Grimm Diagnosis is a time travel fantasy adventure with a strong fairy tale theme.
After an accident at a TV studio Rob finds himself in a strange land reminiscent of medieval Germany. Rob seems to accept his new home and is able to use his modern medical knowledge to treat the sick, while he hasn’t missed the fact that most of the people that he meets resemble folks from well-known fairy tales.
Also in this strange world is Rob’s cousin Zev; he too ‘fell’ into this world after he went in search of Rob in the wreckage of the TV studios. One day the duo discover a can of Red Bull, which fills them with dread; someone else from their world is also nearby, and they fear what this might mean.
The plot gets quite complex when their two worlds collide; the author had a lot of fun mixing the modern ways that seeped through to the medieval realm, and some of them were amusing indeed. As the ending grew near the pace of the story increased, culminating in a grand battle which veered away from the parallels with Grimm fairy tales and made me think more along the lines of Middle Earth.
I thought that this story had a lot of good ideas and the fairy-tale theme worked well to a point. I would have liked to see more femininity for the main female characters; they are currently all either old crones or rather ‘butch’ and aggressive, slipping into now dated stereotypes with a few ribald jokes about their appearance and behaviour. I winced several times while reading descriptions of some of the women. I would suggest a little characterisation updating so that this book would appeal to current readers.
So, overall, there was much to like about the storyline, but a bit more thought was needed about the target audience.
After an accident strands Dr. Robert Henry Lang in a medieval land without surgical supplies, medicines, or even hot running water, all he wants to do is find a way home to present-day Seattle. But Rob can’t ignore the medical needs all around him, so he begins seeing patients.
Before he knows it, Rob’s services are in high demand.He hires an office manager, Hans, who never goes anywhere without his bag of bread crumbs. He negotiates a work contract with the Fair Godmother, the leader of the town’s professional guilds. And he falls for his bodyguard, a former hood-wearing redhead who still delivers baskets of food to forest-dwelling shut-ins.
Without meaning to, Rob makes a home for himself in this strange place shaped by Grimm’s fairy tales. But as threats from Rob’s old world creep into this new one, he’ll be asked to make choices that could upset not just his own life, but the lives of everyone around him as well.
This is a new author to me, but I had read several reviews of his previous novels and liked the sound of this one and the setting. I was also intrigued to see how well the author would manage in a contemporary setting, as his previous novels were historical.
If you enjoy road novels (and movies, as this is a very cinematic story) full of fast-paced action, with a young, troubled, and likeable hero/protagonist and a motley crew of companions he gathers along the way, full of risky and dangerous situations, with a corrupt and heartless baddie you’ll love to hate, which touches upon many stories we have read or watched on the news (the migrant plea, human trafficking, sex-trade and sex-slavery, anxiety disorder, gangs and cartels, police corruption) you will enjoy El Norte.
There are murders, kidnappings, and the protagonist is being chased because of some information he holds that could get somebody else into trouble, and those hunting him (well, there is one man, but he counts on many others for assistance) will go to any lengths to ensure they get it.
No matter how serious some of the topics are, though: this is a novel that aims to entertain, and it is not a treatise or an in-depth study of any of those subjects. There are no endless and overly detailed descriptions of locations or events, although we do get moments when the narrative seems to focus on a particular detail (it might be a tattoo, the food the characters are eating, the way somebody pronounces a word, an item of jewellery, a movement, a coyote…) that are effective in putting us in the character’s shoes, even though the novel is written in the third person. We mostly follow Jager, the protagonist, and experience what he feels and thinks, but there are some brief chapters from some other characters’ points of view, and that not only give us a wider perspective, but it also increases the suspense and tension, as sometimes we know what is coming (or suspect it) ahead of the protagonist.
This novel is a coming-of-age story, where we see Jager start the story as an introverted and fairly naïve young man suffering from anxiety, and slowly become a confident, resourceful, and strong young man, who can face any challenges and lead others. He is pretty lost, hesitant, and feeling overwhelmed by what has happened (and, of course, I cannot reveal the details of the plot) at the beginning of his quest/adventure, a bit like most readers would feel in those circumstances, but then he discovers things about him (and his family as well), he didn’t know. I kept thinking of Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces as I read the novel, but you can read it and reach your own conclusions.
This is not a novel that digs deep into the psychology of the characters, and it does focus mostly on the plot, which moves relentlessly forward. Don’t expect to learn much about the background of most of the characters that appear, and even the protagonist doesn’t have much time to dwell on his life and his past, other than a few doubts and moments of self-reflection. There is too much at stake, and you won’t find long intimate discussions about people’s feelings, dreams, goals, or circumstances in life. That doesn’t mean readers will find it difficult to connect with the characters. It is impossible not to root for the protagonist, and even if sometimes we might question his decisions, he never shies away from his responsibilities and is loyal to a fault. And without revealing anything, I can say that there are other characters most readers will take to. I particularly appreciated the way the author portrays anonymous generous souls who aid the protagonist, his friends, and many others trying to get to the North, in any way they can. They might have very little, but they are happy to share it with those who need it more. We get to see the dark side of migration and learn more about those who traffic on people’s hopes and desperation, but there are rays of hope along the way as well.
Much of what happens is taken at face value, and the way the story is told made me think of an action movie, as I have already said, and also of classic YA adventure stories, with the up-to-date news-worthy topics giving it a contemporary feel. There are words and expressions in Spanish (from the various Central-American countries they visit, and Mexico), but those are translated and explained within the text, and the story is an easy read that moves at a vertiginous pace.
I will not elaborate on the ending, as I have made some passing comments about the way the protagonist grows and matures through the story, and although as is the case in these kinds of action and adventure novels, some suspension of disbelief is required, this is not more than would be expected. The ending is appropriate to the story and satisfying, and I’ll leave it at that.
I must add that there is an author’s note/interview, where Johnson answers a number of questions about the novel. This will prove invaluable for book clubs (and it will make a good choice, in my opinion, as there is plenty of food for discussion here), and I enjoyed reading it and having some of my own impressions and thoughts confirmed. The author mentions the book American Dirt (by Jeanine Cummins) and a possible comparison, but although the book is on my list, I haven’t gotten to it yet, so I won’t comment, although I am aware of the controversy.
So, if you’re looking for a quick read, with a classic YA adventure novel feel set in contemporary times, full of action, dangers, found families, and a quest/journey through Central America and Mexico that you’d love to watch on the big screen, jump onto El Norte.
Book description
A thrilling, on-the-run, survival adventure across four countries.
Jager Flores is an introverted Texas high-school graduate on a family trip to Roatán, Honduras, to celebrate.
But when Jager’s careful world is blown apart, the panicked boy goes into hiding and then creates a bond with an unlikely ally to stay one step ahead of his violent pursuers.
Now, traveling with a team of immigrants and with corrupt DEA agents after him as he heads back to El Norte (the U.S.), Jager must find the strength in himself to survive and to get justice for his family.
If you’re a fan of the suspense thriller novels of Lee Child, David Baldacci, or Dan Brown, you’ll relish this fast-moving, action-packed story from TV/movie-optioned author Harald Johnson.
6 Ways To Senior Fitness: Exercise For Seniors Over 60 For More Strength, Better Bones, Mood And Motivation.
This book is aimed at seniors who might want to start a fitness regime. The first half of the book talks about health, nutrition and fitness, while the second part has a range of suggested exercises that seniors might do with a final section about nutrition and diet.
I liked the idea of this book and the exercises have some useful simplistic diagrams to help visualise the movements. However, I found that the writing style of the book reminded me of educational assignments, similar to ones written by university students; there were lots of references to other texts which over-powered the voice of the author.
This might be a useful starting point for senior fitness, but the presentation style didn’t grab me.
If you want to learn how to safely and effectively achieve fitness then keep reading…
As you get older health and safety issues, can become a constant source of concern.
These conditions can be prevented. They are not inevitable. You don’t have to have problems with balance, mobility, posture and medical issues to name a few.
Don’t worry, research has proven that even moderate exercise can help prevent these problems.
In 6 Ways To Senior Fitness you will discover:
Simple exercises that can be done at home
How to achieve better mood and motivation
How to improve balance and mobility
Why nutrients are needed while exercising
When and how to hydrate while exercising
How to get motivated to exercise
How to set exercise goals
And much more…
So even if you think you don’t have the time, or you think it won’t work for you, it’s not too late. Even you can achieve fitness.
If you want to learn how to avoid an inactive lifestyle, find out now, how to put more life in your years and more years in your life.
Take Me Home is book one of The Last Frontier Lodge series of contemporary romances set in Alaska.
After being robbed and assaulted in Seattle, Marley has returned to her childhood home in the hopes of putting the past behind her. She wants to use her technology know-how to start a new job.
Gage has recently been left an old ski resort by his grandmother; after leaving his life as a Navy SEAL, he decides to put his energies into re-opening the once popular winter sports area. Gage might be good with the practical work, but he needs help setting up the website. Marley is just the person he needs.
This is a lovely small town setting with good community spirit; people are excited about the ski resort plans and are happy to help get the place running in time for the post-Christmas season. I particularly liked the wild Alaskan setting.
A sexy Christmas romance set against the wilderness and beauty of small-town Alaska. Gage Hamilton is a smoldering Navy SEAL and a man on a mission. He’s returning to Diamond Creek, Alaska to resurrect his dream of reopening Last Frontier Lodge. Marley Adams moves back home hoping to find a sense of security and safety after it was stolen from her.
Gage has spent many years successfully avoiding emotional entanglements. He is looking for nothing more than peace and sanctuary at his family’s old ski lodge. His new neighbor, Marley, was definitely not part of his plans. Marley is a brainy computer whiz and way too sexy for Gage’s own good. A man who prides himself on always being in control, Gage finds that he has little when it comes to Marley.
Marley only wants to get her feet back under her after her world was turned upside down in Seattle. She’s been focused on little else beyond her work and is seriously out of practice with anything resembling romance…including the scorching hot attraction that sizzles anytime Gage crosses her path.
Gage and Marley are powerless against the magnetic pull between them. Steamy and snowy nights weave a spell around them. While Marley thought she escaped whoever set out to hurt her in Seattle, she finds the threat of danger has followed her to Diamond Creek. Gage must face the depth of his feelings for Marley when he realizes he will do anything to protect her. Can Marley and Gage discover love in time for Christmas? The magic of a white Christmas is right around the corner.
Never a dull moment in this high-speed thriller starring Jager Flores, an eighteen-year-old who goes on holiday with his family (mother, father, sister) to a Honduran island, and ends up on a white-knuckle-ride of a journey north, to the US. Jager knows his father is involved with some dodgy people, but does not know to what extent. He travels with Flea, a former gangster who wants to disappear.
It’s clear that the author has spent much time researching every aspect to do with how migrants sneak into the US; the local culture and jargon is convincing, throughout. I was fascinated to read about ‘La Bestia’, also known as ‘El Tren de la Muerte (The Train of Death), the freight train used for the purpose of getting across Mexico for those who can’t afford a smuggler.
This is a well plotted, suspense-filled and unpredictable novel, as every good action thriller should be – the story is well put together, and definitely plot- rather than character-driven, though Flea and his gang at the beginning were very well drawn, I thought.
I love on-the-run stories, generally, but unfortunately this didn’t quite hit the spot. The reason for this was that I couldn’t ‘see’ Jager; he was never more than a name on a page. He is a schoolboy whose parents have seen fit to send him to a therapist and get him hooked on diazepam (Valium) because his personality is of introverted type and he suffers from ‘social anxiety’; this apparently means he needs to be dosed up with strong, highly addictive medication. However, within a couple of days of shocking, tragic events that give birth to his perilous journey, he throws away his pills and starts facing down gangsters, thinking on his feet in the manner of Jack Bauer, and becoming the de facto leader of small parties of South American undocumented immigrants. I get that dire circumstances can bring out a side of a person that they didn’t know existed, but it usually takes more than a matter of days. I’m afraid I couldn’t suspend my disbelief.
Another detail that grated was this: Jager’s gangster father kept a top secret, wildly important document containing certain names, that must not fall into the wrong hands … on a Google doc. Surely a hacker of the type that exist these days would be able to hack into such a document within minutes?
To sum up, the story has a lot going for it, especially if you like non-stop action, but it didn’t really work for me for the reasons stated. Which is a shame, because I like this author’s historical and time travel fiction very much.
Book description
A thrilling, on-the-run, survival adventure across four countries.
Jager Flores is an introverted Texas high-school graduate on a family trip to Roatán, Honduras, to celebrate.
But when Jager’s careful world is blown apart, the panicked boy goes into hiding and then creates a bond with an unlikely ally to stay one step ahead of his violent pursuers.
Now, traveling with a team of immigrants and with corrupt DEA agents after him as he heads back to El Norte (the U.S.), Jager must find the strength in himself to survive and to get justice for his family.
If you’re a fan of the suspense thriller novels of Lee Child, David Baldacci, or Dan Brown, you’ll relish this fast-moving, action-packed story from TV/movie-optioned author Harald Johnson.
Spring is my favourite time of year. I get very excited by warmer days, longer daylight hours, birds nesting and bees awakening. Something happens to my fingers each springtime; they get itchy to plant things!
I’m a plant addict!
Confession 1: I’ve already planted lots of seeds!
Confession 2: I’ve gone too early with some of them🙄
Confession 3: Everyday I proudly beam over my growing seedlings, clucking round them like a mother hen.
So when I spotted this tweet by Páraig (from the three hairs blog) this week, I couldn’t help retweeting it and wanting to share it with my readers. It sums things up to a ‘T’ at my place.😉
Now let’s resume normal transmissions and get on with SoS.
Photo one is of my ‘green’ hellebore. I don’t know the variety, but I do know that I have left the plant too long it a pot and it needs re-potting or planting out in the garden. It got put into a pot when we moved house and I admit to forgetting about it. But after it flowers I shall plant it into a new flower bed.
Photo two is an orchid which has been battling with woolly aphid all winter. The aphids came in, I believe, on a new orchid which they destroyed. I have been picking them off by hand on a daily basis rather than spraying with chemicals.
Third photo is of a rather sad Primrose, I didn’t catch it at its best and the rest are in between blooms.
Fourth photo is a sample of my nasturtiums. There’s a story to these… I have not planted these before and I had plant envy seeing them in other gardens. I had a pack with 6 varieties, each pack only had 15 seeds, which didn’t sound many at the time, so I planted 2 tray fulls, expecting several weeks until the seedlings were large enough to pot-on. Well…7 days after planting…they needed potting on😮. Varieties are: Alaska mixed, Jewel Cherry Rose, Empress of India, Jewel mixed, Gleaming Gold and Trailing mixed -lesson learnt – nasturtiums germinated fast!
Fifth photo is of this tiny white orchid (variety unknown) which is also flowering.
Sixth photo is of the more sedate and slower growing Salvia (Blaze Of Fire), 11 seedlings from 12 seeds. I’m happy with that germination rate and speed.
Thank you for joining me for this #SixOnSaturday post. I hope that you enjoyed it. Jim is now our host for this gardening meme and you can find his blog here where you will be able to catch up with links from all the other folks who take part.
Sue has been reading Fast Fiction by Scotty Cornfield
Fast Fiction intrigued me due to its challenging premise. It is an anthology of 101 stories, each with only 101 words. Keeping to such a strict exact word count is incredibly difficult and my interest was piqued. The idea originated with a daily prompt given by the Monterey County Weekly, which the author has been undertaking for years now. He writes the prompt at the end of each story so you can see what inspired each one, which was a nice touch.
Naturally some of the stories are better than others. Some have clever puns and unexpected twists in the final few words. These were the ones I enjoyed the most. My favourite was Close Encounter with a Celebrity which had a fabulous twist. I also really liked Surgically Removed, where a medical scene was not what it first appeared to be, They Think They Know Us So Well, which is written from a dog’s perspective discussing humans with his pals and Lessons From a Grim Reaper, where one of the harbingers of death decides to rebrand himself. As you can see, the stories are very varied in their content.
These stories are so short a few can be read while having a tea break. They do not require much brain power, which was ideal, since I read them while sick with COVID when my attention span was not its best! What they are is fun and cleverly thought through. If you can think up a prompt of your own the author states he will happily include it in a future volume and credit you.
Book description
In FAST FICTION,you’ll enter a cafe where the menu is loaded with nothing but literary appetizers, designed to be quickly consumed and easily digested. You’ll meet people with secrets and others who wished they knew how to keep them; characters looking to exact revenge and others getting their just desserts when karma calls. Fans of the combo platter will see it all here, from the dark to the darkly comical; the laugh-out-loud funny to the thought-provoking; offering more twists and turns than a pretzel—more ups and downs than a soufflé.
Like the world of improv, each tale has been inspired by a prompt (a single word or a phrase) provided by readers. From those simple suggestions, the stories evolve. You’ll meet people from all walks of life, but they’ll all have at least one thing in common: Your brief encounter with them will be over in less than a minute. Welcome to FAST FICTION,where you’ll find 101 stories of exactly 101 words each. How’s that for symmetry?
Judith has been reading Finding Verity by Jenny Loudon
The premise of this story is a woman searching for her true self: for the person she left behind years ago, the girl who had dreams and hopes, but has instead found she has been subsumed by the selfishness of a husband, the thoughtlessness of her daughters, and the need for her to make money using the talents she has, but not in the way for which she yearns.
I found this book a difficult one to review. On the plus side there was much for me to enjoy about the story. It’s an interesting insight to a marriage long since settled into a pattern of sacrifice and barely hidden resentment by the middle-aged protagonist, Verity, and the indifference of her husband, Matt. Put into the mix one unforgotten friendship with Edward, an American journalist, who Verity met before she married Matt, and a purely coincidently meeting on a short break in Cote d’Azur, and there you have the plot. With all the intricacies of a relationship floundering, and the insertion of various disasters, the author has produced a very real feel to life that many women endure – have settled for.
I liked the portrayal of Verity. The character is nicely rounded, the internal dialogue adding layers as she struggles to make sense of what is happening. The reader becomes increasingly aware of her emotional and mental fragility as the story progresses, and, for me, anyway, more and more exasperated by Matt and his refusal to even acknowledge her needs. So, when Edward is back on the scene I found myself urging her to see what is under her now; a man who loves her. Until he also is shown to be struggling with his life, and a past that affects his ability to be truly honest with Verity.
All the above is a big plus; it’s an emotional read, one with which the reader can truly empathise. The author writes with a brilliant understanding of the human psyche, and I admired that. I really did.
But then, for me, the descriptions of some of the settings stopped the story in its track. The narrative is mainly divided between London and the south of France, with a section given over to the Isle of Skye. The London scenes give a succinct and very real sense of place, and paralleled Verity’s internal dilemma. So far so good. But it was the descriptions of France and the Scottish isle that jarred. Beautifully written, evoking such imagery that I don’t doubt that most readers would read and reread just for the pleasure of savouring the words. And I understood the need for the lengthy portrayals to give a sense of the scenery at times; they reflected the protagonist’s internal dialogue, the slow moving on of her future. But these scenes made me impatient, I wanted to get on with the story.
And I had the same problem with some sections of dialogue where I felt the same emotion, the same interaction between the characters, were repeated, but in a different way, it felt as though it dragged the scene along, the repetition almost used as a filler to the action.
I realise this obviously reveals the kind of reader I am. I like fast moving books, rather than introspective ones. So in no way does this review detract from what a good read Finding Verity is. It’s a purely personal and subjective opinion. And, despite these last points, I have no qualms in saying that this is a good story that epitomises the feelings that many women in mid-life, and will suit many readers
And I just need to say – I loved the cover!
Book description
The heartwarming bestseller from this exciting debut novelist. An unhappy woman. An unfinished romance. A sense that time is running out…
Verity Westwood is a successful London businesswoman whose husband is handsome but selfish.
When Edward Farrell, a nomadic American journalist from her past, returns unexpectedly, she is swept by the irresistible desire to fulfil her dreams of working as an artist, like her famous father before her. After being caught in a storm on the Cote d’Azur, she vows to change her life.
What she does not foresee is the struggle involved, the ultimate price she will pay, and the powerful force of enduring love that changes everything.
The Morville Hours is primarily a book about how the author created a garden at The Dower House in Morville, Shropshire. However, it is much more than a book about gardening; author Katherine Swift has researched and included the history of the land, the house and many of the people who have lived and worked in and around the area.
At times the writing is quite poetic, while on occasions it seems to lose a thread or pick up a random point, but it suits the style of the book. Swift has also chosen to set out the chapters as they reflect the monastic Hours, a system and book which has survived since the Middle Ages. It adds comparisons to events in the gardening calendar and is an interesting addition to the book.
I found this a slow read, mainly because of its non-fiction aspect; the pace is very different from a piece of fictional work, but it drew me in and I enjoyed reading it very much. Certainly the garden ideas gave me great inspiration, especially reading it in February when I am on the cusp of Spring planting plans.
The Morville Hours A book about time and the garden: that of the Dower House at Morville. It recalls the monastic past of the house. It covers from the crunch of grass underfoot at midnight on a frosty New Year’s Eve to the drip of trees in a melancholy March dawn.
One More Mountain is the fifth book in the Breadwinner series of cultural fiction suitable for middle grade or older pre-teen readers. The series is set in Afghanistan and this particular story happens around 2021 when the Taliban have re-taken the country.
In the story, characters from previous books continue their lives, but this book can be read without knowledge of the story so far. It begins with Maryam, a female singer, and her nephew Rafi trying to leave the country for a better life in America; alas, the airport has been shut as thousands try to flee the country.
Rafi’s mother is staying in Afghanistan, where she runs a refuge for women and young girls. With news of the rebels’ advance, the refuge must close for the safety of all. They then set out on a long journey to find a better place to live.
I have not read any other books in this series, however, I think these books are important as they highlight the plight of people in different parts of the world.
There is a map showing where Afghanistan is at the front of the book and a glossary of native words at the back with a short history of the country which is suitable for young readers to understand. There are no illustrations, but the descriptive passages drew their own pictures in my mind.
It’s 2021, and the Taliban have regained power in Afghanistan. Parvana and Shauzia, the brave protagonists of The Breadwinner, must now flee to escape new dangers from an old enemy.
In Kabul, 15-year-old Damsa runs away to avoid being forced into marriage by her family. She is found by a police officer named Shauzia, who takes her to Green Valley, a shelter and school for women and girls run by Parvana.
It has been 20 years since Parvana and Shauzia had to disguise themselves as boys to support themselves and their families. But when the Taliban were defeated in 2001, it looked as if Afghans could finally rebuild their country. Many things have changed for Parvana since then. She has married Asif, who she met in the desert as she searched for her family when she was a child. She runs a school for girls. She has a son, Rafi, who is about to fly to New York, where he will train to become a dancer.
But Shauzia is still Parvana’s best friend. And Parvana is still headstrong, bringing her in conflict with her spoiled sister Maryam.
While Asif tries to get Maryam and Rafi on one of the last flights out of Kabul, the Taliban come to the school, and Parvana must lead the girls out of Green Valley and into the mountains.
Book reviewer and garden enthusiast. Updates from my Hampshire garden. Usually talking about books and plants. People do not forget books or flowers that touch them or excite them—they recommend them.
Everything I know about gardening I've learnt from a combination of my mum, Carol Klein and Monty Don. My garden is a tiny 2x3m yard requiring a lot of TLC...
Grimm Diagnosis by Matt Golec
Rosie Amber 