Matt McAvoy Book Review

Something of a surprise, this poignant and pointed melodrama, as what could become a little twee actually goes off in a completely unexpected direction, with some very serious undertones.  Yet, to its credit, it never wallows in the darkness underpinning it, but simply addresses it as a matter-of-fact, shameful part of Irish history.  When you see this book’s title, it rings of sentimentality and even a touch of romance, and while there is a touch of the former, there is thankfully none of ...

One for the globalist conspiracy theorists – and it’s about as current as it gets, covering the whole spectrum of what we would have called “conspiracy theories” five years ago, and now we might now more likely refer to as “common knowledge”.  I won’t spoil the story, but suffice to say that when a mystery vaccine being tested in a fictional African country is linked to the globalist plans of a billionaire and his “Doors Foundation” (not Gates), then I think you can see wher...

This is a fine book, though I have to say its title is somewhat sardonic, as the Ward family at the start of the twentieth century endures some of the worst traumas one family can possibly go through.  You therefore need to accept that this is a book about faith most of all: faith in God, Heaven and that fortune will prevail.  Though, I don’t want to spoil the book, but I will say prepare yourself to take a beating from life, along with this unfortunate family.  Yet prepare yourself also fo...

Another beautifully poignant, heartfelt book by Stef-Albert, and this one is much more unambiguously memoir than semi-fictionalized.  Stef-Albert is a man who, despite his apparent phenomenal success as an artist, designer and businessman, carries his heart on his sleeve and a burden of insecurity; he is someone who appears not to need love in his life, but throws in hook, line and sinker when it is.  He is also a man who appears to carry a bitter resentment of his indifferent childhood – t...

I would probably put this taut offering by Keira Mayock in the crime melodrama category, rather than calling it a standard formula, suspense-style, twisty thriller.  Rather than threat there is an underlying feeling of family betrayal, and I don’t think you ever really feel any danger imminent – though, to be honest, I think much of this may be because of the relatively small cast of equally rather dislikeable characters, if masterfully crafted.  In hindsight, I could actually envision th...

Full disclosure is necessary here: I helped Charles quite extensively with editing and structural feedback for his book.  However, the content itself and the finished product are all products of his obsessively hard work and tremendous body of life’s work.  The result is a phenomenal achievement; this is not just a book, it is a project, a study into the human psyche, how personalities overlap and the influence they have on each other through their own personal stories.  The Gentling of Han...

A simply stunning piece of work by Stef-Albert, Broken Rooms is all about the writing.  There isn’t particularly a definitive storyline, as such, but rather more a life to be told – and a wonderful one it is, too, one of creative achievement, financial and cultural success, and a refinement which only comes from incredible self-made wealth matched with natural class and style.  Stef’s writing is exquisite at times, it has to be said, with rousing, sometimes breathtaking qualities: descr...

A direct sequel to White Monkey, and more of the same – some real laugh-out-loud humour at times, though perhaps less of a story arc, Darren having already up and left his northern roots.  In truth, I didn’t actually know the book was a sequel until realizing the connection with White Monkey.  What is did realize, very early on, is that this is Brit-lit comedy, with its rough-edged coarseness and language; when you read dialogue like this you know it can only be written by an English auth...

Another action-packed outing for Lily Starling and the crew, and I think I actually enjoyed this one a little more than the first instalment.  This, I would argue, is a simpler affair, with a more straightforward storyline and unambiguous villain – there is something more like A New Hope or The Wrath of Khan about this entry into the series; it is pure space opera.

The dialogue and interaction are sharp and witty, the characters genuinely quite likeable – even the villains, I would say, ...

The opening stories in this volume of dark, melancholy shorts are rather brooding, and existentially bleak – the theme running through them is loss, death, separation, whatever you want to call it; however, by the closing tales the whole mood has changed.  I don’t want to spoil too much, but it is rather a pleasant surprise to find that Chris Kauzlarich dramatically diverts from doom and despair to hope and optimism.  I was awaiting that fifth act in which we have been lulled into false s...

I’ll be honest, I imagine this book is going to appeal to a niche market.  Don’t get me wrong, I genuinely enjoyed it, and Victoria is a superb talent, with a wonderful heart and personality.  She is also an exceptional writer, more about which shortly.  In truth, though, I struggled a little with the second half or two-thirds, not necessarily because it was difficult to follow, but rather because in this stage the book is strongly focused on the horoscope angle of Venus.  It is a fascina...

Rick Porrello is the real deal – a somewhat humble and matter-of-fact overachiever, who I have garnered – and you will, too – massive respect for after reading this memoir.  It is predominantly about his years working as a drummer for Sammy Davis Jr., and the charmed life he led while doing so, travelling the world, mixing with celebs and making some money – all before his 21st birthday.  Many will think this is a dream life of its own, but it was never what Rick really felt was his c...

A rather contradictory review of a book which can perhaps more accurately be described as a project.  A discourse.  A movement!  I have awarded 5 stars for David’s phenomenal achievement, and rightly so, but I am still of the opinion that, as a book, it is far from the finished article.  David advised me before I read that it imparts personal, subjective opinions which may be considered by many as political and politically incorrect, and this may have deterred some from reviewing his book. ...

You’ve got to hand it to Javier de Lucia: when he decides to embark upon a book project, he doesn’t do it by half, publishing his character’s entire fictional memoir as two books, dividing one into a further three to give local context to its epic parts and writing an accompanying dissertation to delve into its elements, literary composition, metaphors, meanings and nuances.  I have been fortunate enough to review them all and to have read them in the order they are recommended (though ...

Sharply scripted and hugely entertaining, with a bittersweet and very important message at its core, Only Half a Person is a biting indictment of society’s approach to otherness and racial difference.  But the real star of this book is how Rowland Grover goes about delivering the allegory, in multiple styles; he is excellent.  The book is a collection of essays, memoirs, short stories, fables and parables – with outright as well as more subtle themes, some of which were perhaps never inte...

A.A. Smith is a fine writer, and has crafted a genuinely intriguing and interesting world, where people are judged by their ability to do magic or the reputation of their peoples.  In it, Mora, a naïve and somewhat innocent teenager at the start, learns hard truths about life and grows up the hard way, through a very unexpected adventure and some genuinely heart-rending and poignant discoveries, against the backdrop of tension and conflict.  As you have surely guessed, there is a great deal ...

Whilst clearly a direct sequel to Javier De Lucia’s The Wake of Expectations, this book couldn’t be more different in tone, style and premise.  The author has assured me unambiguously that Calvin McShane is not real, and his adventures pure fiction, but I have to say that I suspect a good deal of cathartic content for the author, and I suspect Cal is based very strongly on Javier or someone he knows.  I’m also well aware I might be getting a little personal now, and don’t know if I’...

A truly lovely book, with a fascinating storyline; a classic style of mystery given a contemporary pop culture twist.  SF Hayes has created some particularly well-layered characters in The Red Concerto, as she explores the depths of human self-worth, innate aspiration and the conflicting challenge of self-actualization.  Although, at its heart, like most such books, it is a romance drama, which whilst may appear something of a spoiler, I don’t think is going to come as any surprise to anyon...

If I’m being completely honest, and I mean no disrespect by this whatsoever, but I often find books about Scripture and biblical interpretation hard to digest and often even incoherent; I simply don’t follow them.  However, Zachary’s book is something of a refreshing change from this.  Rather than simply preaching God’s word as interpreted by the author (although that will come shortly), first and foremost I would consider this rather more of an autobiographical project.  Zachary is p...

Having now read this highly enjoyable trilogy in full, I can gleefully confirm (with something of a smile) that it isn’t really about anything notable, per se – or certainly not a dramatic or progressive narrative in any way… and that’s wonderful!  I admit, I spent the first two books, and the first in particular, thinking: Where’s all this going?  What’s going to happen?  But it’s rather more slice-of-life than that, and I realized quite some time back that enjoyment of this gr...

Soap-like melodrama doesn’t come much more for the purist than this slice-of-life exploration deep into family dynamics and relationships generally; from a three decade love triangle, through running a billion-dollar corporation to fears over hosting Thanksgiving dinner, there is more than an air of Dynasty about this – and much of it is even set in the same city, of Denver, I believe.  I liked it for the most part; Wyvonne Page is articulate eloquent and, I’m sure, utterly elegant.  Sh...

Funnily enough, although not quite as much happens in this second instalment of the Calvin McShane trilogy as in the first outing, I actually preferred and genuinely quite enjoyed it.  This is a pure comical literary fiction saga, which seems to be about little more than young people wanting to do what young people do – but that’s great because, as already established, Javier de Lucia is a cracking writer, and I’m slowly becoming a fan (as he maybe confidently intimated that I would).  ...

This epic, lengthy space opera is an ancient story set in a future with themes more resonant with contemporary society.  The story itself is rather more a sweeping general narrative than anything particularly convoluted, which is usually better, in my opinion, though combined with the word count does make for a long, drawn-out read.  It is not so much a fictional excursion as an immersive experience for the reader, and if you aren’t prepared to invest your time and attention in getting to k...

The author makes clear at the start of Becoming Calvin that it is the first instalment of a larger book split into a trilogy.  It therefore stands alone as a slice-of-life, coming-of-age, literary-fiction offering, which doesn’t delve too much into narrative.  It is rather about young Calvin’s later teenage years, his friendships, ambitions and goals, and predominantly their sexual experiences.  If 1990s teenagers having and talking about sex is your thing, then you’ll probably find the...

As I’ve a tendency not to read blurbs before reviewing a book, I was pleasantly surprised by this narrative retelling of one of the better-known yet perhaps lesser-written parables of the Bible’s Book of Kings (2): that of Naaman, a formidable and haunted Semitic commander who renounced his king and god Rimmon, to worship the one true god Yahweh.  The more famous summary of this tale is that Naaman was miraculously cured of leprosy then went on to lead vast crusading armies against the br...

Absolutely heartbreaking, this candid, warts-and-all journal from Sherry, about living with a husband she clearly still adores after more than half a century, despite his rapidly progressing dementia.  She has poured her whole being into this project for months, if not several years – I know how hard she has worked and how much it has meant to her, because I have helped a little with feedback in the beta stage – so there’s a little disclosure from myself; be assured, though, it has no b...

Hear the words “dating comedy”, and you might think, Meh…  Put a man in the role of primary protagonist and that Meh might become, Okay…  Now also consider the fact that this isn’t a romcom, or what some ill-advised old timers might call “chick-lit”, but rather a simple, relatively decent, old-fashioned comedy of errors – almost like those British Confessions… and It Shouldn’t Happen To… movies of the 1970s, with a more contemporary cultural twist.  It’s pretty good, t...

Slow burning and cerebral, this is another girl-meets-dragon tale, which are going through something of a renaissance since Game of Thrones.  This one is profound and more human than action based – and exceptionally well written and edited, it has to be said.  Don’t expect swashbuckling or sweeping battle scenes, though they are there, if covered relatively superficially.  This is book more about the character development and the story, as young Astria finds herself exiled and denied her ...