Unsavory Delicacies by Russell Brooks

Title: Unsavory Delicacies

Author: Russell Brooks

Publication Date:  22 April 2011

Stand alone or series: Stand Alone - Short story Trilogy

Pages: 30 pages

Book Received from: Author

Synopsis:
For fans of Barry Eisler and Robert Ludlum. A three-course story collection with a side-order of revenge.

Crème BrûléeRogue operative, Monique Beauvais, cons a software genius into selling her a coveted technology that would allow its user to control CIA drones while they’re in flight. And she will go as far as killing him in public in order to have it.

To the Last BiteA renowned food critic—whose scathing reviews have closed down restaurants—gets a savoury surprise.

Shashlyk and MorezhenoeCIA operative, Ridley Fox, leads a team against one of Russia’s most powerful crime families. He discovers secrets, but not one that he was expecting to find.Three stories with three consequences. All containing three Unsavory Delicacies.

***Caution*** Readers are strongly advised NOT to eat while reading To The Last Bite.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed reading Pandora's Succession so when I started reading this one I was happy to see one favourite character pop up in two of the three stories.  While these stories are very short, Russell somehow manages to jampack a fair bit of suspense into each and it left me wanting more.

I also have to admit that To The Last Bite definitely had me gagging a bit at the ending, but I enjoyed it none the less.

If you've never read anything by Russell Brooks I recommend reading this one first... It's a great appetizer :)

You can get a hold of Unsavory Delicacies by using the links below

Amazon

Amazon UK

Smashwords

B&N

XinXii

The Byron Journals by Daniel Ducrou

Title: The Byron Journals

Author: Daniel Ducrou

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Text Publishing

Publication Date: 28th June 2010

ISBN: 9781921656460

Stand alone or series: Stand Alone

Pages: 360 pages

Book Received from: Bought

First Lines: "I think I was born into the wrong city."  Andrew buckled up for take off

Synopsis:

Andrew and his mate Benny have finished school and are heading for the holiday of their lives in Byron Bay. They are not sure what they're looking forward to most: the surf, the girls, the music, the partying or just being away from Adelaide. Things don't go to plan, and Andrew loses his mates. But he finds Heidi. Heidi is not like anyone he's ever met before, and she takes him into her world, which feels a million miles away from his past. But is Andrew really prepared for the ride he's about to take? The Byron Journals is an exciting debut novel by a fresh new voice in Australian literature. Fun, and sometimes frightening, it takes a clear-eyed look at the desire to escape your past and the dangers of running headlong into your future

My Thoughts:

After reading some fantastic Aussie Authors in the past few months (see- Kirsty Eagar & John Marsden) I vowed to take more time to pick up books from the authors of Australia. So when I came across The Byron Journals on another Aussie blogger's site I went out and bought this.

Andrew has alot to escape from. He caught his father sleeping with one of his students, and to keep him quiet he's paid him off, money that he's using to go to Byron Bay. His mothers a Criminal Defence Lawyer who, while she thinks her work stays at work, has unknowingly caused Andrew to be beaten to a pulp. She also drinks. Alot. So when Andrew and Benny arrive at Byron Bay together, they are in to party it up big. Girls, music and the occasional joint.

The first night they are there, Andrew and his friends follow music to a house party with loads of drinking, music and fun. There he meets Tim and later Heidi and Jade. Andrew doesn't count on is the falling out he has with his mates within the first few days and finds himself at Tim's doorstep looking for a place to stay.

Right from the start I could see Andrew's journey slowly spiraling out of control. Tim, Heidi and Jade are great at first but as he gets to know each more personally, the secrets start to emerge and Andrew realises he may not know them as well as he thought. I can't say his choices were all that smart either but considering he just goes with the flow it's understandable how easily he gets in too deep. Between living with his new mates or going home to his disastrous family life, it's obvious which one Andrew prefers so he's willing to do whatever it takes to keep everyone happy.


Since The Byron Journals has alot of drug references and sex scenes I don't think this is a book everyone will enjoy but in saying that if you want something a little different and definitely Australian give it a try. It was a definite eye opener for me. Plus the way that Daniel Ducrou describes the scenery is absolutely amazing.


Originally Posted on the Book Lovers Inc site

Somewhere Over the Sun by Adi Alsaid

Title: Somewhere Over the Sun

Author: Adi Alsaid

Genre: Fiction

Publisher:  Dog Ear Publishing

Publication Date: 15th November 2010

ISBN: 9781608448319

Stand alone or series: Stand Alone

Pages: 208 pages

Book Received from: Author

First Lines: It started inside of an MRI machine.  I felt like gunpowder inside of an eight-foot bullet as I waited to be shot out into the ER, or maybe into Maternity, lying as perfectly still as I could remember to.

Synopsis:

Alan, a spirited young writer with a wandering imagination has discovered that the stories he writes are suddenly coming to life. At the suggestion of his loving father, Alan embarks on a quixotic journey to visit friends and use his new found gift to write them all happier lives. There are a few limitations to his power; he can't cure diseases, he can't summon pots of gold, and headaches accompany each reality-infused story he lives out, but the appreciative and optimistic Alan is not deterred from creating fantastical characters and storylines to give his friends more literary lives.


My Thoughts:

Just reading the synopsis alone had me intrigued about Alan.  I loved the idea of a young writer going on a journey to write his friends happier lives, but I sure wasn't prepared for what was contained within these pages.  And being a recreational writer, I'm oddly drawn to characters who are creative.  So this book was definitely a winner!

Right from the start I knew this was going to be an enjoyable read.  From the MRI scene, to the lonely room I was drawn in by the writing, and the style.  It's amazing how Adi just breathes life into his characters and those inanimate objects we pass by every day, not taking a second glance at. 

The story is told mostly from Alan's point of view, with a scattering of chapters from his father and the friends we visits.  Changing from one character to the next was easy, they were all so different and lovable in their own way. 

Somewhere Over the Sun for me gives hope when life seems mundane and takes what little joys we all take for granted and creates magical experiences from them.  Alan is one Author I will be keeping tabs on in future.  His style of writing is unique and one I enjoyed reading immensely. 

For those of you who enjoy creative characters and a witty and heartfelt read I suggest you get your hands on a copy of this. 

P.S Adi, the sex scene was brilliant!


Fave Line:  Too many!   - Here's one ;)  "It's kind of like what we go through in the washing machine.  Lots of spinning and bubbles, and then heat at the end." Hopefully not too spoilery.

Swallow by Tonya Plank

Title:  Swallow
Author:  Tonya Plank
Genre:  Fiction
Publisher: Dark Swan Press
Publication Date:  December 2009
ISBN:  9780615280998
Stand alone or series:  Stand Alone
Pages:  402
Book Received from:  Author
First Lines:  See Below! 

Synopsis:
Sophie Hegel is a shy New York lawyer who hails from small-town Florence Arizona, known not for the Renaissance but for housing a large prison. She's just graduated from Yale Law School and landed her first job when, one evening, during dinner with her fiancé, she feels a fist-like ball form at the base of her throat. A form of the psychological condition Globus Sensate, this "fist-ball" wreaks havoc on her life, causing her difficulty eating, speaking, and eventually even breathing.

With a cast of characters that includes a pornographer father, a sister with a knack for getting knocked up by denizens of the town pen, a painter of male nudes, an eccentric Sing Sing-residing client, a tough-talking fashion maven and a bevy of privileged Manhattan lawyers and judges, Swallow is a dark comedy about the distance that can separate fathers and daughters, and about a young woman's struggle to survive in a world of pedigreed professionals for which she has no preparation.

My Thoughts
Swallow has definitely opened my eyes when it comes to Psychological Disorders.  Don't get me wrong, I know it happens and people suffer them.  So when I began reading Swallow it really pulled me into the story of Sophie's life of suffering with a disorder called Globus Sensate or Fist-ball as Sophie refers to it.

I really warmed to Sophie within the first Chapter.  She's a shy Appeals Lawyer who does her best to help her clients who were wrongly commited or unfairly sentenced.  Right from the beginning though, Sophie struggles with sharing her opinions and making herself be heard, letting others walk over her and making her feel small and insignificant.  It doesn't help that when 'FB' shows up others don't notice and keeps on going with their conversations as if she's not even there at times.  Francie her good friend is fantastic.  She swears, is blunt and not afraid to say what she thinks regardless of who she's around.  There are a few other characters who I felt needed a slap upside the head for making Sophie feel the way she does.  Tonya has done a good job creating believable three dimensional characters that I cared about.

The story is written well and easy to read although admittedly, there were a few words I had to go reaching for the dictionary for but that was just me. 

Don't let the first paragraph put you off though if you choose to read this.  It's a fantastic in depth book about Lawyers, art galleries,  a not so great family life with a mix of unusual occupations and one woman trying to make a go in a job she really loves.

I'd like to say a big thank you to Tonya Plank for giving me the opportunity to read this awesome book. You can find more about her on her website .

Below I've included the first chapter of Swallow. Enjoy!

The Messenger by Markus Zusak

Title:  The Messenger
Author:  Markus Zusak
Genre:  General Fiction
Publisher:  Picador
Publication Date: 2009
Stand alone or series:  Stand Alone
Book Length:  399
First Lines: The gunman, is useless.  I know it.  He knows it.  The whole bank knows it.  Even my best mate Marvin knows it and he's more useless than the gunman.

Synopsis (From Angus & Robertson website)
THE MESSENGER is comedic, romantic, thrilling, confronting, playful, deceptive... While it shares qualities with Nick Hornby's HOW TO BE GOOD and Iain Softley's film K-PAX, it is cleverer, subtler and more profound than either and, as a bonus, determinedly Australian. (Australian Book Review) Meet Ed Kennedy - cab driving prodigy, pathetic card player and useless at sex. He lives in a suburban shack, shares coffee with his dog, the Doorman, and he's in nervous love with Audrey. His life is one of peaceful routine and incompetence - until he inadvertently stops a bank robbery. That's when the first Ace turns up. That's when Ed becomes the messenger. Chosen to care, he makes his way through town, helping and hurting (where necessary) until only one question remains. Who's behind Ed's mission? THE MESSENGER, by the highly acclaimed author Markus Zusak, is a cryptic journey filled with laughter, fists and love

My Thoughts 
I was in my local bookstore the other day trying to find yet another book to add to my collection, when one of the staff (and I can't for the life of me think of his name) recommended this book.  I was a bit skeptical because I had bought Markus Zusak other book The Book Thief and I couldn't get into it.  But I was told this was one of the 'bookstore dude's all time favouries, so I thought well, we'll give it a go.  Thank you heaps!!  This is a brilliant book.

The Messenger is told in first person, present tense (which I'm buying more of lately)from the point of view of Ed Kennedy.  Ed is your average 20 year old Taxi driver.  He lives on his own with his smelly 17 year old dog 'The Doorman' in a fairly rough suburb in Sydney.  He has no ambitions and going nowhere in life.

The story begins with Ed lying face down on the floor in the middle of a bank robbery.  This first chapter had me laughing and I just had to share it with anyone who listened.  I could just picture the scene playing out because it seemed so familiar and typical Aussie.

Then an envelope with the Ace of diamonds turns up in Ed's letterbox, and so begins the journey of Ed Kennedy.

Markus has done an awesome job in creating his characters.  While each character has their flaws, they stick together as a family and I couldn't help but really come to care about them.  The one that stands out the most for me would have to be 'The Doorman'.  He was just a lovable smelly dog.

For those of you who look forward to reading this, while this is funny, it's also hard edged... laced with swearing and violence.   

After reading this I sat there taking it all in.  I felt overwhelmed by the underling message this book portrays, and this is definitely a MUST READ.  Possibly life changing - I know something in me changed once I finished reading this.

The Messenger is one of the best books I've read.

'It's about glowing lights and small things that are big.' (page 239)