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Rachel Reviews: Thirty Days Hath September by Ronald Dwinnells
Ronald Dwinnells' book is a tale of two people, Jack Maizel and Mildred Dixon. They are very different and most unlikely to encounter each other in everyday life, so when they come together in the book when Mildred enters the hospital where Jack is training, their having to deal with each other is at the core of the novel.
By Rachel Deemingabout a year ago in BookClub
Rachel Reviews: The Antigen by A.I. Fabler
Fabler's book, the continuance of The Seed of Corruption is a thoughtful book presented as a thriller. His fiction promotes query and discussion, and his well-written narrative reads like an expanded parable, a moral tale which highlights a view that could, if aligned with real world events, promote controversy, scepticism and insecurity. And it's difficult not to read this story and make comparisons to the Covid-19 pandemic and the way that that unfolded globally.
By Rachel Deemingabout a year ago in BookClub
Gladiator
The youngster sat, trembling. Spiculus watched him. Despite years as an applauded killer, Spiculus was still sensitive to the humanity in those around him; it's just he didn't have room for it. Couldn't afford to. One day, he might be fighting with them in the arena; the next, against them. Only one of them was likely to survive. Sentiment led to a lapse of focus and ultimately and most probably, death. Spiculus did not want to die and every day his odds were getting shortened: slower reaction times; heaviness of limb; eyes less sharp. He was in good shape but it was getting harder to believe that he would come out of the arena alive.
By Rachel Deemingabout a year ago in Fiction
Raiders. Content Warning.
This story comes with a Dharrsheena warning. I'd been warned about black and white raiders from day one. Mum was always keen to share stories about anything that could hurt us, from the time that we were born really. She wanted us to be prepared. She never meant for us to be scared, just alert, because it could happen and she knew of others who had been victims of the thugs.
By Rachel Deemingabout a year ago in Fiction
Wait
"And now, we wait. Did they tell you how long?" Bethan asked. "No, but they did tell me not to move. I told them that I had no intention of moving. That I wouldn't feel secure until I knew that he'd been taken into custody." Christine spat these words out, her enmity conveyed.
By Rachel Deemingabout a year ago in Fiction
Crate Day. Content Warning.
It was the start of summer and what better way to celebrate than with a crate of beer? It was the traditional way - it even had its own day on the calendar in New Zealand, with its own set of commandments. It would be patriotic blasphemy not to.
By Rachel Deemingabout a year ago in Fiction
Drab-ble
"Writing a story in 100 words is a real skill," the creative writing teacher advised. "It's all about what you include." Tony stopped listening. These classes really were dull. They weren't teaching him anything that he didn't know already. He'd show them. 100 words? Difficult? Not for him!
By Rachel Deemingabout a year ago in Fiction
End Game
"You said that like you know Katie." No more lies. "I do." Bethan saw Christine bristle. "That's right! She's not who you thought she was!" Dave chirped and felt his mood lift a little at this development. He may be able to use it to his advantage.
By Rachel Deemingabout a year ago in Fiction
Christmas with Joyce
The living room of an elderly man. Tidy but showing signs of wear. Walking around is an elderly man, trim and presentable, his posture slightly stooped. He is shuffling, humming a Christmas tune. Snow is falling, the light muted by the weather outside. He is alone.
By Rachel Deemingabout a year ago in Families
Arresting Decision
"Okay," Bethan said after a good thirty seconds of silence from Dave. "You can't confess. I wish that I could say that I am surprised but I'm not. Why would you admit it now? You're facing your own death and you still can't clear your conscience."
By Rachel Deemingabout a year ago in Fiction
Rachel Reviews: The Seed of Corruption by A.I. Fabler
Anton Faraday is the unlikely hero of The Seed of Corruption and is certainly not built for what he encounters in this novel and that was certainly part of the appeal of it for me. Whilst the book is told in the third person, as a reader, you are pretty much inside Anton's head for the whole book, subject to his thoughts and perceptions and his fears and doubts. I like heroes who are human; who are not really sure what they are capable of until faced with uncertain circumstances and Anton definitely fits into this category.
By Rachel Deemingabout a year ago in BookClub
