WHAT SHOULD I SAY IN MY BOOK REVIEW?

When students are asked to do a report, either in high school or college, the inevitable question regarding its length is always asked.  My American Problems teacher had the best answer I have yet to hear.

Like a woman’s skirt – long enough to cover the subject, but short enough to make it interesting.

I write a lot of reviews on Amazon for a variety of products, including my favorite—books.  Amazon keeps bugging me, so eventually I have to give in and do it.  I’ve learned to keep my reviews honest, informative, and most important, short.  The reason for this is simple.

Attention spans are short.  Book reviews are many.  If you want someone to actually read what you’ve written, make it short and to the point.  Put yourself in the review reader’s place.  What does he or she want to know?

1. Did the author make you forget you were reading a book? Did the story seem so real you were lost in the pages and couldn’t put it down?
2. Did the characters grab you from the start and never let go?  Did you root for the hero or heroine?  Were you terrified of the villain?  Did the story interfere with your sleep?
3. Did the plot move the story along?  Was it believable?  Did it start in the right place?  Were you satisfied with the ending?
4. Would you recommend this book?  Buy another one by this author?

Remember, a book review is why you either liked or didn’t like the book, NOT a recap of the story.  That was done in the author’s blurb, and if the storyline hadn’t interested the reader, he or she wouldn’t be reading your review right now.

Happy review writing.

As always, I remain,

Jayne Nichols

A TRIBUTE TO FOREVER

It seems that lately the attempt to cajole Warner Bros into giving Forever Fans a season two of their favorite TV show has dwindled in favor of championing the former stars. I'm all for Ioan Gruffudd and Alana de la Garza finding a new TV home, but they will always remain in Forever Fans' hearts as Dr. Henry Morgan and Detective Jo Martinez.

And Forever will always remain my favorite TV show ever. It's had a lot of competition throughout the years, but so far nothing compares to this fresh, unique idea. I will keep Forever downloaded on Amazon video, well, forever.

I imagine most of you feel much the same.  Brian O'Marra does, and I'd like to showcase the recent thoughts of my very talented friend.

The positive fight to #SaveForever unites us as friends worldwide & brings us together!

Our positive message to #SaveForever elevates us & brings us together to support each other!

When we are positive as we #SaveForever , like the show, we shine our message for the world to see!

Being positive as we #SaveForever protects us from those who would rain on our message.

Like the show, as we #SaveForever and stay positive, we draw closer and make our message stand out!

Thank you, Brian, for reminding us to be positive and continue to make our message heard.

#SaveForever

As always, I remain -

Jayne Nichols

www.nicholsanddymes.com

 

WHO IS FOREVER’S VILLIAN?

Every Police Detective or Medical Examiner needs a villain to chase week after week – right?  Who better than another immortal with an agenda.  However, what exactly is his agenda?  In the first episode, a mysterious caller wants to know how Dr. Henry Morgan has managed to survive the subway crash. Certain that this shadowy someone knows his deepest secret, Henry decides to run. Lucky for the viewers, Abe talks Henry out of it.

And so begins the battle between good (Henry) and evil (Adam).

I had to ask myself why this second person who claimed the same immortality as Henry didn’t want to meet him, compare notes, and claim a kinship that might help both men find a way out of their current circumstance. After all, neither man is actually looking for death.  Each man merely wants to age gracefully and eventually die.

So, why then did Henry and Adam become instant enemies?  Re-read my first sentence.  Forever needed a villain.

And who better to play Adam than BURN GORMAN.  Born in Hollywood and raised in London, Burn is a man of many facets.  He has donned many roles over his acting career from the gentle Rev. Marley in Larkrise to Candleford to the scarred German officer, Colonel Skorzeny, in Walking with the Enemy. You may remember him as Trask in Revenge or Karl Tanner in Game of Thrones.

Of course, to Forever Fans, Burn Gorman will always be Adam, the immortal enemy of our Dr. Henry Morgan.

As always, I remain -

Jayne Nichols

www.nicholsanddymes.com

WHO ARE THOSE AMAZING SECONDARY CHARACTERS THAT MAKE FOREVER HUM?

Maybe you can have a GREAT show with just the lead characters, but to have a REALLY GREAT show, you need some incredible secondary characters.  FOREVER has four.

MACKENZIE MAUZY plays Abigail Morgan, the love of Henry’s life since their meeting somewhere in Europe following the end of World War II. She accepts his immortality without a blink until she begins to age and he does not.  How unfair is that, ladies?  But love is eternal and no respecter of age.  A love story like this one is why I write Romance.

Lucas Wahl is Henry’s #2 at the Office of the Medical Examiner and his role is filled superbly by JOEL DAVID MOORE. I first saw Joel in an episode of Hawaii Five-O where he played the second in command of the Tsunami Tracking Center. Same role, different city. He is fun to watch, and somehow manages to overcome his many mistakes and help Henry join the world of the living.

DONNIE KESHAWARZ is Detective Mike Hanson. Mike partners with Jo Martinez and is always a step or two behind Henry in the crime solving department. However, Det. Hanson has a surprise of his own — he was once the lead singer of the Craniacs — and YES, the Detective/Donnie can really sing.

Last, but definitely NOT least, is the boss.  LORRAINE TOUSSAINT is Lieutenant Joanna Reece, a woman in tough profession, who shows exactly how capable she is at running New York’s 11^th Precinct. She’s a no nonsense professional, and I thought the straight face she kept when talking to Henry about his occasional naked swims in the East River was priceless!

So, here they are — the incredible cast of FOREVER, the best darned television show ABC has ever foolishly dumped.  What say you, Forever Fans?  Agree or Disagree?

As always, I remain -

Jayne Nichols

www.nicholsanddymes.com

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I don’t write often, but when I do, it’s important.

Stay tuned, my friends.