Historical Fiction and Mystery Reviewer
I
contribute by writing annotations and book reviews of varying lengths. I enjoy
reading and hope to encourage visitors to the Book Portals website to do the
same. Reading (for pleasure) is what we each make of it. The author has worked
hard to make it an enjoyable experience.
Annotations
are thumbnail sketches. It’s not my job here to reveal plot twists, much less
outcomes. I can characterize what the author is trying to do, how he goes about
it and whether the journey is enjoyable. I can be right or I can be wrong about
how the author challenged my thinking or yours. The point is: how does the
author construct a storyline? Does he make the story fun to read? Does he make
you think? Does the author drive you crazy by letting you think you know what
is going on, only to lead you to a different conclusion altogether?
My job
as a reviewer is to appreciate the writer’s craft, celebrate artistic
excellence, and at times wonder what the point was supposed to be. The author
has a style or a way of doing things. I may be right or I may be wrong in any
particular judgment call I make, but by sharing my enjoyment of reading, I will
enhance the reader’s experience of the book.
There
are a few key questions I’ll ask in a hundred ways. Are the characters well
developed? Is the scene set up in such a way as to draw you in? Does the
narrative explain things clearly as events unfold?
What
about likes and dislikes regarding style? Perhaps the language is flowery. You
go to a greenhouse you get flowery and presumably enjoy it. You read a book and
the linguistics enhance the experience or perhaps detract from it. That may be
a matter of personal preference, but I’ll certainly let you know what I think.
My
contact information is listed below. If you wish to commend or lambast my
assessment of a book or an author, feel free to comment. Part of the fun of the
exercise is to be open-minded enough to have my point of view
swayed.
Were I
to expound a simple mantra, it would be:
“See
how much you can get out of reading this book.
If you
were to change anything about it, what would it be?”
Enjoy
Reading!
Robert White
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