To Do the Deal

By Cathy Baker

To Do the Deal consists of the ten tales of Kenneth Bodine: a power broker or “commissioned salesman.” Through captivating dialogue and hilarious, heartwarming antics, we are shown ten years of Kenneth’s family and work life as he bounces from job to job in an attempt to find his niche. Can he find his place in this world without losing all integrity?

To Do the Deal is truly a tale for everyone in the mood for a piece of family fiction rooted in the professional world. As a company man, for most of my adult life, I can really relate to Kenneth’s struggle for an honorable identity in business as well as at home. It’s an uncanny challenge to climb the corporate ladder without becoming a puppet, especially with Kenneth’s, and my, fundamental lack of people skills.

I loved Jodi, Kenneth’s wife; she reminded me heavily of my first wife. She was cool, independent, and very supportive throughout the stories. But the thing that rings a bell most is her way of forcibly nudging Ken down his path to success, or impending failure. As men, we need an ample pushing towards our ambitions. Yes, we’re lazy and try to take the easy way out. I think we all need a Jodi in our life.

Although each of these stories could easily stand alone, they did not lack in continuity with each other. I did not find a single error in the way of flow and plot movement. My only complaint rests in some of the characters. I found a few of them to be more caricatures than anything else. This may have been intentional; however, I felt more like I was reading a cartoon at times, than the story this book geared up for.

Cathy Baker’s writing style is lighthearted at times, and endearing when it needs to be. Her words had me literally shaking with laughter, especially when it came to the children and their schemes! Hilarious!

I recommend this odd collection of stories to anyone looking for a family-friendly good time. Cathy Baker is right up there with the best of them. I would almost classify this book as self-help/fiction/comedy/ inspirational; there’s a lot to be learned from Kenneth’s struggles, and I think To Do the Deal is something I could read several times just to find every hidden message. Great job!

J.B. Maynard

 

To Do the Deal

By Cathy Baker

To Do the Deal by Cathy Baker is an interesting collection of contemporary fiction that I enjoyed very much.  Ms. Baker took an original step away from your typical format and gave us the life of Kenneth and Cathy Bodine for a period time from 1991 to 2000 broken into sections by years, each started with a small illustration. 

Kenneth and Cathy are an ordinary couple so there is nothing extraordinary about their lives but stepping inside the life of what might appear to be your average American couple was interesting.  I felt at times like I was watching through their windows as they lived their lives, raised their children, dealt with their parents as they aged, and struggled like the rest of us. 

There was something frustrating about the telling of this family’s lives aside from the lack of proofreading.  I often felt that just as I was latching on to a part of their history, the story was cut off mid-telling.  It became quite frustrating because the stories are started and, despite their significance, are never brought to fruition so to speak.

There was one extremely insightful thing I took from the story of these people’s lives that until now I probably never thought to be true.  As a single mother it was actually very eye-opening and painful at the same time.  Kenneth’s mother, Mary, is speaking with Cathy regarding how her son’s father disappeared from his life very early on.  And Mary told her that it was almost easier that he left because then she didn’t have to deal with anyone else’s ideas about how to raise her child.  It made me think how different my daughter might have been raised had her father been there.  I dearly love the young woman my daughter has become so it made think how much I agree with Mary.  It’s sad on the one hand to think about the struggles, but amazing because she turned out so well.

A.Fae

The Stars Were Right
By K.M Alexander

Oh great, another fantasy book, I thought. Although it is the primary genre we get requests for reviews for, I can honestly say that it has never been my favorite genre of book; but, we all occasionally grab one we aren’t necessarily fond of. So I pulled up my big girl panties and settled in to read The Stars Were Right by K.M Alexander. 

Wow! Talk about knocking me off my snobbish pedestal. This book changed the way I look at fantasy as a whole. It was also loaded with a ton of what I’d consider mystery as well. I read straight through the night and couldn't put it down. Mr. Alexander is a wizard at creating a world one could only dream about.

Lovat is a large multi-leveled metropolitan city that has been built on many cities before it that have crumbled into the Sunk. I truly cannot do it justice but it reminded me of NYC far in the future where burrows remained that were known for specific ethnicities. Except in this futuristic tale, the ethnicities aren't quite as similar to one another as those of today
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The residents of this metropolis range from human to dimanians -horned individuals - to enur - a sort of amphibian - to daugers - who wear brightly painted mask hiding all but their eyes- and other interesting species that make the metropolis quite the melting pot. They all live and work together just like in current day NYC.

Our narrator and protagonist is Waldo Emerson Bell, a caravan boss who returns with his crew and partner, Wensem,, from a long journey picking up goods to deliver them back to Lovat.  It’s a month gone, but he takes off for a month when he returns. They deliver the cargo and prepare for a month in Lovat - which for Wensem is time with his newborn son and for Waldo it's just rest and relaxation. Though it seems as soon as Waldo begins to relax bodies start dropping around him, all ritualistic killings connected in some way to him.

What began as Waldo's one month vacation turned in to running from the cops who were hot on his tail, trying to escape the assassin who continues to kill those connected to him, and trying to solve the case a clear his name before more people die.

With mild nudity and violence, Mr. Alexander has created a world I became deeply immersed in. His imagery was unreal as he showed you the dark streets with sodium lights of level 2 instead of telling you.  The smells of the noodle stands jumped right off the page. The only sunlight shines brightly in the sky from level seven and the buildings that rise above it. Mr. Alexander gives us the sights and sounds of it all.
 
I highly recommend this book even to those who might be weary of a fantasy book. I can't believe how much I loved it. If he writes another one I'll be the first in line.


A. Fae

Oliver and Jumpy Stories 7-9
By Werner Stejskal

Oliver and Jumpy is wonderful collection of children’s stories featuring Oliver the cat and his cuteand cuddly friends. As an adult, it was strange to read and review a children’s book, being as this was my first one. This review focuses on stories 7-9 of the Oliver & Jumpy Chronicles. It takes us from a fun, lazy snow day during Oliver’s early childhood to a story where Oliver actually hatches and takes care of a baby dragon!

The artwork in this book is phenomenal! As an artist, I wondered how Werner achieved such rich and wondrous color in every beautiful picture! It was easy to tell what was going on in each of the scenes, my favorites being those in the “Egging” story.

My major problem with this set of books is the style of storytelling. Oliver and Jumpy tells a simplistic story, befitting a book for kids, yet it reads like adult prose. I feel that if a kid were able to read this story themselves, they may get lost or bored. I am a firm believer in challenging young minds, but I think it should be done in a way that makes the child feel as if they are engaging in a fun activity. The font size and type were off putting as well. I would have probably gone with word bubbles and kooky font for this type of story.

Enough with the complaints, I liked this book a lot. It made me yearn for my childhood once again. I wanted to get up for Saturday morning cartoons and drink chocolate milk in copious amounts! Of course, that childish whim passed too quickly for me to act upon it, and, again, I was faced with this review. I recommend Oliver and Jumpy to any parents out there looking for something new to read to their kids, but I would recommend you actually READ it to them with voices and animated gestures, just to make up the gaps.

Have fun everyone! Thanks, Werner!

J.B. Maynard

The Remingtons of India
By Javaid Qazi

It’s British India in 1899 when we’re introduced to the folks who make up The Remingtons of India.. As one who enjoys historical fiction that is set in this part of the world I was eager to dig in to their world and escape mine for a spell.  What I didn’t expect is for it to be an all-consuming book that wouldn’t let me put it down. I read the pages of this book as if I were watching my daily soap opera unfold except it ran all day, every day.  With the most beautifully written scenes and believable characters that I could never relate to but wanted to, Javaid Qazi and his Remingtons had me.

Katherine Remington is returning to her father's military bungalow from England with her aunt in tow. Since her mother's passing, Katherine has assumed duties as the head of the household while her father is away at war, which includes looking about for her younger sister, Lily, and worrying about the whereabouts of her civil service brother, David.


On the boat the night prior to their arrival, Katherine meets a soldier also returning to his post in the area, Captain Leo Forbes. Immediately the reader can tell they're taken with one another but their lives take one of them to the front lines and the other to garden parties and society functions. 


Katherine isn't the only Remington you become enraptured in the life of,,,David, the eldest Remington. David's post is elsewhere in India where he works a civil service job as the ear of the Indian head of government in the area, royalty of sorts. David's predecessor is thought to have committed suicide. While there to take the reins of the deceased, he meets a mysterious young girl while walking in the forest near an abandoned rundown temple. Rani is beautiful and shy. David knows it will take time to get her to open up, but when she does can he handle what she's kept hidden from him?


There are a plethora of other character to fill the Indian summer days but I'd rather you discover these gems on your own, all well-developed and able to stand on their own. Mr. Qazi has also done an amazing job painting vivid pictures of every part of india; the good, the bad, and the ugly. My only warning is the war related violence.  I, too, picked the same passage J.B did that just sent my imagination soaring. However, my favorite imagery comes during a visit to the Taj Mahal. Already somewhere I've dreamt of visiting one day, Mr. Qazi describes the immaculate tomb while allowing the character to narrate the love story behind the beautiful mausoleum
I've certainly added this book to my top 10 favorite books of all times. The vibrant colors, mixed customs, love, hurt, and loss have found their place in my heart. 

A.Fae