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 I believe in the self published author... |
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>>> Rating System >>> Email Me  The Whitlow Sanction: Volume I by: Betty Bradford Byers Date: Sept. 8, 2004 Rating: PPPPP - Great - Read this one right away - it's a winner by any standard! 1. My opinion of the Name, Cover Design and Page Count; The name is a strange one and doesn't provide very much of a hint about the story-line, however, it is well justified and explained throughout the book, makes good sense and supports the story-line. Impressive and thought provoking cover design (chess board with a silhouette of a chess piece on the front & back, and a well defined piece on the spine). I took the time to visit the designer's website and could see his talent goes well beyond book covers. The page count is 531 pages, an amount significantly more than most people are accustomed to reading, however, I believe it not only is required but makes for an enjoyable read. I looked forward to the journey each time I returned to see what would unfold next, thus the amount of pages became irrelevant. One could say I miss the "journey" and look forward to returning to the next two volumes (I understand they will both be under 300 pages each). 2. My opinion of the Plot; and The plot was generously balanced, to allow for the reader to think their way through the Whitlow journey. The author never goes for the cheap and gratuitous stuff we see so often, instead she allows for the reader to savor the journey with the benefit of actual character and plot development rather than superficial treatment. You must not miss the Preface and the Special Forward, they are MUST reads! Personally, I've NEVER read a Forward (special or otherwise) written by one a person who is one of the book's characters (i.e., this book is based on real persons and events, albeit fictionalized). Also, you will appreciate the Cast of Characters list she provides, since you will likely refer back to it several times during your Whitlow journey. Due to the many twist and turns I cannot get into the meat of the plot, although I can tell you that it is superbly woven. The characters are excellent and I'm certain that each reader will carve out at least two or more as their favorites and wanting to see them in the next volume. My favorites were Percy Devoe and LA Jimmy McGee, with Manny Riva and Kate Malloy following close behind. Usually author's try not to have too many characters, but in this case the "journey" would had suffered without the many necessary players interwoven throughout. It gives the story-line the texture so many novels lack. 3. My opinion of the book as an entertainment choice. So often readers forget the most obvious and key purpose which drives an author to bring us a story - they seek to entertain us! Too often readers look for all of the wrong objectives in the stories they read, e.g., seeking a deeper meaning than intended, educational goals, intellectual superiority, and many other reasons that certainly can be incorporated, but should never outweigh the goal of it being "pure entertainment," or as I prefer, to venture on an entertaining journey. This book passed with flying colors (actually PPPPP) as a VERY entertaining journey into a world most of us will never know. It entertained without the injection of the Hollywood style equivalent of high-speed chases, gratuitous sex (there are some great scenes with each being vital to the story-line), shallow characters, supermen/superwomen, etc. Finally, I would love to see this trilogy make it to the big screen or as a mini-series, as long as they don't slice & dice the story-line. The traditional publishing houses missed a true best seller when they passed on this story. Look out Grisham and Patterson, Betty Byers is here to stay! Congratulations to Banyon Publishing for having the vision. Copyright 2004 Book Reviews by Mr. P STARS IN MY EYES, Then and Now by: Burt Richards Date: Sept. 17, 2004 Rating: PPPP - Very Good - Very entertaining and worth your time! 1. My opinion of the Name, Cover Design and Page Count; The name is right on point and I could go on and on (but I won't) about how it is actually quite telling beyond its apparent simplicity. Mr. Richards makes it clear throughout the entire book that he enjoys these stars and intimately knows many of them - he's not just another person telling us about them from bios supplied by publicist. A star in his own right - check out his website (I did www.burtrichards.com) - he makes you feel at home with his style of interviewing. I like the cover design, but would have liked to have seen more star's photos incorporated into it; great quotes on the back cover. The page count of 223 pages makes for a fast and enjoyable read, made easy by the change of individual subject matter with each of the 37 or so stars. 2. My opinion of the Plot; and There isn't a plot, per se, unless one concludes that Mr. Richards truly loves what he does and this book, by way of interviews, is his way of telling a story he hopes will be worth reading. I found his chats with these stars to be very down to earth and his questions the sort that regular folks would think of asking, but might not once they actually met one of their favorite stars. Mr. Richards didn't hesitate and managed to get each star to open up. I certainly learned a great deal more than I knew about almost every one of the stars in this book. 3. My opinion of the book as an entertainment choice. I think this book is quite entertaining, especially for those of us who remember most of the stars. More importantly I think the younger generation could learn a considerable amount by seeing "where" many of the stars came from long before they reached "stardom" and high acclaim for their craft. I found a tremendous amount of useful motivational substance could be drawn from the experiences of the stars interviewed, whether or not intended by Mr. Richards. Although some might view many of the grammatical errors as a fatal flaw, I disagree with that academic scrutiny and consider it unnecessary in this case. The value of the content and overall delivery far exceeds any errors that any competent publisher (and not Mr. Richards) should have caught. I understand he is switching to Banyon Publishing for the 2nd Edition. I only mention it to demonstrate that (a) "When" you have a good story or something worth telling, there should never be unyielding obstacles that would eliminate or prevent you from being heard (even when grammatical), as long as it does not take away from the delivery of the information; and (b) Make sure you have a publisher who offers some degree of editorial assistance without breaking your bank account. My PPPP rating supports how enjoyable I found this book to be, despite it not being the genre I would usually prefer. Instead of the usual I expected from the "tell-all/kiss & tell" type books, I laughed, I thought and I reminisced. Don't forget, the hidden gems are the inspiring accounts of the many humble beginnings of a number of the stars who went on to become giants in their field. Copyright 2004 Book Reviews by Mr. P The Arcana Connection by: Betty Bradford Byers Date: Nov. 10, 2004 Rating: PPPPP - Great - A real "page-turner" with loads of action, twist and turns! 1. My opinion of the Name, Cover Design and Page Count; The name is a perfect fit and is true to the entire storyline. The cover design is unique in that it catches the eye and suggest the theme of the book in a way that most books never quite achieve. Also, the relationship of the colors and the picture become quite evident as the reader journeys through this great story. The page count of 290 pages makes for an enjoyable reading experience. 2. My opinion of the Plot; and This is the second installment of the "Payback" trilogy and thus, the plot has been well established (i.e., the principal characters, their backgrounds and interest) and makes the transition easily. Albeit the relationship of the Tarot is more prevalent in this second book and may require a greater level of concentration for the reader in order to capture all of the subtleties, it does not require the reader to have a knowledge of Tarot. In fact, Ms. Byers seems to recognize that many readers will not have such knowledge and thus, she skillfully takes us through it all with ease. 3. My opinion of the book as an entertainment choice. Any reader will find this book to be a most pleasurable addition to the trilogy, however, the story has a "stand alone" quality in that it is entertaining enough to hold its value without its predecessor the The Big Payback. The "PPPPP" rating has been earned! Ms. Byers provides entertainment at the highest level and her character development is unrivaled. This is an author with wide appeal and significant talent - shame on the big publishing houses for not recognizing her, yet. Copyright 2004 Book Reviews by Mr. P | Resources for Writers | Write On Southwest...Book Reviews | Reader Views | Book Reviews by Mr. P | | Return Home | The BOOK DOCTOR | The BANYON NETWORK | The Banyon Buzz Newsletters | The Aton Project Newsletters | Contact Us | |
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