 Literary fiction novels can be pretentious. Sometimes, they are dark and self-absorbed. These days, they are often just plain bad. The Vagabond King by James Conway is none of these. This novel is the masterpiece that almost was. It is like a comet that comes close to blazing glory, but then fades short of its true potential. Through the eyes of teenage angst, The Vagabond King wrestles with the grandest questions of all: life, death, love, and what it all means. Vagabond is about being emotionally and spiritually lost and how we struggle throughout our lifetimes to find our place in the universe. If The Vagabond King sounds deep, well, it is very deep. It is not light reading by any measure. At the core of this novel is the teenager Christopher, a child of wealth and privilege. He struggles to come to grips with his mother’s death, his emotionally distant father, and his own self-identity. Angst-ridden, brooding, self-absorbed and often irritating, he is not a likable character. He suddenly leaves home and school and, through various circumstances, comes to live with Magda, a poor waitress, and her elderly Hungarian father. Magda, a dark beauty approaching middle age, is a waitress with a Ph.D.’s knowledge of ancient mythology. She sets the undertone for the whole book. Christopher pines and lusts for her while she fills his head with tales of ancient gods and heroes. Over the course of many months, Christopher spends a great deal of time with Magda’s father, whom Christopher dubs the “Vagabond King.” They drink beer and listen to the Blues while the old man recalls his youth growing up under communist oppression in Hungary. Conway brilliantly uses Magda and her father to shape Christopher’s perspective on himself and the universe. But Magda and her father are more than characters; they are reflections of universal forces symbolized in ancient mythology. (I warned you it was going to get deep). If, however, the reader takes Conway’s characters strictly on face value they will come to the same conclusion I did - they are masterfully written and purely original. I haven’t finished a book so quickly in a long time because these characters were so intriguing. There were times I had to put the book down and simply reflect on how talented this author is. Conway’s dialogue and narration are often mind-blowing. Unfortunately, this is as close to becoming a masterpiece as this book gets. There are several noteworthy flaws that rob this novel of its true potential. Conway often gets lost while telling this tale. First, he is overly repetitive. Vagabond could have easily been 100 pages shorter. Also, it had more than a fair share of simple mechanical errors a good editor could have easily fixed. These flaws, however, didn’t keep The Vagabond King out of my Top Picks. What kept this novel out of my top picks was how often Conway departs the narrative and ceases all character voice. It’s as if the story goes on pause and Conway himself begins to ramble. It felt like I was watching a play and one of the actors quit reciting his lines and began talking directly to the audience. It slowed the book down and often left me wondering whose perspective I was currently dealing with. Overall, however, Vagabond is beautifully written, often brilliant, and suitable for ages sixteen and up for mild sexual content. It is because of Conway’s astonishing characters that I recommend this book to anyone interested in literary fiction. However, as currently written, I can only give The Vagabond King 85 out of 99 cents. The good news is with further editing it could be so much more. 99 Cents worth of James Conway links: James Conway's website
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 Written by: Rebecca Coleman Paper Back: 338 Pages Publisher: Mira Books Genre: Fiction
SUMMARY: The story begins in Sylvania, Maryland where Judy McFarland, wife and mother of two teenage children, teaches kindergarten. Unlike Ms. Coleman’s characters, the private Waldorf Schools where Judy is employed is not fictitious. Founded in l819 each child enrolled in a Waldorf school has their own unique lesson book created to inspire the individual gifts and talents of each student. One of the tenets of the school is to protect the child from any outside influence that would stifle personal creative growth from within. This, in itself, already sets the bar high for Judy McFarland. Set in l998, just after Mary Kay Letourneau was found guilty of having a sexual affair with a 13 year old student, and during the time Bill Clinton confessed to his relationship with Monica Lewinsky, 40 something year old Judy McFarland and l6 year old Zach Patterson begin a sexual liaison. Both have issues. Zach has just moved to Sylvania leaving familiar friends and surroundings behind. He is also aware that his mother, pregnant with her second child, had an affair with a much younger man. Judy is married to an overbearing husband addicted to prescription drugs rarely acknowledges her presence. Their daughter, in her first year of college, begins to rebel against every Waldorf principle she has ever been taught. And then there's Judy’s l6 year old son, who just happens to be friends with her new lover. The story weaves back and forth between both Judy’s present life and as a child growing up in Germany. As a young girl, soon after Judy's mentally ill mother was institutionalized, she discovers her father is having an affair with the young woman hired to be their housekeeper. We also learn that adolescent Judy feels a warm and sometimes lustful attraction towards a young German man named Rudi. As we read Zach's perspective, he seems well rooted in his knowledge of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ which creates recognizable, uneasy tension throughout the book. The conflict escalates when Judy tries to dominate Zach, wanting to be more of a girlfriend than a ‘Mrs. Robinson’ type of sexual escapade. Zach shows signs of sexual physical abuse as he wrestles inwardly with his lust for Judy physically, losing respect for her as a teacher and role model, as his desire grows be with a girl his own age. Long before Zach tells his mother’s mid-wife he is having an affair with Mrs. McFarland, the novel takes an even darker turn. By this time, however, it is much too late for Judy McFarland to redeem herself. Quote: “I picked up a thread tangled in the wool near the center of the hat and thought about what I had been in my mother’s life – a lumpy little defect in the middle of a regimentally ordered pattern -- and that my children would never be made to feel that way. They were the center. They were the pattern.” This is the quote in the book where I began to feel sorry for Judy McFarland – then later realize she wasn’t being honest with herself -- or anyone else. REACTION: Rebecca Coleman’s debut book is seamlessly written taking the reader on an unforgettable journey into a taboo subject. As much as I wanted to be open to the topic of a middle-aged woman lusting after an l6 year old boy, I found myself judging Judy. The writing pulled me back in as I took breaks from reading and thought of the addicts who are told that if they continue to use, they will die, yet the urge to use overpowers any reality of death; about those addicted to gambling who lose every dime over and over again, in spite of the fact the mortgage is due and they have lost their children’s lunch money. At every turn of the page, I tried to find something to respect about Judy McFarland, but couldn’t. She irritated me. She made me angry. I wanted to confront her face-to-face. And that’s what good writing is all about, bringing out emotions. On the other hand, Zach was likeable and had a sense of decency that made him question himself more than the morals of a lover who is older than his own mother. Although the entire novel was well written, my opinion is that Coleman’s best writing is right smack dab in the middle of the book, where she creates the tension that makes readers more than just a little uncomfortable. Rating: The Kingdom of Childhood is a Top Pick with 4.5 out of 5 stars. RECOMMENDATION: I recommend The Kingdom of Childhood for those over l8 years old who enjoy reading a ‘gutsy’ debut novel by a writer I believe will soon be a best-selling novelist. If you enjoyed this review subscribe to Underground Book Reviews and follow us on Facebook.
 TITLE: The Colony AUTHOR: Jillian Weise PUBLISHER: Soft Skull Press GENRE: Literary Fiction PAGES: 334 THE RUNDOWN The Colony follows Anne Hatley, a one-legged English teacher who volunteers to live at an institution called the Colony for three months. There, she is told that her genetics will be studied and her leg will be regenerated. The premise is intriguing: a group of people with varying genetic defects are stuck together for three months while scientists perform tests on them and the media prods them. Jillian’s writing is at times beautiful, quirky and funny. The Colony was touted as a dystopian novel, a look into the morality of genetic research. And yet, with so much promise, the book managed to completely miss its mark. To begin with, Anne Hatley is one of the most self-centered, needy people I’ve ever read about. She cheats on her boyfriend and is disgusted with him for not saying anything when he finds out. She hates the world for noticing her leg, but doesn’t want to grow it back. I kept reading, entertained, for the same reason I continue to watch Sex and the City: What will this self-absorbed nymphomaniac do next? Then Darwin appears (yes, the Charles Darwin) and it’s never explained if he’s a ghost or if he’s a figment of her imagination. Then flowers start sneezing and people start floating in mid-air. It’s not that I’m against fantasy, but when I’m reading about the morality of genetic research in a modern-day setting, I’m a little surprised when a girl who has the ‘obesity gene’ starts floating because of the side-effects of her treatment. The fantastic elements of the story were well beyond explanation. The scientific elements were grossly lacking. I hoped for redemption at the end of the book, but found none. Neither the main character nor the plot took a surprising turn. I was left with a book that started out trying to be smart, and ended up sounding pretentious and uneducated. THE RECOMMENDATION: I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for dystopian fiction or deep, conceptual plots. If you’re looking for a humorous voice and a sexy romance novel, you might give it a shot. But I still wouldn’t suggest putting it at the top of your summer reading list. STILL WANT TO BUY IT? Visit Jillian Weise’s website Buy it on Amazon
 Review of: The TakerBy: Alma Katsu Hardcover: 448 pages Publisher: Gallery Books Summary: Late one night, Dr. Luke Findley is summoned to the emergency room in the quaint town of St. Andrews, Maine. Findley is a divorced, lonely, middle-aged physician stuck practicing in the small town where he was born. But, when the local sheriff brings Lanore (Lanny) McIlvrae, a suspect in a murder case, into the hospital to be evaluated, Luke’s life takes a drastic turn. Luke is strangely taken by the young, mysterious woman. She tells him she was born and raised St. Andrews . . . in the early l800’s. After proving signs of immortality, the physician agrees to help her escape. This is when Lanny’s dark story begins to unfold. Lanny McIlvea’s account begins as a teenager with her obsessive desire for Jonathan, the son of the St. Andrews founder. When she becomes pregnant with his child, Lanny’s is sent to Boston where she is to give birth, give the child up for adoption, and then return to her Pilgrimage home. A strange twist of fate, however, leads her to the home of Adair, a wealthy European. When she is forced to take a potion stolen from a physic some 200 years ago, she becomes eternally bound to the destructive, twisted and depraved Adair. The well-crafted story interweaves historical fiction with the supernatural. THE TAKER explores an age-old question. At what price is someone willing to not only pay for eternal life, but to covet another person . . . . forever. Quote from The Taker:“We sleep and wake, eat and drink, go through our day like anyone else. The only difference is that another person might ponder, from time to time, which day will be his last. But you and I, our days, will never end.” Reaction:I will say I was a bit apprehensive when I chose to review this book. I am pragmatic. I want to know how something happens and why. However, Katsu took me by surprise when I found myself totally captivated. Her free and easy writing style captured every moment and brought each character to life. Katsu doesn’t just take us there, we are there. The scenes move easily and fluently from present day back to the l800’s and then to Romania in the l600’s. It is not only Katzu’s vivid descriptions that hooked me, but the story line. The story was so believable that I found myself shaking my head to remind myself I was reading fiction. Recommendation:Top pick! This is a captivating read for anyone open who wants to read a great book. A reader needs to be open-minded, however, about the dark side of our human nature. If you are absolutely opposed to reading about sex, abuse, or witchcraft, this is not your book. However, I wasn't that interested in stories with such overtones, but couldn’t put the book down. Just as The Scarlet Letter became a classic, I predict Katsu’s trilogy will also live on to become classics. **Not recommended for anyone under l8 years old. Stay tuned for THE RECKONING, the second book in Katsu’s trilogy is due to be released in June of 2012. Star Rating: 5 out of 5 www.almakatsu.comalmakatsu.blogspot.com'Alma Katsu, author' on Facebook @almakatsu on Twitter
 TITLE: The Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors AUTHOR: Michele Young-Stone PUBLISHER: Braodway Paperbacks AGENT: Michelle Brower GENRE: Literary fiction PAGES: 376 THE RUNDOWN The Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors is a novel about people. Duh, you say, all novels are about people. But really, I say, this novel is about people. It’s about a little girl who gets struck by lightning, a little boy who wishes he got struck by lightning, an alcoholic with a cheating husband, a husband with an alcoholic for a wife… the list goes on. Don’t let the title fool you, it’s not about lightning. It’s been a while since I’ve gotten halfway through a book and found myself unable to put it down until I finished it four hours later, having forgotten all previous obligations. But that’s what I did when I read The Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors by Michele Young-Stone. Why? I honestly don’t know. When I started reading it, I was thrown off by seemingly needless tense changes, which flipped the narration from past to present between chapters. I found myself frustrated by the intermittent use of first names, last names and nicknames, which forced my feeble mind to remember three times as many characters as I needed to. I was surprised when she started speaking to me in the second person, and sometimes confused by her constant point-of-view changes. And yet, I quickly got used to her unusual style and read on, enthralled by the clash of beautiful and grotesque that was so elegantly laid out before me. Michele Young-Stone is a poet. And while a poet must obviously have a handle on words, in my opinion that’s not what’s most important. A good poet is an observer, someone who quietly takes in their surroundings, who empathizes with their enemies, who sees the whole picture. If the poet doesn’t see the whole picture, neither will I when I read their work. When I finished reading The Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors, I might as well have been at a gallery opening. I didn’t just see one picture, I saw many. I saw the young and the old with their faults and their strengths, laid out before me and framed with dovetail joints. I don’t know what you’ll get out of The Handbook for Lightning Survivors, but I found forgiveness. For myself and others. THE RECOMMENDATION If you’re looking for an action-packed page turner, look elsewhere. But if you’re looking for a book that spins a tale so vivid that you can’t put it down, look no further. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen, or The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. WANT TO BUY IT?Michele Young-Stone's website!
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 Every page of Alice LaPlante’s Turn Of Mind is filled with rich visual images of prose that melts together harmonically. LaPlante takes us on a vivid and emotional journey into the mind of a 65 year old Dr. Jennifer White who was once an esteemed surgeon and now suffers from Alzheimer’s Disease. In my opinion, the story lacks credibility.
Dr. White’s best friend was found murdered, with two of her fingers amputated. She becomes a suspect not only because of her surgical expertise, but because on the day of the murder, Jennifer White had been missing for several hours.
Having worked with Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers, I challenge the vivid recollections Dr. Jennifer White has given the stage of her disease. The physician recalls more about her childhood, her marriage, her children, her past love life, specific dates, places, and faces than those of us who do not suffer from a debilitating brain disease. A Houdini-like escape artist, she manages on several occasions to escape the live-in caretaker and, when moved to a care facility, Dr. White again escapes a lock down facility and wanders aimlessly around the city for over 30 hours.
Dr. White’s two children sadistically needle their mother for money and secrets of her past in spite of her declining health. Detectives ruthlessly interrogate someone who can’t tell the difference between a tube of toothpaste and a fork, let alone recall if she murdered her best friend. The physician’s now deceased husband cheated on her, her two adult children are incorrigible and unappreciative; her best friend blackmails her and was murdered. And now she has Alzheimer’s. How much more can this poor woman take?
As we become aware of Dr. White’s anti-social behavior, get to know her cold, unemotional heart, we pray that somehow she redeems herself before it’s too late. Her only redemption is that she has volunteered at a clinic for the uninsured, but given what we already know about her, the motives for even doing this are questionable.
Quotation marks are not used throughout the novel. What Dr. White says is in italics, what she feels or thinks is not italicized and what other people say is not italicized. This slows down the flow as the reader has to stop and think whether we are in present or past tense and who is actually speaking.
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If you’re looking for a book that is eloquently written I would recommend you read Turn of Mind. If you’re looking for a book to educate or prepare you for Alzheimer’s disease it is not your book.
More research or possibly using the adult child’s POV would have given this book more credibility. I give this book a three out of five star rating.
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