Review: Stories from “The Girlfriend Tales” series by Katrina Parker Williams

The Girlfriend Tales is a collection of four short stories dealing with women going through different things in their lives.  These two that I will be talking about in this review are centered around relationships; one about a young mother in a dysfunctional family situation and the other one dealing with an affair.

Excess Baggage / Katrina Parker Williams

The story entitled “Excess Baggage” is about Sabrina and her difficult relationship with the father of her three children, Antonio.  They meet in high school where Antonio had dreams of playing pro basketball before hanging out with the wrong crowd.

There is nothing much to say about it, really.  I found it a bit tedious with all the unnecessary descriptions and details that did not help the story along.  It was confusing in some parts, details missing when it should be elaborated.  Also, I found some grammatical errors which annoyed me a bit.  The characters were rather bland.  Sabrina, I don’t know what’s going on with her.  Why stay with a deadbeat guy long enough to have three children with him?  I’m not one to judge; this is the opinion I am forming based on the story I just read.

And that ending?  Oh my… really?  2/5.

In The ‘Other’ Other Woman, we are welcomed to a party; a gathering of invited guests.  And what society does best, gossip.  In a big group, there are bound to be smaller cliques.  This story follows one such clique and their encounters with other people in the party.

The Other Other Woman / Katrina Parker Williams

I admit, I didn’t get it.  What was I supposed to get out of it?  I had no context.  What were they talking about?  Who are these people?  It was kind of all over the place.  It left me confused.  It didn’t really say anything.  Writing-wise, it was okay.  That doesn’t say much… there’s nothing much to say. 2/3.

Both stories had potential to be good ones.  Both were, at a degree, entertaining.  It could have been done better.  Yes, it is a short story but it does not have to end just because you used up all the word count.  There are many short stories out there that have complete plots, well-written, and very entertaining and at the same time, keeping its length to a minimum.  There was just… there wasn’t much in any of these stories.

I appreciate the effort by the author.  The ideas are there and they are very workable.

Review: Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami (translated by Jay Rubin)

Norwegian Wood / Haruki Murakami, Jay Rubin

Published September 12th 2000 by Vintage Books (first published January 1st 1987).

This book has nothing to do with Norway or woods.  Well, maybe with the woods, setting-wise.  It does, however, mention the Beatles song a couple of times.  (Okay, that’s a lame opener.)

Japanese author Haruki Murakami is known for his complex and surreal style of writing, tackling rather heavy societal issues in his fiction writing. His characters feel grounded and relatable.  His themes are, at times, controversial, yet people respond to them.

Norwegian Wood is a coming-of-age story of Toru Watanabe, a young man in the 1960s-70s.  Toru narrates his story in first person struggling with his friends, school, and love life; dealing with suicide, relationships, and his own personal issues.  His best friend, Kizuki commits suicide and this event heavily affects Toru and the people around him.  He shares this world with Naoko, Kizuki’s girlfriend, whom he is sort of in love with also.  Naoko never really recovers and goes into depression. Through the years, their lives are touched by more people: Midori, Toru’s friend from school; Reiko, Naoko’s roommate; and other colorful characters.

The Beatles song that shares the same name as the novel describes Toru and Naoko’s relationship: “I once had a girl, or should I say, she once had me…”  They have a very complicated – and for one time, sexual – relationship.  Did they or did they not love each other?

Reading this book is like being transported to an other-wordly, ethereal place as if you are in somewhere magical.  His writing is just so beautiful and poetic, the words flow nicely on the page.  Toru reminds me of Daria.  He just goes with what life throws at him.  He doesn’t think he’s any special and he knows that he’s flawed and accepts it.  The subject of suicide is heavily featured in this book.  In the news, I have read Japanese and Korean and other Asian young people committing suicide.  Some of them are famous actors and models.  Even though this was first published in the late 80s, it clearly is still relevant today.

Kudos also to translator Jay Rubin who managed to maintain the integrity and intensity of the work.  Being bilingual myself, I know that are are some words in my language that have no exact translation in English.  The way he weaved the words set up a crystal clear atmosphere while maintaining the mood that Murakami’s works are famous for.

Overall, it is a tale of growing up.  A lyrical piece of fiction that captures the reader and does not let go.

Rating: 5/5.

Recommendation: Lovely imagery, deep emotions, and exceptional writing.  I wish everyone would read this book.

Get your copy here.

Review: The Jerusalem Inception by Avraham Azrieli

The Jerusalem Inception / Avraham Azrieli

First published April 28th 2011.

When you hear the word “inception” nowadays, the first thing that comes to mind is that mindmelt movie by Leonardo Di Caprio with the dreams and spinning hotel rooms.  I admit that when I first got this book, without even reading the summary, I thought that this might be something like that movie.  But it’s not.

Inception means “the creation of something”.  That’s where the genius of this book start.  The title has a double meaning (or it’s just me over-reading into things).  Israel is on the verge of losing the Six-Day War.  Forces are at work inside the government as well as the religious community of the country.  A son of a Jewish rabbi falls in love with a beautiful Mossad agent and goes on to leave his religious duties to join the fight for his country.

The story starts out at the end of World War II.  A Nazi leader and his pregnant teenage lover are on their way to freedom when they were ambushed by two Jewish boys out for revenge.  The girl, Tanya Galinski, is spared and she goes on and falls in love with one of the boys, Abraham.  Years pass and they all go on with their lives.  Tanya becomes a Mossad agent, Abraham becomes a rabbi, and the other boy, Elie becomes an agent himself with plans of advancing his status no matter what.

We are then introduced to Jerusalem “Lemmy” Gerster, Abraham’s son.  He was raised in a very religious environment with minimal exposure to anything else.  Tanya suddenly comes back to Abraham’s life and seduces Lemmy.  He gets caught up in the web of lies, conspiracy, and deceit spun by Elie Weiss.  Lemmy must decide where his loyalties lie.

I must say, this was not the easiest of reads but it is definitely a good one.  It set a consistent pace, never a boring moment.  It has espionage, romance, a clear explanation of both government and IDF Intelligence Corps as well as some aspects of the Jewish faith.  It is a mix of fact and fiction.  The number one strength of the book is its airtight research and believability.  It is intriguing and for a history buff like me, it is definitely very interesting.  The story is good and the factual, historical aspects of it are a pleasant extra.

I mentioned the brilliant title.  Looking at it from one side, it talks of Tanya creating a sense of rebellion in Lemmy… Jerusalem (against his strict religious reality/beliefs).  On the other, it can be Elie planting moles into the Israeli government to gain control.  Either way you want to look at it,  it’s a perfect title.

Among the likes of the Jason Bourne series and Mission: Impossible franchise, The Jerusalem Inception is a daring piece of literature and I cannot wait for what comes next.

Rating: 4/5.

Recommendation: I can see military history buffs getting into this.  Fans of thrillers and espionage novels will definitely like this.  Definitely a lot of guy readers will like this.

Get your copy here.

Get to Know the Book Blogger

It’s already the third month of the year!  Time does go by so fast.  How is your 2012 so far?  How are the books of 2012 so far?  I’ve been slow on the output but I am enjoying the stuff that I am reading right now.  I’m taking it one (or three, haha) books at the time juggling that with work and hanging out/hiking with friends.

Authors and publishers who have contacted me about a review of their work, I really appreciate it.  I PROMISE I will get to them as soon as I can.  Probably reviewing one author-submitted book a month.  Feel free to give me a nudge if I’m taking too long; I won’t mind… much.  XD

I’m finishing up a couple of titles and their reviews will be up soon.  Another 2011 Review is in the works also.  But for now, here’s another profle about your little reviewer…