2024 reads, #50. As always with books like these, I have an important ethical disclosure to make here at the start of my write-up, which is that Lucie2024 reads, #50. As always with books like these, I have an important ethical disclosure to make here at the start of my write-up, which is that Lucie Klaassen is one of my freelance clients and that I was actually the editor of this book, so my opinion here is far from “objective” and you should take that into consideration when reading my thoughts. That said, I can honestly say that I really enjoyed this book just as a simple reader, despite the fact that I’ve never actually interacted with a horse even once in my entire life. That’s because of the fascinating theory that Klaassen puts forth here, that highly intelligent horses are essentially like the much better known cats and dogs, in that they have individual personalities, can profoundly sense when the humans around them are happy, sad or angry, and respond to training much better when they can form a profound emotional attachment to the person training them, which you can essentially facilitate through many of the theories we currently have for human mindfulness.
Her guide here to the subject is both a fascinating and a practical one, leading you step by step through the process of connecting with your horse, making sure they’re in the best emotional and mental state possible through external cues like how high or low they’re hanging their heads, what angle their ears are at, and the kinds of noises they’re making as you’re going through the training. Essentially she’s calling for the end of the old mindset behind horse training -- that is, that the horse’s rider is the whip-wielding “master” over that animal, and that your main job is to teach the beast “who’s boss” -- and her results speak for themselves, including a video montage of her training a formerly abused horse through calmness and empathy that became a huge viral hit at Instagram several years ago. I can’t personally attest to the accuracy of the training methods, since I’ve never trained a horse myself; but I can tell you that this was an extremely interesting read even not being a horse person, which makes me suspect that actual horse people will find it mesmerizing. It comes strongly recommended in this spirit. ...more
2024 reads, #21. As always with these kinds of books, let me mention first that I was its editor, and was paid to work on it and make it better, so yo2024 reads, #21. As always with these kinds of books, let me mention first that I was its editor, and was paid to work on it and make it better, so you should read my thoughts here based on that context, and understand that I'm presenting far from an objective, removed opinion in today's writeup. That said, I really enjoyed this romance novel just as a regular reader! The main strength of Banks here is that she does "small town romance" right, concentrating not on all the capitalist opportunities inherent in such a small town (no mentions of adorable B&Bs or delightful cupcake stores here), but rather understanding that it's the quiet solitude and tight-knit community that makes these kinds of books enjoyable to read, really putting an emphasis here on the ways the citizens of this fictional small town (supposedly on the rural outskirts of Nashville) interact with each other.
I also thought she got the balance between plot and sex almost exactly right here, sacrificing neither of these elements for the sake of the other; and she has a nicely unique plot going on here as well, telling a "second chance" story about a woman who leaves their small community to become a chef, just to come back to start her own restaurant and have it burn down on opening night (comprising the first chapter of this book), to discover that her rescuer is none other than her former flighty ex-boyfriend, who in the ensuing years since their youthful breakup has finally gotten his act together (mostly because of getting his next girlfriend after her accidentally pregnant, and finding that fatherhood agrees with him), now the widely admired chief of the town's fire department and sole central station (where she ends up accepting a job as the station's new cook, which is what brings them together again).
A story with a really nice undercurrent of conflict, as the two renegotiate their relationship now as mature and more world-weary middle-agers, I found myself deeply rooting for the FLC and MLC to get together, even knowing that it's a romance novel so of course they'll eventually have a Happily Ever After; and that to me is a great sign of a well-done romance, when you know the inevitable ending but get caught up in the "will-they-won't-they" drama anyway. Strongly recommended for fans of small-town romance and second-chance stories....more
To make an important ethical disclosure right away, let me mention that I actually got paid to be one of this book's editors, so it would be impossiblTo make an important ethical disclosure right away, let me mention that I actually got paid to be one of this book's editors, so it would be impossible for me to write anything resembling an "objective review" like is typically shared at this website. So instead, let me point you to an interview I recently did with Steve for my newsletter, in which we got to talk in depth about how this book came about and what it was like to publish it. I strongly encourage you to check that out, and then pick up a copy of the book yourself! ...more
2024 reads, #8. To get an important ethical disclosure out of the way immediately, let me mention that I was paid to be an editor on this book, which 2024 reads, #8. To get an important ethical disclosure out of the way immediately, let me mention that I was paid to be an editor on this book, which would make it an ethical conflict for me to try to write an "unbiased review" of it here at Goodreads. (I mean, don't get me wrong, I love this book and I think you should read it too, but my opinion in no way should be considered a dispassionate, objective one.) So instead, let me link you to an interview I did with Kyle this week about the book, which I published through my free editor newsletter I publish every Friday. I hope you find this intriguing enough to go out and buy a copy of the novel! ...more
I'm very proud to say that I helped author Daniela Morassutti get this book into shape as her freelance editor, and I'm thrilled to see it finally outI'm very proud to say that I helped author Daniela Morassutti get this book into shape as her freelance editor, and I'm thrilled to see it finally out. It's an old-fashioned space adventure story about late-teen astronauts, VERY much in the straightforward, swashbuckling style of Robert A. Heinlein's 1950s juvenilia tales, but mixed with Joss Whedon-type soap opera angst over romantic partners, ex-romantic partners and potential new romantic partners. It's delightfully gung-ho, earnest and funny, hitting exactly that kind of crowdpleasing level as, say, a perpetual author guest-of-honor at sci-fi conventions -- not the best or most famous writer but the one who's most fun to hang out with. Although Daniela initially self-published this to start building an audience, she's currently submitting it to bigger places like Tor, Pyr and Orbit, so who knows? Maybe you'll see her at those conventions soon after all! In the meanwhile, I recommend checking this out when you have a chance, a lighthearted space opera where the heroes all proudly wear their white hats.
Merged review:
I'm very proud to say that I helped author Daniela Morassutti get this book into shape as her freelance editor, and I'm thrilled to see it finally out. It's an old-fashioned space adventure story about late-teen astronauts, VERY much in the straightforward, swashbuckling style of Robert A. Heinlein's 1950s juvenilia tales, but mixed with Joss Whedon-type soap opera angst over romantic partners, ex-romantic partners and potential new romantic partners. It's delightfully gung-ho, earnest and funny, hitting exactly that kind of crowdpleasing level as, say, a perpetual author guest-of-honor at sci-fi conventions -- not the best or most famous writer but the one who's most fun to hang out with. Although Daniela initially self-published this to start building an audience, she's currently submitting it to bigger places like Tor, Pyr and Orbit, so who knows? Maybe you'll see her at those conventions soon after all! In the meanwhile, I recommend checking this out when you have a chance, a lighthearted space opera where the heroes all proudly wear their white hats....more
2023 reads, #81. For the sake of ethical disclosure, let me mention upfront that I was the editor of this book, and was paid to make it read the way i2023 reads, #81. For the sake of ethical disclosure, let me mention upfront that I was the editor of this book, and was paid to make it read the way it now does, so my thoughts of course will be biased because of this, which you should keep in mind when reading my review. That said, I rather enjoyed this small children's book that covers the basic issues of personal finance (how to save money, how to budget, how to invest, how loans work, etc.), told through the filter of two preteen kids who one day discover a time machine in the back woods behind their house, and end up visiting Founding Father Benjamin Franklin right on the eve of him publishing his 1758 The Way to Wealth.
We were careful to keep the language in a style that will be understandable and enjoyable for fellow preteens from 8 to 12, so it's a testament to Simbert's financial skills that he was able to take sometimes complicated subjects (such as the concept of interest rates and why they change from one loan to another) and make them understandable for even most third-graders and then going up from there. It's written in what will perhaps be perceived as an old-fashioned style, which is why it's getting 4 stars instead of 5 -- like all good Victorian children's books as well, the children on display here are always deferential to and obedient of all the adults in their lives, and display a "gee whiz!" attitude about virtually every subject they come across that is a little out of step with the contemporary mores of 21st-century children's literature. But as long as you have kids who don't mind that more formal style of characterization, there are a lot of good lessons to be learned here about financial prudence, gratification delay, how the early bird gets the worm, and all kinds of other practical wisdom still to be gleaned from the writings of this centuries-old inventor and statesman. It comes warmly recommended in this spirit. ...more
2023 reads, #6. The newest book by one of my freelance clients is now out! This is part of a pivot I'm in these days as a book editor, where I find my2023 reads, #6. The newest book by one of my freelance clients is now out! This is part of a pivot I'm in these days as a book editor, where I find myself with more and more clients who write cheap and quick genre novels for exclusive sales at the Kindle Unlimited program (where for $10 a month members can read as many cheap quick genre novels as they can possibly get through, which has made it a big new home for writers of crime, fantasy, science-fiction, young adult, romance and more, including about a dozen of my clients and always growing). For those who don't know, romance as a genre has reached such a mature stage at this point that there are now entire cottage industries within it just for highly specific types of stories; so this novel, for example, fits within the subgenre known as "mafia romance," the story of a young naive woman and aspiring fashion designer who accidentally witnesses a mob hit backstage at a runway show during New York's famous Fashion Week, just to discover that the assassin is none other than the head of the hottest design firm in the city, who originally meant to use the company just as a cover for laundering illegal mob money, only to discover (with the help of his equally headstrong sister) that he's actually quite good at the designing and marketing of high-end clothes for celebrity clients and the like.
Yeah, pretty outrageous and over-the-top, I agree; but as I'm rapidly learning, outrageousness is the name of the game within the romance genre (believe me, a mafia capo who moonlights as a world-famous fashion designer merely scratches the surface of how weird romance stories can sometimes get). Meanwhile, not to toot my own horn as an editor too much, but the fundamentals of storytelling here by new author Lexi Lovejoy are super-solid, which is a huge problem I've discovered among my own pleasure reading this year of other people's romance novels, that many authors get so caught up in the lovey-love-love of it all that they forget about putting together compelling characters, a logical plot, realistic dialogue, and all the other basic building blocks that go into any good novel no matter what its genre or message. Obviously this is going to have an only limited audience -- spoiler alert, if you think romance novels are silly and pointless, you'll think this one is as well -- but I think people who do enjoy romance are bound to find this one on the high end of quality when it comes to the genre as a whole, and I have to admit that I'm quite proud to have my name associated with this book, despite how it might seem as first with my background in the world of hipster indie lit. The older I get, the more I realize that indie lit is the same kind of shell game as any other genre out there, fueled by a hundred thousand overpriced MFA programs and six gajillion literary journals that no one is reading; meanwhile, the more I edit self-publishing authors as a freelancer, the more respect and admiration I have for authors like Lovejoy who are down in the trenches, hustling every day to give their audience exactly the short but enjoyable reading experience they're looking for when it's a Tuesday night and they're back at Amazon trying to find their next read to keep them entertained for the next 24 hours. It comes warmly recommended in this spirit, and I look forward to further adventures from our newest mafia royalty, the once sheltered but now badass Harlow and the smoldering, deadly Arcangelo. ...more
So to disclose my connection to this book right away, I was its copy editor, and I also contributed some developmental notes to author Jacob Moon, theSo to disclose my connection to this book right away, I was its copy editor, and I also contributed some developmental notes to author Jacob Moon, the same thing I did with his previous novel, the jailbreak thriller Furlough, and the same thing I plan on doing with his future books too. So please keep that in mind when judging my enthusiastic recommendation of this book; but I also hope you'll believe me when I say that this is one of the better books I've edited in the last year, one I would've really loved even if I had just been some random customer like the rest of you.
Set like his last book in western Florida, this is a cross-genre story that bleeds back and forth between crime and horror; but what really sets it apart is its racial-justice angle, in that much of the story occurs around a race riot that was supposed to have happened in the fictional small town in the years immediately following World War One, just like what happened in real life across the American South in these same years (most notoriously in Tulsa, Oklahoma). Moon has an assured, witty, veteran writing style, particularly notable since he's only starting his literary career here in middle age, after spending the first 30 years of his adult life initially in the Army and then as a Corrections officer (which is where he came up with the crazy, clever storyline behind Furlough, basically a look from an experienced jail expert at what strange set of circumstances might actually in theory lead to someone being able to accidentally escape from one). He's not trying to be as deliberately funny as his Floridian crime peer Carl Hiaasen, but his books share the latter's penchant for wild but believable plot turns, deep characterization, and for baking the sun-drenched, trash-filled Florida culture into the stories being told.
If you liked the movie Candyman or the HBO series Watchmen, then there's a high chance you'll love this too, and those references should give you a good general idea of what you're about to get into without me having to divulge any spoilers (and many intelligent surprises are indeed afoot here, make no mistake). I strongly encourage you to pick up a copy when you have a chance, or register for a chance at a giveaway copy of this thick 500-page paperback here at Goodreads during the month of April, 2022. ...more
I'm very happy to say that the latest book by one of my freelance clients is now out and for sale! This was a particularly satisfying one as well, forI'm very happy to say that the latest book by one of my freelance clients is now out and for sale! This was a particularly satisfying one as well, for this was my first time acting as a "self-publishing consultant" for one of my clients, and I ended up doing a lot more work on this particular book than just my usual editing of the manuscript (but for more, see the case study I wrote for this book over at my freelancing profile).
Bakary, an elderly nutrition scientist currently living in Denver, is in the fascinating historical position of being part of the last generation of African nationals who were raised under British colonial rule, and so the first third of this book is mostly about that, growing up as a sustenance farmer in a tiny village in The Gambia in West Africa, and how the decision by his father to let him finally attend elementary school at a late age was actually inspired by the famous visit of Queen Elizabeth to this part of the world in 1961, right when most of the UK's former colonies were being transitioned into independent "Commonwealth" nations. Then in the second third of the book, we follow Bakary's adventures in trying to obtain a college degree with no money or connections, in a country that only had even a handful of public high schools at the time. This basically meant relying on the graciousness of other nations, which is what led him to Sierra Leone on a scholarship just in time for their '70s student revolution, and then to Libya on a different scholarship just in time for Gaddafi's revolution (and you thought you had it bad in college!), just to finally end up in a doctorate program at England's storied Cambridge University, and his eventual move to the US.
All of this is fascinating and historically important, a major new piece of primary-research academia when it comes to the end days of British African colonial rule; but I would not be telling the full story of why this book is so readable if I didn't mention Bakary's deep wit and incurable optimism, and the way he's put together a manuscript that's not only academically important but also just a funny and entertaining general read. That's what makes the book of far greater interest than just to those studying the West Africa Diaspora, and includes an inspiring last third that's all about why it's so important that the US continue its financial and logistical support of these still oftentimes struggling nations. It was a true honor to work on this title, and it was also one of the best books I've ever worked on as a freelancer, and it comes strongly and warmly recommended to one and all in this spirit....more
I'm happy to say that this book I helped edit as a freelancer is now available in bookstores! It's a beginner's guide to weight training, and speciallI'm happy to say that this book I helped edit as a freelancer is now available in bookstores! It's a beginner's guide to weight training, and specially how to properly "bulk and cut" in order to gain muscle fast. I personally found it fascinating (I knew little about the subject before working on this book), and it comes recommended. ...more
I'm very happy to say that this book I helped edit as a freelancer is now available in bookstores! It's an interesting guide to the subject of leadersI'm very happy to say that this book I helped edit as a freelancer is now available in bookstores! It's an interesting guide to the subject of leadership as it related to C-level executives and other higher-ups in the business world, providing specific advice on how to use soft skills to level up into the best manager of people you can be. It comes recommended, as does all of Justin's books. ...more
I'm very happy to announce that this book I helped edit as a freelancer is now available in bookstores! It's an interesting little nonfiction guide toI'm very happy to announce that this book I helped edit as a freelancer is now available in bookstores! It's an interesting little nonfiction guide to the dangers of excessive sugar, especially in our modern age where processed sugar is added to nearly everything you buy in the store, and a practical playbook for going on a "zero sugar detox" designed to permanently realign your relationship with the subject. It comes recommended; although as other reviewers have pointed out, with any book of this kind you would be wise to research its claims and facts independently, and not necessarily take every word of it as unquestioned gospel. ...more
I'm very proud to say that I helped author Daniela Morassutti get this manuscript into shape as her freelance editor, and I'm thrilled to see it out. I'm very proud to say that I helped author Daniela Morassutti get this manuscript into shape as her freelance editor, and I'm thrilled to see it out. Keep my biases in mind, of course, but I think it's a great little book, a contemporary love story about two normal, engaging people in a college then post-college environment, who lean in and out of each other's lives for years. Realistic-feeling and charming, it's a short and sweet read that will especially appeal to fans of so-called "bookclub fiction." ...more
Loading...
