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“Ghost with Two Hearts” Book Review by Carmen J. Otto
The book “Ghost with Two Hearts,” is an absolutely amazing read! The way Michael French wrote this book makes it so easy to pick although very difficult to put down. “Ghost with Two Hearts” has an amazing storyline, and made me feel as if I were a part of Adrian’s trip to Japan. After reading this book I am rethinking the clear definition between right and wrong. You should do the right thing even if it might not benefit you although I think sometimes our human nature convinces us that if it doesn’t benefit us, it can’t be the right thing. I often found myself taking pause to contemplate my own life while I was experiencing Adrian’s adventure.

I would give this book 5/5 stars because of how interesting the book was and how the plot twists kept me guessing. After reading “Ghost with Two Hearts,” I want to read all of the other books Michael French has written.

I would recommend this book to anyone that loves adventure and who enjoys not knowing what to expect next!

Bio for Carmen J. Otto

Hi! I’m Carmen and I’m a high school sophomore who lives in the corner of a cornfield in chilly Wisconsin. I love cows and horses and I tolerate all of my siblings (there’s six of us)…kidding, not kidding… I do however love to read and my room is filled with books of all kinds. I enjoy discovering new authors and going on adventures through books.

http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/2023/03/5-star-review-for-michael-frenchs-ghost.html

Michael R. French - Ghost With Two Hearts -- WOW Tour -- 3/23/2023

"Lemons: In an Orchard" by David John Baer McNicholas (Author)

1/29/2022

Available on Amazon

Dear Reader,
I describe myself as a ghost hunting wizard who lives in a bus. I’m also a student at the Institute of American Indian Arts,
where I study creative writing. It’s an emotional education. When I say that I mean that it’s unnatural to try and separate ideas from
the feelings we have about them. I know that scientific/philosophical rigor claims to do just that, but positionality informs us that
this is impossible. Moreso, that claiming it diminishes the perspectives of the people we other. Enough didactic introductions, let’s
look at the book and the process of writing it.
Writing Lemons: In an Orchard was a deconstruction of my experience as a white man. It was a meditation on a person I
hated, his entire family seemed a train wreck I had to pour-over every scattered piece of bloody shrapnel. I had to feel his pain and
confusion, and get to the root of it. At its most personal this book is a story of an estranged father, himself a broken boy, whose
comforts of success and privilege dissolve in front of our eyes. How he is transformed by the things he thought he’d put to bed
informs the emotional story of the book. At the beginning of the book, the narrator is described as a pile of human remains torn to
pieces by wild animals. By the end of the book, one has to wonder if he isn’t more alive than that.
I wrote the novel in Santa Fe, NM, as my first fall here became my first winter. I was living in this Thor El Dorado shuttle
bus built on an E-350 cutaway. I woke up every day and wrote. These were the days of the dwindling public assistance money from
New Hampshire. Work was something in transition. I was writing, but not for an income. I was writing more for the outcome. Dr
Bronner washed me in the Santa Fe river everyday from July to December. That river, or an analog of it, made it into the novel. My
body was a mess when I got here. Years of chronic pain and parasomniac episodes, combined with mid-life collapse, unpacking
themselves. I walked everywhere with a gnarled, vine-twisted walking stick. Slowly. As one pedestrian in Arizona remarked to the
back of my head, “in the middle of the damn sidewalk.”
The inspiration for the novel came from a short drive I took out to San Diego and back. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do
with myself. I came out to Santa Fe to study at St. John’s College, but quickly disabused myself of that notion. I was thinking, ‘do I
go back or do I stay?’ I decided to visit the Pacific Ocean. On the way back to Santa Fe, I drove through massive citrus fields in
California. There were just lemons as far as I could see for miles. I thought, there’s a novel in there.
I ruminated on it for a month until I found my narrator. He’s a sick man, a jerk, although he doesn’t think so. He
monopolizes the text with his travails, lost on the lemon farm, peppering his narration with pseudo-intellectual right-wing bigotry
and personal recollections, the meanings of which he seems almost verging on apprehending. And then there are the dreams. The
fever dreams of a man left to exposure, infection, and starvation.
Of course, he meets some other characters, denizens of the lemon grove who guide him on his path to be re-united with his
soul, which has been searching for him for a long time, as he is an old man. In dreams, we often encounter children. Jung tells us that
these children are manifestations of our inner child. Each time I encountered a child in my own dreams, I felt drawn in by
innocence, only to be murdered in some mythical way. I have been given the death touch by a six year old vampire. I’ve been
stabbed in the neck by a toddler driving a tank. This mysterious child figure plays as gentle antagonist to the narrator.
The reality of the story is a warped construction anchored in the concrete voice of the narrator. From the beginning, you
learn not to trust him. As his story becomes more fantastic, his disbelief reads as a credible account. I wanted his truth to be complex,
told in lies and irony. The magical elements of the story, when discredited by the narrator, feel like the most concrete part of the
story. The physical rigors of the lemon orchard itself, an alien terrain. A dream of nudity.
I hope readers pick up on the humor of the story. It was fun to write and I definitely laughed at some of my own bullshit. I
let the world around me be a part of it. The story would have been incomplete without the conversations I had with friends while I
was writing it. I was parked at the Patrick Smith Park on East Alameda when a drum circle showed up and started making rhythms.
I wrote them into the story and then got out of the bus and danced while they drummed, around my cane, like a magic staff. Music is
healing. Stories are healing. The river is healing.
I could not have written this book without Santa Fe. Even though New Mexico is not mentioned once in the text, the
theme of healing which permeates the subtext is one that I found here. I would love to hear from readers of my novel. You can find a
contact page on my website: ghostofamerica.NET Until then, I’ll be in the bus.
Thanks for reading,

" The Tearing Apart" by Luisa Elena Kolker

11/24/2021

Avalible on Amazon

Luisa Elena Kolker is the author of "The Tearing Apart," an award-winning collection of poems published by Renegade Oracle Press (available on Amazon).

"For me, poetry is a mystical language that bridges the space between my ego consciousness and the unconscious undercurrents of my life. It is a way I commune with the dimensions of aliveness that defy rational containment. I write poetry to visit and receive the healing power of those dimensions.

"Poems usually come to me when I feel deeply moved by the beauty or pain of life. I hear a phrase and it stays with me until I write it down. Sometimes I don’t understand the phrase, but I sense that it has intelligence and power. Once I write it down, the phrase becomes a skeleton key that opens doors into my psyche. I allow the words to flow in the moment and then usually revise, expand, and contract the poem over a period of months or years. Sometimes a poem arrives whole and complete, but that’s the exception rather than the rule. It’s important to me that each word and sentence in my poems convey soul essence."
—Luisa Elena Kolker

Luisa Elena Kolker

Thank you for stopping by!

A Short Good Life: Her Father Tells Liza's Story of Facing Death

10/15/2021

It's unusual to access a child's mind during the magic years of childhood. It's rarer when the child is facing her death. Liza, an ardent child with a deep love of cows and the color purple was diagnosed with leukemia at age four and died two years later in 1996. Liza was an unusually expressive child and her parents, both child psychiatrists, were uniquely oriented to appreciate the richness of a child's mind. Through writing this book, Liza's father strove to reveal the inner world of a child's mind--and a parent's mind--as few other books can. At its center, this is the story of a child's psyche growing and striving to understand all she could of her experience, and of a small family coping with life's biggest challenges. It is a story of love's power to help a family cope and endure despite loss, and to grow, through darkness, back toward a full embrace of life. Through the process, the family emerges transformed, awed by the capacities of this child.

Public Display of Aggression By Hugh Fritz

7/2/2021

Today, Crystal Otto reviews this fantastic book - but before we read her review, let's find out more about the author and this series!

Book Summary:

Soleil and Flarence are immortal Genies who can bend the fundamental forces of the universe through willpower alone. For centuries, they have considered themselves the most formidable beings in the world, but some newcomers just might give them a run for their money.
Magic has always been limited to living things. Throughout his life, Soleil has never come across an object with supernatural capabilities. Now, a human has somehow constructed guns with the ability to fire spells. Genies are normally resistant to offensive magic, but Soleil knows from experience that the enchanted revolvers harm all creatures equally.
Resurrection is one of the few limitations to a Genie’s abilities. Not even magic should be able to bring a person back from death. Recently, though, Flarence saw a corpse not only rise but also fight. Endowed with incredible speed and strength, the revived man seeks revenge on his murderers.
To make matters worse, Darren (the third member of the Genie “family”) is still missing. He's been lying low, biding his time, but hasn’t forgotten about Officer Tymbir, and has every intention of settling their score.
Darren, the revived corpse, and the man with the magic guns have a list of people to kill, and are eager to spill blood. With the help of Mohinaux and Claire, Soleil and Flarence rush to locate them, uncover the sources of their powers, and find a way to stop them.

This book is perfect for adults who want to get in touch with their inner child!

Purchase Public Display of Aggression on Amazon, Organic Books, Page One Books and Barnes and Noble. Be sure to also add this to your GoodReads reading list.

About the Author Hugh Fritz: Hugh Fritz is a fan of monsters, mad scientists, sorcerers, and anything that involves beings with incredible powers beating each other senseless. After years of writing research papers, he decided it was time to give reality a rest and let his imagination run wild.

Find out more at:
website:  http://www.hughfritz.com
Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/Stories-by-Hugh-Fritz-397896477228957

Today's 5 Star Review by Crystal J. Casavant-Otto
Book 1 in the series was said to be: "Fantasy Thriller is the best way to describe Hugh Fritz’s Made to be Broken and the thrill lies in the fantasy to say the least!"
Before I tell you too much about book 2, I must say this: Book 2 was just as wonderfully thrilling as book 1...BUT... you can absolutely read one without the other. Book 2 can stand just beautifully on it's own!
Public Display of Aggression is thrilling and not at all predictable. I wasn’t sure what direction this tale would go in and it is clear that Hugh Fritz is a seasoned reader and talented storyteller. The plot twists were many and well planned out. I enjoyed keeping up with Soleil in this adventure!

Public Display of Aggression is a wonderful blend of thrill and fantasy - a fantastically written story that took me as a reader on a much needed adventure!

About Today's Reviewer:
Crystal is a Blog Tour Manager with WOW! Women on Writing and a busy mom and dairy farmer from Wisconsin. In her spare time she enjoys riding horses and the smell of fresh cut grass!

--- Upcoming Blog Tour Calendar

July 7th @ Sreevarsha Sreejith
Readers of Varsha’s blog will hear from Hugh Fritz today in a post about “Fan Fiction” as he takes a break from promoting his latest book Public Display of Aggression. Don’t miss this guest post and opportunity to learn more about the Mystic Rampage Series and the man behind all the excitement!
sreevarshasreejith.blogspot.com

July 9th @ Bring on Lemons with Carmen Otto
Carmen is an avid reader and soon to be high schooler – she loved Book #1 in the Mystic Rampage series and she joins us today to share her 5 Star Review of Book #2 – Public Display of Aggression by Hugh Fritz. Don’t miss her youthful insight!
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

July 10th @ Author Anthony Avina’s Blog
Readers of Author Anthony Avina’s Blog will hear from Hugh Fritz today as he pens a guest post titled “Preference of Series of Stand Alone Pieces”. This post will delight authors and readers alike – so don’t miss it! This is also a great opportunity to learn more about the Mystic Rampage Series and Book #2, Public Display of Aggression.
https://authoranthonyavinablog.com/

July 12th  @ Bookish Trischa
Today is the day – Trischa reviews Public Display of Aggression – Book #2 in the Mystic Rampage Series! Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about and hear from Trischa herself as she shares her insight into the writings of Hugh Fritz.
http://bookishtrisha.com

July 7th @ Sreevarsha Sreejith
Today it’s Varsha’s opportunity to share her review of Public Display of Aggression. Don’t miss this chance to learn more about the fast-paced writing of Hugh Fritz and Book #2 in the Mystic Rampage series!
sreevarshasreejith.blogspot.com

July 14th @ Author Anthony Avina’s Blog
A few days ago, readers of Author Anthony Avina’s Blog heard from Hugh Fritz in a guest post: “Preference of Series of Stand Alone Pieces”. Now it’s review time – hear what Anthony has to say in his review of Public Display of Aggression, Book #2 in the Mystic Rampage Series by Hugh Fritz!
https://authoranthonyavinablog.com/

"Public Display Of Aggression" by Hugh Fritz

5/28/2021

Review by Dale Travous 

Available on Amazon

"Hugh Fritz's new novel, Public Display of Aggression, the second in the " Mystic Rampage " series, picks up where his 1st book leaves off and takes the reader on a non-stop thrill ride. We become acquainted with Soleil and Florence, brothers possessing super human abilities that allow them to perform feats of apparent magic that they use to do battle with a line-up of similarly empowered villains. The action is fast paced and relentless, ramping up to a crescendo of mayhem. We are confronted with the likes of a sociopathic cop, a deranged scientist from the future packing high tech futuristic heat, an adrenaline-fueled reanimated corpse seeking revenge (and reciting poetry), an enormous kiaju-esque enchanted earthworm, and a Lovecraftian monster composed of random mismatched animal parts running amok. Mr. Fritz has exploited the possibilities brought forth from current ideas in a theoretic physics to conjure an astonishingly unique and entertaining world.
Mr Fritz's novel has been made more complete with the remarkable illustrations and cover art by Lothar Speer. Select scenes have been enhanced with his powerful drawings."

Book Review by Carmen Otto - for Allen Long's "Praying for Restraint"

5/20/2021

Available on Amazon

Allen Long’s is a talented author who drew me in as he told of his experiences. I shared in his sadness and frustration, but most important in his joy. This is a story of resilience and ultimately triumph. I enjoyed this memoir which is odd to say since it made me uncomfortable. Praying for Restraint is an eye-opening memoir – especially for someone my age who has very little experience with healthcare.

I feel like I would have been afraid to write this book – I would be worried about what people would say or think. The author was very brave to share his experiences with the world. Praying for Restraint isn’t a book I would normally grab off the shelf but I would recommend other people read it, because they’d be surprised by the entire story – and inspired. No matter how bad things may seem, you should never give up! Life isn’t easy right now, so it was a good time to read a book like this.

Thank you Allen Long for sharing your life me and other readers. Praying for Restraint is written, well edited, and I certainly enjoyed the short glimpses into your triumphant life. You are a resilient person and I’m glad you never gave up!

About the Reviewer:

Carmen is a delightful 14 year old from Wisconsin. She enjoys reading, horses, and helping on her family's dairy farm. She is 1 of 6 children and she's looking forward to entering high school in the fall. Her advice for other girls her age is "it doesn't matter if you're even good at it - sing/dance/run or do whatever it is that makes you happy!"

About: Praying for Restraint:

Allen Long works as a CNA-certified nursing assistant-at that supposed sanctuary of caring, an inner-city general hospital. What an unforgettable parade of bizarre, needy, abusive, menacing, endearing, and poignant humanity passes through its doors. And those are just the staff and administrators! Meanwhile, the patient population spans the affluent and sophisticated to the homeless, the mentally ill, addicts, gang members, and criminals in custody. Praying for Restraint takes the reader on a journey into the absurd and surreal that is ultimately uplifting and harrowing, both funny and heartbreaking. Long's struggle to survive a relentlessly toxic work environment with body, soul, and marriage intact is as gripping as the battle against childhood abuse in his previous memoir, Less than Human. Reviewers found that book "inspiring, honest, and beautifully written, engaging, and thought-provoking." Praying for Restraint earns that praise and more.

Praying for Restraint is now available to purchase exclusively on Amazon in both paperback and as a Kindle book.

About the Author, Allen Long

Here’s how I became a writer. When I was a child in Arlington, Virginia, as soon as I understood what stories were, I began telling them to anyone who would listen. As a fifth-grader, I was recruited by the Storytellers, a small group of supervised fifth- and sixth-graders who told stories once a month to kids in the first, second, and third grades.
When I reached sixth grade, my teacher allowed me to skip all of my English assignments in exchange for me writing her a short story each week. In seventh grade, one of my stories placed second in an English class competition.
Storytelling seems to have been hardwired into my DNA.
One of my favorite memories from childhood is telling my younger brother, David, a made-up story every night during the summers we slept in twin beds in our cool basement.
I earned a BA in Communications/Journalism from Virginia Tech. While I was there, I took every creative writing class offered and wrote a story that placed second at a regional literary festival sponsored by nearby Hollins University. During my student days, I also worked half-time for two years as a reporter for The Roanoke Times.
After I graduated, I accepted a scholarship to earn an MA in English/fiction writing from Hollins University, where I wrote the first half of a novel. I then received a second scholarship and a teaching assistant position to pursue an MFA in fiction writing at the University of Arizona.
Shortly after I graduated, I published a story called “Second Honeymoon” in Concho River Review. After that, I decided to continue my writing education by working with master editor Tom Jenks. When Tom was a senior editor at Scribner’s, he completed Ernest Hemingway’s unfinished novel, The Garden of Eden, which became a bestseller.
I published two more stories, and then I decided to change gears and write a memoir called “Soul Breach” about the high level of illegal and unethical behavior I’d witnessed while working in the management consulting field. The story was published, and my good friend and editor, Kit McIlroy, told me it was the best piece I’d ever written, and he encouraged me to write more nonfiction.
I followed his advice and wrote and published magazine-length memoirs about the happiest, most intriguing, and worst moments in my life. These combined pieces became my first book, Less than Human: A Memoir (Black Rose Writing, 2016).
After that, I published memoirs on a wide variety of subjects, including two about my work as an assistant nurse in a poorly managed inner-city hospital populated by challenging patients, including violent mentally ill ones who often were not sedated or restrained.
“Keep writing about that hospital, and you’ve got your next book,” Kit said. I followed his advice, eventually producing my second book, Praying for Restraint: Frequent Flying with an Inner-City Hospital CNA (Legacy Book Press, 2021).
One final comment—I’ve loved visiting zoos and aquariums my whole life, and I’ve raised box turtles, swum with sea turtles, and gone on multiple dolphin- and whale-watching expeditions. Therefore, you may notice that quite a bit of wildlife has crept into my writing. At last count, I spied lions, tigers, giraffes, eland, monkeys, chimps, elephants, alligators, caimans, box turtles, sea turtles, bottlenose dolphins, and humpback whales. Have I missed any?

You can discover more about Allen and his work on his website: http://allenlongauthor.com/.

--- Upcoming Tour Schedule

May 23rd @ Madeline Sharples
Fellow memoirist Madeline Sharples shares her thoughts after reading Allen Long's latest memoir Praying for Restraint. Readers won't want to miss Madeline's review.
https://madelinesharples.com/

May 23rd @ Kathleen Pooler
Kathleen Pooler reviews Praying for Restraint by Allen Long. Find out what one memoir author has to say about the memoir of another author! Don't miss this valuable insight!
https://www.krpooler.com/

May 24th @ Bring on Lemons with Michelle DelPonte
Healthcare worker and Wisconsin mother, Michelle DelPonte shares her thoughts after reading Allen Long's memoir Praying for Restraint.
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

May 25th @ World of My Imagination
Nicole Pyles offers her thoughts in an insightful review of Allen Long's medical memoir titled Praying for Restraint. Join readers at World of My Imagination as they learn more about this inspiring memoir and it's author.
https://worldofmyimagination.com/

May 26th @ Linda Appleman Shapiro
Memoirist, Artist, and Psychotherapist Linda Appleman Shapiro offers some deep thoughts in her review of Allen Long's latest memoir Praying for Restraint. Join readers at Linda's blog today to learn more!
http://applemanshapiro.com/my-blog/

May 27th @ Bring on Lemons with Cathy Hansen
Wisconsin educator and small business owner Cathy Hansen shares her insightful review of Allen Long's Praying for Restraint. Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about this memoir!
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

--
--
Crystal J. Otto

Busy Unicorn Riding Mom of 6 Amazing Humans!
Virtual Assistant to USA Today Best Selling Author Bette Lee Crosby
Blog Tour Manager with WOW! Women on Writing
Publicist with Dream of Things Publishing
Small Business Owner - Relax Consulting
Council Secretary, Financial Secretary & Office Manager - Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Owner - Mark Otto Dairy Farm

Cell: 920.645.7529
Email: CrystalJOtto@gmail.com

New Book by Hugh Fritz "Public Display of Aggression"

4/27/2021

Available on Amazon

Syn0psis

Soleil and Flarence are immortal Genies who can bend the fundamental forces of the universe through willpower alone. For centuries, they have considered themselves the most formidable beings in the world, but some newcomers just might give them a run for their money.
Magic has always been limited to living things. Throughout his life, Soleil has never come across an object with supernatural capabilities. Now, a human has somehow constructed guns with the ability to fire spells. Genies are normally resistant to offensive magic, but Soleil knows from experience that the enchanted revolvers harm all creatures equally.

GuestPost -Authors, Mark and Tiesha Becker

2/8/2021

Zinger in the Woods

Our journey, as M.T. Becker started twelve years ago….

Our journey, as M.T. Becker started twelve years ago….
Mark can you believe we have been together for twelve years?

Yeah, it’s hard to believe Tiesha, but time travels fast. Especially now that
I’m knocking on fifty. Do you remember the first time we met?

Yeah, I remember Mr. Becker. You asked me out after a college class we
had together. And, I turned you down...Laughing Out Loud.

I’m glad you thought it was funny. I had to rehabilitate my ego after that
.
Talk about rehabilitating your ego. You didn’t even remember who I was
when we saw each other at a professional development meeting. I
couldn’t believe we were both teaching 3rd grade in the same school
district. My heart actually skipped a beat when I saw you! I was like, there’s
that guy who asked me out three years ago.

Really! Your heart skipped a beat years after turning me down. Please
continue. I have to hear this story.

I know it doesn’t make sense. I was instantly attracted to you. But, the
timing wasn’t right. Even though it was so cute the way you and Breshaun,
my bonus son, invited me to the matinee.

Ok, so what happened after the professional development meeting? Did
we fall madly in love and get married?

Well, not so fast Mr. Becker. It took you FOUR MORE YEARS to ask me out
again. However, three days after our first date, August 14, 2009, we were
writing bucket lists and ring shopping.

That’s right love. And, on September 18, 2010, we became Mr. and Mrs.
Becker. Four years after that, we adopted our sweet Ginger Ale from the
humane society. She is our hound from the pound, and boy can she howl!

Oh yes she can, but we love her dearly. Now let’s fast forward to February
16, 2017. Do you remember what happened on that day Mark ?
Of course, I will NEVER forget that day. You bamboozled ME!

Well Your Honor, I, Tiesha Becker, plead guilty as can be.

Yea, you need to, Mrs. Becker, because I agreed to foster one puppy not
three.

That was my original plan. T-then I found out three eight week old
malnourished puppies needed me. Plus, the foster care organization said
they were too young to be separated from each other. W hat choice did I
have? You should have seen them. Olive, Pax, and Zen were so tiny and
adorable. I knew once I brought them home, and you saw their little faces,
you would totally understand.

Sorry, Mrs. Jack Hannah, some things are beyond my comprehension.
Those three puppies drove me and Ginger BONKERS! However, it was an
eye opening experience. I learned so much about survival and the will to
live from them.

I don’t know about you and Ginger, but I LOVED every minute of it. It
broke my heart when Olive and Pax were adopted. The house felt so
empty without them. Yet, I was so happy they found their fur-ever homes.
Babe you have to admit, once Olive and Pax were adopted Zen and Ginger
just clicked. They instantly became best friends. Watching them play in the
backyard all day was the reason we wrote our first children’s book, Z inger
(ZEN-Jer) In The Woods.

Mark just love our super cute children’s book! It is so unique. We were
able to teach multiple STEM lessons and the health benefits of the world’s
best doctors: sunshine, fresh air, fresh water, a healthy diet, exercise, and
a good night’s rest.

I totally agree with you. As former teachers and health and wellness
authors, we were able to use our prior knowledge to educate as well as
entertain. Children love good stories. As a matter of fact, EVERYBODY
loves a good story .

Well put Mr Becker. I think I can speak for you when I say we are so
humble and grateful to share Z inger In The Woods with the world!!!

Michael R. French- Virtual Author Event- Sponsored by George R.R. Martin's Jean Cocteau Cinema

1/6/2021

Date: 01/10 Time: 4pm
Link - https://beastlybooks.com/project/virtual-author-event-michael-french/ Tune In To Watch

Michael R. French Book Reading

Michael R. French discusses his latest book.
"Cliff HangerJump Before You Get Pushed"

n 2030, viruses, spy drones, terrorism, and joblessness have eroded American optimism. People want something to believe in. As demonstrated in a Midwest high school election, politics have taken on the inflexibility and dogma of a new religion. Only true believers will survive and prosper. Or so they think.

Go Here to Sign Up for the Presentation

Book Review of "Made to be Broken" by Hugh Fritz

12/23/2020

Book Review by Dale Travous

Made to be Broken, novel, by Hugh Fritz, is a 3-D IMAX™ action blockbuster in print. A plausible reality is revealed to us, one that is covertly co-habitated by a race of humans with seemingly supernatural powers; the Jinn. We are briefed into the mechanics of the ' magical ' powers displayed by the Jinn ;their ability to transform matter ,as in the Bedouin folk stories where a sack of dates become a sack bursting with gold coins , Their habit of popping-in and then vanishing , conjuring up terrific storms from clear skies , and flying around taking you along for the ride. Mr Fritz sprinkles the story with bits and pieces of 'how-its-done', allowing me the reader to have fun linking together and assembling these bits into a hyper-realistic physical construction . The Supernatural gives way as it's made clear that the laws of Nature have remained inviolated.
There's a dramatic juxtaposition of the ancient Middle Eastern mythology with present day Chicago, the part of Chicago that one benefits from absolute avoidance, where you are in some serious danger just being there . But things get dangerouser as we're dropped into the fortress of an armed and semi wasted criminal gang syndicate led by a sociopathic dictater . Dangerouser still is the very well armed secret police death squad commanded over by an even eviler villan.
The pace of events picks up speed from the start with one action sequence segwaying into the next. I am astonished by Mr Fritz's literary description of scenes of all out mayhem, ultra detailed imagery to a molecular scale , choreographed movements flowing through variable time , a big heavy club in slow motion
It's difficult for me to not recallect this as a big budget special effects action spectacular. Or not to for-see the universe built on this framework. Merchandising alone...