David M. Brown's Blog, page 78
December 3, 2012
Book Review: Dare Me – Megan Abbott
[image error] Beth and me wedged tight, jeaned legs pressed against each other. The sound of our own breathing. Before we all stopped believing a tornado, or anything, could touch us, ever. Addy Hanlon and Beth Cassidy are tough, inseparable, invincible. No pair more charismatic or sophisticated. No pair more dangerous. But with the fall term, their new coach arrives and things begin to change. She has plans for the cheer squad: all sleek poise and cool command, the girls are soon entirely in her thrall. Faster, harder, higher, thinner, the stakes raised, their world contracting, they compete to risk – everything. She, meantime, has been crossing a line of her own. From the brilliant author of The End of Everything, Dare Me is a searing novel about the allure of adulthood and the dark heart of adolescence: the fierce bonds between girls, their bitter rivalries, and their power to transform one another.
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Review: Dare Me
Schools are not always the easiest of places. Whether teachers and parents like it or not there are often hierarchies that develop in each school year. In Megan Abbott’s Dare Me we focus on a group of cheerleaders who have such a hierarchy in place but the foundations are ruptured by the arrival of a new Coach.
The novel is told from the point of view of Addy Hanlon who is the best friend and trusted lieutenant of Beth Cassidy, the Captain of the cheerleaders who dictates what the others do. Addy and Beth are both feared with Beth in particular being manipulative. When Coach Colette French joins the school and takes charge of the cheerleaders things begin to change. The Coach is unmoved by Beth’s top standing and gives precedence to the other girls, inviting the cheerleaders to her home for late night drinking and training. The Coach has big ambitions for the cheerleaders but in pushing Beth to the periphery of the group she sets in motion a series of events in which Addy is caught in the middle.
Addy and Beth have been friends for years and though Addy is somewhat reserved at times she never seems to question Beth in the beginning. The other girls go along with Beth’s instructions, afraid to stand up to her. This idyll for Beth is disrupted by the arrival of the new Coach. Colette French is extremely passionate about cheerleading, so much so that you would think she had walked right out of high school and started training the girls immediately. Truth be told, the Coach is married with a child but all is not well at home. Her passion is in cheerleading and she pushes the girls very hard, building their strength and fitness, and teaching them some difficult formations and techniques. She has no time for Beth’s self-proclaimed position at the top of the hierarchy. When Coach challenges and defeats Beth, the other girls begin flocking to her and the Coach takes a particular liking to Addy who she trusts.
Beth is not one to suffer defeat for long though. The deposed Captain is soon conspiring to regain her position and when she and Addy uncover a dark secret about Coach she believes she has the weapons to unleash a psychological war. As an important match looms, the girls are hard at practice but their training is disrupted by a suicide in the town, a suicide which leads to the police questioning Coach. Beth is delighted but Addy, who is in the middle of the war between her best friend and the Coach, has mixed loyalties now. In becoming close to both Beth and later Coach, Addy finds herself very deep in the shocking events that unfold.
Dare Me is a very well written novel with two memorable characters in Beth and Coach. Addy was okay as the narrator but she doesn’t have the strength to stand up to the mind games and manipulation of Beth. Coach is an intriguing character, so easily defeating Beth when she first arrives but she is not without her own faults and weaknesses. How she becomes linked to a suicide makes for an absorbing story.
Dare Me is a tense psychological thriller set around the competitive world of cheerleading. Although our narrator Addy isn’t the strongest of characters the book more than makes up for things with Beth and Coach who are very well conveyed here.
Verdict: 4/5
(Book source: reviewer received a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review)
Book Review: Dare Me – Megan Abbott | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Winter Wonderland $500 Giveaway
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Welcome to the $500 Winter Wonderland Cash Giveaway!
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Winter Wonderland $500 Giveaway | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
December 2, 2012
Tweedlers’ Jukebox Song of the Week: Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
54 years ago a 13 year old girl named Brenda Lee first recorded Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree and despite a slow start it has become a staple part of the Christmas season. Lee’s mature voice along with a stylish sax solo convey a very simple message of enjoying the holidays and the song even throws in a few of the yuletide traditions such as mistletoe and decking the halls with boughs of holly.
If you’re a big fan of the movies like myself then you may recall this song was used to great effect in 1990 hit Home Alone where Macaulay Culkin had to pretend the house was having a party and all his family were still home while perplexed burglars Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern looked on. That’s just one of many associations this great song will have for music lovers at this time of year.
Tweedlers’ Jukebox Song of the Week: Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
December 1, 2012
Man vs Cat Launch Day: The Feline Revolution Starts Here!
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I’m delighted to announce the official release of my fourth book, Man vs Cat. After two instalments of the Elencheran Chronicles - Fezariu’s Epiphany and A World Apart – and a short story collection - Dark is the Day, Dead is the Night - I am entering the world of non-fiction with the story of the six cats that own the house my wife and I are allowed to stay in as tentative guests.
More than a series of anecdotes, Man vs Cat is intended as a key historical document and a stark warning that cats are slowly trying to take over the world. This is my evidence that our six cats intend to do me harm and at least one of them has plans for world domination. Please accept this as my sincere testimony and learn from the mistakes I have made.
Happy reading!
About Man vs Cat 2012
History has known many famous cats – Garfield, Mr Bigglesworth, Simon’s Cat, the Aristocats, the Cheshire cat and the Keyboard Cat on YouTube.
In recent years these feline things have replaced man’s best friend as the most popular pet in the U.S. while the Ancient Egyptians once worshipped them as gods. This was a mistake and I’m here to tell you why.
Man vs Cat is the story of one man, one woman and the six cats that changed their lives forever. To the woman they brought love and affection, to the man they brought sleepless nights, fear, paranoia and even ruined his jigsaw. Need I say more?
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Man vs Cat Launch Day: The Feline Revolution Starts Here! | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Game Review: Bubble Bobble Evolution
[image error] Bub and Bob must find their missing friends in a furious game that includes 100 All New levels, new bubble power attacks, microphone activated challenges and hidden characters!
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Review: Bubble Bobble Evolution
(PSP)
The original Bubble Bobble was released by Taito in 1986 and offered a memorable concept, pitching two dragons, Bub and Bob against 100 floors with only bubbles at their disposal to overcome enemies and obstacles. Numerous sequels have since followed but none have quite reached the high standards set by the original. The first question I asked when faced with Bubble Bobble Evolution was how does it compare to the original?
Set in 18th century London, the game begins with two children, Bub and Bob, playing by the River Thames. They are suddenly transformed into blue and green dragons – in this version costumes, rather than the real thing – before being abducted and imprisoned in separate towers. Their captor welcomes the duo to his towers of entertainment and invites them to try and find their way out. Bub and Bob must begin at the base of each tower and fight/solve their way to the highest floors.
The original Bubble Bobble allowed two players to work together in progressing through its 100 levels. In Evolution, Bub and Bob remain apart in their respective towers, having to negotiate ten floors before reaching the precipice. There is no teamwork at all between the characters and this proves to be one of the early disappointments. Although you can switch between Bub and Bob at any moment by passing their bubble trumpet back and forth, they are effectively on different adventures.
Each of the tower floors are divided into three screens containing a series of puzzles and an assortment of enemies out to hinder your attempts to ascend to the next level. Bubbles are still used to dispatch your foes but in Evolution Bub and Bob will also need them to activate three types of switch – wooden, stone and metal – to open doorways, manipulate obstacles or change something in the environment such as the direction of the wind or the room temperature. Further complications emerge with Bub and Bob having to influence bubbles containing different elements such as fire, ice and water to open up paths to previously inaccessible sections of each tower.
Being a big fan of the original Bubble Bobble, I was looking forward to Evolution but found the experience to be, sadly, disappointing. Though the controls are straightforward and the graphics fairly detailed and colourful, I was soon longing for the simplicity of the original game. Each floor of the tower involves a lot of traipsing back and forth between three screens to solve puzzles and although this seemed testing to begin with, I quickly found the experience frustrating, especially when enemies continued to return until a certain switch was activated to stop this. The Boss fights only served to augment these increasing issues. In order to defeat each boss, Bub or Bob have to stand in one of two locations on either side of the screen and fire off an unbroken chain of bubbles. The bosses would only suffer damage if stood on the opposite side of the screen so by moving either to the centre or close to you they could easily avoid your attacks, which proved annoying if they moved just as your flow of bubbles was about to hit them. Both Bub and Bob have to defeat the same bosses as they climb their respective towers and I found this monotony more of a hindrance than benefit, especially if a boss fight had been prolonged and I suddenly had to face the same prospect again. Finally, the loading times, though a fault of the PSP, impacted badly on Evolution. Your progress will be frequently interrupted by hints and tips, which are useful but cannot compensate for the length of time they take to pass. When ascending to another floor in the towers, Bub and Bob must take a lift and this also results in long loading times, which will wear heavily on your patience.
With Bubble Bobble Evolution, Rising Star Games have unfortunately lost sight of what made the original so great. The team work of Evolution’s predecessor is sadly missing here and though the graphics have improved in this version, the monotony of Bub and Bob’s individual ventures, coupled with slow loading times, means the essence of the original Bubble Bobble has been lost in its translation to the PSP.
Final Score: 2/5
(Game source: reviewer’s own copy)
Game Review: Bubble Bobble Evolution | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
November 30, 2012
Book Review: The Violinist’s Thumb – Sam Kean
[image error] In The Disappearing Spoon, bestselling author Sam Kean unlocked the mysteries of the periodic table. In THE VIOLINIST’S THUMB, he explores the wonders of the magical building block of life: DNA.
There are genes to explain crazy cat ladies, why other people have no fingerprints, and why some people survive nuclear bombs. Genes illuminate everything from JFK’s bronze skin (it wasn’t a tan) to Einstein’s genius. They prove that Neanderthals and humans bred thousands of years more recently than any of us would feel comfortable thinking. They can even allow some people, because of the exceptional flexibility of their thumbs and fingers, to become truly singular violinists.
Kean’s vibrant storytelling once again makes science entertaining, explaining human history and whimsy while showing how DNA will influence our species’ future.
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Review: The Violinist’s Thumb
I readily admit to being a bit of a science geek. That’s not to say I’m good at science – I actually have to work very hard to understand the concepts – but I love science books, particularly ones that show science in more ‘human’ terms. The Violinist’s Thumb is one such book. Kean takes the history and science behind DNA and our study of it so far and uses it to show – in very real terms – what the human consequences are.
Particularly fascinating – to me – was the story behind a parasite that can infect cat owners (contracted via litter). It affects around a third of humans but some to extremes, so much so that this might be one potential physiological explanation for some instances of cat hoarding.
The book looks at some aspects of the historical study of DNA and the conclusions – both correct and incorrect – that pave the way to further theories and knowledge. Added to that an introduction to some of the characteristics, flaws and merits of the scientists themselves and this is far from a dry tome on scientific theory.
The Violinist’s Thumb provides a remarkable insight into this incredible area of knowledge and research, one that still has a long way to go. Kean writes with passion, humour and insight that makes this an excellent read.
Verdict: 4/5
(Book source: Netgalley)
Book Review: The Violinist’s Thumb – Sam Kean | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
November 29, 2012
#FlashFiveFriday – Justice
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#FlashFiveFriday is run by The Indie Exchange.
#FlashFiveFriday is a weekly flash fiction / flash blogging prompt.
The rules are very simple if you’d like to take part:
1) Write for no longer than five minutes OR write no more than 500 words (whichever challenge you prefer!)
2) You must write something new
3) You can prepare your post ahead of time but the time/word limit still applies (whichever you choose to follow)
4) If you add your blog post link to the comments, then please visit some other blogs that week too to show your support
This week’s #FlashFiveFriday post
#FlashFiveFriday – Music
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Music is a powerful medium with the ability to entertain, move and annoy in equal measure. While I can think of many songs whose words can evoke emotions in the listener, I think a piece of music bereft of words is always the most absorbing sound to hear. Whenever I hear a piece of music that I know well, I usually have a memory associated with it that I will suddenly relive. If it’s the soundtrack to a film then inevitably I will begin to picture moments from that particular film.
When writing I usually prefer to be listening to music, especially if the songs are playing randomly. Sometimes I might be mulling over an idea and a piece of music will come to my ears and help guide me through the murky depths of indecision to the beacon of revelation. I listen to many types of music and love artists from The Beatles back in the sixties to The Decemberists in the present day.
Individual songs have been responsible for some of the storylines I have written. Without them I never would have had the ideas I have.
Returning just to music I find the soundtracks that accompany the Final Fantasy games to be amongst the most soothing and inspirational for me personally. This RPG series was the catalyst for my being a writer in the first place so it’s fitting that the music should still be a big part of the worlds I create. Listen to music like Someday the Dream Will End, You’re Not Alone or Aeris’ Theme and you will have an idea of what I mean. If I had to choose between never watching a film or never listening to music again then my decision would always be to retain music. For me, it’s a daily necessity.
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#FlashFiveFriday: #15 – Strength
#FlashFiveFriday on The Indie Exchange: Strength
#FlashFiveFriday Strength
#FlashFiveFriday: #16 – Justice
The Indie Exchange #FlashFiveFriday: Justice
#FlashFiveFriday – Justice | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Film Review: Thor
[image error] The epic adventure Thor spans the Marvel universe from present-day Earth to the cosmic realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. As a result, Thor is banished to Earth where he is forced to live among humans. When the most dangerous villain of his world sends its darkest forces to invade Earth, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero.
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman
Directed by: Kenneth Branagh
Runtime: 115 minutes
Studio: Paramount Pictures
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Review: Thor
The Norse myths and legends are my favourite mythology and were one of the catalysts for me becoming a writer. In Kenneth Branagh’s Thor we have one of the key Norse gods and Marvel Comic hero brought to the screen. Though I was familiar with the myths I hadn’t read the comics so was intrigued how the film would be.
The film begins with some background of a war between Odin (Anthony Hopkins), the ruler of Asgard, and Laufey, ruler of the frost giants in Jotunheim. Odin is victorious and returns to Asgard with the Casket of Ancient Winters and a truce between the gods and the frost giants. Moving to the present, Odin’s sons Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston) have both been considered for the throne but it is Thor who is stepping forward to be the new ruler of Asgard. After an unexpected attack on Asgard by frost giants trying to reclaim the Casket, Thor ignores his father by travelling to Jotunheim to confront Laufey. Odin intervenes too late and Laufey assures his rival that Thor’s actions now mean war. Odin punishes Thor by stripping him of his power and sending him to Earth along with his hammer, Mjolnir. Powerless, Thor must find a way back to Asgard and survive the many threats on Earth.
Thor has recreated many elements of Norse mythology really well. The frozen and barren Jotunheim, the pristine world of Asgard, the glittering Bifrost Bridge guarded by Heimdall are all fantastic. Thor is the darling of Asgard, confident and strong, but he is also too impulsive and Odin’s decision to have him ascend the throne seems to be one of cautious optimism. When frost giants infiltrate Asgard, Thor seeks revenge, taking Loki and a trio of loyal friends with him. Jotunheim is very nearly the end of the group but Odin steps in at the last second and although he beseeches Laufey for peace, the king of the frost giants is unmoved. Thor is exiled to Earth, leaving the scheming Loki to plot his way onto the throne while Odin is vulnerable and in a deep sleep.
On Earth Thor meets astrophysicist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), her assistant Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings) and Dr Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard). The trio witness disturbance amongst the cosmos and moments later they have driven their car into Thor! Disoriented, Thor desperately seeks his hammer, Mjolnir, which has landed in a rock and – in the style of Excalibur – can only be removed from one who is worthy of receiving Thor’s powers. Though Thor makes his way through S.H.I.E.L.D. security to the hammer, he is unable to remove it, his powers now gone. Jane, Darcy and Dr Selvig agree to help Thor and in turn he promises to shed light on their studies of the cosmos. Back in Asgard, Loki has contacted the frost giants and is paving the way for them to assassinate Odin, leaving him free to seize power. Can Thor regain his power and save the day though?
Thor was actually a lot better than I expected. For some reason I had had my doubts about it but was left pleasantly surprised. The effects and battles are well done and the cast are generally good with Hemsworth unsurprisingly the star of the show. As with Star Wars, this isn’t the best you’ll see from Natalie Portman unfortunately and the romance between her character and Thor was pretty predictable. If you know Norse mythology well you will notice a few errors. I think I’m right in saying that Thor had red hair in the legends, while Odin sacrificed an eye in pursuit of knowledge rather than losing it in battle as he does here. These are minor quibbles though in what was a pretty good superhero movie.
Thor recreates some of the worlds from Norse mythology well and has a decent cast and storyline to go with it. With Branagh at the helm I would have expected some of the performances to be better but overall this is a good film if you’re looking for plenty of action and decent effects as well.
Verdict: 4/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: Thor | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Book Review: Bad Pharma – Dr. Ben Goldacre
[image error] Medicine is broken. We like to imagine that it’s based on evidence and the results of fair tests. In reality, those tests are often profoundly flawed. We like to imagine that doctors are familiar with the research literature surrounding a drug, when in reality much of the research is hidden from them by drug companies. We like to imagine that doctors are impartially educated, when in reality much of their education is funded by industry. We like to imagine that regulators let only effective drugs onto the market, when in reality they approve hopeless drugs, with data on side effects casually withheld from doctors and patients.
All these problems have been protected from public scrutiny because they’re too complex to capture in a sound bite. But Dr. Ben Goldacre shows that the true scale of this murderous disaster fully reveals itself only when the details are untangled. He believes we should all be able to understand precisely how data manipulation works and how research misconduct on a global scale affects us. In his own words, “the tricks and distortions documented in these pages are beautiful, intricate, and fascinating in their details.” With Goldacre’s characteristic flair and a forensic attention to detail, Bad Pharma reveals a shockingly broken system and calls for something to be done. This is the pharmaceutical industry as it has never been seen before.
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Review: Bad Pharma (2012)
Bad Pharma is actually a fairly scary book to pick up when you’ve just collected a prescription from the chemist but I’d heard a lot about Bad Science (which I’ve since read) and thought Bad Pharma would be incredibly interesting. I certainly wasn’t wrong.
This is pretty much a damaging expose of the pharmaceutical industry’s involvement in modern medicine. Not necessarily their manufacture and distribution of tablets that do improve people’s lives every day but more the unnecessary peddling of drugs that either do very little or are no more effective than drugs already on the market. We’ve all seen the washing powder ads for something ‘new and improved’, only to find out two months later that it’s got one slight miniscule change. How ludicrous would it be if the drug companies did something similar and then got it under patent for 10 years so they could charge incredibly high prices for it? Well, they do.
Delving into issues such as pricing, drug trials, suppression of research and trial reports, Goldacre uncovers how strong the hold over our medication is and calls for changes across the board, citing things that patients, doctors, governments, researchers and the drug companies can do.
I’m sure Goldacre didn’t make any drug rep friends via this book – and I’m quite sure he doesn’t care. It’s refreshing to read something that is so focussed on what’s right, regardless of the waves it makes. That said, having now gone back and read Bad Science, it’s not really a surprise. This is an absolutely fascinating read for anyone who has had any involvement with our health system or ever taken any medication whatsoever. So, that’s pretty much everyone!
Verdict: 5/5
(Book source: reviewer’s own copy)
Book Review: Bad Pharma – Dr. Ben Goldacre | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
November 28, 2012
Book Review: Losing Face – Annie Try
[image error] Losing Face takes the form of Word documents, interspersed with emails. It covers the accident and recovery of Cass, who sustains terrible facial injuries in a car crash, including the loss of an eye. Her friend Em supports her throughout and the two very different girls struggle in their own ways to cope as Cass undergoes surgery, eventually returning to a mixed reception in school. Throughout the story, friendship and values are challenged, particularly through Cass’s relationships with her mother and with her boyfriend, Spider. Courage is redefined and the triumphant final chapters celebrate that life is worth living. New beginnings and new relationships are promised.
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Review: Losing Face
We live in a cruel world where individuals that are a little different are often targeted by bullies or groups that are unwilling to accommodate them. In Annie Try’s Losing Face we follow the story of an ordinary teenager whose life appears to be ruined forever by a terrible accident.
Cassandra Briggs and Emma Jennings are best friends with different backgrounds. Cass is a talented student with a love of singing but she is from a marriage that fell apart though she still sees both parents. Em is from a series of foster homes and has had a tough upbringing but has found a good friendship in Cass. One night the girls are out with friends when they climb into separate cars. Cass gets in a car with Spider, with both having mutual affection for one another. Sadly, Spider drives too fast that night causing an accident that throws Cass through the windscreen. Her injuries are severe including scarring on her face and the loss of an eye. Losing Face tells the story of this accident and Cass’ attempts to rebuild her life amidst the unforgiving and cruel students at her school.
Annie Try has adopted an internet approach to telling Cass’ story. We have instant messaging from Cass and Em, but mostly the novel is broken up into email exchanges with each email having a word document attached describing events from both Cass’ and Em’s perspectives. It’s a clever approach that works quite well. We learn of that terrible accident and Cass’ slow recovery in hospital. Em has some unpleasant people to contend with at school, notably the bully, Miranda, who is delighted at Cass’ unfortunate situation. Then there is Spider who continually visits Cass as her boyfriend but only succeeds in saying the most inappropriate things each time.
As the email exchanges continue Cass returns to school with her hair styled to cover the scarred side of her face and she has a prosthetic eye in place as well. It isn’t an easy return for Cass and you will shudder at what she has to go through. Prior to coming back to school an assembly is called where a teacher warns the school that Cass is returning and that she has suffered some facial injuries. Nothing like drawing everyone’s gaze to the poor girl. The rest of the book follows Cass and Em as they negotiate exams and there is even romance in the air with fellow students Josh and Rob who act very warmly towards Cass and treat her like any other person.
There were one or two occasions I felt the word documents didn’t work as well as they might. Initially Em was filling in blanks for Cass following her accident. It just seemed strange sometimes emailing each other to describe conversations they had had, word for word. Of course, the reader needs this information to understand the story better so it seems unfair to raise it but sometimes it stretched the credulity for me. That’s only a minor issue though. This is an accessible book for a wide audience and addresses an important subject in how we react and behave around people such as Cass.
Losing Face is well-written with an intriguing use of emails and attached word documents to convey the storyline. The friendship between Cass and Em is a memorable one and although even they feel the strain, Em is there to prove to Cass that not everyone will treat her differently. Ours is often an unforgiving world and books like this one are a good reminder of that.
Verdict: 4/5
(Book source: reviewer received a copy from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review)
Book Review: Losing Face – Annie Try | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
