UPCOMING FILMS

I had to post it.

The First Omen Only in theaters April 5.

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Some To Guidelines Consider When Reviewing Books










In writing reviews
for fictional works, here are some standard guidelines that I follow.





Some Considerations When Reviewing specific genres:

Fiction (above all, do not give away the
story)



Character


1.From what sources are the characters drawn?


2.What is the author's attitude toward his characters?


3.Are the characters flat or three-dimensional?


4.Does character development occur?


5.Is character delineation direct or indirect?





Theme


1.What is/are the major theme(s)?


2.How are they revealed and developed?


3.Is the theme traditional and familiar, or new and
original?


4.Is the theme didactic, psychological, social,
entertaining, escapist, etc. in purpose or intent?





Plot


1.How are the various elements of plot (eg, introduction,
suspense, climax, conclusion) handled?


2.What is the relationship of plot to character
delineation?


3.To what extent, and how, is accident employed as a
complicating and/or resolving force?


4.What are the elements of mystery and suspense?


5.What other devices of plot complication and resolution
are employed?


6.Is there a sub-plot and how is it related to the main
plot?


7.Is the plot primary or secondary to some of the other
essential elements of the story (character, setting, style, etc.)?





Style


1.What are the "intellectual qualities" of the
writing (e.g., simplicity, clarity)?


2.What are the "emotional qualities" of the
writing (e.g., humour, wit, satire)?


3..What are the "aesthetic qualities" of the
writing (e.g., harmony, rhythm)?


4.What stylistic devices are employed (e.g., symbolism,
motifs, parody, allegory)?


5.How effective is dialogue?


6. How effectively does the action raise the suspense and
move the story toward its conclusion?





Setting


1.What is the setting and does it play a significant role
in the work?


2.Is a sense of atmosphere evoked, and how?


3.What scenic effects are used and how important and
effective are they?


4.Does the setting influence or impinge on the characters
and/or plot?





When a writer contacts me and makes a request for a review
of him/her book, I assume that said writer believes in my ability but write an
honest review based on the book provided to me. However, if the writer knowingly
sends me a book that falls short of the above guidelines, than the writer is being unprofessional and wasting
both our time. In addition, when a writer requests a review of his/her book, I
prefer to books that have not been release for publication. This is because I
believe that first book reviews should be based on a book’s readiness for publication.





The book review guidelines listed above can be found
online at
Los Angeles Valley College - How to
Write a Book Review.






 Furthermore, I have studied and completely the creative writing core for
fiction and poetry at the University of South Florida as well courses on reportive journalism,  drama, Shakespeare,
film, selected American, British and Russian literature. I have also studied and written screenplays and plays for live theater. I am a member of a local writing workshop, and whenever possible, I
intend the writing conventions in my area.Therefore, I believe I have a good handle on what makes good drama and good literature.





I have invested more
than 20 years to writing. I poetry, short stories and I have completed one
novel. However, my passion when I have good materials, is writing reviews.

Some To Guidelines Consider When Reviewing Books



In writing reviews for fictional works, here are some standard guidelines that I follow.

Some Considerations When Reviewing specific genres:
Fiction (above all, do not give away the story)
Character
1.From what sources are the characters drawn?
2.What is the author's attitude toward his characters?
3.Are the characters flat or three-dimensional?
4.Does character development occur?
5.Is character delineation direct or indirect?

Theme
1.What is/are the major theme(s)?
2.How are they revealed and developed?
3.Is the theme traditional and familiar, or new and original?
4.Is the theme didactic, psychological, social, entertaining, escapist, etc. in purpose or intent?

Plot
1.How are the various elements of plot (eg, introduction, suspense, climax, conclusion) handled?
2.What is the relationship of plot to character delineation?
3.To what extent, and how, is accident employed as a complicating and/or resolving force?
4.What are the elements of mystery and suspense?
5.What other devices of plot complication and resolution are employed?
6.Is there a sub-plot and how is it related to the main plot?
7.Is the plot primary or secondary to some of the other essential elements of the story (character, setting, style, etc.)?

Style
1.What are the "intellectual qualities" of the writing (e.g., simplicity, clarity)?
2.What are the "emotional qualities" of the writing (e.g., humour, wit, satire)?
3..What are the "aesthetic qualities" of the writing (e.g., harmony, rhythm)?
4.What stylistic devices are employed (e.g., symbolism, motifs, parody, allegory)?
5.How effective is dialogue?
6. How effectively does the action raise the suspense and move the story toward its conclusion?

Setting
1.What is the setting and does it play a significant role in the work?
2.Is a sense of atmosphere evoked, and how?
3.What scenic effects are used and how important and effective are they?
4.Does the setting influence or impinge on the characters and/or plot?

When a writer contacts me and makes a request for a review of him/her book, I assume that said writer believes in my ability but write an honest review based on the book provided to me. However, if the writer knowingly sends me a book that falls short of the above guidelines, than the writer is being unprofessional and wasting both our time. In addition, when a writer requests a review of his/her book, I prefer to books that have not been release for publication. This is because I believe that first book reviews should be based on a book’s readiness for publication.

The book review guidelines listed above can be found online at Los Angeles Valley College - How to Write a Book Review.

 Furthermore, I have studied and completely the creative writing core for fiction and poetry at the University of South Florida as well courses on reportive journalism,  drama, Shakespeare, film, selected American, British and Russian literature. I have also studied and written screenplays and plays for live theater. I am a member of a local writing workshop, and whenever possible, I intend the writing conventions in my area.Therefore, I believe I have a good handle on what makes good drama and good literature.

I have invested more than 20 years to writing. I poetry, short stories and I have completed one novel. However, my passion when I have good materials, is writing reviews.

Friday, July 26, 2013

Nancy Madore’s Power of Gods Lacks Power










Power of Gods by Nancy Madore reads like a genre jumper, a book that contains elements of
two or more writing genres. In Power of Gods one genre is the much
expected supernatural (demonology) thriller and the other genre that of a smutty
romance. Put to together in the way that Madore has written the novel, the
sexual exploits are cheaply written, and therefore, it presence only cheapen an
otherwise good supernatural adventure. In addition, Power of Gods
contains too much repetitive narration, and dialog. Once a character has
explained a pertinent fact of interest there is not need for that same
information, historical or otherwise to be restated by another character. Doing
so gives the readers the impression that the writer is just filling pages. All
this repetitiveness information does is cause boredom and does nothing to move
the story alone. Neither does the over use of dialog make up for the lack of
action in the story. Events that happen to and around Amanda in Alaska, though
she is  not a likable character and
overdone stereotype of the spiteful and self-seeking shallow bitch, is almost a
welcome break from drawn out narrative events happening as related by Nadia and
the Raphaelians in New York.





At times I felt I was
reading narrative from Wikipedia. 





Power of Gods, is the
second volume in Nancy Madore



Legacy
of the Watchers Series with
Volume one being the novel, The
Hidden.
If you are a long time fans of Nancy Madore erotic series, than you
might enjoy this second installment of her
Legacy of the Watchers Series.





On a scale on 1 to 5 in creativity and originality, I give Nancy
Madore‘s Power Of Gods Volume II Of
Legacy Of The Watchers Series an unrestrained 2. 





I would have liked to say that this book is a "page-turner"
and that I could not put it down. However, in truth  and as a reviewer, after the first few chapters,  I could not put is down
fast enough. 
Power of Gods
is a great disappointment.

Nancy Madore’s Power of Gods Lacks Power



Power of Gods by Nancy Madore reads like a genre jumper, a book that contains elements of two or more writing genres. In Power of Gods one genre is the much expected supernatural (demonology) thriller and the other genre that of a smutty romance. Put to together in the way that Madore has written the novel, the sexual exploits are cheaply written, and therefore, it presence only cheapen an otherwise good supernatural adventure. In addition, Power of Gods contains too much repetitive narration, and dialog. Once a character has explained a pertinent fact of interest there is not need for that same information, historical or otherwise to be restated by another character. Doing so gives the readers the impression that the writer is just filling pages. All this repetitiveness information does is cause boredom and does nothing to move the story alone. Neither does the over use of dialog make up for the lack of action in the story. Events that happen to and around Amanda in Alaska, though she is  not a likable character and overdone stereotype of the spiteful and self-seeking shallow bitch, is almost a welcome break from drawn out narrative events happening as related by Nadia and the Raphaelians in New York.

At times I felt I was reading narrative from Wikipedia. 

Power of Gods, is the second volume in Nancy Madore
Legacy of the Watchers Series with Volume one being the novel, The Hidden. If you are a long time fans of Nancy Madore erotic series, than you might enjoy this second installment of her Legacy of the Watchers Series.

On a scale on 1 to 5 in creativity and originality, I give Nancy Madore‘s Power Of Gods Volume II Of Legacy Of The Watchers Series an unrestrained 2. 

I would have liked to say that this book is a "page-turner" and that I could not put it down. However, in truth  and as a reviewer, after the first few chapters,  I could not put is down fast enough.  Power of Gods is a great disappointment.