Fiction

Nebraska
Just finished for the second time a historical fiction novel titled 'Nebraska' by Dana Fuller Ross that is Book Two of the Wagons West series. Book Two picks up in Independence where Cathy says good-bye to her sister Claudia and brother-in-law Sam. Cathy Van Ayl and Whip Holt and the first wagon train to Oregon start to head across the Great Plains of what will be Nebraska. There will be a lot of ups and downs as their journey progresses whether personal of professional in nature. There is a lot of treachery going on behind the scenes being committed by emissaries from Great Britain and Russia as well as from several of the Indian nations that hope to stop Westward expansion of the United States.
By Mark Grahamabout a year ago in Critique
The Great Alone
Kristin Hannah has written another great book that will take you back in time to the early 70's and 80's and into the future of Alaska. This novel is titled 'The Great Alone' and is the story of Leni and Cora Allbright and how they survived physically and emotionally as mother and daughter with a husband and father that they loved but were also afraid of a lot of the time. Leni and Cora made a lot of friends that would have helped them any way that they could.
By Mark Grahamabout a year ago in Critique
Jams and Jellies
Here are four friends of two different families one is from Jams and the others are from Jellies. Their names are Raspberries and Sour Cherries. All four thought that they could be related somehow. They started to ask some questions. "What is the difference between jam and jelly?" "Does it really matter to us?" They heard that one is 'thicker' than the other is that so. They sat around and thought and thought about this and figured out that they were all delicious. Jams liked Jellies and Jellies liked Jams and they decided not to wonder why any more now.
By Mark Grahamabout a year ago in Critique
A Party of Books
Have you ever wondered what the books do after the library closes at night? I believe that all the books have a party of sorts. The reference books are the leaders who every once in a while like to relax and read some fiction. The fiction novels like to learn things and ideas and the reference books share their information. Other areas of the library like the children's section gets a little overly excited and has to be quieted down so the classic novels and poetry books share their material that seems to work in bringing quiet to the library.
By Mark Grahamabout a year ago in Critique
The mixer and the blender
This is a story of two appliance cousins a blender and a stand-up mixer. The blender seems to think that he is the better of the two, and the mixer says that he is. Who's is better? The blender can combine, blend, crush, etc., but the mixer says that he can do that to, and he can do a lot more in his bowl that you, the blender can do in that pitcher of yours. Then why doesn't your owner ever bring you out more often other than holidays? asked the blender. Good question the stand mixer wondered as well.
By Mark Grahamabout a year ago in Critique
Happy Halloween!!!!
On Halloween Day one still has to be careful. Out walking her dog, she thought she heard some sort of noise. She hunched over her dog looking out from behind him. He was flinching yet but the look in his eyes he knew something was not right. The woman and dog starting to stand up straight and decided to walk but a quicker pace, but the feeling was not leaving. She looked around and around to make sure no body was behind. All of sudden it was eerily quiet and she wondered is this it to her dog, her friend.
By Mark Grahamabout a year ago in Critique
The Toxicity of Hustle Culture
Another dream that did not reach its fruition, another soul that was shattered by its externality. It is heartbreaking to hear the recent news about a dynamic young professional , Anna Perayil, living in Pune, from EY who took her life due to extreme work pressure and a toxic workplace environment.
By Hridya Sharmaabout a year ago in Critique
The Repercussions of Telling Big Little Lies. Content Warning.
While I am an avid consumer of horror stories and films as my most recent publications have indicated, I also enjoy stories that aren’t considered horror, but that might have a darker edge or underlying weight to them that could be considered to be real world horror. An author I’ve only begun to read over the last two years or so is Liane Moriarty, who has become a known name in the last few years. I’ve read only four so far, they each have packed a punch not unlike the powerful prose of Jodi Picoult, while still having her own unique voice that’s really unforgettable. Where I started with her body of work is where I think many have started due to its popularity as well as the subsequent limited series with HBO. This book is Big Little Lies. Before reading this novel I had heard a great deal of buzz about it. Friends were telling me to watch the limited series. Reviews for the novel as well as the limited series were showing up online left and right. When I did finally read this book, I wasn’t prepared for what I ultimately read.
By Chloe Medeirosabout a year ago in Critique
Winnie Meets Paddington
Okay, what would happen if Winnie met Paddington on a seesaw? Well, here it goes. Here we go up and down, up and down, says Pooh. Yes, we certainly are up and down, says Paddington. It is almost time for a break, Paddington told Pooh. Why don't we stop the seesaw and have a snack that we can share. Okay, Pooh said. I hope you like marmalade. I hope you like honey. They both said at the same time. They sat on a log and had their snack. They rested and headed back to the seesaw to have more fun.
By Mark Grahamabout a year ago in Critique
Lisey's Disappointing Story
I’ve made it clear in previous reviews that I’m a big fan of Stephen King. I’ve read most of his body of work, seen the film and TV adaptations, and I even have a half sleeve tattooed on my right arm as a tribute to him and his work. This is why for me, it’s a bummer that I didn’t enjoy Lisey’s Story as much as I really wanted to upon my reading of the book.
By Chloe Medeirosabout a year ago in Critique
A Frightening Look Inside "The Store". Content Warning.
There are many horror writers that have tingled the spines of so many readers. The biggest name among them, is Stephen King, and justifiably so. His work has been the ultimate escape for me as a reader and inspiration in regards to my own goals as a fiction writer. However, with all of this being said, there is a name that has in a short amount of time become another inspirational outlet. His name is Bentley Little, and he makes King’s feel like something out of Disney when it comes to disturbing the reader. King would likely agree, since he himself has dubbed Little “the horror poet laureate.” Now let’s talk about why.
By Chloe Medeirosabout a year ago in Critique
The Curtain
Hello there. I am a beige curtain hanging from a window that has shutters on the outside. I believe the window is open, but there is not a draft to be felt. Oh, so I like to wave in the wind. It is such a nice feeling, and it shakes off the dust that accumulates so fast. I thought that shutters would keep some of the dust outside. Hey, I am right here, and I try but when I am open how I am supposed to do what you want. Cut me a break. Maybe they will shut me nightly.
By Mark Grahamabout a year ago in Critique