Reviews
The inspiration for this page comes from the fact that it has been said that to be a good writer, one has to have read at least 1000 books. Likewise, to be a good storyteller, it is perhaps necessary to read 1000 stories. I would like to go further than just reading – I think that reading a story alone is not enough. One has to analyse it, review it and be able to critically appraise a story. This, then, will be the aim of this column but with an emphasis on all manner of storytelling. With that in mind, certain things need to be pointed out:
- As this website caters for storytellers, this column will feature all manner of storytelling.
- We accept reviews written by other storytellers as well. Please note that we do not pay for reviews.
- There is no specific genre of stories reviewed here.
If you’d still like us to publish a review you’ve written, please send an email to editor @ howtotellagreatstory.com
Sunday, 23 September 2012 17:43
Ibu Maluku: The Story of Jeanne van Diejen by Ron Heynneman
Written by Aneeta Sundararaj
Ibu Maluku: The Story of Jeanne van DiejenBy Ron HeynnemanPaperback: 636 pagesPublisher: Sid Harta Publishers (May 1, 2002)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 1877059080ISBN-13: 978-1877059087 This is what is stated on the back cover of this book: IBU MALUKU is the unique story of a resolute woman, Jeanne van Diejen-Roemen, who survives the hardships of remote jungles, the horrors of two world wars (including a 3 ½ year internment by the Japanese), and the life-threatening political upheavals that preceded the birth of the Republic of Indonesia. Her story reminds one of the exploits of Florence Nightingale, for Jeanne is also driven by an overriding…
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Sunday, 23 September 2012 17:36
A Study in Red - The Secret Journal of Jack the Ripper by Brian L Porter
Written by Aneeta Sundararaj
A Study in Red – The Secret Journal of Jack the RipperBy Brian L PorterPaperback: 244 pagesPublisher: Double Dragon Publishing; 1st edition (January 11, 2008)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 1554045274ISBN-13: 978-1554045273 The description of this book on Amazon.com reads as follows: A Study in Red – The Secret Journal of Jack the Ripper by Brian L Porter tells the story of Robert Cavendish, a modern day psychiatrist who is bequeathed a strange set of papers which purport to be the journal of the long-dead infamous Whitechapel Murderer whose crimes gripped the hearts and minds and instilled terror on the streets of Victorian London.…
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Sunday, 23 September 2012 17:29
The Flight of the Swans by D. Devika Bai
Written by Aneeta Sundararaj
The Flight of the SwansBy D. Devika BaiPaperback: 320 pagesPublisher: Monsoon Books Pte. Ltd. (August 15, 2005)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 981052367XISBN-13: 978-9810523671 The Flight of the Swans is a work of literary fiction and is the author’s first book. On the cover of the book, the blurb states as follows: The Flight of the Swans is a rich and fascinating family saga set in British India and Malaya. Cursed, and with blood on his hands, Captain Ramdas Rao Bhonlse is forced to free Killa Fort, which has fallen to the British. A strange flight of swans signals his flight from Killa; a…
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To Have and to HoldBy Philipp BlomPaperback: 345 pagesPublisher: Overlook TP (May 25, 2004)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 158567561XISBN-13: 978-1585675616 In a nutshell, reading Philipp Blom’s book is time well spent. At first, the sight of beetles and insects on its cover is not only disconcerting but also not at all appetising. However the full title of the book, To Have and To Hold: An Intimate History of Collectors and Collecting, takes the reader into the private world of people whose lives are so connected with the idea of collecting stuff that you’re instantly hooked. Start flicking through the pages and you need…
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ShantaramBy Gregory David RobertsPaperback: 944 pagesPublisher: St. Martin’s Griffin (September 29, 2005)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 0312330537ISBN-13: 978-0312330538Author’s website: http://www.shantaram.com I must admit an initial reluctance to buy this book because of its size. At close to 1000 pages, I wondered if it was going to be really interesting. Would I have the patience to read yet another tale set in India? Still, I liked the cover design and decided to browse through a copy. So, I picked the book off the shelves and turned the pages to read the first paragraph of his text: It took me a long time and most…
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Sunday, 23 September 2012 12:09
Ochre As The Earth by Sharanya Manivannan
Written by Aneeta Sundararaj
Ochre As The EarthBy Sharanya Manivannan‘Sometimes I think you would have to be absolutely androgynous not to want to make love to me.’ As far as opening lines go, this one will forever stand out in my mind. They were the ones uttered by Sharanya Manivannan during her solo show, Ochre As The Earth. The show was held in No Black Tie on Sunday June 3rd 2007 at 9 p.m. Before I proceed to write a review of the show proper, I’d like to start with the poster. I’m not an art critique by any measure but personally, I was…
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Sunday, 23 September 2012 12:01
The Mee Street Chronicles: Straight Up Stories of a Black Woman's Life by Frankie Lennon
Written by Aneeta Sundararaj
The Mee Street Chronicles: Straight Up Stories of a Black Woman’s LifeBy Frankie LennonPaperback: 248 pagesPublisher: Kerlak Enterprises, Inc. (February 1, 2007)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 0978877748ISBN-13: 978-0978877743 Autobiographies are a dime a dozen, and going by the school of thought that everyone has a story in them, ergo, everyone has an autobiography in them. But what then makes a memoir powerful? Surely, the thoughts of figures who have made significant achievements are of interest to others. The thoughts of people who have endured extraordinary struggles, too, can serve to be inspirational. In short, the value of personal writing when published, rests on…
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It WorksBy Ronald G. MillerPaperback: 142 pagesPublisher: Inkwell Productions (May 15, 2004)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 0972811877ISBN-13: 978-0972811873 It Works is a non-fiction piece of work and can safely be categorised under the self-help genre. On the back cover of the book, it is stated that Ronald Miller ‘shows us how to achieve all our dreams and desires through’ mind power and goal setting, the process of goal setting and tools and resources for successful goal setting. An often-made statement about experts in a particular field is that they tend to be people who know more and more about less and less. This…
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Burial At SeaBy Khushwant SinghHardcover: 198 pagesPublisher: Penguin/Viking (May 16, 2005)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 0670057797ISBN-13: 978-0670057795 Burial At Sea is not a big book. Less than 200 pages it is a short tale and on the jacket cover of the book, a summary of the story is given; it states: After Nehru, Victor Jai Bhagwan is Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite Indian – a brilliant young man with the temperament of a leader and fiercely committed to his country. Though Victor adores and respects Gandhi, he disagrees with the Mahatma’s vision for the future of India. He returns from university in England determined to…
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Sunday, 23 September 2012 11:38
Courageous Souls: Do We Plan Our Life Challenges Before Birth? by Robert Schwartz
Written by Aneeta Sundararaj
Courageous Souls: Do We Plan Our Life Challenges Before Birth?By Robert SchwartzPaperback: 327 pagesPublisher: Whispering Winds Press; 2nd edition (December 16, 2006)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 0977679454ISBN-13: 978-0977679454 When writing a review, it is necessary to be critical. If most reviewers are honest, this means that they may, sometimes, have to be brutal in their criticism; it might be necessary to find some fault with the book they’re reviewing. However, with Courageous Souls, this was no easy task as the book is, in my opinion, without a flaw. Let’s start with the design on the jacket of the book. What is featured is…
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Vashtu Sastra GuideBy T. SelvaISBN: 983-41341-2-6Publisher: Master Yuvaraj SowmaFormat: Paperback304 PagesPrice: RM35.00Website: www.vasthuweb.com Vasthu Sastra Guide is a non-fiction piece of work. In the author’s own words:‘Although the awareness of Vasthu Sastra is increasing daily worldwide, I found that many people lacked understanding of the effective application of Vasthu Sastra rules on their properties. This prompted me to write this book to enhance the understanding of Vasthu Sastra. My purpose in writing this book is to share my discoveries and knowledge of this science with people interested in harmony and peace of mind.’ The topic in question is Vasthu Sastra…
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Sunday, 23 September 2012 11:09
Angel and the Enemy by Marnie L. Pehrson
Written by Aneeta Sundararaj
Angel and the EnemyBy Marnie L. PehrsonPaperback: 292 pagesPublisher: C.E.S Business Consultants (November 17, 2006)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 0972975098ISBN-13: 978-0972975094 Having never read a piece of work specifically categorised as ‘clean-romance’ I was curious about this novel. I must admit that there was a part of me that thought that ‘clean-romance’ translated into ‘boring’. Truth could not be further from reality. I was pleasantly surprised by how this story was not only deeply entertaining, it contained all of the ingredients for a great story which are suspense, drama and action. Briefly, the story begins sometime during the Civil War between the States…
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In PatagoniaBy Bruce ChatwinPaperback: 240 pagesPublisher: Penguin Classics (March 25, 2003)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 0142437190ISBN-13: 978-0142437193 While Bruce Chatwin, who was working as a journalist for the Sunday Times, was interviewing the then 93-year-old architect and designer, Eileen Gray, he noticed a map of Patagonia on her wall. “I’ve always wanted to go there,” he said. “So have I,” Gray replied. “Go there for me.” Chatwin immediately left for Patagonia, and when he got there he telegrammed his employers: “Have gone to Patagonia”. What follows is an amazing trip, mostly journeyed on foot throughout the south of South America, and the accounts…
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Sunday, 23 September 2012 10:54
Truth, Love and a Little Malice : An Autobiography by Khushwant Singh
Written by Aneeta Sundararaj
Truth, Love and a Little Malice : An AutobiographyBy Khushwant SinghPaperback: 423 pagesPublisher: Penguin Books India (May 30, 2003)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 0143029576ISBN-13: 978-0143029571 I have observed that with most people, the fascination with reading autobiographies comes from reading the little nuggets of information about someone else’s life. They are partly interested in a man’s view of a war or some historical event, no doubt. However, if the truth be told, before one even picks up a book, questions which form in a reader’s mind are often about the most intimate parts of a person’s life. For instance, “What did Bill Clinton…
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