Review Tales
Trusted Reviews and Author Features Since 2016
“Star Bright” By Carole P. Roman
Star Bright” By Carole P. Roman
Ugh, a one star review ruins my near perfect rating of one of my books. The reviewer didn’t get it. I put too much information in or maybe it wasn’t enough. The illustrations were poorly done, sometimes it’s too light, other times too dark. They want to know why I put a certain fact in, or how could I have gotten it so wrong, didn’t I research, they demand!
Writing a book is a personal and subjective experience. You pick a subject because it piques your interest and start assembling information. You cull through mounds of ideas, tangents, or tidbits of juicy facts and choose what will represent what is going to enhance the story.
You pick an illustrator based on their samples. You want someone to be able to take your words and give them life the way you see it in your head. Your artist may come from a totally different background, they may have a whole new perspective, but two strangers work in tandem with the sole purpose of making the other look better.
You check your information on the trusty internet, in the case of the culture books, by contacting people from that particular place. There are language barriers, sometimes, you don’t understand what they are trying to say, but you persist. Sometimes, you speak to two people from the same place, you may get five different answers representing what region where they were born or the level of their education.
You press publish with the intent of pleasing people, hearing how you made them want to learn more. Your book opened a way for them to discuss culture and customs with their child.
You put yourself on the line, risked your reputation and have the distinct honor to read happy reviews of readers who connected. It’s wonderful and thrilling.
You learn that you can’t please everybody. The greatest feeling is that you were satisfied and the most important person to please is yourself.
ABOUT CAROLE P. ROMAN
Carole P. Roman is the award-winning author of the Captain No Beard series. Both Captain No Beard-An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate’s Life and Captain No Beard and the Aurora Borealis have received the Kirkus Star of Exceptional Merit. The first book in the series was named to Kirkus Reviews Best 2012. Captain No Beard and the Aurora Borealis has been named to Kirkus Reviews Best of 2015. Each book in the series has won numerous awards including the NABE Pinnacle Award, IAN Award, Moonbeam Award 2014, National Indie Excellence Award Finalist, Shelf Media Outstanding Series Award, ForeWord Review Five Star and Finalist in the Book of the Year, and Reader’s Views Children’s Book of the Year 2013.
Carole P. Roman is also the author of the award-winning non-fiction culture series, “If You Were Me and Lived in…”, that explores customs and cultures around the world. She has co-authored a self-help book, Navigating Indieworld A Beginners Guide to Self-Publishing and Marketing. She lives on Long Island with her husband and near her children and grandchildren. Carole invites readers to connect with her via her website.
Asleep from day by Margarita Montimore (Book Review #391)
Astrid is an extremely loving character. Almost immediately you can connect and bond with her situation and her feelings. The intensified dark mystery in the storyline definitely added to its multidimensional aspect of enforcing the reader to contemplate what scene is real.
The world building was great. The description was just enough, enabling the reader to visualize through the scenes and enjoy the twists of the story. Having a good storyline is not the only thing this book offers. It also came with great writing.
The literature standard was very unique to its plot. Even to the end, the story had you guessing and wondering. What did, however, make me wonder was the ending. It did not provide a full closure and subjected the reader to its own interpretation. Knowing that there is no sequel to this book, I was a little confused on what merit this had and the impression it left.
I believe the entire experience was very different and I thoroughly enjoyed how the literature was dominating my train of thoughts to the end.
Written by Jeyran Main
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IS INDIA READY FOR IT? Written by Boring Bug
IS INDIA READY FOR IT?
India! The land of billions. Mystic, majestic, and yet developing. Despite years of repression and exploitation, a country that has leaped from the ashes like a phoenix in a mere span of 67 years. A growth instilled by the countless sacrifices of the noble souls which assisted in the upliftment of the downtrodden, only to see the protector of rights turn blind to the violation of a child’s individual right and growth.
The following content may contain elements that are not suitable for some readers
Top 200 Book Review Blog
I was contacted by Anuj Agarwal, the Founder of Feedspot, letting me know that my website has been selected by their panelist as Top 200 Book Review Blogs on the web.
While this is such an honor to receive, it would not have happened without my beautiful readers and followers’ support. I want to sincerely thank everyone that has been with me on this journey and has supported me, spreading the love.
Here is to you guys! Keep the awards coming!
Jeyran Main
Mythology: Folklore, Myths & Legends by Michael J. Stewart (Book Review #178)
Mythology is a book written about the legends and stories (where they originated) of Jews, Egyptians, Norse, Christian, Roman and the Greeks. The traditions, tales, and information are obtained from scripts and scrolls found within each era. This book has ultimately created a collection of myths that would interest any historian to read.
I enjoyed the fact that the book’s intention is to educate how the world worked back then. Although the topics are an entertaining thought, they still remain to be, myths and therefore, the only think this book would then need, would be more references and credibility.
This is book one of its series, and I look forward to reading more from this author.
Written by Jeyran Main
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Vacation to Graceland by Phillip Cornell (Book Review #187)
“I rate this book 2 out of 4 stars.”
This book was an “OnlineBookClub.org Book of the Day.”
Vacation to Graceland is a nonfiction travel story written about a family trip to Graceland. Philip is the author and the main character. The trip consists of a couple of stops to eat and some Granny issues before they reach the mansion. Once realizing how much it costs to get in Graceland, Mom and Granny decide to not even go in. Philip and the rest of the family, decide to take the tour, fly the plane and come back home.
I found the trip to be uneventful. The book was notoriously described as being hilarious but I failed to see the humor in it. There were several editing issues and structural problems within the book making it even more problematic to enjoy. The title of the book is to go to Graceland but instead, it focuses on the journey that would have been okay, only if, the trip itself had something to offer.
There are no significant character developments. Even Granny, which has a thing for lottery tickets, goes on a trip with them having the need for regular dialysis visits. Yet this issue seems to be never mentioned again for the rest of the trip.
Having said all above, I believe that every book review has to have something positive to say in order to assist the author. Hence, I am going to compliment the book cover. It really does attract the reader into wanting to find out what it is about. Also, the fact that the story is about going to see Elvis’s grounds was very intriguing. I really wished and wanted to know more about the mansion and the tour.
Written by Jeyran Main
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Neptunes Gift by C. J. Scarlet (Book Review #390)
I believe using allegories in order to convey a message is a brilliant and compelling move. In this case, the author uses such a tale to teach readers how to deal with their own storms and waves, in their lives. It induces purpose and gratitude for what you have and demonstrates the ability to identify the core strength within, which we hold.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book as I found it to be very inspirational. It was thought-provoking and at the same calming to follow the story like tale and to learn something at the same time. The author has a soothing literary skill that demonstrates care and love in her writing. I particularly relished the part where the laws of nature were combined and compared with humanity.
I highly recommend this book and believe that this author has great potential in creating remarkable work.
Warm Regards,
Jeyran Main
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I Will Be Happy Once _____ Happens by Emily Christopher (Book Review #170)
I Will Be Happy Once _____ Happens is a short book written about happiness and how to achieve it. While I have reviewed and featured many psychological books referencing the same concept, I found this one to be equally enjoyable to read.
I believe that the book would have benefited from more descriptive content, as it only falls under 64 pages. I felt that the increase in content would have made the book to be more influential. However, this does not condemn any of the work that actually has been done for the subject matter. I believe the word “Happiness” is in fact, a perception and in order to achieve such a term, one would need to first understand what does make them happy.
Many find that by buying certain things, achieving a certain goal or being in possession of certain objects, is the way to go about it. However, I have learned from experience that obtaining happiness comes by working with what you have, rather than what you don’t have. Build something with what is available rather than burn yourself trying to get new ones.
This book explains the exact belief that I have learned and I was happy to see that I am not alone. I recommend this book to anyone that wishes to read a short and to the point book, about happiness.
Written by Jeyran Main
If you would like a book review click here
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