Book Review: Dear Me by Anthony Maria

Ah love. It’s an emotion that can make you feel like you’re that delicious maraschino cherry on the top of a mountain high ice cream sundae. On the other hand, love can be so heart-breaking that it is like a disease that slowly eats away at you, with an insatiable smile, until there is nothing left, but an empty soul.

In the novel, Dear Me, written by local author, Anthony Maria, he speaks of a love that you would think only exists in the romantic’s handbook, but in fact, we've all felt it. Mason Gallo has fallen deeply in love with a mysterious woman named Keats Cameron, while on a trip to Niagara Falls, but is devastated when she disappears from his life, only sending cryptic letters, and making brief phone calls to him, which makes him feel like he is on the brink of insanity.

Copyright: Anthony Maria

Returning back to Windsor, where he left the old days behind, Mason hopes to find answers. The recollection of how they first met and all the feelings that flood Mason every day because of Keats sudden disappearance are told to us. She’s his addiction, plain and simple. He is on a quest to find his beloved Keats, at any cost, at any length, even if that means he will search for her forever. 

Meeting many colourful characters along the way, he is faced with agonizing realization that not only the love of his life is slipping away, but there are far more skeletons in his closet that he could have ever dreamed of.

👉My thoughts:

A little on the twisted side, yet brilliant authors like Brett Easton Ellis and Chuck Palahniuk, better take some notes because Anthony’s stylistic writing takes it to a whole new level.

The book is well-written, with subtle poetic sentiments that fill our hearts with hope, yet also laced with intense rawness and explicit language and subject matter, but will still send shivers down your spine.

I also love the fact that Windsor is the main focal point, where Caesars (in this book, known as Casino Windsor) is a prime location, along with Riverside Drive, Victoria Avenue, Hiram Walker, etc. There are also some highlights from our neighbouring city, Detroit Michigan, that are mentioned here, like  the Renaissance Centre and Joe Louis Arena.

I won’t mince words here. You’re in for a psychological mind-fu*k that keeps your heart pounding through every page. In the end, when you think that you are losing something so dear to you that you can’t seem to go on, remember that the truth is out there, you just have to be prepared to find it.

💜Anthony’s book is available online: Dear Me

💜You can also purchase his book by contacting him through IG page

 or by email: anthony.henry.joseph.maria@gmail.com

Chuck Palahniuk Book Review: Hysteria is impossible without an audience

My book review on Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk

Channeling your inner diva to find the monster within yourself seems to be the best way I could describe Invisible Monsters by well-known author Chuck Palahniuk.

The story is told through the narration of a disfigured woman named Shannon McFarland, who was on top of the world being in love and living the dream of a fashion model. After a freeway accident left her disfigured and unable to speak, fair-weather friendships, an unfaithful partner as well as a shattered identity, the reader can get a real sense of how desperate times can often lead to desperate measures. Along the way, she befriends a pre-op transsexual named Brandy Alexander who is anything but what she appears to be and will teach a valuable lesson to Shannon; to take charge of one’s life means to stop trying to control it.  

As an author, Palahniuk appears to be cynical and probably the most jaded person on the face of the planet. He’s raw and unapologetic and a lot of the dialogue is extremely graphic and might even churn some stomachs. It’s anything but politically correct. The book does not follow any order at all either. It jumps around from thought to thought, weaving in and out to add some witty conversational dialogue, while still managing to tantalize the reader with intrigue. The foreshadowing of events that I picked up on were very subtle too. The laughter that escaped me came from Palahniuk’s twisted humour, showing the epitome of dysfunctional family dynamics. I’m still not sure how something so wrong (you’ll understand what I mean once you read this book) could fit in as well as it did, but I’m sure afterwards, you’ll be thinking your family life is perfectly normal.

Oddly enough, this book is a hit with creative story-telling, interesting characters, memorable lines and overall obscurity. I would consider this mature reading and so heed my warning if you are very conventional and squeamish.

I look forward to reading other books by this author. Surely a warning label should be on any of Palahniuk’s books though. When entering his mind, buckle up, but remember to enjoy the ride!

Kelley Armstrong Book Review: Werewolves don't have the luxury of sentimentality

My book review on Men of the OtherWorld by Kelley Armstrong:

As young, curious and naive Clayton begins his transformation into a werewolf, he is befriended by Jeremy, another one of his kind, who is anything but your typical Alpha Male. As their bond deepens, Jeremy's aggressive and undermining father enters the picture to make life unbearable. Loyalty remains strong in the Pack but when Jeremy is faced with an important decision, the agonizing pain of trying to integrate Clayton into human society while teaching him the ways of raw survival, now seems all too much to handle.

Kelley Armstrong is a powerful author with a niche for writing empowering stories about mystical women. In Men of the OtherWorld, Kelley continues to show her brilliance of story-telling and takes a different path this time, focusing on the strength and complexity of werewolves; Clayton, Jeremy and Malcolm, all males with extraordinary gifts.

Although I had initially thought that this book would have four completely separate stories, they were woven in perfectly to create a thought-provoking and emotional journey through words.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys tales that extend one's mind into other spiritual worlds, yet can be thrown back into the harsh realms of reality, without a moment's notice.

💜You can go to Kelley's website to learn more: Men of the Otherworld