Saturday, April 2, 2016
Twain and Stanley Enter Paradise by Oscar Hijuelos
At
first the book starts kind of slow, hard to follow the story line, but you keep
on reading because of Hijuelos great prose and grasp of character development.
Then you get hooked on the relationship between Twain and Stanley, which is
what the story is about. Not really a biography but a study on these two men
who eventually fall for the same woman. Victorian mores what they are they take
their time in revealing their feelings. But what really got me was the
underlying secret that is revealed at the end. I researched the men's stories
and it is true. Even though Hijuelos story is fiction it is based on fact. It
is a darn shame that Oscar has passed and we will not get that blockbuster
novel that he was capable of writing. In this work he shows his skill and
credentials that will someday make him a candidate for the Novel prize in
Literature.
Tinkers by Paul Harding a Pulitzer Bust
Pulitzer prize winning books should be a cut above, they
should appeal to a broader audience than the critics and eggheads, and they
should be entertaining and well written. Tinkers only covers one, it is well
written with meticulous detail and craft. But as a story it lacks the interest
that I feel a prize winner should have. Books like The Road by McCarthy and To
Kill a Mockingbird, and In Cold Blood; these are well written books with a
great story.
How much detail do we need about the workings of a clock and
its metaphoric link with the Universe? You want to read a great story about a
dying man, read The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Tolstoy he addresses this topic in
less than a hundred pages with style and a story line. Sorry but I could not
award this albeit well written book the Pulitzer.
Saturday, March 19, 2016
The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel
The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
As a fan of Yann Martel's Life of Pi I eagerly read his latest, I was not disappointed. I love his style of writing. I think he is as clever in using metaphors and imagery as Garcia-Marquez. Yann is at his best in this intriguing story about spirituality and loss. It is actually three stories in one. All tied up very neatly or perhaps not so neatly in the last and most memorable one. I actually cried at the end of this book I was so moved. I haven't done that since The Bridges of Madison County got me many years ago. But then I cry at movies. And I am not ashamed to say it. I wish I could write like that, and hey I can, several of my readers told me they cried at the end of Waypoint 90. And they all said they felt it was a very real story of Love and redemption. Anyhow back to Yann. I don't want to give you any spoilers but suffice it to say that I felt like I was on that search for spirituality after a devastating loss in my life. And what I found I am happy to say, is the same conclusion that Yann came to, we all need someone to love and to love us back. We need to believe in an afterlife and in a connection with our fellow man. Kudos to Yann Martel for making me feel wonderful and loved.
View all my reviews
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
As a fan of Yann Martel's Life of Pi I eagerly read his latest, I was not disappointed. I love his style of writing. I think he is as clever in using metaphors and imagery as Garcia-Marquez. Yann is at his best in this intriguing story about spirituality and loss. It is actually three stories in one. All tied up very neatly or perhaps not so neatly in the last and most memorable one. I actually cried at the end of this book I was so moved. I haven't done that since The Bridges of Madison County got me many years ago. But then I cry at movies. And I am not ashamed to say it. I wish I could write like that, and hey I can, several of my readers told me they cried at the end of Waypoint 90. And they all said they felt it was a very real story of Love and redemption. Anyhow back to Yann. I don't want to give you any spoilers but suffice it to say that I felt like I was on that search for spirituality after a devastating loss in my life. And what I found I am happy to say, is the same conclusion that Yann came to, we all need someone to love and to love us back. We need to believe in an afterlife and in a connection with our fellow man. Kudos to Yann Martel for making me feel wonderful and loved.
View all my reviews
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Loving Frank
Loving Frank by Nancy Horan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A great novelization of the true story. Well done.
View all my reviews
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A great novelization of the true story. Well done.
View all my reviews
The Martian, by Andy Weir
The Martian by Andy Weir
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Overall I liked the book. It was daunting at times to decipher the technical aspect of the prose as I am not a techkie nor do I particularly like scholarly jargon such as chemistry and botany etc. But the story was sound and gripping and kept you reading. The writing is OK, not my favorite style. The movie was more enjoyable. One of those rare times that the visual was better than the written. I mean it took ten minutes in the movie to show the growing of potatoes what he takes to do for almost two hours of reading in the book!
View all my reviews
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Overall I liked the book. It was daunting at times to decipher the technical aspect of the prose as I am not a techkie nor do I particularly like scholarly jargon such as chemistry and botany etc. But the story was sound and gripping and kept you reading. The writing is OK, not my favorite style. The movie was more enjoyable. One of those rare times that the visual was better than the written. I mean it took ten minutes in the movie to show the growing of potatoes what he takes to do for almost two hours of reading in the book!
View all my reviews
Book Review--The Mambo Kings, by Oscar Hijuelos
The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love by Oscar Hijuelos
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is one of my top five books ever read. Perhaps because I'm Cuban I feel this book hit a nerve of what it is to be Cuban. The family experience, the music, the love and passion. This novel has it all and is extremely well written as well. Pulitzer Prize award was right on the money.
View all my reviews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is one of my top five books ever read. Perhaps because I'm Cuban I feel this book hit a nerve of what it is to be Cuban. The family experience, the music, the love and passion. This novel has it all and is extremely well written as well. Pulitzer Prize award was right on the money.
View all my reviews
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Come to my new novel launch !!!
Meet
Simon Vincent
Penname of Angel “Vince” Fernandez
Reading from his new novel "The Weight of Sin"
The Author of "Waypoint 90" & "Sea Lust"
Cordially invites you to his book reading/signing
Wednesday June 10th at 7:30 PM
At
Books & Books
265 Aragon Avenue
Coral Gables, FL 33144
If you cannot attend but want to buy the book it is available at:
Or through the author at
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