November 17, 2020

Today I'm excited to report that the author George Cramer has posted an interview with me on his blog. So if you're interested in a little insight as to what came after the Triple Crown for me, check it out at https://gdcramer.com/2020/11/17/shelley-lee-riley-first-a-racehorse-trainer-owner-now-author/

A Song of Fire and Ice — George R. R. Martin 

Book Four: A Feast for Crows

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Theme: Power, politics, repression, survival, class, good versus evil and so much more.

Welcome,

Finally, I’ve slogged through nearly 4000 pages of mayhem, treachery, betrayal, and death. Thank goodness it’s over…but wait, there’s more. Book five? I don’t think so, I bought the first four in a boxed set, and I persevered until I finished the last page.

When I set this book down, I reflected on the series as a whole, and I realized I couldn’t think of one incident in the entire four-book set where the author made me feel good about anything. I don’t want to beat this donkey to death, but there is no one to like, and there is not one character I can latch onto as a hero or heroine. I don’t want to be part of their fellowship; I don’t want to get involved in their lives on any level, and there doesn’t seem to be any goal beyond surviving another horrifying twenty-four hour period.

Every time I find a character I might be able to like, or pity or care about. They die, get maimed or turn out to have a poisonous side, one which makes the character no better than anyone of the dozens of treacherous, disloyal, and villainous people that populate every volume. 

Man’s inhumanity to his fellow man and woman is front and center at all times. Not only do these characters kill and maim, they feel thoroughly entitled to do so, and without any compunction. 
So why did I read all four books? Why would I subject myself to 4000 pages of misery? Since I can’t answer those questions, I can only assume I need professional help. Was I hoping at some point Mr. Martin would bring me some joy, that the last stale cookie in the box would be sweet and fresh? 

Fool me once, twice, three, four and no more. Thank you very much, I appreciate that you put a lot into these books Mr. Martin, but I’m so depressed now that I don’t think I could endure another. Besides how can there be enough people left in the ravaged kingdoms, to plant, harvest and produce food. Seems to me, winter is coming and there are only killers, connivers and villains left.

I headed out to find a good comedy to cleanse my palate, bring back my joy and remind me that the sun will come up tomorrow.

Review by Shelley Riley author of Casual Lies - A Triple Crown Adventure.

A Song of Fire and Ice — George R. R. Martin

Book One through Three: A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, and A Storm of Swords.

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Theme: Power, politics, repression, survival, class, good versus evil and so much more.

Welcome,

As an avid follower of the HBO series Game of Thrones, I feel the producers have done a great job adapting Mr. Martin's books into an entertaining TV series. As far as the music, the screenwriting, the casting, and special effects go—I wouldn’t change a thing.

They've stayed true to the original work in most areas. In particular, just as it is in the novels, any character that starts out looking like a protagonist, will either be killed or do something despicable.

Several years ago I wrote reviews on the first three books in the series A Song of Fire and Ice, and I found it interesting to take a look back at these reviews. Generally, by the third book in any series I read, I've become so familiar with the characters, that there's very little that the author can do to surprise me. Such is not the case with George R. R. Martin, there are lots of shocking incidents, horrific in fact. While on the other hand, something you can count on is a never-changing malevolent atmosphere that permeates every page.

Here is my old review:

Always on the lookout for a good fantasy, and after I watched several episodes of Game of Thrones on HBO, I went to Amazon and bought the four-book boxed set of A Song of Fire and Ice.

Even though the overall atmosphere is dark and dreary in the world that Mr. Martin has created. There is an overabundance of; cruelty, jealousy, deviousness, hatred, disloyalty, unhappiness etcetera. So, if that was what I was looking for, how could I ever be disappointed?

I admire the author for the complexity of the world he has developed. But at this point in the series, I've come to realize that I’m not emotionally invested with any of the characters—with the possible exception of Tyrion and isn’t he supposed to be an antagonist?

The characters are spread all over the place, and nobody seems to be working together. I'm left to ask, where is the fellowship? The camaraderie. The common goal?

I’m astounded when I see comments in other reviews saying A Song of Fire and Ice is; "Way better than Lord of the Rings." Is it better than The Lord of the Rings? The sound you hear is gales of laughter. Comparing A Song of Fire and Ice to The Lord of the Rings is like comparing a mustang to Secretariat.

Would I recommend this series? Yes, I would. Do I love it? No, I only like it.

Rating—I find it hard to rate these three novels. My next review, which covers A Feast for Crows will reveal why that is. 

Thank you for stopping by,

Shelley Lee Riley

Lonesome Dove – Larry McMurtry

Genre: Western

Theme: Friendship, old age, love, loyalty, death, quilt.

I’d like to start with one of my all-time favorites. An oldie but a goody and a Pulitzer Prize winner.

If I hadn't seen the mini-series first, I would’ve put this book down in the first chapter—pigs, dust, and rattlesnakes. The story started so slowly it became a real effort to keep turning pages. But when I'd turned the last page, I found I was grieving because there wasn't another page to turn and the story was over. I felt a real loss for the friends I would have to leave behind. And even now I grieve because I wasn’t the one who wrote it.

Would I recommend this book? Unequivocally.

Rating—Ten out of ten.

Thanks for stopping by,

Shelley Lee Riley

Welcome to Blunt Book Reviewer

Welcome to my new book review blog. By way of introduction, I'm Shelley Lee Riley. In my life, two major passions have influenced the paths I have chosen, the horseracing and publishing industry. Though I no longer train Thoroughbreds, I will never lose my passion for it. As far as reading goes, I will continue until I can no longer make out the words. Thank goodness for audiobooks.

       I love to write reviews, not about finding fault, but sharing what I liked and didn't like about the books I've chosen to read. My intent, whenever I've written a review in the past has been to be candid and fair. There's nothing better than sharing a good read with another.

      As an avid reader from a very early age, my library card was something I never misplaced. During the summer months, when school was out, my sister and I would walk from our home to the library at least once a week. A round trip of several miles, I carried ten books in my arms, in each direction.

      In the beginning, the books I chose had to have a horse within the pages. My Friend Flicka, Black Beauty and Thunderhead among other far less notable books. Nothing made me happier than to turn to chapter one and find a young girl seated in a mudroom pulling off dusty riding boots that reeked with the smell of the stables. I was ready to pull those boots on and be that girl in my imagination. I didn't have a horse of my own until many years later and until that happened the only way I was going to have one was through the pages of those books I chose to read.

      Charlotte’s Web, Call of the Wild, Old Yeller and so forth, come to mind as the years passed. I discovered Riki Tiki Tavi, The Island of Doctor Moreau, The Old Man and the Sea, Don Quixote, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Of Mice and Men. I could go on and on as the books I picked became more diverse and eclectic.

       I discovered horror and science fiction; Steven King, Dean Koontz, Mary Shelley among others. Then there were the romance novels. Sergeanne Golon and the Angélique series. The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss. Valley of the Doll’s by Jacqueline Susann. Not A Penny More Not A Penny Less by Jeffrey Archer. Lonesome Dove and The Bridges of Madison County by Larry McMurtry. Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.  Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I could walk through decades of my reading memories right up to today. But I won’t.

      As the decades passed, my hunger for good stories continued unabated, but there was a growing intolerance for bad writing. When great books like Lonesome Dove and The Lord of the Rings came to an end, I felt a real sense of loss that these colorful characters would no longer be a part of my life. I was saying goodbye to my friends. I felt real grief for Gus McCrae.

       I used to feel, like most young people, that I had all the time in the world and so I would stick with a book to the bitter end. Now as my time grows short, be it counted in years or decades, I have determined I can no longer waste my time on boring books. 

  Because of this, I have begun to look to reviews for guidance. Well, maybe a wee bit of insight. I don't find reviewers who feel the need to belch out every bit of the storyline, very helpful. Reading the book becomes wholly unnecessary at that point. Admittedly it would save time if I read a synopsis for every story that piqued my interest.Just think how many books I could finish before my time is up? But where's the fun in that? 

      What I look for in a review, besides the obvious, like the author's name, the title of the book, the genre, and the theme is that the review itself needs to be short. An honest and unbiased opinion from the reviewer about what kept them reading to the end. Did they love it, like it, hate it or find it just okay? Would they recommend it? Even if they didn't love it?  

       For instance, I read a fantasy series where the author fat shamed the female protagonist relentlessly. It was so egregious that it felt like a societal commentary couched within the storyline. An accurate pitch line for this story would have been; Can a glutinous, self-hating fatty change her ways in time to earn the respect of her people and save the kingdom? 

      I know that reviews are subjective. Not everyone will agree with me, nor should they. We don't all have the same taste. I write reviews as a way to share, especially the books that I find so good I just can't keep it to myself. But that doesn't mean there aren't many books well worth reading though not necessarily destined to become literary giants. I read to be entertained. 

       I freely acknowledge that writing a book is hard work. There are plenty of reviewers out there that are more than happy to post overly critical reviews. I'm not one of them. But then again there might be times when I can't resist either. Like the self-image, assassin that I mentioned. I got pretty worked up over that one. If someone finds a burning need to call me out, please feel free. Critiques are welcome. Personal attacks hurt, however.

              As of yet, I haven't determined how often I will be posting new reviews. So try to stop by every so often, the posts will name the title of the book I am reviewing. I'll post one or two older reviews every so often. Also, if you’re curious, there are some interesting archived posts on my horseracing blog. Casuallieskentuckyderby.blogspot.com

Thank you for coming by,

Shelley Lee Riley