28 October 2012

My Book Review #2


Wow! Nobody has ever done a good review on this book, Keeper of the Lesser Flame, like Cara has done. I'm so touched with her review. Thanks to her for taking her time to do this thorough review for me. You all at book blogs have made me a better writer with your sincere reviews. I hope you will permit me to use your review anywhere, Cara? *Smiles* It's so breathing I feel like I should print it on a paper and keep it under my pillows always. Many thanks to you Cara, I'm so grateful.  Please people check out Cara's blog for her giveaways http://readingpassion03.blogspot.com

Keeper of the Lesser Flame by Darmie Orem Plus a Giveaway Announcement
Review: Heather is living in poverty with her family. The women in her family are plagued with a curse. Her grandmother made a deal with a water deity for the life of her daughter.

In order, for the curse to be lifted her grandmother was supposed to bring her daughter back to the water where the deity lived; when her daughter turned 21. If her grandmother did not, her daughter would have the curse on her for the rest of her life. The curse would be that her daughter would marry a poor husband. Her mother died before she turned 21, and never was able to tell anyone about the curse.

Her daughter grew up to marry a poor man. They had two children, Heather and Aaron. To make matters worse her husband died, and left them poorer than they were originally.

Heather wanted nothing more than to move to America, and study writing at a university. Her father dying ruined all her hope, because there was no way she would earn enough money.

Heather met a man named Mark, and was set to marry him. He was rich and in love with her. Due to events the wedding was called off. (I don't want to ruin what happened.)

Heather sick of never being able to love, and always being miserable with the way her life is going turned to a witch for help. The witch offered to give her happiness in exchange for her soul. At first, she said no, but eventually events caused her to be so upset she accepted the terms. Under the spell that was cast on her it said that the man she loved could not drink her tears or they would die.

This is all I am going to give you guys because if I go any farther I will give you guys the whole story.

Summary: This is a novella so it is not a very long read at all. It took me no time at all to read it.

I found Heather's attitude annoying a little bit. She was too angry, and too unwilling to put down her guards.

Her father was a good man, he didn't last too long in the story, but I could tell that he loved his children.

Aaron was a good big brother, and loved his sister. He just wanted what was best for his family.

Her mom was a little overbearing, but like Aaron wanted the best for everyone.

Overall, this story was plenty fast paced. There was plenty of things going on to keep me entertained. The world building was just enough to figure out what was going on but not so much that I got bored. That is important seeing that it was a novella. Some of the explanations were a little confusing, and the time in between the scenes was a little blurry. I wanted a little more from what happened in between those scenes.

I gave this book a 3 out of 5. It was a pretty good book. I liked it. I felt some connection to the characters. I liked the idea of the novel. Goodreads-Amazon
Rating: out of 5

My Book Review #1


Hello Everyone,

A lot of things have happened since I published my first book Keeper of the Lesser Flame. To begin with I met new huge family of well-meaning authors, book bloggers, book reviewers, book interviewers and well-wishers. I doubt I will ever finish knowing this good people…

Keeper of the Lesser Flame Review by Jessica Thompson

The water deity curse affects Heather's standard of living, hopes and expectation.
But laying down her soul as a propitiatory to a witch turns around her situation, mortgaging the future.
 

     I received this book for reviewing from the author.  It in no way affected my review.  I wanted so much to give this book a high rating.  It is the authors first novel and in some ways it was very obvious. 
     I liked the idea of the book and in many respects it wasn't a bad book.  Keeper of the Lesser Flame has a really good storyline.  I have read many books and none had a feeling like this one.  It was like a thriller book with a happy ending.
     Unfortunately it was very flawed.  From editing and time jumps it is very obvious this is Damilola's first book.  I personally don't mind editing errors (though I do notice them) but I do mind time jumps without any way they got to the point that they are at.  For example *spoiler* Heather suddenly got married and had two kids when the last thing before that she didn't want anything to do with the guy.*spoiler end*
     I needed more visualization for me to enjoy the book more but even with the lower review I didn't hate it.  I give this book an Adult rating for strong sex scenes.
 
 
How sad, right? By the look of this review many beginner writers will back out or call Jessica names; say she doesn’t know what she is saying or that she doesn’t wish them well because she is also an author.
But wrong!  

Anyone who wants to get better in any field must take likely to criticism. Before Jessica published this review, she let me know how critically biting she was going to be with her review just like her blog title “Reviews that Bites” She asked my permission if she should go ahead and publish the review, but of course I told her to go ahead. Thanks to Jessica for this biting scrutiny. My next two books “TALES OF DEBORAH and THE ULTIMATE PRICE” that are going to be out in couple of months by God’s willing, will be close to being perfect. Many thanks to you Jessica, I’m deeply grateful.

As I’ve often said, I welcome from well-meaning book reviewers, authors constructive criticisms and advice that will lead to the improvement of this book for future update.

Are you beginner writer? Then, it’s because of you I summon courage to write this post.  Here is my advice, have your manuscripts reviewed by lots of people before you publish them. And then, when the feedback start coming in good or bad, please, don’t feel awful – never back out because of what someone says that you don’t like. With this organic process, you can be better and become a world celebrated author. Share this post; it will sure inspire someone to begin thinking differently.

 
 

Darmie Orem's Quotes #9

"High expectations I have. In hardness I labor that, fuller joy at the top I may partake. Nevertheless, in vain I toil. And then, friends and people's reproach I become, because of my drowning hopes that keeps me out of the circle of riches and honor. I'm the distance they keep like plague, because I have no physical wealth and glamor like them. But in all my stony falls and griefs, the word of restoration in the blood given to me upon the altar of salvation, I cling. For in the end, mercy will attend my situation and see to my hard labor with crown of great success that has no end.”
Darmie Orem

Darmie Orem's Quotes #8

"They must have thought I'm moon. Therefore they made known to me their hopes and expectations that is beyond flesh and blood. I'm only the symbol of creativity within the ancient spirits of my great ancestors. All life that never dies in all stormy season. I'm the oak tree in the breath of the warlike hero.”
Darmie Orem

Darmie Orem's Qoutes #7

“Discretion is the survival one needs around friends who admires you but hate your happiness and success, and would do anything so that you are not up to them or better than them.”
Darmie Orem

Darmie' Orem's Quotes #6

“It doesn't matter what you don't worth now, but the courage and determination you maintain to achieve something special in your life is all that will count in the end.”
Darmie Orem

Darmie Orem's Quotes #

"We are the wining fighters we are today because we are the products of rougher times that, didn't break 'self-respect' during tested periods.”
Darmie Orem

Darmie Orem's Quotes #4

"The River of Baptism I met, my spiritual adoption confirmed. The changing dramas in my life I experienced. The Holy language preceded my salvation found tongue, candidate of heavenly power I'm made.”
Darmie Orem

Darmie Orem's Quotes #3

"Now is not time to give up. Tomorrow will be different. Resurrect the strenght in the golden dreams that has brought you thus far. Every misery have its limit.”
Darmie Orem

Darmie Orem's Quotes #2

"Someplace, somewhere, someone full of dreams is craving to be known.”
Darmie Orem

Darmie Orem's Qoutes #1

“A person who doesn't know exactly what he wants out of life, jumps at everything that appears silver in his way and hold tight onto them to the point degradation.”
Darmie Orem

20 October 2012

‘The Price’ by Damilola Ogunremi






The Price

by Damilola Ogunremi


Observing a spear of summer grass outside my little cottage
The gentle blowing breeze leaned towards me
Brushing my aching cheeks with its feathery fingers
It peered into my heavy heart

Whispering Sunshine…
The solemn word of harvest…
The beginning of all that is fruitful and beautiful...
“Sunshine,” the word rang in my ears and strangely haunting.

The season of harvest has found me. I knew the excitement of it.
It was over hundred decades since it finished with me
And my every waking moment has been swirling sorrow.

“Sunshine!” I swayed a hand flying above my head to grip my hair in grief.
I should be joyous for this remembrance of freedom from pains
But my heart was with a shuddering heaviness.
For one brief moment, the breeze whispered to me again.
“Sunshine” I remember you well.

It hadn’t been a dreadful mistake for you to remember me.
For the moment the air chattered “Sunshine,” like women in the market
I closed my eyes to blot out the memories of shame and failure
That has plagued and trapped me for decades of heavy wetness.

I bit my lip and screamed the word
“Tears_”
The severe sacrifice; the price I paid for Sunshine to find me.
The price we all sometimes pay
The ancient water that left its streaks of wet print on my face
Images that masked the beauty of my youth
And kept me out of the circle of mental and spiritual forms of love

Though the sorrow may last for a night,
It is supplanted with joy in the morning …
A true tale…

That was my consoling song of then and my testimony of now.
My only pain in these past years, of failure, grief and stagnancy, was the rape of time.
The price I paid.

I gave a quick hug to the breeze of good news.
“Sunshine,” how nice it was!
I swallowed hard, tears of joy prickling dangerously in my eyes.
I would no longer Pay The Price of Painful Tears.