SPR’s book reviews of new self-published books
The story begins on August 12, 1961, the day the barbs were laid in preparation for the Berlin Wall. 15-year-old Ella must make the decision that many of that time had to make: leave your family and be free, or stay and suffer the tyranny of Khrushchev. The lives on the other side of the wall may have seemed so much greener, but the relationships that were built, the love that was longed for, […]
In Interflow of Things, the new novel by Dave Dröge, humanity’s self-destructive tendencies are kept in check by a hyper-intelligent AI overlord, X.yy, for a frightening vision of a possible future.
By dividing up society into four categories – leaders, hard workers, creatives, and useless members of society – artificial intelligence has designed an ideal reality for saving humans from themselves. However, as one can imagine, there are those who rebel against this robotic domination, and want desperately to unplug from the façade all around them.
While some elements seem derived from “The Matrix” and other popular sci-fi stories, […]
The Prisoner of Zurenda: Warrior from Olympus is an epic work of mythic fantasy, weaving Greek mythology into an entertaining work of fiction. More fit for younger readers, it boasts characters with a moral compass – a quality that is famously devoid among the Greek Gods.
A trio of friends, Arjun, Lycos and Keira, adventure through ancient Greece, both real and fantastical, in an attempt quell the angry gods and ungrateful men. Assigned a mission by the Goddess Selene, its story fits snugly with those of ancient Greece – sea monsters attack, leaving men to float off on pieces of […]
Imagine if the entirety of humanity, all of its wrong-doings and misgivings, were to be judged by a superior being of an infallible race? That is the question C.J Odle tackles in Startoucher, opening up a fascinating investigation into the morality of the human race and what we could do to halt our potential downfall.
Jake Connolly, a lawyer living in L.A., begins to experience terrible headaches, with visions of flashing light and other-worldly creatures. Just as he obtains the life he has fought so hard for – making partner at his firm – his increasingly painful visions force […]
In Garden Walks: Hand in Hand, poet Gary W. Burns has crafted a beautiful collection that acts as a vivid and meditative appreciation of love between people, and the love of nature.
Burns achieves the semblance of a whole through splitting the collection into four parts: “Colorful Blooms,” “This Backyard Garden,” “Garden Paths,” and “Seasons Cascading.” Each part seems to mirror the constituent parts of a flower’s life – it buds, grows, blooms, and dies. There is a symbiosis between human relationships and nature, exploring love seen through the lens of the natural world.
The most affecting poems are […]
The book covers all the bases, from interviewing new staff to changing the work culture of current staff. Reading through, you will find that a lot of what is said not only applies to HR, but to all other aspects of the workplace. Whatever the […]
Poetry graduate Walter has a terrible low-paying job, no prospects for a better one, no girlfriend, his car is falling apart, and he has to sponge off his parents to survive – an underachiever all around, or as his mentor puts it, a loser. His mentor is Morton J. Goldberg, known as the Professor to his underlings (even though he’s far from one), and every Monday he and Walter meet to discuss the secrets of success.
This setup […]
Surviving the Twenties Transformation: Empower Your Soul and Change Your Life by K. L. Martin is an informative and passionate work of self-help aimed at millennials looking to enhance or begin a relationship with God. Concentrating on practical issues that affect people in their twenties, such as money, family, friends, and other core issues, Martin’s emphasis is on helping people in their twenties find their spiritual center and strength.
K.L. Martin’s book has a clear line that runs through it: beginning with everyday issues that are unique to millennials, it then moves on to ideas of the self and the […]