"Mixed Massages (I)": Pattaya Voices And Vices

"Mixed Massages (I)": Pattaya Voices And Vices by Jonathan Finch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Finally, a tour guide from somebody who has been there and done that!

MIXED MASSAGES by Jonathan Finch is an interesting collection of stories, essays and articles about Pattaya, Thailand, and the Expat Life. As the book is dedicated to the ‘deceived and the unwary’ it automatically becomes a must-read for all those contemplating visiting or living in Thailand, particularly Pattaya where the author resides.

As the author states in his introduction: ‘read one of these short sketches and you’ll start to understand why Pattaya is inspirational. Read them all and you’ll realize that Fun City has so many tragi-comic characters it can put to shame all of William Shakespeare’s collected works! There’s a lot to smile about here but under the underbelly or pouch or stomach is a seething cesspit of social ills - from unmarried mothers to alcoholics to suicidal farangs to gender-changing changelings to debt-ridden conmen to motorbike-taxi maniacs to Muay Thai die-hards to bored-out-of-their-minds tourists to snooker-damned eternities to thieving whores to ladyboy beat-’em-uppers to resentful strippers to uneducated mamasans to compromised agogo owners to stumbling-just-don’t-get-it holiday-makers.’

The book description gives a sneak preview when it states that this ‘is the first in a collection of essays, articles and stories about Pattaya, the punters, the girls, the ladyboys, the events and the dangers. It is funny and serious. It paints a picture of Pattaya, Thailand, and expat life without romanticizing the notorious and famous seaside resort. Fun City with its appeal, its danger, its drunkenness, its endless partying, is here to entertain the reader but Finch's message is not a massage. The extreme city of Pattaya can become monstrous. Moderation, common sense and thought are needed if disasters are to be avoided.’ Indeed, wise words from somebody who has been there and done that as they say.

"Mixed Massages (I)": Pattaya Voices And Vices is a fine collection of short stories. Its’ a wonderfully written and richly descriptive book with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The author paint a series of engaging, witty and down-to-earth moments in a very vivid and convincing way.

I’ll be looking forward to reading more from this author in the future. Highly recommended reading and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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The Neighbor from Bergen Belsen by Yaakov Barzilai

The Neighbor from Bergen Belsen by Yaakov Barzilai
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Pointless changing position, since every bullet has an address written on it.”...

The Neighbor from Bergen Belsen by Yaakov Barzilai is a biography based on the authors life as Jewish Holocaust survivor. This wonderfully written and richly descriptive narrative is an all-encompassing human dramatization about ‘the unyielding love of a mother, who fought to protect her two young children from harm while helping every stranger who crossed her path, about belief in God, and the naïve perspective of a child in such a difficult and challenging time.’

The Neighbor from Bergen Belsen is beautifully written and exquisitely translated from the Hebrew by Philip Simpson. The author creates vivid word pictures that pulls the reader into the narrative. For such a sad story, it's extraordinarily moving and powerful.

One of many such examples for me is as follows: ‘‘Trains were dispatched with the regularity of volcanic eruptions. To each locomotive, at least two dozen livestock wagons were hitched, and in each wagon around a hundred head of cattle were crammed for their journey to the abattoir. I was one of them We were the first to be thrown into the mobile prison, which had three blank walls and a narrow barred window located near the top of the fourth, a necessary precaution to ensure delivery of a whole and healthy consignment. As we enjoyed the privilege of fist arrival, we naturally gravitated towards the one wall-panel boasting an aperture. My parents sank down on the floor of the wagon and I stood with my back to the perforated wall. My little sister, who had never travelled by train before, was beaming with excitement. Lack of space meant that she had to stand on my feet, her arms around me and her hands clutching my braces from behind. Loading of the wagon continued until the chorus of the buttons began. As more and more were pressed inside, the buttons of their clothing collided, producing a sound reminiscent of the clinking of glasses in a convivial toast, and it was only then that the loaders realized there wasn’t so much as a hair’s breadth of standing room remaining, and the heavy door was slammed shut and bolted from the outside with a massive iron bar.’

The imagery in the writing style is flawless and gives the reader a clear sense of actually being there in the moment with the author. Very rarely does a book arrive that grabs its readers by the scruff of their neck and puts them down in their armchair and commands not to leave your seat until you have devoured all the pages. This is one such book.

If anyone ever wanted to understand what effects a war has on the human spirit without going down the docudrama way, this book is a must buy. It is guaranteed to add another facet to the lives of everyone that reads it, touching them in a manner few other books could. You get a poignant, moving story that's somehow heartbreaking and triumphant all at the same time.

The Neighbor from Bergen Belsen has many examples of love, kindness and self-sacrifice but also deals with horrific abuse and suffering. The best storytellers could not devise a more compelling narrative. It’s one of those books that will leave a lump in the throat of the most hardened reader. Highly recommended. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

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TART BLOOD ORANGE by Paul Elliott

TART BLOOD ORANGE by Paul Wilson Elliott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A gripping crime novel...

TART BLOOD ORANGE by Paul Elliott is a well-written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The author weaves a well-crafted crime novel with intriguing twists and turns that will keep the reader engaged from the opening chapter. The story had every element a good story should have. A solid plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development.

The author has created an intriguing story-line that demands the reader keep up with each twist and insertion of new information in order to comprehend fully what the main character, homicide detective Melanie Tomas is up against. Mel emerges as a powerful force in the book, as she makes capturing the criminal and saving prospective victims her mission. Her intelligence and compassion make her an attractive lead and a solid anchor for potentially future books in this series. Fortunately, Elliott successfully connects all of the dots and doesn't leave a single loose thread at the end.

Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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Thrash by Jason Palmer

Thrash by Jason Palmer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A first-class humorous dark comedy with perfect pacing...

Thrash by Jason Palmer is a wonderfully written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The author weaves a well-crafted good vs evil superhero sci-fi fantasy with a generous sprinkling of dark humor and violence throughout. The story had every element a good story should have. A solid plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s an abundance of well-illustrated scenes that make you feel you are right there in the story, and that’s something I look for in a good book.

I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the novel in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. It’s a first-class humorous dark comedy with perfect pacing. A well-deserved four stars from me. Recommended.

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The Dead Crawl Home (The Jack Ryder Mysteries Book 2)

The Dead Crawl Home by Lawrence J. Epstein
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A well written historical crime thriller with perfect pacing...

The Dead Crawl Home (The Jack Ryder Mysteries Book 2) by Lawrence J. Epstein is a wonderfully written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The threads of storytelling are expertly woven in this historical crime thriller that will guarantee the attention of the reader. Set in mid-1940s New York City, private detective Jack Ryder must figure out how a murder and a suicide are connected to a menace by Nazi spies.

I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the story in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. It’s a well written historical crime thriller with perfect pacing.

Definitely worth reading the first book in the series, but the author writes in such a way that any of the books could be a standalone. It was a mesmerizing read that had me engaged from the beginning. The story flowed from scene to scene with ease, and the author shows exceptional ability when it comes to storytelling. There are plenty of suspenseful and intriguing moments in this page-turner that will take the reader on a thrilling journey. Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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Zipacna's Legacy by Cindy Davis

Zipacna's Legacy by Cindy Davis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Stirring the spirituality that inhabits all of us...

Zipacna's Legacy by Cindy Davis is an imaginative, thought-provoking exploration of a mystical journey of awakening. The threads of storytelling are expertly woven in this metaphysical and visionary fiction that will keep the reader engaged from the first page to the last.

I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the story in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. It’s a well written metaphysical and visionary fiction with perfect pacing.

Zipacna's Legacy is more than a fantasy. It is exploring what could be if we only learn how to relax and be open to the possibilities of this world rather than narrowly relying solely on logic, science and hard work that limit our imaginations. Imagination is what leads to creativity, invention and ultimately the progress of both human civilization and the soul. I doubt anyone who reads this beautiful book will be likely to forget the possibilities it opens. Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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The Music Box

The Music Box by Bekezela Broscius
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A delightful and entertaining story...

The Music Box by Bekezela Broscius is a wonderfully written and richly descriptive novella with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The threads of storytelling are expertly woven in this inspiring story that will guarantee the attention of the younger reader. Set in Zimbabwe, it tells the story of the trials, tribulations and triumphs of eleven-year-old Busi with lessons in friendship, bullying and strength.

This is a nice middle-grade novella that I’m sure the younger reader will enjoy. The vivid descriptions of the settings, situations, and the people were stunning and realistic. The author’s use of genuine dialogue further added to the overall atmosphere of authenticity. Recommended reading and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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