Showing posts with label anthology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label anthology. Show all posts

The Annotated Baseball Stories of Ring W. Lardner, 1914-1919 Review

The Annotated Baseball Stories of Ring W. Lardner, 1914-1919
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The Annotated Baseball Stories of Ring W. Lardner, 1914-1919 ReviewI could read this book 100 times and never tire of itThe Annotated Baseball Stories of Ring W. Lardner, 1914-1919 Overview

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A Victorian Christmas Quilt: Lone Star/The Wedding Ring/Log Cabin Patch/Crosses and Losses (HeartQuest Anthology) Review

A Victorian Christmas Quilt: Lone Star/The Wedding Ring/Log Cabin Patch/Crosses and Losses (HeartQuest Anthology)
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A Victorian Christmas Quilt: Lone Star/The Wedding Ring/Log Cabin Patch/Crosses and Losses (HeartQuest Anthology) ReviewThis is one of those books you grab as you sit in your favorite chair with your coziest throw blanket wrapped around you and a nice hot cup of cocoa. The stories are short and pleasant. This is one you will want to pass around and share. Filled with all the charm and nostalgia of a great holiday reader.A Victorian Christmas Quilt: Lone Star/The Wedding Ring/Log Cabin Patch/Crosses and Losses (HeartQuest Anthology) Overview

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With This Ring: Something Old/Something New/Something Borrowed/Something Blue (HeartQuest Anthology) Review

With This Ring: Something Old/Something New/Something Borrowed/Something Blue (HeartQuest Anthology)
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With This Ring: Something Old/Something New/Something Borrowed/Something Blue (HeartQuest Anthology) ReviewTying these four wedding stories together is the old bridal saying: "Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue..." I especially enjoyed Dianna Crawford's story about a young Jewish immigrant's arranged marriage to a San Francisco businessman's Christian son. I fell in love with the characters, especially the gifted and spunky heroine, who learns about Yeshua from her at-first-unwanted fiance. Also, Catherine Palmer's story about a young Scandinavian woman with an infant, who arrives in Louisiana to find her husband dead, tugged my heartstrings. How she learns to trust God and give up her memories of her homeland as she falls in love with the exuberant Cajun hero makes for an engrossing and delightful story. I highly recommend this book!With This Ring: Something Old/Something New/Something Borrowed/Something Blue (HeartQuest Anthology) Overview

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Crime Novels: American Noir of the 1930s and 40s: The Postman Always Rings Twice / They Shoot Horses, Don't They? / Thieves Like Us / The Big Clock / ... a Dead Man (Library of America) (Vol 1) Review

Crime Novels: American Noir of the 1930s and 40s: The Postman Always Rings Twice / They Shoot Horses, Don't They / Thieves Like Us / The Big Clock / ... a Dead Man (Library of America) (Vol 1)
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Crime Novels: American Noir of the 1930s and 40s: The Postman Always Rings Twice / They Shoot Horses, Don't They / Thieves Like Us / The Big Clock / ... a Dead Man (Library of America) (Vol 1) ReviewThe Library of America is a first-class organization. The LOA is consistently reprinting volumes of literary achievement by the most notable authors in American history. They have reprinted everything from political speeches to poetry to historical works. This volume is the first in a two volume set dedicated to American noir stories. The stories in this book were written in the 1930's and 1940's in what seems to be the golden age of the genre.
The first story is from James Cain, and it's a whiz-bang of a tale. I had heard of "The Postman Always Rings Twice" before, mainly in reference to the two film versions of the story. This is one dark read. Adultery and murder never seem to mix, and it sure doesn't here, either. Told in first person narration, a drifter gets himself mixed up with a washed up beauty queen who is tired of her Greek husband. The result is classic noir: a conspiracy to murder the poor schmuck and run off together. As usual, the murder brings about tragic consequences. This story has more twists and turns than you can imagine. The ending is especially atmospheric. This is certainly one of the best stories in the book. I always like to see a story where the blackmailer gets a good beating.
Horace McCoy's "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" is next in line. This is another great tale that was made into a film in the 1960's starring Hanoi Jane Fonda and Gig Young. The movie is soul shattering, with depictions of dehumanization in the neighborhood of "Schindler's List." The story is not quite as good, but it still packs a heck of a punch. The story is set in Depression-era America and depicts the horrors of a dance marathon. These marathons were apparently quite popular during the 1930's, until they were ultimately outlawed. Contestants were required to dance for hundreds of hours with only ten minute breaks every two hours. The couple that lasted the longest won a thousand or so dollars. The public would come and pay admission to watch this sorry spectacle. It's like poking sticks at animals in a cage. This story is loaded with dark depression and sexual innuendo. The conclusion is suitably depressing to merit a noir award.
"Thieves Like Us" was pretty substandard when compared to the other stories in this book. This one really didn't seem to have those noir elements that I like so much. Actually, it's more of a Bonnie and Clyde type story. A penitentiary break leads to a crime spree across Texas. Banks are robbed and cops are killed while the gang lives on the lam. A relationship between Bowie, the main character, and a girl named Keechie really doesn't add much interest to the story. There is some good dialogue and a bit of desolate atmosphere, but not enough to lift this to the level of noir. I don't know why this story is included here. Try and guess how the story ends (the clue is "Bonnie and Clyde"). I hope that Edward Anderson's other stories are better.
Kenneth Fearing's "The Big Clock" is excellent, and brings the level of the book back up to where it should be. Set in a magazine publishing house, this tale is sleek and smart. The story is told in first person narration, but Fearing shifts the narration to various characters in the story. These constantly changing viewpoints turn the story into a roller coaster ride of epic proportions. An editor at the company makes the mistake of sleeping with the boss's woman. When this lady turns up dead at the hands of same boss, all heck breaks loose. This story is riveting and has a great ending that is all suspense. A must read.
William Lindsay Gresham wrote "Nightmare Alley" after some discussions he had with some carnival workers. This story is the longest one in the book and is a decent addition to the volume. Full of unpleasant images of murder, swindle, cynicism and downright perversion, you won't be disappointed when this one comes to an end. A scheming magician decides to take his con to the big time by posing as a Spiritualist minister, and as usual, the end result is tragedy all around. This story is downright depressing, and if you don't feel sorry for Gyp, you have got a problem. I didn't really care too much for the (...) addition of the black Communist towards the end of the book. Gresham had a flirtation with the Redski movement, so this apparent insertion makes some sense in that context. It goes nowhere in the story, however. There are some other holes in the plot but overall this is an entertaining story.
The final tale comes from the sumptuous pen of Cornell Woolrich. "I Married a Dead Man" becomes instantly familiar within a few pages, mostly due to the numerous films that have copped the plot. The writing here is far superior to any of the other stories in the book. I'd say it's far superior to most writing in general. The metaphors are extraordinary. Look for the description of Bill lighting his cigarette in the doorway. Wow! The story centers on a case of mistaken identity with a strong dose of blackmail thrown in for good measure. Of course, there's also a murder. This story is outstanding.
Overall, if you are just starting to read noir, start with these two volumes. It is good to see some of the best noir has to offer, and you will find some of it in these pages. The book clocks in at 990 pages, but it reads really fast. There is also a nice summary concerning the careers of each author at the back of the book. Recommended.Crime Novels: American Noir of the 1930s and 40s: The Postman Always Rings Twice / They Shoot Horses, Don't They / Thieves Like Us / The Big Clock / ... a Dead Man (Library of America) (Vol 1) Overview

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A Gift of Love : Double Exposure / Just Curious / Gabriel's Angel / Yuletide Treasure / Five Golden Rings Review

A Gift of Love : Double Exposure / Just Curious / Gabriel's Angel / Yuletide Treasure / Five Golden Rings
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A Gift of Love : Double Exposure / Just Curious / Gabriel's Angel / Yuletide Treasure / Five Golden Rings ReviewI normally don't care for anthologies, for two principal reasons. First, many stories in these anthologies suffer from being over-short; the usual 70 - 100 pages is simply not sufficient to develop the storyline in a sufficiently satisfying manner. Second, there is always at least one story in each collection which is disappointing and lets the others down.
However, I saw this book in, of all places, a bookshop in Manchester (yes, in the UK). An import, at a very reasonable price, so I decided to give it a try. And I'm delighted I did, having had several days of very satisfying reading from five authors, none of whose work I had read before.
These stories all have a strong Christmas theme, which is done properly, in sharp contract to many Christmas-themed books these days in which the festive season gets perhaps a couple of lines at the end with no other mentions anywhere in the book. Each story in this anthology *feels* Christmassy, in different ways. And yet each story is very different. There are two contemporary romances in US settings, two British historical romances (in the Victorian period, though again each very different), and one time-travel, again set in the US.
We have a modern career woman reunited with the childhood hero who devastated her years ago by a careless act; a still-grieving widow who discovers that the boss of whom she thoroughly disapproves has an incredibly romantic heart; a poverty-stricken young woman finds out how it feels to play the role of angel to a lonely widower and his son; a young Victorian choolmistress enters into an arranged marriage with a reclusive Earl so that his orphaned niece will have a governess, and quickly finds a way to melt his frozen heart; and a 1990s woman is transported back to Pioneer country, finding herself married to the man of her dreams.
I loved each and every one of these short stories. None - well, except perhaps the last, which ended a little abruptly - seemed over-short or insufficiently well developed. And each had its share of humour, angst, romance and heartwarming seasonal cheer.
Highly recommended!A Gift of Love : Double Exposure / Just Curious / Gabriel's Angel / Yuletide Treasure / Five Golden Rings Overview

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The Story Jar: The Hair Ribbons/The Yellow Sock/Heart Rings (Palisades Romance Collection) Review

The Story Jar: The Hair Ribbons/The Yellow Sock/Heart Rings (Palisades Romance Collection)
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The Story Jar: The Hair Ribbons/The Yellow Sock/Heart Rings (Palisades Romance Collection) ReviewThis book isn't just for Mother's Day--if you are a mother, have a mother, or would like to BE a mother, this book is for you. The three authors have given us such different stories--they cover all aspects of motherhood, including the desperate wanting to be a mother an infertile woman feels. A lovely book that's as honest as anything I've read lately. There are no easy answers, but God is faithful. I highly recommend!The Story Jar: The Hair Ribbons/The Yellow Sock/Heart Rings (Palisades Romance Collection) Overview

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Five Golden Rings Review

Five Golden Rings
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Five Golden Rings ReviewBoy was I glad that I found this book at a thrift store for $1, otherwise I would have been very dissapointed.
1st story: Fern Michaels - A Bright Red Ribbon: Alone in her car, a weary traveler becomes lost in a blizzard. But a dog wearing a scarlet ribbon will lead Morgan Ames to a safe haven...and into the arms of a most unlikely hero.
How did Fern Michaels get to be so famous? Sorry to all the fans of hers out there, but I think her writing stinks! This book reads like something I would have written when I was 14. I never even got more than ten pages into before I skipped to next story. I mean, a woman barges into a man's house, through a doggie door of all things, and he goes into a twenty line speech, (saying "Sorry I wasn't here to welcome you" - what? He's never even seen her before!) and at the end, he's already telling her that he has a warm robe in the spare bedroom where she can stay. Huh? Completely unrealistic. He's never even seen her before, and he's already going into details like the fact that he's got a robe for her. I mean, where's the, "Oh my gosh, as you all right? Where did you come from?" Nope, he just starts talking her head off. I read one other of Fern Michaels novellas, and also thought that it could have been written by a teenager. I understand that writers take creative liscence, but a story needs a semblance of realism. No stars if I could - one begrudgingly.
2nd Story: Kat Martin - Christmas Angel: Despite having been on opposite sides of the war, Yankee doctor Josh Coltrane is unprepared for the continued bitterness of long-lost love Angel Summers. Can these two former sweethearts learn to forgive and forget the past?
I had high hopes for this one. It has so many elements that I love: it's historical, a civil war story, and reunited lovers. But then I got to the part when some straggling Confederate soldiers try to rape Angel. Josh of course shows up with a gun and saves her. And what does Angel do? She begs him to let her attackers go, because "the war made them this way". Again, completely unrealistic. I guess the author was just trying to show how understanding and kind she was, but I just didn't buy it. No decent man will rape a woman, no matter what he's been through. They deserved to go to jail for what they did, but they didn't. That disgusted me so much that I again skipped to the next story. Two stars, since it started off well.
3rd Story: Jo Beverly - Twelfth Night: Lady Alice Conyngham was jilted exactly six years ago. Now, at this year's Christmas festival, she must face the scandal of years past and the gentleman to whom she'd given her heart.
One of the better stories in this anthology, and the most "Christmassy" one. While it's not one I would bother re-reading, it was entertaining. I liked reading about the old traditions, especially the game "snapdragon". Four stars.
4th Story: Katherine Sutcliffe - Home for Christmas: Virginia Valemere is barely handing on to her prized horses. Her father's desperate need for medical attention may tip her over the edge. Virginia's enigmatic new neighbor Dr. Neil Ellison could wind up being her hope for salvation, or her ruin.
Another so-so story which was not quite as good as the last. Good for one read, but not to re-read. Had the "small-town" thing going for it, which was quite pleasant. Three stars.
5th Story: Brenda Joyce - The Miracle: In a remote castle on a windswept island, an American beauty challenges a wild Irish nobleman...and finds that after innocence, passion comes -- and a very special Christmas gift.
Not a very "Christmassy" story, but the best one of the bunch. This story is written about two minor characters, Lisa Ralston and Julian St. Clare who appeared in "After Innocence". You do not have to read that story first (I haven't), this story stands very well by itself. Wow! No one can write romantic tension like Brenda Joyce! This was the first of her stories that I read, but it certainly won't be the last. This story was already printed in "A Gift of Joy", so if you own that already, this is a reissue of that same story. Five stars.Five Golden Rings Overview

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Haircut and Other Stories Review

Haircut and Other Stories
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Haircut and Other Stories ReviewI had this book in hardback and it dissappeared when I lent it to a friend. A long time went buy until I found Amazon and was able to replace the book. To tell you the truth I enjoyed it even more the second time around. Alibi Ike could probably make someone laugh on his way to the electric chair. Also for young people, this book could show you the path we followed to get here.
Frank Callender-ReviewerHaircut and Other Stories Overview

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Stetsons, Spring and Wedding Rings: Rocky Mountain Courtship\Courting Miss Perfect\Courted by the Cowboy (Harlequin Historical) Review

Stetsons, Spring and Wedding Rings: Rocky Mountain Courtship\Courting Miss Perfect\Courted by the Cowboy (Harlequin Historical)
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Stetsons, Spring and Wedding Rings: Rocky Mountain Courtship\Courting Miss Perfect\Courted by the Cowboy (Harlequin Historical) ReviewLet me start by saying, I hate to give bad reviews. It makes me feel bad because I'm sure the authors are very nice people who poured a little bit of themselves and a lot of hard work into writing their story.
Let me also say that everyone's taste is different. What I may not enjoy may be what others are looking for.
I will give you my individual star ratings for each story within the book.
"Rocky Mountain Courtship" 1 star
The whole thing was just too remedial for me. Felt like I was reading a Jr High love story. The story line was flat with no twists or turns. I never felt a connection to anyone in the book except for maybe Clara, who was pretty likable. I shuttered at the thought of Joseph. He was someone that didn't inspire romance in me at all....too naive? I couldn't wait to get done reading this section of the book. I always try to finish what I start, but if not of that mindset I would have skipped it.
"Courting Miss Perfect" 2 stars
This one was better, but again, a little flat. I did enjoy Travis as the man of the story. Brynn was a little too prim and proper for my taste. She was a bit of a coward and dishonest and her terrible secret was hardly terrible at all. It was better than the first story but then in the end I was disappointed. I don't want to give away what happens...but it was a real letdown for me.
"Courted by the Cowboy" 5 stars
I was starting to think that a three in one book just didn't have enough time to develop good character/reader relationships. Stacey Kayne fortunately proved that wrong and saved the day for this book. She was able to develop a real connection to the story. Constance and Kyle were both very likeable people, which to me is really key a good book. She had twists and turns and a wonderful ending that left me feeling satisfied yet longing for more. The only downfall was that it was over too soon. I recommend all of Stacey Kayne's books--she is amazing at what she does.
In conclusion...I thought I was getting a 3 for 1 with this book but actually got a 1 for 3. Knowing what I know now--I would still have bought it for Stacey Kaynes section.Stetsons, Spring and Wedding Rings: Rocky Mountain Courtship\Courting Miss Perfect\Courted by the Cowboy (Harlequin Historical) Overview

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