Two of Them And They Are Cranky!

TITLE: One Out Of Two

AUTHOR: Daniel Sada

PUBLISHER: Graywolf Press

PAGES: 112

Unfortunately I have never heard of this well loved author. His books have been written in Spanish and now I need to either buckle down and learn more Spanish or wait for the English translation. Honestly, I should just do both!

I can not remember what first drew me to this story....probably something on twitter...anyway I was curious and the story being about twins was pretty interesting since I am a twin myself. After reading Wally Lamb's I Know This Much Is True , I have really been interested in reading books about twins, especially from a person that isn't a twin themselves! But if there is much out there about twins, I haven't read anything that I can remember (at the time of writing this) so I decided to check this short eread out.

This story is about twin sisters, Gloria and Constitution, who endure after the death of their parents at a young age. They stay identical as they grow into middle aged women and their whole world is each other, keeping the outside world at arms length. (When you begin to read about their extended family, it isn't hard to see why they try and stay antisocial.) One day, a man comes into one of their lives, causing a rift between the sisters.

As a twin, I found these sisters to be very odd. I have a separate and opposite personality from my twin and I am happy for it. I couldn't identify with how close they were! Interesting, but still creepy. Their sisterly devotion is cool and their bickering among one another seemed very familiar.

How they handle love situation, is interesting. I don't think I could do what they do to a potential love interest, but then again, that is what kept me reading. They have this there is 'us and the outside world' attitude and that keeps them focused on survival and keeps them successful in their working lives. I liked that though, but they do take it to an extreme in my opinion.

After finishing the book, it felt like a perfect length. Short, sweet, but not what I thought for the ending. Perhaps a bit harsh?

I gave this a 3 out 5. I look forward to reading more from this author.

If you haven't read I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb, then GO READ IT!!!!

Rush Interruption!!

I have been slow to post but I do have a book review coming tonight. This book Interruption was given to me by my teacher, a Zen priest, so I am happy to dive into it so I can return it to her!
This read is called The Way of Korean Zen by Kusan Sunim. I am not totally sure what it is about but this should be a nice surprise.

Into The Oven You Go!

TITLE: Grethel

AUTHOR: Joseph Duncan

GENRE: Fiction, Fairytale

PUBLISHER: Cobra E-books 

PAGES: 33

This super short read was a treat. Though I will admit, I thought her name was Gretle (or however it is spelled) Anyway, this is about Grethel, after her and her brother's incident with the witch. Grethel is now grown up. She is poor and lives with her father. One day a handsome man, comes into her life and the story takes off from there. Now, do not get me wrong, this is not just some love story. This has a ghost, evil creatures-human and not human, love, sadness, and pain. It also had a small lesson (well I took a lesson from it) like many fairy tales seem to want to share with people. So a small whirlwind of a story here.  I have never read the original story, but I am familiar with it. I am glad to have read this little gem. I am a fan of the author as well. This is another ebook I got from Amazon for only 99 cents, so of course I could not pass up. 

I give this a 4 out of 5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now Is The Time For Change!

TITLE: Movement
AUTHOR: James Ashton
GENRE: Fiction
PUBLISHER: Otherworld Books
PAGES: 102

So what drew me to the book originally? I forget, it may have come across one of my Twitter feeds...or maybe when I was just looking on Amazon to add to my already insanely long To Be Read pile...

Anyway this is the story of two guys that want to change their world. More than change it, shake it up in an incredible way.  Both feel trapped in the grind of society. Stevie, who works at his job, and is actually up for a promotion, and his friend Dave, who sees government conspiracies at every turn, decide to come together to make a change.

With their opposite personalities, both of these characters begin to grow stronger in their own opinions but work together to create this 'movement'. 

The story was easy to read, and well written. I did not expect the end...but I am not totally satisfied with it. At 99 cents and a short read, you can whip this out when you are stuck waiting somewhere and need a quick distraction. This is a good read. I just felt flat with the end. I would like to read more from this author in the future.

I give this a 3 out of 5. (Though this may have changed from my goodreads.com rating...)

Smart and Deadly, but is He a Man's Man?

TITLE: Shibumi

AUTHOR: Trevanian

GENRE:Fiction

PUBLISHER: Three Rivers Press

PAGES: 480

Please ignore this horrible cover. I read this as an ebook on my Kindle and the cover was of a Go board and in color...not sure what this crap is....

Also, this is my first review of the New Year for 2016!

Like any book lover, when I see books in movies, I am curious as to what those characters are reading. I discovered this book from the movie John Wick. I love this movie and have watched it countless times. I may even popped it into my laptop tonight. While the director of John Wick may have been inspired by Shibumi and the main character, Nicholai Hel, I will just discuss my opinion of the book.

This is the story of a man and how he came to be who he is. A man who strives for Shibumi after he learned the meaning as a young boy in Japan. He was a bright child and spent years in Japan. Now, the book points out many times that he is white and without a country to call his own, but he comes to embrace the Japanese culture as his own and this is how he lives his life. 

He grew up during wartime when Hiroshima was bombed and the years leading up to that. The reader sees what life was like for the Japanese then. Hel goes through so much as he grows up and all of his training, especially in the game of Go, helps him develop into the man he is. 

The book is filled with his amazing talents. Language, martial arts, mental and sexual abilities. All of those skills added him in his life as an Assassin. Like any good Assassin, he is still needed to do one last mission.

 There isn't really any part to be bored with. Probably sad and angry, but I never got bored. 

I have nothing bad to say about the book. I recommend it and the movie, John Wick!

I give this a 4 out of 5! I have already started Satori which is by another author about Hel.

A Hands on Manipulator

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It is Christmas,

but also, just another day alone. I have purposely cut my phone off so the few friends and family I do have won't reach me. Other than this, I haven't posted on social media. I canceled plans to eat at a friend's just to avoid a guest of theirs. I can't really complain about being alone if I purposely cut myself off, but I wish I could have a family of my own, friends that were nearby. I wish I could one day share real happy news with the people I know. 

Until then, I will continue to put on that fake smile to friends and to try and make sense of my faith, that tries to remind me that we are all connected even though I still don't see how.

Happy Holiday.