The Camera Never Lies - A Review

The Camera Never Lies

by

David Rawlings

David Rawlings writes fiction that is as revealing as it is fictional. On the surface, the book is about a man, one David Whiteley, whose family, whose job, and whose reputation, stand on a precipice - one that will crumble beneath his feet if something does not change. Beginning with the death of his grandfather and the unexpected camera left to him at his grandfather’s death, life begins to unravel.

But this camera is special. The resulting pictures have exceptional clarity, and they often reveal more truth than the photographer is planning for. Ultimately the question becomes, what will the photographer respond to that truth. And that is the question that David faces as he retrieves his prints from Simon, the owner of the camera shop around the corner from his work as a mental health counselor. 

The author has the very nice ability to ask both David Whiteley and the reader to answer the same two questions: Are we willing to have the truth revealed; and how will we respond to the truth. The answers do not come easily and the cost of difficult truths is often less than the cost of hiding that truth.

David Whiteley finds The Camera Never Lies. Are we willing to look at our lives with the same clarity?
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Winterthorn - A Review

Winterthorn

by

David R. Phillips

A Review

Winterthorn is a continuation of the Fairy World stories begun in the author’s earlier work, Gliserwood.  It, like the previous work, has the feel of reading The Wizard of Oz for the first time - magical, mysterious, and attention grabbing. I was certainly glad that I had taken the time to read the first book in the series as it introduced the reader to many of individuals and species that are part of this second book.  Having said that, this second book adds new characters, species, and history that make this make believe world come alive to the reader.

As we learn more of Laurel’s heritage and the reason the Fairy World seems so much like home.  At the same time, the Fairy World if facing its worst crisis as a group of rebellious beings try to redefine the very world they have called home.  Laurel and her new friends will need to step forward and help save the environment that has become home.

My first comments to myself, as I began to read this book, included the following thoughts:

1. I am glad I had read the first book.
2. The author has matured as a writer - there is an obvious improvement in the style and approach the author has taken has he puts words to paper.

It was a pleasure to again visit the fairy world and walk with Laurel and her friends as they seek to understand the events around them.  I am already looking forward to the third part of this trilogy.

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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the author for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Ninjateers: Rise of a New Enemy - A Review

Ninjateers:

Rise of a New Enemy

by

Jamin Melanson

A Review

The first book of a trilogy from this author serves as a story within a story within a story.  At level one, the narrator is fulfilling a promise to her father - to tell the history of the Ninjateers.  As the story begins, she reverts to a conversation between four Ninjateers and their newest apprentices.  That conversation concludes with the apprentices asking for details of the Humanot War, which occurred six years earlier.  It is the story of that war which occupies most of the book.  

It is Spring in the year is 2196.  Due to a number of environmental factors, earth's geography, though it still exists, has changed considerably - with continents shifting and merging to form new and unexpected landmasses.  The calamities that led to these changes have served to create a modern Luddite culture - one which would avoid modern technology at all costs.  And one which is ill-prepared to do battle with others that had no fear of using modern technology to win a war.  

The story held this reader's interest - requiring at least two nights of late reading to reach the climax and conclusion of the great battle in which the Ninjateers found themselves.  The story leaves the reader feeling as if he or she is again following the lives of such men as the Scarlet  Pimpernel or Robin Hood and His Merry Men.  Though placed well into the future, this dystopian adventure seemed realistic and believable.  With no reference to eschatology as normally expressed by the church, the Ninjateers still have a faith rooted in scripture, both theologically and practically, as they live out their lives.  

Though this reader is somewhat past middle age, I suspect that the young teenager (or even a well-read pre-teen) would find the story and adventure of interest.  Lessons of faith are both explicit and implicit as the story moves through to its final scenes.  That being said, the book leaves room for more excitement as it prepares for volume 2 of the trilogy.

The plot, character development. Etc., are well-done. On the other hand, this reader has one concern:  the number of grammatical and punctuation errors found throughout the book.  As a college instructor in the fields of computer science and religion, I would ask myself as I read student writing, “Do the errors I encounter distract from my reading?”  In the case of this book, the answer would be, “Yes.”  In my private correspondence with the author I have encouraged the use of an editor or grammar checker.  Hopefully, he will make use of these tools as he continues to market the book.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the author for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.

Gliserwood - A Review

Gliserwood:

A Fairy World Story

by

David R. Phillips

A Review

I grew up in a different generation.  Actually, two generations ago.  My favorite books as a child were a series of 14 books by L. Frank Baum - beginning with The Wizard of Oz. I am pleased to have read a book, written by our church’s youth pastor, that reminds me of the magic I felt as a young reader beginning my journey into books.

Laurel spent summers at her Aunts house.  She did not like those boring summers, where her best friends were the clouds that floated by.  Her biggest dream was to visit the woods, an act forbidden her by her aunt.  

But Laurel stumbles on a baker; no, the baker, Mr. Lewisago, hired to watch over her by her mother.  And as she spends time with her new friend, her curiosity gets the better of her.  One night she and Mr. Mumkin, a chinchilla given to Laurel as a birthday present by her mother, decide to finally visit the woods.  And the magic begins.

As the story evolves, we meet Fairy Queens, dragons, Zlugs, and Flipityflops - the kinds of creatures that made the unbelievable of Oz very real to those who read the books.  The kinds of creatures of that bring Gliserwood to life.

For the parent looking for a book to read to your youngsters as they go to bed, as an adult looking for something lighter, or for the young teen looking for the perfect birthday gift for a friend, Gliserwood may fill the bill.  

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This review is based on a free copy provided by the author for the purpose of creating this review.  The opinions expressed are my own.