s[r] Goodreads #FridayReads

This Friday we’re sharing a couple of recent reviews posted by the s[r] social networking staff on Goodreads.com.

The Interrogators NotebookLindsey Bosak read The Interrogator’s Notebook, by Martin Ott, and had this to say:

The Interrogator’s Notebook by Marin Ott delves into the world of Norman Kross; an interrogator whose final job brings him to the front door of an alleged murderer with has a knack for bringing his victims back to life.

Ott’s psycho-thriller-murder-mystery reminds the reader just how crazy the world can be, and that a person should never be judged based on their looks, sincec physical traits can be easily changed. And Norman’s struggle between whether or not to tell his wife and kids about George Stark can be seen as symbolic of many people’s own struggles and uncertainties in life. And while most secrets will not resulting near death experiences due to a psychopath, they can still have a huge, sometimes life-changing effect on a person’s life.

Ott has mastered the ability to keep a reader completely enthralled in his story, to the point where they become seriously concerned for the Kross family’s well being, and are undeniably interested in the life of George Stark, and the reasons for his actions. Ott also writes in such a way that there is no doubt in the reader’s mind that these events could take place in the real world, and might have already. And while George Stark is definitely insane, he does teach the reader one valuable lesson in the end. Stark is proof that you cannot run from your past, because no matter how much you change yourself, no matter who you try to become, the truth will always come out.

The Interrogator’s Notebook is a story of acceptance, forgiveness, and learning to trust. And Ott, through Norman and his family, proves that without communication, even the sturdiest of relationships will eventually fail.

 

Shake GirlTherese Lacson read Shake Girl, by Adam Johnson and Tom Kealey, and shared:

Shake Girl is a marvelous and moving piece of art; a humble story of a girl living in post-Khmer-Rouge-regime Cambodia. The story leads up to a bitter reality, before leaving us with a sense of hope. The artwork in the graphic novel is simple but speaks volumes. It is a heart-wrenching tale that affects the reader with a message that spreads farther than simply the source material.

The story is a quick read, with dialogue backed up by descriptive art. The drawings are lyrical and flow easily from panel to panel. The narrator speaks plainly. She is barely fourteen when the story starts, but already struggling to support her family. Through her eyes, we see Cambodia unfold in front of us; the good and the bad. She is a terribly beautiful character, and Johnson does a great job of showing us her beauty as well as the deep conflict of a society healing from genocide and massive corruption.

Shake Girl highlights the beauty of Cambodia, but never lets you forget about the corruption laid in the wake of the Khmer Rouge. Johnson makes it possible to comprehend. He doesn’t lay blame, not on one person or on one thing. Recognizing that it is a multilayered problem brings his story into reality.

Shake Girl is unforgiving. One panel, one page, can instantly bring a reader down to the level of the narrator in her lowest moments or raise you up during her happiest day.

Shake Girl is profound, and anyone looking for a realistically emotional account of living in Cambodia during the 90’s should check this book out.

Thank you for sharing, ladies!

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