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Written by Mandelyn Kilroy
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Jonathan Safran Foer made his name well known in the publishing world with his first break out book Everything is Illuminated. However it was his book Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close that has made him a household name. The book has recently been adapted to a movie staring Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock, will hit theaters Friday January 20th. The movie has made a lot of waves causing protests and numerous attempts to stop it from being shown. I do not understand the protests and it is extremely clear that the people protesting have not bothered to read the book.
Yes it is being advertised as a movie about September 11th. However that topic is just a minor plot point within the book its self. The real story of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is so much more then a tale of the heart wrenching tragedy that changed the world we live in.
I fell in love with the main character nine-year-old Oskar Schell by the end of page two, and my heart broke for him by the end of chapter two. The story does not take place on September 11th or even the day after. It opens about a year later; Oskar is still struggling with the death of his father in the world trade center. Along with his resentment towards his mother and her new “ friend”. A lot of the book is flashbacks and stories that don’t always fit with exactly what is going on. However you must keep in mind that the book it’s self is being told from the point of view of an vividly brilliant, poetically, and un-rationally afraid nine year old.
As the story unfolds we find Oskar sitting in his father closet remembering the scavenger hunts him and his father used to play. With in the untouched closet he finds his fathers tuxedo sitting on the chair, and a blue vase with a tiny envelope inside. He instantly decided that both of these are out of place and clues to a scavenger hunt his father had yet to start with him. As he pulls down the vase he has no idea that the envelopes contents are about to take him on a life-changing journey.
Inside he finds a key, and the word Black written in red on the back of the envelope. His life is suddenly consumed with finding the lock this key goes to. He decides the only clue he has in the name black and begins a journey to visits everyone with the last name black in the phone book. Along his journey he unknowingly helps the people he meets over come their hardships and pain. He meets a gentleman who hadn’t left his apartment is 25 year, nor turned on his hearing aids. Oskar gives him the courage to hear for the first time in 25 years.
The story is heartbreakingly beautiful tale of how a young boy over comes losing a loved one, even worse a parent. It is a concept that everyone can relate to and silently struggles with. As Oskar fights to hold to his father with his last scavenger hunt, he is desperate to discover what the key goes to. He is struggling to let go while his heart is desperately holding on.
This is one of those rare books that will change how you look at life and will want to read over and over again. You will find your self-laughing as Oskar marches literally to the beat of his own tambourine and cry and he struggles with the concept of death. On a scale of 1 to 10 my personal rating is 10. It is a book everyone should have on his or her selves.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close receives a PARLÉ
Rating:
P…Horrible
PA…Tolerable
PAR…Good
PARL…Kinda Great
PARLÉ… Classic
Also Check Out:
Jonathan Safran Foer made his name well known in the publishing world with his first break out book Everything is Illuminated. However it was his book Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close that has made him a household name. The book has recently been adapted to a movie staring Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock, hitting theaters Friday January 20th. The movie has made a lot of waves causing protests and numerous attempts to stop it from being shown. I do not understand the protests and it is extremely clear that the people protesting have not bothered to read the book.
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Written by Kisha Green
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In the debut novel, Young Savage, by Rasheed Carter readers will be introduced to a young child, Rodney, who is the product of a single mother’s drug addiction. Her priorities are on everything BUT being a mother to young Rodney so he is often left to take care of himself.
As a result, Rodney gets into some trouble and is sent to a youth detention center where he finally makes a real friend. At the same time he is educated on street life as well as survival and at the end of it all Rodney reemerges as a new person.
Young Savage tells the all so familiar story of your young male who is a product of his environment and although he wants better, he also lives by the code of survival of the fittest. I enjoyed growing up with Rodney through the book, because of the author’s ability to truly take you into the main character’s daily life. Kudos to Rasheed for his amazing character development.
There were many emotions filled within these pages, one definitely was sympathy for Rodney because he didn’t have any options it was him against the world (his mom), but that was also what made me keep reading because I wanted things to get better.
Young Savage was a good book but with a professional edit job this story would have been a much smoother read. Nonetheless it is indeed a story of hope. I do look forward to reading future works from Rasheed Carter because from this debut it is clear this writer has the talent.
Young Savage receives a PAR
Rating:
P…Horrible
PA…Tolerable
PAR…Good
PARL…Kinda Great
PARLÉ… Classic
Also Check Out:
In the debut novel, Young Savage, by Rasheed Carter readers will be introduced to a young child, Rodney, who is the product of a single mother’s drug addiction. Her priorities are on everything BUT being a mother to young Rodney so he is often left to take care of himself.
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Written by Kisha Green
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CHECKMATE by Tiece Mickens tell the story of main character Monty Banks and at the age of 23 he is successful sex for hire escort but the only thing he is serving up is sexual relations and for his company or I should say services he isn’t cheap either.
Monty has been able to survive and help his mom due to his lucrative business and he just wants to make his money and eventually retire from the “fast life” since it often comes with a lot of unwanted attention he isn’t actually seeking.
He wants to walk away but his pawns, as what he refers to as his clients the satisfaction of being able to bring these females to such sexual bliss is a pure adrenaline rush for Monty and he continues this lifestyle while padding his wallet.
Enter his sister’s best friend Candy into the equation a pretty young thing that he has considered taking it to the next level but due to her age he has forced himself to wait and he does but as soon as she turns legal he gives into temptation and a love affair is born.
CHECKMATE was a very interesting story and I could not put the book down, it definitely kept my attention because I wanted to know what was going to happen next especially between Candy and Monty, would it be love or money and would Candy stay around if the choice didn’t benefit her.
Tiece Mickens definitely wove together great storyline and perfect poly execution that will leave readers ready for her sequel. Definitely a literary job well done for debut novelist Tiece for Checkmate.
Checkmate by Tiece Mickens tells the story of main character Monty Banks. At the age of 23 he is successful sex for hire escort but the only thing he is serving up is sexual relations and his services he isn’t cheap either.
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Written by Kisha Green
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THIS CANT BE LIFE is the debut novel from Shakara Cannon and tells the tale of three good friends Talise, Stacie and Simone and the very good character development by the author leaves you feeling like you are watching a soap opera or better yet reminding you of some people that you know in your own personal life because the characters are very true to life.
The trio is indeed the best of friends and as you read you see they are all striving for the better things in life but more so self-discovery and unconditional love of their own. There are other secondary characters that also keep you entertained and engrossed.
THIS CANT BE LIFE was a good read because of the storyline. There were times I laughed so hard then in other instances I felt teary eyed and other times when I was looking at my Kindle giving it the side eye but nonetheless it kept me wanting to see what was going to happen next in the tale.
For a debut I have to say I was thoroughly impressed with the author’s writing skills and careful plot execution that definitely has me wanting to read more from her. I could easily see this story being a movie or play because it was just riddled with drama throughout the pages.
This Can't Be Life is the debut novel from Shakara Cannon and tells the tale of three good friends Talise, Stacie and Simone. The very good character development by the author leaves you feeling like you are watching a soap opera or better yet it reminds you of some people that you know in your own personal life because the characters are very true to life.
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Written by Kisha Green
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In the debut novel This Game Has No Loyalty by June readers meet main character Junior a hustler and this is truly his coming of age story within the drug game. Under the wing of his cousin he learns the do’s and don’ts and combines with his ambition and motivation to not lose is what catapults this hustlers success on the criminal work ladder. Just like a classic Notorious BIG song more money definitely brings more problems and Junior finds himself fighting to keep that number one spot. A title often hard to keep since jealousy ,envy and greed are never too far behind when there is THE man out there making money,, This upsets a lot of people and that is where friends will quickly become foes.
The Game Has No Loyalty tells a tale but the authors writing style makes the story realistic, yet unique but in this genre. As a reviewer I have read plenty of titles in this genre who compose the same recipe which in all actuality, is taking away from the industry and what June brings is refreshing. I will not categorize this novel because his main character was NOT just a hustler looking for the next come up.
There are works in the genre currently offered by other authors that give offer you the painfully realism of the good, bad and ugly I felt from this book, but in my opinion these works are often offered by authors such as June and others that are often over looked or not given the proper attention they deserve.
Life lessons are within the pages of this novel and being as though this is part of a trilogy I am looking forward to see what happens next. Readers will enjoy this action filled crime drama, sounds like a movie right? Indeed, that is the must have component for a great read, one that has you able to visualize the authors words. Kudos to June!
This Game Has No Loyalty receives a PARLÉ
Rating:
P…Horrible
PA…Tolerable
PAR…Good
PARL…Kinda Great
PARLÉ… Classic
In the debut novel This Game Has No Loyalty by June readers meet main character Junior a hustler and this is truly his coming of age story within the drug game. Under the wing of his cousin he learns the do’s and don’ts and combines them with his ambition and motivation not to lose. This is what catapults this hustler's success on the criminal work ladder. Just like a classic Notorious B.I.G. song more money definitely brings more problems and Junior finds himself fighting to keep that number one spot. A title often hard to keep since jealousy, envy and greed are never too far behind when there is THE man out there making money. This upsets a lot of people and that is where friends quickly become foes.
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Spotlight Feature
Sometimes, it must fall upon the journalist to ensure that what they are hearing in an interview is clear enough that they can truthfully and accurately present their subject's words as quotations. This may require asking for an answer repeatedly, admitting you missed something that could have been important, or actively picking and choosing which quotes should be completely captured in a form of verbal triage. Other times, it may simply require asking the subject to slow down because your cell phone's speaker is woefully inadequate. Such was the case with Kirko Bangz, and regrettably, I did not follow the advice laid out above. The following is what I can transcribe from my conversation with the Houston hopeful, whose Drake on promethazine approach has been reverberating within the scene.
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