Book Review: Thief River Falls

Book Review: Thief River Falls by Brian Freeman “Write what you know.” Thriller author Lisa Power followed that maxim in her fourth book, entitled Thief River Falls. It’s set in her home town of Thief River Falls, Minnesota and features real locations there, and even the real names of some of the residents. The verisimilitude… Continue reading Book Review: Thief River Falls

Book Review: Roar at the Universe

Book Review: Roar at the Universe by Danith McPherson In her introduction, the author states that bad stuff happens, and people can deal with it in different ways. This anthology, then, is eleven stories and poems about characters who struggle with the bad stuff in their lives, not always successfully. “Folds of Blue Silk” starts… Continue reading Book Review: Roar at the Universe

Book Review: Wilderness Nurse

Book Review: Wilderness Nurse by Marguerite Moders Marshall Denise Burke is a nurse, and a good one. Despite her relative youth, Denise is skilled enough to be given assignments as a “special nurse” who provides round the clock care for patients who need the extra attention and can pay. However, one too many special assignments… Continue reading Book Review: Wilderness Nurse

Book Review: The Beast with Five Fingers

Book Review: The Beast with Five Fingers by W.F. Harvey W.F. Harvey (1885-1937) was born in Yorkshire, of Quaker family, and became a doctor. However, his health was poor and he was often unable to practice, so he wrote short stories on the side, many of them falling generally into the “weird” category. This volume… Continue reading Book Review: The Beast with Five Fingers

Book Review: Your Crystal Ball Is Whacked

Book Review: Your Crystal Ball Is Whacked by Nancy Stevens Sometimes, the crystal ball goes dark and you cannot see a future. Whether it’s due to horrible circumstances in your life, a bout of physical illness upsetting your mind, or mental illness, your ability to see beyond the present and its troubles is broken. Nevertheless,… Continue reading Book Review: Your Crystal Ball Is Whacked

Book Review: Wolf

Book Review: Wolf by Kelly Oliver Disclaimer:  I received a download of this book through a Goodreads giveaway for the purpose of writing this review.  No other compensation was offered or requested. When philosophy professor and cad Wolfgang “Wolf” Schumtzig is found dead in his office bathroom of an apparent heroin overdose, it causes difficulties… Continue reading Book Review: Wolf

Manga Review: Black Jack 2

Manga Review: Black Jack 2 by Osamu Tezuka Before Osamu Tezuka became a full-time manga creator, he was  a medical doctor.  He drew upon this training and experiences with Japan’s medical establishment for his work on Black Jack starting in the 1970s. Black Jack (birth name Kuro’o Hazama) is a brilliant physician and surgeon who is… Continue reading Manga Review: Black Jack 2

Manga Review: Fullmetal Alchemist, Volume 10

Manga Review:  Fullmetal Alchemist, Volume 10 by Hiromu Arakawa. In the country of Amestris, the highest form of science known is alchemy, the ability to transmute substances into another form.  It seems limited only by the Law of Equivalent Exchange “to obtain an object, something of equal value must be lost.”  Transmutation of humans is… Continue reading Manga Review: Fullmetal Alchemist, Volume 10

Anime Review: Erased

Anime Review: Erased (Japanese title Boku Dake ga Inai Machi “The Town Without Me” or “The Town Where Only I Am Missing”) The year is 2006, and Jun “Yuuki” Shiratori is on Death Row for the abduction and murder of three children back in 1988.  Very few people still believe that he’s innocent, considering the substantial circumstantial… Continue reading Anime Review: Erased

Book Review: Classic American Short Stories

Book Review: Classic American Short Stories compiled by Michael Kelahan This book is more or less exactly what it says in the title, a compilation of short(ish) stories written by American authors, most of which are acknowledged as classics by American Lit professors.  The stories are arranged by author in roughly chronological order from the… Continue reading Book Review: Classic American Short Stories