Read and Review

A 9-11 Tribute - Kazuhiro Anai

2006-09-06T10:46:00.000-07:00

In my research, here is what I uncovered about Kazuhiro Anai. He was 42. He was from Scarsdale, NY. He was deputy manager, New York branch, Nishi-Nippon Bank, located in the World Trade Center south tower.

That's all the info I could find on Kazuhiro Anai.

But I know there is so much more to be known.

He had a mother who loved him, what was she like? Had he ever found love and, if so, who was she? Did he like golf? Who was his favorite novelist? His favorite musician? His favorite vacation spot? Was he a talker or a listener? A leader or a follower? Did he smile quietly, or laugh heartily? Did he have children and what were they like?

I wish I knew these things because these are the things that make a person who they are. I wish I knew more than 'deputy manager, New York branch, Nishi-Nippon Bank'. Maybe then I would be able to paint a portrayal that does him justice...that does justice to the special and unique life that I know existed.

God bless you, Kazuhiro Anai, whoever you may be...and God bless your family, wherever they may be.

My book!

2006-05-27T11:59:00.000-07:00

My book, When Evil Prospers, is now available online through the publisher and scheduled for release to bookstores nationwide on August 8. I am pitching several reviewers to submit their review of the book so that it can be posted on Read and Review. The website for the novel is below.

www.whenevilprospers.com

New Featured Title

2006-04-25T18:37:00.000-07:00

There is a new featured title at Read and Review.

The Traitor's Wife by the blogosphere's own Susan Higginbotham.

Click HERE to read a review of this book, a great read.

Help with promotion

2006-04-14T22:08:00.000-07:00

New authors are always looking for an inside edge in marketing and promotion. Thanks to The Writing Life for these resources:

Publicize Your Book

Book Proposals That Sell

Pyromarketing

Hope this helps! Good luck and happy Easter!

The Killer Angels

2006-04-10T19:28:00.000-07:00

If I were going to sit down and write a list of the five best books I have ever read, Michael Shaara's Pulitzer Prize winner would be one of the first one or two titles I wrote down. We follow the combatants of Gettysburg over a span of about a week. The main characters spotlighted were names like Lee, Longstreet, Buford, Hancock and Chamberlain. And, of course, there was Pickett. We're shown the Battle of Gettysburg in a way that it has never been shown before, and the result is exceptional. From the Confederate victory on day one, to Chamberlain's heroics on day two, to Hancock's stand against Pickett's courageous charge on day three, this book breathes life into history.

Michael Shaara gives his account of the Battle of Gettysburg in a way that goes beyond describing the battlefield, the popping muskets and the thundering cannons. He adds flavor that makes the story much more personable. Before this book, I knew what had happened at Gettysburg. After this book, I saw what happened because I felt like I had experienced it first hand. Yes, this book is fiction because Shaara interjects his dialogue between the characters, but it is very much historically accurate. In other words, the fiction is not that Jeb Stuart's absence from the first two days of battle contributed greatly to the south's defeat. The fiction is in Lee's behind-closed-doors response to Stuart. And I would guess that Shaara's take on such conversations isn't too far off.

Aside from the rich character development and flavorful dialogue, Shaara also excels in the key ingredients of military fiction. His battle descriptions are beyond vivid and his deep research into the history of the battle also shows. He also does a splendid job of portraying the so called 'fog of war', removing the convenient hindsight that history uses to look upon this battle and putting the reader in the moment and nearly forgetting the knowledge of what was to follow.
If you're a fan of history and the Civil War, this book is a must-read, if you haven't already read it. But it won't just appeal to this group. People who simply enjoy quality writing and good fiction will have just as much difficulty putting it down. Don't let this book go unread.

Reviews are posted

2006-04-06T21:30:00.000-07:00

Read and Review is a new site, and we have posted our first set of reviews!

This is what we are currently reading. Look for the reviews soon.

Flat Tax Revolution - Steve Forbes
To the Last Man - Jeff Shaara
Eldest - Christopher Paolini
The Traitor's Wife - Susan Higginbotham

He Chose the Nails

2006-04-04T19:54:00.000-07:00

I just finished a truly spectacular book. He Chose the Nails by Max Lucado has to be one of the best books I have ever read. This is a Christian book, so it might not appeal to the mainstream, but for those out there who are a part of the Christian faith, this is a must read. Rarely do I turn the final page and say "wow", but it happened with this book! It taught me a lot, but also entertained me as well. It's one of those that I will read multiple times. I highly recommend it. I will have a formal review completed in a few days on the website.

A few links for your enjoyment

2006-04-03T14:08:00.000-07:00

Here is some of the latest news in the publishing industry

And this is a good article about book signings for anyone out there who could use a few tips.

This article can also be found at our sister website Read and Review

A look around the blogosphere

2006-04-01T11:43:00.000-08:00

Here is a great post from Faith in Fiction about how to avoid troubles with your publisher and their marketing budget for your work.

Here is a post from Books. It gives you all a chance to comment on Huckleberry Finn

Flogging the Quill has a great post about the writer's "inner life" that's worth reading.

The Writing Life posted a good opinion about the self-published (there was no trackback capability so you'll need to scroll down a bit, the post is titled "Unexpressed messages from the self-published")

Buzz, Balls and Hype has a great post about handselling in bookstores...well worth your time

Latest review

2006-03-30T20:13:00.000-08:00

I read for two reasons: entertainment and education. If a book fails at achieving one of the two, then I consider it a waste of time. However, Raymond Learsy's commentary on the current oil market was hardly that. Learsy built a successful career in commodities trading and spent some of that career in the Middle East. His is the opinion of a capitalist and not a politician, which is a breath of fresh air for someone with limited knowledge on the current subject. In this book, Learsy tackles the problem of America's dependence on foreign oil like a veteran problem-solver. He first identifies the problem clearly while also doing away with much of the myth about America's oil dependence that seems to have flooded the mainstream press as of late. He then gives an historical account of how this problem came to be including the rise to power of OPEC. Then, he gives a detailed plan for how we can get ourselves out from under the boot of OPEC and free ourselves of the shackles of foreign oil dependence. Before I read this book, I had little insight into the problem we face as a nation when it comes to energy and foreign oil dependence. Now, I realize not only the complexity of problem, but I am also aware of a way to remedy it. I have Raymond Learsy to thank for that. I think this is a book all policy makers and political leaders should read. For that matter, it's a book all voters should read. It comes highly recommended from this website.

2006-03-27T16:58:00.000-08:00

The first post from Read and Review will deal with self-publishing.

1) Is it good for the literary world?

2) Has anyone out there read any good self-published titles that they'd recommend?

3) Has anyone out there written a self-published title they'd like to share? Any tips for those looking to do the same...especially when it comes to marketing?

4) Which self-publishing companies are the best for the author?

The comment line is open, we'd love to hear your thoughts.