30,000 Dollar Bequest - Featured Review

30,000 Dollar Bequest and Other Stories by Mark Twain Genres: Classic, Humor

     I think Mark Twain's humor takes a little getting used to. The first and main story in this book is about a happily married couple who are informed by a distant uncle that they stand to inherit $30,000 when he passes. Human nature can go two ways with such a fortune, a very large fortune back in those days. Money can either enhance one's life to make it better, or it can change people completely. Money is the root of all evil after all. I'll leave it to you to guess which way this turns out so that you will still be surprised when you read it for yourself. It is easy to do since this is a free ebook within the public domain.

     The majority of these stories are enjoyable. Some are pretty out there. From my research when I wrote Mark Twain's biography there was a time in his life where he was just churning out essays and papers to pay the bills. A few of the stories included in this book are undoubtedly Twain writing just to hear himself speak and have something to sell.

The Phantom of Manhattan - Serial Sunday Review

The Phantom of Manhattan by Frederick Forsyth Fan Fiction Sequel Genre: Historical Fiction

     This is a fan fiction sequel to Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical version of The Phantom of the Opera, not Gaston Leroux's book. Forsyth begins with a lengthy introduction explaining the history of the original author and novel and how it was later interpreted by Webber. While this was a serious plot spoiler to the musical version, which I have never seen, I'm glad that he did explain it as I would have been completely lost when these scenes were referenced as it is completely different than the original book. Forsyth also goes into great detail about Leroux's error in "believing" an untruthful account of events in the original story which Leroux claims to be true. This is a literary license that many authors take, portraying a story as true events when it in fact is not. After Forsyth shows that events in The Phantom of the Opera are untrue, he goes forth to explain how Gaston did not understand the character of Erik, the Phantom. If the story were relating events that did actually happen then it could be possible that Gaston Leroux misunderstood the character. But as this is his own creation, he could not be confused as to Erik's past and current motivations as that is how Leroux created him. It's fiction, get over it and accept the character as he was created.

The Fortune Quilt - Fun Read Friday

The Fortune Quilt by Lani Diane Rich Genre: Romance, Humor

     This. Was. Hilarious! At one point I got the giggles so completely that my brother actually felt the need to check that I didn't accidentally take too much of my pain medication.

     While not necessarily a non-believer of psychics, Carly is wary of the many shamans who use hoaxes and tricks to bilk believers. When assigned to interview a woman who makes quilts that can predict the future, Carly thinks the woman is just using it as an angle to sell her product, until her own reading begins to come true.

On the Decay of the Art of Lying - Featured Review

On the Decay of the Art of Lying by Mark Twain Genres: Classic, Nonfiction

     This is a short essay written by Mark Twain that gives one plenty of food for thought. He isn't implying that people are becoming more truthful, wouldn't that be nice? Twain reflects that people are becoming less artful in their deceptions.

     While theorizing that everyone lies he suggests that a well placed lie can do wonders. Everyone has been in this position ... No, that dress doesn't make your butt look big. Yes, I love your new haircut. Oh sweetie, that is the best drawing of a dog/cow/horse (I have no clue what it was supposed to be) that I have ever seen.

Serial Sunday Review - The Phantom of Valletta

The Phantom of Valletta by Vicki Hopkins Fan Fiction Sequel Genres: Romance, Mystery

     It is almost tempting to say that Erik has mellowed as he has gotten older. But then I remember that this book was not written by the original creator of the character and is Hopkins's interpretation of the Phantom. I must say that he is a much more likeable fellow with fewer cruel tendencies and the presence of a conscience.

     Afraid of arrest for his misdeeds in the final chapters of The Phantom of the Opera, Erik flees to Malta where he has heard of an opera house that was severely damaged by fire. He decided to buy the building and haunt again. Ironically the opera house has another ghost already in residence amongst its halls that performs several acts of sabotage. While the sequel does have a bit of intrigue as to whom the new ghost is, it is more of a love story that a mystery.

Power Play - Fun Read Friday Review

Power Play by Penny Jordan Genre: Romance

     I had read this before and was quite surprised to find that it was published by Harlequin. Unlike a typical Harlequin romance, the characters were well developed, quite three dimensional, and there was a lot more to the plot than the usual "He loves me, he loves me not" storyline for at least the first 300 pages.

     Revenge may be a dish best served cold, but sometimes it isn't quite as sweet as imagined.

The Mysterious Stranger - Featured Review

The Mysterious Stranger by Mark Twain Genre: Classic

     This story was published after Mark Twain passed away and it is debated as to whether or not this version is a legitimate version of the story or if the editor had too free a reign with the cutting of text.

     Mark Twain can be very hard to read, but this was not the case. Set in Austria around the times of witch burnings, this book sets itself apart from most of Twain's works. There is no phonetical dialogue that he oft uses, and I personally find very hard to read.