The Curse of Nefertiti – Blog

Let me begin by saying I truly enjoyed reading this book. “The Womb of Uncreated Night” by Chris Antonides is a fictional story and is extremely well written. I first decided to read it because I was intrigued by the concept. A seventeen year old boy with extremely poor eyesight and a love of bats believes himself to be Bruce Wayne aka “Batman.” In the opening chapter we meet the “Brewster” out for a spin in his shiny new Batmobile; test driving it so that in future he can cruise the city streets at night ready to right any wrongs. Unfortunately he winds up getting into an accident and the next thing we know Batman is being incarcerated. How would you like to be the officer radioing your precinct about that arrest? I’m sorry… You’ve got WHO in custody?

Some of you may be wondering what’s so great about a story with a kid who thinks he’s a comic book super-hero. There are probably other books written with similar themes so why would you want to read this one? Well, Antonides decided to throw a little something extra into the mix. Brewster’s girlfriend is attacked in Central Park and when he finds her body it appears as if she’s been bitten by a bat. Or worse and even more unbelievable…a vampire. This book is kind of like “Batman Begins” meets Anne Rice’s vampires and let’s just throw in someone like Sigmund Freud so we can have some scintillating conversation between Brewster’s psychiatrist and our obviously crazy yet genius boy wonder. Of course at the end of each of these court required sessions both psychiatrist and reader will be wondering how deluded our hero actually is.

Antonides did a great job of explaining how things like the batcave came to be. I marveled at the ease in which the infamous batsuit came to fruition and I laughed at the image of Brewster hanging from the ceiling by his feet. Did I mention he literally fell out of his boots the first time he tried it? I bet Lionel Richie would have loved a pair of those boots when he made his “Dancing on the Ceiling” video…

Lastly, the author seems very knowledgeable about world history and the arts. This gives a credibility to his writing style which makes the story that much more believable. All in all it was a great book. I definitely enjoyed the read and I highly recommend it.

http://www.amazon.com/Womb-Uncreated-Night-Novel/dp/1440157413/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Imagine this. You are eleven years old and your father matter-of-factly announces one night to you and your family “we’re moving to Oregon.” What goes through your mind? Do you feel fear or are you too stunned by his proclamation? Do thoughts of leaving behind your friends, your house, and everything else you are familiar with cause you to feel resentful? Do you argue with your father or simply accept the situation and attempt to make the best of it? What do you do now that life as you know it will no longer be the same? This book is a brief look into the life of Jeremiah Symons after his father, Jedediah, decides the best way he can provide for his family is to move them to Oregon.

“West To The Sun” is a fictional tale set in a well recounted historical setting. The book is well written and able to hold the reader’s attention. It focuses on the experiences of a young boy, now required to be a man, as he literally walks across the country with his family, their trusty oxen, and the other members of the westward bound wagon train. The author, T. G. Good, does a great job of explaining the tremendous amount of preparation which must precede a move of this magnitude as well as describing the journey itself.

In today’s world most of us think nothing of traveling thousands of miles from our homes. We are completely accustomed to the various forms of transportation our current technology offers us. In fact, many of us have no experience with anything else. Planning a trip is generally nothing more intensive than throwing some clothing into a suitcase or carry on. Did I mention we also manage to travel these tremendous distances in only a matter of hours? It was a sobering realization when, in reading this book, I did the math. I figured out it would require one hundred days at twenty miles per DAY for them to reach their final destination. I drive twenty mph and I shudder with impatience. Of course one hundred days only happens if absolutely nothing goes wrong. Wheels and axles for the wagons could not break. Freak storms could not show up. Wagons could not get stuck in the mud nor could they be allowed to float away in raging rivers. We all know that in life nothing goes according to plan and the same holds true in this story.

Overall I found “West To The Sun” to be a very interesting read even if, at times, it bordered on being overly religious. It is definitely a book that can be enjoyed by readers of any age.

http://www.amazon.com/West-Sun-T-G-Good/dp/143275162X/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Let me be honest and tell you I was unsure what to expect from a book titled “Mind Well The Witch.” What hooked me was the concept of a dyslexic, hyperopic and peri-menopausal witch especially as that is not a subject commonly written about. I figured “Oh, what the heck!” Besides, my curiosity kind of got the better of me when I saw the words “dyslexic” and “witch” used together to describe the same person. Were people actually brave enough to use her potions? More importantly what type of spells does a dyslexic witch cast? Probably the same kind as any other I would imagine. I guess the real question here is whether or not her incantations have the same outcome as those cast by her “non” dyslexic sisters.

As long as I am being truthful I must admit I had to look up the definition of “hyperopic.” For those of you who have no idea but are wondering it is merely another way of saying someone is “far-sighted.” Since I myself am myopic (near-sighted) I probably should have been able to figure that one out. What can I say? I was still stuck on the whole dyslexic witch thing and I was envisioning the town mayor being turned into a frog…or worse! Did I mention that this witch is peri-menopausal on top of everything else? I began envisioning fire raining down and I wondered how long my imagined “frog mayor” would last before being incinerated, most likely in mid jump. Yup, I HAD to read it!

All in all I found “Mind Well The Witch” to be a cute story and while it was a quick read it was entertaining. I appreciated the fact that the author, Susan Netteland Gerbi, used her various friends and family members as the basis for the book’s characters. In doing so I felt she was able to give the story a more intimate feel. My favorite personality wound up being Shadow, the very independent, opinionated, and at times overly demonstrative cat.

I liked that “Mind Well The Witch” was loosely set in history about sixty years after the horrific witch hunts the New England area is renowned for. Having it set later in time allowed our bumbling but kind-hearted witch, Mindwell Thayer, the freedom to practice her craft without too much fear of reprisal. I must also add I did notice an extraordinary amount of beer drinking throughout the tale which, in retrospect, probably accounts for the general happiness of the townsfolk. I found the “unique” recipes interspersed throughout the book to be an interesting touch and I wonder who among us will be able to resist the allure of “Roasted Toad Tea?” On the flip side I did shudder at the thought of people only bathing once or twice per month. Oh the smell! The image of wooden teeth left me consternated; wondering how often people sporting such things would get splinters in their tongues, gums or worse?

In summary: a cute and humorous story for readers of pretty much any age.

http://www.amazon.com/Mind-Witch-Susan-Netteland-Gerbi/dp/1432740512/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Just for the record, I was unsure exactly what to expect when I started reading “The Vaulted Sky” by R. P. Moffa. Yes, I did request this book. Yes, I do love airplanes. Yes, I also love historical fiction but in looking the book over before I cracked it open I briefly wondered what I had gotten myself into. Not to worry though, I was immediately swept into Moffa’s well written story and the pages had a way of almost turning themselves for me.

My journey through time began in nineteen twenty-four where I met a younger Patrick Montalto, the book’s main character. I was present for his initial encounter with a biplane which sparked the love affair he had with airplanes from that day forward. After this we fast forward to his teenage years, his first ride in a nineteen twenty-eight Waco and we follow along as he juggles his schooling, his responsibilities to his family and learning to fly. The years progress and he is not unaware of the turmoil erupting in the world outside the borders of the United States. In following his inner sense of what is right he finds himself in Canada training to become a fighter pilot in order to defend a country not his own.

Moffa effortlessly takes us through one of the more horrendous periods of world history, World War II, and more often than not I was amazed by the accuracy of his portrayal both prior to and during the war. His tale came across as a believable accounting and even though “The Vaulted Sky” is a work of fiction it seemed as if the author had lived and experienced it firsthand.

Moffa paints a realistic picture of what it was like to live as a fighter pilot; where every day could be one’s last. He shows us the daily struggles, the pain, the loss, and yet he also shows us honor, integrity and pride. He recreates a different time; which encompassed a different set of values; when even your “downed” enemy was generally treated with respect. His words remind us that the only thing which really separates friend from foe is merely where one is born and that insight still rings true today.

I have given “The Vaulted Sky” a five star rating. I highly recommend it as a “must read” and I look forward to the continuation of Montalto’s story in the upcoming sequel “The Sky Suspended.”

Find this book on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Vaulted-Sky-R-P-Moffa/dp/1440152519/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268891426&sr=8-3

The story told to us on the pages of “Aksandar” by Judith Montgomery is truly an amazing and captivating tale. As stated on the back cover, Ms. Montgomery has traveled extensively throughout Afghanistan. Her obvious love of that country and its people definitely comes across in her writing.

As I read through her book, Montgomery’s words showed me a candid and often eye-opening view of a country being torn apart from the inside out due to political corruption and religious extremists. Two separate warring parties terrorize Afghanistan. Death is an almost daily occurrence for both citizens and foreigners alike whose only “crime” is being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Yet even as I write this I know it is not that simple for there is much more at work behind the scenes. Aziz Rashani, the main character in this tangled web of deceit and lies, is a man of principle, honor and integrity. He is a devoted countryman who loves Afghanistan. As such, his idealistic path revolves around seeing her become an independent country rather than remaining stuck in the grasp of the leadership she currently suffers under.

Montgomery takes us on a journey into a land battered beyond belief, where each and every day is a fight for survival by the proud people who call Afghanistan home. She gives us an almost firsthand view of a life that many live on a regular basis. Yet her descriptions, while honest, are not so graphic as to make it uncomfortable for her readers to stomach.

Judith Montgomery’s book “Aksandar” reminds us how lucky we are to live in a country that values its citizen’s freedoms. However, it is nice to contemplate that even in a war torn environment there are some out there who truly value humanity over bloodshed.

From the moment I picked this book up I was hooked. Never mind the fact that I was in bed fighting off the worst cold of my life or that I could barely keep my eyes open due to sheer exhaustion. As each chapter ended I found Montgomery’s gripping tale impossible to put down and I hurried to start the next one while guiltily telling myself as soon as I finished THAT chapter I would get the sleep I desperately needed! In summary, a powerful story which I highly recommend as a “must read!”

Find this book on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Aksandar-Judith-Montgomery/dp/1449012086/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267473541&sr=8-1

I just recently finished reading “Dark Fire” by author Claudia Newcorn. “Dark Fire” is an entertaining story which takes two separate prophecies, two separate dimensions and weaves them seamlessly together into one book which is difficult to set down. The crux of this tale is that when the inhabitants of each dimension believe so strongly in their own prophecy which one of them is to be believed? More importantly, when all is not what it appears to be, who then is to be trusted?

In this second book of the Krisalys Chronicles of Feyree trilogy readers will also witness the coming of age of some of the younger Feyree sprytes. I am sure they will empathize with the young Feyree’s trials and tribulations. They will no doubt mourn with the sprytes over the loss of their friends, their loved ones and even more importantly the loss of their innocent views of their world. Unfortunately these are all hard lessons which must be learned quickly and quite often they find those they trust implicitly are actually traitors hiding within their midst. One can only hope that the players in Newcorn’s final book of the trilogy will have the strength to deal with that which is still to come.

All in all I found “Dark Fire” to be a wonderful and entertaining read. I can honestly say that I am also anxiously awaiting the publication of Newcorn’s final book in this series. I found her storyline to be compelling and I felt the characters were well thought out and easy to relate to. Newcorn writes with sincere attention to detail but not so much so as to cause boredom by over description. I believe anyone who enjoys reading fantasy or who just enjoys an afternoon or evening spent on the couch with a good book will not be disappointed should they pick this one up to read. I feel that “The Krisalys Chronicles of Feyree” trilogy would make a great addition to anyone’s library and that they belong there right next to other great series like “Lord of The Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien or “Inheritance” by Christopher Paolini.
To find this book on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Fire-Krisalys-Chronicles-Feyree/dp/1432746421/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1266973860&sr=1-1

I found “There Are No Words” to be a very interesting, informative and easy read. Jaxon MacKenzie is an autistic twelve year old girl living in the modern world and yet this story seems firmly rooted in a past era. I attribute this “feel” to two separate but intertwined things. Jaxon lives with her grandparents who come from an older generation which encompasses a different set of values and she gets pulled into a painting that sends her back in time to July of 1918. “There Are No Words” is the story of Jaxon’s life here as well as her adventure in the past.

I definitely appreciated the historical facts which were used in the telling of this tale as it made the book very interesting to me. I also enjoyed the various photographs and pictures which were used throughout the book. They were an authentic touch and consequently they made the story that much more realistic. I am sure that the younger readers will greatly enjoy this aspect as well.

It was also wonderful to read the book from Jaxon’s perspective and to be present during her different stages. She starts out as an autistic child unable to really communicate with the world around her yet once she goes through the painting she suddenly finds she is able to interact with people in what we would consider a “normal” manner. How wonderful to finally have the ability to talk with people outside of her head! How amazing to have people treat her the same way they treat everyone else!

I give high praise to the author, Mary Calhoun Brown, for being able to help me understand and experience life in a way that an autistic child might. How many times do we overlook or simplify what Autism is simply because we do not understand it or have never experienced its effects in our lives? How frustrating it must be to be that child. To have to wonder about life every day and yet never have any answers to your questions. Jaxon was truly blessed to live with someone as intuitive as her grandparents.

“There Are No Words” is a charming and likeable story and I recommend it to readers of all ages.

To find this book on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/There-Words-Mary-Calhoun-Brown/dp/0977630021/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1266613404&sr=1-1