"The principles of the dark fantastic are so ingrained in our collective consciousness that when the expected pattern is subverted, most audiences cannot suspend disbelief. Readers and viewers complain that dark heroic protagonists are not likable. Critics observe...
Wisdom From Kammbia Book Review 72: An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
by MHill | Feb 6, 2021 | 2021 Book Reviews, Black History Month, Book Reviews, Marion's Favorite Books, Marion's Favorites, Wisdom From Kammbia Column
If your spouse was wrongly accused of rape and went to prison for five years but gets released, would you remain married? That was the question An American Marriage by Tayari Jones attempted to answer in her popular novel. An American Marriage was selected for...
Wisdom From Kammbia Book Review 69: Silver Surfer #1 (1968) by Stan Lee & John Buscema
by MHill | Dec 25, 2020 | 2020 Book Reviews, Marion's Favorite Books, Marion's Favorites, Wisdom From Kammbia Column, Wisdom of Kammbia Story Review
As a teenager, I had a huge comic book collection. It was mostly Marvel and DC Comics with a few independent comic book publishers like Image, Dark Horse, and Valiant Comics. I read Avengers, Green Lantern Mosaic, Green Arrow, The Spectre, Sandman, and Icon (from...
Wisdom From Kammbia Book Review 68: The Spy Who Came In From The Cold by John Le Carre
by MHill | Dec 24, 2020 | 2020 Book Reviews, Marion's Favorite Books, Rereading Series, Wisdom From Kammbia Column
John Le Carre passed away earlier this month. I posted on social media my respects and fondness for The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, the only Le Carre novel I had read. I was going to read A Perfect Spy in honor of his death. However, I got about fifty pages into...
Marion’s Favorites: Marion’s Favorite Reads of 2020
by MHill | Dec 22, 2020 | 2020 Book Reviews, Marion's Favorite Books, Marion's Favorites, Wisdom From Kammbia Column
2020 is mercifully coming to a close, and it has been probably one of the most challenging years that I can remember. A global pandemic. A contentious American presidential election. Big time celebrity deaths. So on and so on. Reading has been choppy. However, I...
Wisdom From Kammbia Book Review 63: The Practice by Seth Godin
by MHill | Nov 21, 2020 | 2020 Book Reviews, Marion's Favorite Books, Wisdom From Kammbia Column
Seth Godin is becoming one of my favorite public thinkers. I read his blog daily and listen to his podcast, Akimbo, as often I can. Also, I have read several of his books like Tribes, Permission Marketing, and This Is Marketing. He's had a pulse on the business...
Wisdom From Kammbia Book Review 62: The Ancient Child by N. Scott Momaday
by MHill | Nov 10, 2020 | 2020 Book Reviews, Marion's Favorite Books, Wisdom From Kammbia Column
I have shared many times on this blog I read for story, characters, setting, and what an author is trying to say about life. Story is my reading language. I don't put down many books once I read them. However, if there's no story, I'm out as a reader. I will admit...
Wisdom From Kammbia Book Review 60: Shadowshaper by Daniel Jose Older
by MHill | Oct 22, 2020 | 2020 Book Reviews, Marion's Favorite Books, Wisdom From Kammbia Column
What if your family tried to keep their connection to a powerful magic away from you? What happens when you find out that your family is connected to that magic for years? Sierra Santiago learns about her family's connection to a powerful magic in Shadowshaper by...
Wisdom From Kammbia Book Review 59: How To Be An Artist by Jerry Saltz
by MHill | Oct 17, 2020 | 2020 Book Reviews, Marion's Favorite Books, Wisdom From Kammbia Column
Podcasts have become my other favorite platform for content alongside books. I can listen to a podcast on various subjects and the long form interview from 30 minutes up to 2 hours is an excellent way to go deep on a topic. The Dave Chang Show is one of my favorite...
Wisdom From Kammbia Book Review 58: Alburquerque by Rudolfo Anaya
by MHill | Sep 22, 2020 | 2020 Book Reviews, Marion's Favorite Books, Marion's Favorites, Wisdom From Kammbia Column
One of the great joys of reading fiction is when you get a novel that makes want to read on after you finished it. There are a lot of novels I have enjoyed reading, but once I close the book or eBook (these days) then I'm done with it. Well, Alburquerque by Rudolfo...