Chris Bakos's Blog, page 3
November 3, 2014
Book Review
Summer With My Sister
Summer with My Sister by Lucy Diamond.
It is only this year that I added author Lucy Diamond to my reading list and so far her books have been a pleasure to experience.
I still have a few books to read from this insightful author.
I have found her books to be filled with down to earth, believable and mostly likeable characters, without being too sugary sweet. Summer with My Sister was no exception. In fact one of the sisters was rather a self centred pain in the arse for at least half of the book; a fact that could have been off-putting. The warmth of the other characters however is the hook that keeps you reeled in.
There is a vein of sadness that runs like a lazy river through the book, not front and centre, but rather along the periphery. This stems from a tragic circumstance taken place many years previously that has molded their lives and the choices they have made.
At heart though is a strong family bond, even if not all the players know it!
Throw into the pot a touch of romance and the promise of new beginnings, in more ways than one and Summer with My Sister left me feeling empowered with the belief that anything is possible, if one wants it badly enough.
Summer with My Sister by Lucy Diamond.
It is only this year that I added author Lucy Diamond to my reading list and so far her books have been a pleasure to experience.
I still have a few books to read from this insightful author. I have found her books to be filled with down to earth, believable and mostly likeable characters, without being too sugary sweet. Summer with My Sister was no exception. In fact one of the sisters was rather a self centred pain in the arse for at least half of the book; a fact that could have been off-putting. The warmth of the other characters however is the hook that keeps you reeled in.
There is a vein of sadness that runs like a lazy river through the book, not front and centre, but rather along the periphery. This stems from a tragic circumstance taken place many years previously that has molded their lives and the choices they have made.
At heart though is a strong family bond, even if not all the players know it!
Throw into the pot a touch of romance and the promise of new beginnings, in more ways than one and Summer with My Sister left me feeling empowered with the belief that anything is possible, if one wants it badly enough.
October 22, 2014
A Perfect Heritage by Penny Vincenzi
The journey has come to an end and I have to say that I enjoyed every step of the way. I refer to my reading experience for I have just concluded the latest Blockbuster masterpiece by Penny Vincenzi entitled A Perfect heritage. A few months ago I read her latest offering entitled Love in the Afternoon and other Delights and it was delightful, however I admit I was rather taken aback when I picked it up from the library, for not only was it not 3 inches in thickness but it was not a novel but rather a collection of short stories, all thoroughly enjoyable mind you, but I cannot deny there was a part of just a tad disappointed.
Now though, I realize why she had published that particular collection at that particularly, for she was clearly busy penning A Perfect Heritage and not wanting to keep her literary worshippers in a metaphorical Vincenzi famine, she provided us with a little appetizer to tide us over until this wonderful main course was ready to be served.
A Perfect Heritage introduces us to the family business - the House of Farrell, a declining cosmetics brand that has been a household name for fifty years with Athina Farrell the aging matriarch firmly at the helm. With the advent of the 21st century and with the commercialization of the Internet as a way not only of communicating but also doing business, the company fails to take the necessary steps to revitalize itself and reinvent as needed, relying on history and tradition to carry them through.
When bankruptcy threatens, Athina Farrell is forced to accept the unthinkable and open the exclusive family doors for desperate measures must be taken. Enter Bianca Bailey, business woman extraordinaire, whose task it is to drag the House of Farrell, kicking and screaming and dragging its heels at every turn into a company that is not only profitable, but here to stay in the dog eat dog world of the cosmetics industry. Ms Bailey; a resourceful player, with a dazzling success rate will underestimate the formidable Athina Farrell on more than one occasion.
There can be only one winner though and that is the House of Farrell. You would think that both women would realize this wouldn't you?
If you think that this is a blockbuster novel that focuses on the rivalry, and backbiting as well as the coming together of a team of people determined to support each other in their determination to succeed in the competitive world of cosmetics, then you would be correct.
However...
That is not all it is....
It is a novel rich with believable characters, facing the everyday trials and tribulations that the average Joe or Jill has to face and strive to overcome. First and foremost it is a modern day love story that just happens to span sixty years.
Don't read this book if it will take you six months to complete for you will lose the heart of it...do read though, if like me, for the duration, it will become the leisure activity you will look forward to the most in the day.
Now though, I realize why she had published that particular collection at that particularly, for she was clearly busy penning A Perfect Heritage and not wanting to keep her literary worshippers in a metaphorical Vincenzi famine, she provided us with a little appetizer to tide us over until this wonderful main course was ready to be served.
A Perfect Heritage introduces us to the family business - the House of Farrell, a declining cosmetics brand that has been a household name for fifty years with Athina Farrell the aging matriarch firmly at the helm. With the advent of the 21st century and with the commercialization of the Internet as a way not only of communicating but also doing business, the company fails to take the necessary steps to revitalize itself and reinvent as needed, relying on history and tradition to carry them through.
When bankruptcy threatens, Athina Farrell is forced to accept the unthinkable and open the exclusive family doors for desperate measures must be taken. Enter Bianca Bailey, business woman extraordinaire, whose task it is to drag the House of Farrell, kicking and screaming and dragging its heels at every turn into a company that is not only profitable, but here to stay in the dog eat dog world of the cosmetics industry. Ms Bailey; a resourceful player, with a dazzling success rate will underestimate the formidable Athina Farrell on more than one occasion.
There can be only one winner though and that is the House of Farrell. You would think that both women would realize this wouldn't you?
If you think that this is a blockbuster novel that focuses on the rivalry, and backbiting as well as the coming together of a team of people determined to support each other in their determination to succeed in the competitive world of cosmetics, then you would be correct.
However...
That is not all it is....
It is a novel rich with believable characters, facing the everyday trials and tribulations that the average Joe or Jill has to face and strive to overcome. First and foremost it is a modern day love story that just happens to span sixty years.
Don't read this book if it will take you six months to complete for you will lose the heart of it...do read though, if like me, for the duration, it will become the leisure activity you will look forward to the most in the day.
October 11, 2014
Book review- Chestnut Street
I'm feeling bereft to think that never again will I open a Maeve Binchy book for the first time and cast my eye eagerly toward page one and the opening sentence. The Queen of storytelling has left us and unless there are more stories secreted away in a drawer, waiting to be discovered and pounced upon eagerly by the likes of you and I, then sadly, I have just finished reading my last book from this revered author.
The book I refer to is called Chestnut Street and it was utterly delightful. It is composed of thirty six separate stories with the common thread being that at least one character per story resides at Chestnut Street.
The reader is introduced to a host of individual characters complete with their very human quirks, trials and tribulations as well as their joys and happiness.
Maeve Binchy’s uncanny ability to understand people and relay with integrity her observations of everyday life has constantly been reflected in her story telling over the years and Chestnut Street is no exception.
I frequently found myself taking stock of my own life! The way that I conduct myself and the influences that have made me the person I am. This may sound a bit pensive, but on the contrary I found the exercise of reflection to be a positive experience.
I thoroughly enjoyed meet the many different characters and embraced their diversity, ranging from Bucket Maguire, the window cleaner (of course), to Gwendoline the embittered spinster in her late thirties, who was unable to let in the light of friendship. There is even a cure for sleeplessness to be found, which I may even seriously try one of these frequently wakeful 4a.m.s
My favourite story though was entitled Fair Exchange.
I encourage you to take a stroll through Chestnut Street and find your own favourite character or story. Happy reading
Chris Bakos
The book I refer to is called Chestnut Street and it was utterly delightful. It is composed of thirty six separate stories with the common thread being that at least one character per story resides at Chestnut Street.
The reader is introduced to a host of individual characters complete with their very human quirks, trials and tribulations as well as their joys and happiness.
Maeve Binchy’s uncanny ability to understand people and relay with integrity her observations of everyday life has constantly been reflected in her story telling over the years and Chestnut Street is no exception.
I frequently found myself taking stock of my own life! The way that I conduct myself and the influences that have made me the person I am. This may sound a bit pensive, but on the contrary I found the exercise of reflection to be a positive experience.
I thoroughly enjoyed meet the many different characters and embraced their diversity, ranging from Bucket Maguire, the window cleaner (of course), to Gwendoline the embittered spinster in her late thirties, who was unable to let in the light of friendship. There is even a cure for sleeplessness to be found, which I may even seriously try one of these frequently wakeful 4a.m.s
My favourite story though was entitled Fair Exchange.
I encourage you to take a stroll through Chestnut Street and find your own favourite character or story. Happy reading
Chris Bakos
October 4, 2014
First Blog!!
Life is a series of firsts – some of which come naturally without too much effort; first smile, steps and tooth, while others take work and guts. Remember your first bike, first date, and first job interview? The fear and the excitement that shared equal billing as your emotions ran amok.
We all experience those teetering steps over the threshold of our comfort zones for this is how we grow, as a person, intellectually, emotionally, and physically.
I recently published my first book – Clementine Court, a book in which the characters became a part of my life - so very real in their existence. I thought that writing my book was the hard part. How naïve I have been, how enlightened I am becoming, as I try to drag myself kicking and screaming with reluctance into the sometimes confusing world of social media and the public eye.
Why oh why cannot I not wallow happily in my anonymity? And why oh why cannot the public at large discover en masse, my book displayed for sale online, and immediately be gripped with an overwhelming need to purchase it!
Once bought they would devour its every page, before rushing to their electronic devices, and with nimble fingers flashing over the keys, they would lavish oohs and aahs, suitably in praise of my first novel.
Oh, if only …
It is therefore the reason why I have chosen another first time novelist Hilary Boyd and her lovely book entitled Thursdays in the Park to be the subject of my first official on my website book review.
Published in 2013, I read this book in August 2014 and it was through a Goodreads list that I discovered it.
Thursdays in the park is a delightful easy read about the joys and pitfalls of a long term marriage and the possibilities of new beginnings. Jeannie, the main character is no longer in the first flush of youth but is far from ready to embrace her senior years, and retirement. Whereas, her husband is happily ambling towards the autumn years, making earnest plans to retire to the country.
With her granddaughter in tow, Jeannie develops an unlikely friendship with Ray as he escorts his grandson for a Thursday in the park.
As the story unfolds, the relationship between Jeannie and Ray blossoms and duty and love become fast adversaries.
Hilary Boyd is in her sixties which gives me hope and delivers the message that one is never too old to start something new.
We all experience those teetering steps over the threshold of our comfort zones for this is how we grow, as a person, intellectually, emotionally, and physically.
I recently published my first book – Clementine Court, a book in which the characters became a part of my life - so very real in their existence. I thought that writing my book was the hard part. How naïve I have been, how enlightened I am becoming, as I try to drag myself kicking and screaming with reluctance into the sometimes confusing world of social media and the public eye.
Why oh why cannot I not wallow happily in my anonymity? And why oh why cannot the public at large discover en masse, my book displayed for sale online, and immediately be gripped with an overwhelming need to purchase it!
Once bought they would devour its every page, before rushing to their electronic devices, and with nimble fingers flashing over the keys, they would lavish oohs and aahs, suitably in praise of my first novel.
Oh, if only …
It is therefore the reason why I have chosen another first time novelist Hilary Boyd and her lovely book entitled Thursdays in the Park to be the subject of my first official on my website book review.
Published in 2013, I read this book in August 2014 and it was through a Goodreads list that I discovered it.
Thursdays in the park is a delightful easy read about the joys and pitfalls of a long term marriage and the possibilities of new beginnings. Jeannie, the main character is no longer in the first flush of youth but is far from ready to embrace her senior years, and retirement. Whereas, her husband is happily ambling towards the autumn years, making earnest plans to retire to the country.
With her granddaughter in tow, Jeannie develops an unlikely friendship with Ray as he escorts his grandson for a Thursday in the park.
As the story unfolds, the relationship between Jeannie and Ray blossoms and duty and love become fast adversaries.
Hilary Boyd is in her sixties which gives me hope and delivers the message that one is never too old to start something new.
