Reviews and Comments

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David Scrimshaw Locked account

DScrimshaw@bookwyrm.world

Joined 1 year, 3 months ago

An avid sci-fi and fantasy reader who sometimes does historical fiction or even mainstream.

You might notice that most of my reviews are 5 stars. That's because if I start reading a book that doesn't engage me, I stop reading it. Life is too short. I've realized that it's not fair to review a book I haven't read and nobody really needs to hear why I didn't get into a book especially when they might like it.

My goals with reviews are to be brief and give other potential readers an idea of why they might like the book. I leave it to the marketing people and other reviewers to describe the plots.

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reviewed Glass Beads by Dawn Dumont

Dawn Dumont: Glass Beads (2017, Thistledown Press, Limited)

Stories that interconnect four First Nations people, Everett Kaiswatim, Nellie Gordon, Julie Papequash, and Nathan …

Review of 'Glass Beads' on 'Storygraph'

An outstanding of collection of linked short stories.

These would appeal to anyone who has an interest in people surviving impossible childhoods and how all of it can wind up messing up a whole life.

The stories were often bleak, but still there's hope.

reviewed Nobody Cries at Bingo by Dawn Dumont

Dawn Dumont: Nobody Cries at Bingo (2011, Thistledown Press, Limited)

Review of 'Nobody Cries at Bingo' on 'Storygraph'

This is apparently autobiography. So, we learn that Ms Dumont went to law school. I always feel sad when I learn that someone went to law school but didn't stay with the law.

But if they're going to write engaging books that let us learn about people we don't learn enough about, I'm just glad that their path took them to where they are.

And get this, she does standup comedy. There's an audio clip at:
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/laughoutloud/dawn-dumont-at-the-turtle-island-too-gala-a-celebration-of-aboriginal-comedy-1.1742517

reviewed Eight skilled gentlemen by Barry Hughart

Barry Hughart: Eight skilled gentlemen (1991, Doubleday)

Review of 'Eight skilled gentlemen' on 'Storygraph'

This was fun.

If you enjoy gentle humour, fantasy, and foreign culture, the chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox, are rewarding.

But I have to admit that I was sad to learn that Barry Hughart had intended to write seven books, not only three, in the series, but had a falling out with his publishers. And now he's gone, so we'll never get more.