Europe's history is not a history it can always be proud of, any more than the history of any other continent I suppose, but amid all the horror and shame of the past there are always tales to be told of what is good in humans, the power of kindness and the immeasurable strength of deserved respect.  This story that pulls much of its narrative from real history but skillfully and believably entwines just such a tale of humanity is an interesting and enthralling read, touching and perceptive in its telling.

The twenty three chapters are well written and the main characters thought provoking in their actions and the innocence of their intentions given the time and place, Nazi ruled Germany during the latter part of the second world war.  It is a work of fiction, but much that is stranger than fiction has come from that period in history sadly, or gladly perhaps, this one could be all too true.

Read it at awesomedude

I was put in mind of a little tale penned many moons ago which can still be found on iomfats

The daunting 56 chapters of this tale actually pass relatively quickly as we follow the awful and almost farcically unlucky life of sixteen year old Camryn.

To say that this story is overdone is probably hardly preparing you for it.  This is to angst and hospital drama as Hello Kitty is to kitsch.  Chapter 49 begins:

"Again. I can't believe this. I have once again woken up in a damn hospital room. How many times is this now?"

How many times indeed?!! 

Despite all this I got rather wrapped up in the story and having read through to the end found that I had enjoyed it, although I accept that you may not do the same and may never return to this site for a recommendation!  Please don't do that!  The writing does have humour and the characters, if not always believable are seldom not interesting.  Have a go and and if you hate it just chalk it off to experience.

Read it at fictionpress

Some time ago I saw the film "Ways to Live Forever" based on Sally Nicholls's book of the same title about a boy dealing with leukemia. Alan Dwight's story deals with leukemia too.  Both are very decent and unsentimental tales that left me full of admiration for the fictional characters, and in awe of the real characters who deal with with terminal illness in our real and imperfect world.

Unfinished Symphony moved me greatly.  The characters are very credible and the author taps in to a dignity and seriousness that it is sometimes easy to forget is there in young people along with the fun and laughter and the angst and melodrama.  I shall return to this story and read it again another day. 

Read it at awesomedude

The universe that the author has created for his stories is a believable and interesting world similar to and yet different from early Victorin England.  The grime and hardness of life are there, and in this story in particualr, the constant background hum of a society that knows, or at least believes itself as great and maybe greater than others in the world.  The universe is not quite the same however.  There are three different species of two legged mindful beings that share the world. One species has tails, and it is the exciting entanglement of one such as these in a world of espionage and piracy that this story recounts.

Now if someone told me the story was about a character who had a tail, my thoughts might be drawn to various forms of popular oriental cartoons featuring a wide variety of furry folk indulging in every sexual act that humans and others perform, and with as much pleasure and occasional displeasure as any thinking man.  This story is not a story of furry folk.  That the lead character has a tail is mostly unimportant. This is the tale of an older teenage boy finding himself and his adulthood in places he never dreamt to. 

As with London Lampy's other stories, the scenery and the characters are vivid and credible throughout making an exciting and sometimes touching tale a great read and a real page turner.

Read it at iomfats

Guilty as charged!

Well actually nobody accused me and visitor numbers seem to have held up.  Sometimes life overtakes me. Many thanks to all the new people who visit and most especially to the not inconsiderable number of regulars who have been regularly checking for updates. 

Reading has been a bit hit and miss of late, but I am still about and there will be more reviews.

All good things

Daniel