I happened to witness an event early in my professional career that gave me a vital clue to the puzzle. Without it I would not have figured this out. I had help

I’ve finally figured out why we laugh at someone when they do something dorky. When they almost trip, only to find that the bottom cup wasn’t quite empty.

Author W.K. Berger has published his book “The Purples” (Book Review) independently even though he is an established and published author

Joe is not a perfect narrator and after finishing the book I finally saw what the author was trying to convey, a hard man making a hard living

An easy read and well written story. The narrative is clean and sometime even lyrical. The characters are multi-dimensional, vivid and fully realized

Conor Grennan, fresh from a job at Prague goes on a whirlwind world wide trip in 2006. He starts his adventure volunteering for an orphanage called “Little Princes Children’s Home). Turns out the kids are not orphans but victims of a notorious child trafficker which has promised their parents protection from the Maoist revolutionaries. However, more often than not the children end up as slaves.

The pace is fast but the story is predictable, about half way through (if not sooner) I already figured out the ending which, this time, had no twists.

The book is atmospheric and deals with the harsh punishment society deals to those they deem guilty (without proof) as well as racial elements.

None of us are surprised when common sense loses to political correctness – we encounter that almost on a daily base, after all that is what “procedures” and “policies” are for. It has recently been announced that Alabama-based publisher is planning new versions of “Huckleberry Finn” and “Tom Sawyer” that will replace the “n” word with “slave” and will remove “Injun” as well – just for good measure. Professor Alan Gribben of Auburn University of Montgomery has came right out and stated that his hope is to make the books more palatable for teachers and as not to offend school children in particular. I understand the Professor’s good intentions, but committing an act which can is the equivalent of literary graffiti in order to impose political correctness upon one of the most politically incorrect authors in American history has already backfired. As far as I know, Huck Finn is read in high-school. Newsflash Professor Gribben – people in high-school are no longer “children”, they are young adults in the US and full fledged adults in most other parts of the world. The last thing these young adults need is a sugar coated past. The past is non-negotiable and Twain’s use…

The main characters, Jim Hawkins and Long John Sliver have certainly cemented themselves as two of the most intriguing and dimensional characters in literature