Four Stars for The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera

The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera examines the lightness and freedom of human choice. Milan proposes we fear this freedom often craving the heavy burdens of responsibility. The players in this tale are often choosing between living in truth or living in lies. Lies seem burdensome and truth light and difficult to achieve. A lot of unnecessary thick rambling briar bush type prose held up my reading time. It took me several months to get to a solid story line in this book pushing my five start to a four; however, this is definitely worth the read. The characters are complex and it takes some time to understand what truly motivates theme. They are so flawed and grotesque in their twisted logic surrounding ideas on love that are neither idealistic nor completely cynical. Tereza, the wife of womanizing Tomas, is weighted with love for Tomas, and this should be a stock character like say Elizabeth Proctor, the doting wife, the loyal wife, the stand-by-your-man wife, but Tereza has more than one side and she is loyal and noble and certainly respectable, but her motivations for her loyalty are painfully questionable. Tomas is much the same, but his unraveling is easier to grasp. So, in closing, if you find yourself burdened with responsibilities, then take a hard look at the opposite side of that because you too may find that lightness unbearable. 

5 Stars for Grady Hendrix's How to Sell a Haunted House

 

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix is one of the best Hendrix I've read so far; however, it does get a little purple hazzy at the end in absolute Hendrix flamboyant flair. Still, despite the long windedness of the ending, I absolutely loved Mark and Louise and the brother and sister hurtles I have also experienced with my own brother. Plus, its always great when you start really hating a character aka Mark and then you sympathize with them. Hendrix painted Mark in every color of a Jackson Pollack painting with the drama of a Broadway play like Chicago and a Hendrix town is one full of murder of mayhem but this time told by a flipping puppet. Yes, the whole puppet thing has been done many times, but it never gets old and when you can tell a creepy puppet story the way Hendrix does; its worth the read. 

5 Stars for White Trash Warlock by David R. Slayton

This is a jewel of a book. I did not expect to like it so much especially when books like this heavily compete against the great Jim Butcher books. But, this book held up for a number for reasons. First, the magic had no plot holes in it. As if magic could, until you've been in one of those books and your like, "No that's not real. That wouldn't work." And then the whole book falls apart for you. Slayton has a tight lid on his magic. Second, is the dynamic between the brothers, Adam and Bobby is built with great backstory, but also the two brothers make a great foiled-up scene reminding me a lot of why I've watched Supernatural so much. Last, romance and love is pure and sweet and looks for little and big things that really matter in a mate. I highly recommend this book and I know I will read more Slayton.