Book Review #2: The Selection by Keira Cass

Book Review:The Selection by Keira Cass

Good, but lacking **something**.

Okay, so the premise of The Selection is very good. The cover is brilliantly enticing, and yet, within the first few pages, the dystopian world is 'ropey', to say the least. It may sound harsh, but calling your principal character 'America' and one of the others, 'Aspen', seems bizarre to me.

The author's name is Keira, and that's a beautiful name, befitting a princess. So would it have been a bad idea to maybe call America, Keira? This is a small gripe. The story, such as it is, moves along reasonably well, and in that sense, I think Keira Cass writes in a quite engaging manner.

I like the Cinderella premise, i.e. poor, but beautiful and refined girl makes good - but the story ends with sequel-itis in mind, so you wonder what is the point of the book, in and of itself...because it is not the complete story.

Prince Maxon seems at first a bit wooden and stuffy, but I suppose even if you are heir to the throne of Illea and you have 35 girls fawning after you...you would be. He develops better than any other character, for me, and then, just a few chapters before the end, he puts his crown firmly back on his head and lashes out at America...I lost all the likeability that had been built up for him.

The story could easily be four stars, but it could be two stars as well.

I give it three stars out of five because it does have potential, but has a lot of filler chapters where the intention must have been to spread it out to two or three books, which is a shame. If it is one story, then tell it like one, because stretching it out affects what could have been a truly great read.

As it is, it is just another in a long line of YA dystopian novels. There's no vampires, trolls, zombies...just the cast system of Illea and thirty five girls that make up The Selection. The love triangle seems...very strange, because to have one, America would have to love Aspen and Maxon, and for the Prince to be in love with America.

It is not clear how America or Maxon really feel. Even Aspen seems to have a bit of the caveman about him. Maybe that is the design of the main characters. I kind of feel that the dystopian world will be explored more in The Elite. I just don't know if I can stretch to that one to find out.

Nonetheless, a good try from Keira Cass.

Currently Reading: "The Selection" by Keira Cass

I'm reading The Selection by Keira Cass. I'm also reading Wizard's First Rule, Truckers, This Is Not a Test, Lords of the Rings (again), and many others.

 This one, from HarperTeen, has promise. It seems a bit of an X-Factor meets Hunger Games meets Don't Tell the Bride mash up, but it may come into it's own a bit later.

 The cover is fantastic, but that in itself shouldn't be the reason to buy it (it wasn't - I bought it on recommendation) but it's a big pull all the same. I've read so much YA in the past year that maybe, just maybe, I am a bit jaded on the sector, but this is shaping up to be a good read. More when I've completed it.

Book Review: Instant Health: The Shaolin Qigong Workout for Longevity

Instant Health: The Shaolin Qigong Workout For Longevity by Shifu Yan Lei
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This utterly superb book not only beautifully details how to do the stretches, but has many pearls of wisdom littered throughout the book.

I don't think this book is aimed at beginners, though they could pick up much from this.

As a huge fan of Bruce Lee's 'Tao of Jeet Kune Do' and 'Fighting Method' books, it is no small matter finding a fine martial arts book.

The book is a work of art - but it has the substance to back it up and that is a major achievement.

Shifu Yan Lei is the real deal - you can tell that. So many 'master's prefix their name with such titles and in some cases, they are great at what they do. This man is a case in point.

If you are a martial artist, or just want tips to stay healthy and strong into old age (as opposed to just living to an old age) - buy and learn from this book.

Highly recommended.



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A rainy day - perfect for writing / Challenging Facebook

I used to hate the rain a lot, but given that I did (and still do) a lot of martial arts training in all weathers, and I have to say, my students too, that well, you have to make your peace with it at some point. Since I started writing in earnest over two years ago, I find that I enjoy the rainy days more and more.

I'm also re-evaluating my on-line presence via social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and so on.

I've had a Facebook account for nearly two years, but after the second security breach, I decided I was going to pull away from it. I haven't deactivated the account, but I'm close to doing so. I just wanted to let those who do contact me via Facebook that I wouldn't be sticking around there.

For the time being, that is truly how I feel.

Back to writing then :)

UPDATE: October 2013...despite not really using it much, I have retained the Twitter account the publisher set up two years ago. I haven't returned to Facebook, and do not intend to!

Welcome to my books page

Hi, I'm John Hennessy. I'm a writer, and in 2011 my first book, The Essence of Martial Arts, was published. Even though it's only been out for a year,it's sold rather well for a martial arts book and, in my case, a first time writer. I learned a lot from the process, so if your aspiration is to be a writer, maybe my blog can offer you some tips.

I'm currently working on two follow up books, one about my first teacher, who had a great effect on me. The various publishers and editors I took my first book to, all agreed on one thing - that she was someone whose story should be told in a follow up book. So I'm working on that.

I try to write 5000 words a week, but this can vary wildly. Currently, I'm working on a re-draft of my first fantasy novel, which I wrote between December 2011 and May 2012.

There's another one too. It's a fantasy book as well, because, as much as I love martial arts, sometimes, it's great to step outside of that world and do something completely different. Expect more news as and when I have it.