere where one needs to figure things out whether you are an adult or child for all you have to do is close your eyes and you are there in your own special Pooh corner.
Mark GrahamPublished 10 days ago in CritiqueBoys Kills World (2023)
Boy Kills World is a dystopian thriller staring Bill Skarsgard (Boy), who does not say a single word through the entire 111 minute run time. It is however, one of his best performances to date (in my entirely unprofessional opinion). Instead his inner monologue is narrated by H. Jon Benjamin (Bob’s Burgers) with just the right amount of comedy to lighten the graphic and violent action sequences. Skarsgard’s facial expressions show you that his character is a killing machine, uncertain of himself at time, but solely focused on his mission. Now, lets get into the plot.
Mariah CruisePublished 11 days ago in CritiqueWinnie the Pooh
The other day I wrote a short critique on Winnie the Pooh that mainly gave the idea how this book could help children and their mental health. But the story of Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne is actually the story of friendships in all their various forms from Pooh and Piglet, Pooh and Eeyore, and even Pooh and all the others. The most important friendship is Pooh and Christopher Robin. Pooh and Piglet and their various adventures, Pooh making new friends with Kanga and Roo, Pooh and Rabbit when Pooh would like a snack, Pooh and Eeyore who needs to feel friendship. All of these are shown when hunting for Woozles and Heffalumps, to throwing a party when a flood is over to just sharing a favorite snack or two and as a gang going on expedition. Winnie the Pooh is a children's novel that makes a good read for adults as well as kids even though the illustrations are pencil sketches, they give the story a homey feel.
Mark GrahamPublished 11 days ago in CritiqueBlood Magick
Nora Robert's has written the third installment to the O'Dwyer trilogy entitled 'Blood Magick'. The major story in this part of the series is all about Branna, Fin and Meara. Will the three, and the three and three be able to conquer their known enemy from centuries before. Once again Nora Robert's has written a story that will keep you reading to the end showing and telling through vivid descriptions of all the characters and settings and events.
Mark GrahamPublished 12 days ago in CritiqueShadow Spell
The second installment of Nora Robert's Cousins O'Dwyer trilogy 'Shadow Spell' is all about Conner and his talents and his building relationship with Meara. The cousins seem to go back and forth between times and begin working with the cousins of the past and learning from them in dealing with Cabhan in their time and theirs. There are many issues that they are all dealing with in their lives. Nora Robert's once again has written a show and tell story. I have started reading book three of this series.
Mark GrahamPublished 14 days ago in CritiqueWinnie the Pooh
This is the first Winnie the Pooh novel that is entitled 'Winnie the Pooh' created by A.A. Milne. This first book is all about Pooh's adventures in the Hundred Acre Woods living under a sign saying 'Sanders'. Pooh meets a Woozle, a Heffalump, goes to a birthday party and a few other activities as well. After I have read this book several times and still quite enjoyed the read, but since I was a mental health nurse it also showed me a different way of looking at eating disorders, anxiety, depression, hyperactivity, attachment disorders, and even grandiose ideations. Mainly though it is a book showing how imagination is the way to go as a child such as Christopher Robin shows how to grow up to be a good person in many ways.
Mark GrahamPublished 15 days ago in CritiqueThe Shining
I am not sure I may have wrote a review here a long time ago for 'The Shining' written by Stephen King, but not sure. 'The Shining' is a thriller/horror novel that involves a family of a husband/father, young son, and wife/mother living and working at a very mysterious hotel that was and is famous. I like reading thriller/horror books, but for some reason I do not like watching them and I have seen this particular on television. My favorite parts of the book were when the son would play outside in the gardens and when it seemed that they would go back in time in a way in various parts of the book. To me it was quite the page turner. Believe it or not I read this book in two days.
Mark GrahamPublished 16 days ago in Critique