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Book Review: A Man in Pieces: An American Nightmare by Henry Corrigan

Cover art for A Man in Pieces: An American Nightmare by Henry Corrigan

A Man In Pieces An American Nightmare by Henry Corrigan

Darkstroke Books, 2022

ISBN: 9798848967593

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

 

 

Renowned book reviewer and armchair philosopher Murray Samuelson was famously quoted as saying “that which is interesting in life resides in the domain of mundania.”  In other words, sometimes the basic, everyday stuff can make for a good book, if written well.  That’s exactly what you get with A Man In Pieces..  There is no big action, no big gore, no big excitement… instead, it is a subtle, well–written portrait of what happens when everyday stress finally pushes a person off the edge of sanity.

 

The precise stress on the characters in this story is the‘ big possibility of losing their jobs in a tight job market, when living paycheck to paycheck (one many people can probably relate to)  Mike and Tom are the two main characters, a couple of drones in an office cubicle farm.  They are diametrically opposite in character, competing for the same job, and dislike each other immensely.  The story encompasses just one five-day workweek.  They both find out on Monday about the coming layoffs, but of course WHO is going to get tossed won’t be decided till Friday.  How they deal with the specter of looming unemployment and possible bankruptcy over the week is what makes up the story.

 

Based on the above, the book probably doesn’t sound that interesting…but somehow, it is.  Just chalk it up to good writing.  This is more of a psychological story, focused on  the thoughts and feelings of the characters, rather than their outward actions, and their inner thoughts are of paramount importance in this story.  The pacing is measured and methodical as the deadline approaches for the characters, each of them struggling to keep going, knowing their lives might take a crashing turn for the worse.  One of them tries to hide it away and put on a happy face, while the other becomes rude and antagonistic, but cracks start showing in the frame of their sanity over the week.  That’s the fun part of the book: the slow build, it leaves you anticipating more to come…and it does.  Friday arrives, someone (or both someones) is about to have their life change for the worse, and then…why, you’ll have to read the book to find out, of course!

 

Unusual in its style and plot choice but satisfying nevertheless, A Man In Pieces is a stylish character study that will impress readers looking for something out of the ordinary.  Recommended.

 

 

Reviewed by Murray Samuelson

Posted on December 5, 2022 by , Reply

Book Review: The Ones We’re Meant to Find by Joan He

Cover art for The Ones We're Meant to Find by Joan He

 

The Ones We’re Meant to Find  by Joan He

Roaring Book Press, 2021

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250258564

Available: Hardcover, audiobook, Kindle edition ( Bookshop.org | Amazon.com )

 

 

 

Every time I thought I had this book figured out, it took me in an unexpected direction.

 

There are two alternating plotlines. First, we are introduced to Cee. Cee is trapped on a deserted island, with few memories but with an urgent feeling that she must get off the island and find her sister Kay..

 

Then we meet Kasey, living in a climate-ravaged world. At sixteen, Kasey is a scientific genius who works for the government office responsible for finding solutions for human survival. The living situation is desperate. The most privileged individuals live in eco cities in the air, where they are required to spend much of their time in stasis, participating in life virtually, as a cleaner option than that available to those with pollution karma. Even this is becoming unsustainable, and Kasey is part of the bureaucracy trying to find a solution quickly, as weather and radiation worsen dramatically, killing millions. Yet even in this desperate state there is debate over whether it’s worth it to survive without freedom and self-determination, or in some cases, at all. As this situation continues, Kasey is also searching for her sister, Celia, a free spirit, who disappeared at sea and is believed dead.

 

There is a really slow start and neither Cee or Kasey start out as deeply emotional, but the puzzle is intriguing and He does a great job bringing both worlds to life. This book is really going to disturb some people but there are some interesting ethical and scientific debates being explored and the choices the primary characters make are often unexpected. It’s not what one expects from typical horror, but it isn’t a title that readers will forget soon.

 

 

Reviewed by Kirsten Kowalewski

Posted on December 5, 2022 by , Reply

Book Review: Hell Spring by Isaac Thorne

cover art for HEll Spring by Isaac Thorne

 

Hell Spring by Isaac Thorne

 

Lost Hollow Books, September 2022

 

ISBN: 9781938271540

 

Availabile: Hardcover, paperback, Kindle edition  ( Bookshop.org | Amazon.com )

 

March, 1955.  A handful of residents in a small Southern hick town get trapped in a mom n’ pop convenience store by a raging flood.  What could possibly go wrong?  Well, when one of those people is a soul-sucking demon masquerading as a Marilyn Monroe look-alike, a LOT can go wrong, and it does.  That’s the basic premise of Isaac Thorne’s Hell Spring.  It has its good moments, but may be a bit too slow and drawn out for most readers.

 

The setup chapters for each character before they become trapped in the store are the best sections of the book: well-written, and good enough to make the reader feel invested in the characters.  They are an eclectic bunch, each with their own little secrets.  The town piano teacher is hiding the fact that he’s gay, one lady isn’t mentioning that she just killed her abusive wretch of a husband…each person has their own little bit of shame or guilt.  These secrets, and the guilt they cause are what the Marilyn Monroe succubus feeds on while trapped with the townsfolk.  It’s the middle of the book, a couple hundred pages long, where things slow down and get somewhat routine.  Everyone is trapped in the store, and one by one, the demon Marilyn feeds on their guilt and reduces the victim to a chittering crawdad-like creature.  No one notices the disappearances, since she somehow alters time and perception around everyone.  People just vanish, and the others don’t even know they were ever there at all.  It’s interesting the first couple times but then gets repetitive, and bogs the narrative down.  The story does pick up again towards the end, and has a kicker of a finish set decades later.  Graphing the book, it would look like a peak at the beginning sloping down to a long, flat plain, and then another peak at the end of the story.  There are some quick peaks in the middle that involve characters outside the store; that help break up the slow pace and get a different setting involved.  Whether those are enough to compensate for the rest will depend on the reader.

 

Bottom line:  there are definite high points, but the somewhat long middle section may not be enough to keep the interest of most readers.  This is a story that might have worked much better in a slimmed down form, with the middle section involving the store condensed.  A novella of the narrative might have been a perfect fit.

 

 

Reviewed by Murray Samuelson

Posted on December 3, 2022 by , Reply
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