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Eilidh G Clark (177 KP) rated The Testament of Gideon Mack in Books

May 14, 2017

Funny, weird, well written, brilliant (0 more)

Nothing (0 more)

Gideon meets the Devil and he's not quite what he expected

This was a really good read. The novel is written in the style of a memoir and is pretty convincing. There are layers and layers of myths and legends throughout the novel and truth and lies become so merged that the reader is left wondering about the clarity of the protagonist and the statements and evidence of the editor and journalist who represent the story. The novel explores the life of Gideon Mack, who, like his father become a minister of the Christian church. Gideon however, has no real faith in god until his accident leads him on a journey of discovery in which he claims he meets the devil.
I thought the description of the devil was excellent and the significance of the shoes has baffled me a little, however, it may be the old, 'What is it like to walk in my shoes', I am undecided. I thought the book was well written and kept me hooked until the end. Good plot, good narrative voice and convincing read.

Kudos

Midge (525 KP) rated The White Headhunter in Books

Mar 16, 2019

The White Headhunter

Nigel Randell | 2019 | Biography, History & Politics

8.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Fascinating & Very Well Presented

Reading “The White Headhunter” was a complete change of genre for me and although I had a few reservations about the choice, I’m really pleased I decided to go with it.

This first book by Nigel Randell is a work of non-fiction. A teenage Scots sailor, Jack Renton was rescued from captivity on the Pacific island of Malaita, home to a fearsome tribe of headhunters. In his memoir, Renton recounted his eight-year adventure: how he jumped ship and drifted two thousand miles in an open whaleboat to the Solomon Islands, came ashore at Malaita and was stripped of his identity. For all it’s detail and authenticity Renton’s chronicle glossed over many key events. This book is a more complete and grislier account of Renton’s experience.

Very well presented and easy to read “The White Headhunter” contains some fascinating history of the late 19th century and the Pacific with some entertaining and enlightening information about the period. This true story was interesting, enjoyable and well worth the read.

[Thank you to #NetGalley, #ThistlePublishing and #NigelRandell, for a free ARC of #TheWhiteHeadhunter in exchange for an honest review.]

Kudos

Eilidh G Clark (177 KP) rated On Writing: a memoir of the craft in Books

Jul 2, 2019

Most of the hints and tips (0 more)

Assumes every writer works the same (0 more)

Helpful

Great book. I read it in a couple of days and it was exactly what I was looking for. I am not a Stephen King fan as I am not keen on the fantasy/ horror genre, but this book is non fiction. The first part of the book is a short memoir of writer's growth and early experiences, I found this part both funny and insightful and not at all what I expected from Stephen King. The 'On Writing' part was excellent. The author's hints and tips are subjective yet honest which is refreshing. Not all writers work the same and King is clear that this is only advice and may not be suitable for everyone. Bad habits and grammatical no-no's were probably the most helpful pieces of advice for myself, his huge dislike for the 'adverb' is something I may find myself becoming accustomed to in my own work revision. For non writers, do not dismiss this book, it is a little jewel that gives the reader a close and personal account of the authors honestly and quirks. I really loved it.