Thoughts on: Eating Smoke by Chris Thrall

About: Eating Smoke: One Man’s Descent into Drug Psychosis in Hong Kong’s Triad Heartland by Chris Thrall is a memoir of the author’s time being a drug addict in Hong Kong. The book takes a good look at into the red light district of Hong Kong, the colorful Wan Chai district. My rating for Eating Smoke – 4 Great price on this book in paper or elec­tronic for­mat through the Man of la Book Affil­i­ate Account Thoughts: Eating Smoke: One Man’s Descent into Drug Psychosis in Hong Kong’s Triad Heartland by Chris Thrall (website | Facebook) chronicles the author, an ex-Royal Marine, downfall into the world of drugs in Hong Kong. There are several viewpoints one could read this book as: a funny memoir, a cautionary tale, a how-not-to-succeed-in business book, a how-not-to-choose-your-friends type of story, a smart-guy-doing-stupid-things anecdote, or as a foreigner in a foreign land story. Of course, all of the above would also apply. Besides the drug addict mindset which I cannot understand or comprehend, I found Mr. thrall’s stories about Chinese culture fascinating. The stories of the jobs he got simply on the base of his pale face are funny and somewhat disturbing. The condition wasn’t only a white face…

Thoughts on: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy – Book 1 Part 1
Classics , Latest Posts / January 25, 2012

About: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy is a fictional book first published in 1869. The work is regarded as one of the most important works of world literature. The copy I read was translated by Louise and Aylmer Maude. 1350 pages Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; New edition ISBN: 0199232768 Great price on this book in paper or elec­tronic for­mat through the Man of la Book Affil­i­ate Account More books by Leo Tolstoy Thoughts: I started reading War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy in small increments. To be honest, this first part was a bit too slow and operatic for my taste. However, I understand and appreciate the need for character introduction especially in a complex story such as this. The complex relationship between war and peace is being established almost immediately. Even during peace time, at a fancy soirée the hawks are having their say. The hostess, Anna Palvona, runs the party like a military commander, knowing when to attack and even more importantly, when to withdraw. Tolstoy also sneaks in a few stabs at Russian aristocracy and their hierarchy which resembles that of the military. True to form, Tolstoy doesn’t hold back his thoughts about aristocrats. Marya Dmitrievna describes a…

Why Book Blogs Matter:An Interview with Marketing Agency Lucinda Literary
Guest Posts , Latest Posts / January 23, 2012

Q. Tell us about Lucinda Literary? What qualifies you to give such services? Why should authors pick you over the other players in the field? A. I’m a hybrid: I represent authors, but also consult on marketing and publicity for authors represented by other agents. I don’t believe in being territorial, so my company’s philosophy is strongly based on partnerships. As the publishing process becomes more intricate, where all of us are in the position are learning, and no one’s particular expertise is more meritorious than anyone else’s. We all bring different pieces to the table—and publishing’s new playing field, the internet, has become the ultimate leveler. My piece: I bring experience as an agent to marketing clients, which means: sales-mindedness, inside knowledge of the publishing industry, attentiveness and responsiveness to my clients while bearing the needs of all parties in mind because I’ve lived in all shoes—corporate marketing, publicity, and later on as a literary agent. I’m “insatiably” curious, as my profile states, in ePublishing and the digital opportunities for exposure available to writers, but my company brings authors both social media consulting alongside traditional publicity, which is still important to authors. (For all company services, see: http://www.lucindaliterary.com/marketing-publicity-4-0/) Another…

Fun Facts Friday: Edgar Allan Poe
Fun Facts Friday , Latest Posts / January 20, 2012

Yesterday was the birthday of famed author and poet Edgar Allan Poe (museum). Mr. Poe’s stories and poems are classics and he was an interesting person as well. Illustration by Abigail Larson Works by Edgar Allen Poe 1 ) There is a common misconception that no-one knows how Poe died. There are stories about hired henchmen , a brain tumor and more. However, a few years ago Poe’s body was dug up and as it turned out he died of rabies. 2 ) Poe’s Army record has him as “Edgar A. Perry”. 3) For The Raven, one of the most famous or Poe’s works, if not the most famous, he was paid $9. 4 ) Rufus Griswold hated Poe because of a negative review he wrote about one of his works. Upon Poe’s death Griswold wrote an anonymous obituary and later published a false biography. Both the obituary and biography greatly exaggerated Poe’s madness and drunkenness. 5 ) Virginia Eliza Clemm, Poe’s wife, was much younger than him and loved to play on the lawn together. They were married when he was 27 and she was just 13. 6 ) Some say that Edgar and Virginia had a more of…

Thoughts on: The Silent Oligarch by Chris Morgan Jones
4 Stars , Fiction , Latest Posts / January 19, 2012

About: The Silent Oligarch by Chris Morgan Jones is a fictional book about those in the shadows which hold the strings of power. Article first published as Book Review: The Silent Oligarch by Chris Morgan Jones on Blogcritics. 336 pages Publisher: Penguin Press HC, The ISBN: 1594203199 My rating for The Silent Oligarch – 4 Great price on this book in paper or elec­tronic for­mat through the Man of la Book Affil­i­ate Account Thoughts: oligarchy 1: government by the few 2: a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes; also : a group exercising such control 3: an organization under oligarchic control The Silent Oligarch by Chris Morgan Jones is an interesting book filled with great detail about London, Moscow and Berlin as well as the lifestyle of rich Russians. The story is filled with interesting atmospheric nuances about the new Russia. The book is somewhat complex, reading it was like walking through a maze and the reader had to pay attention. Jones writes like an insider, not only in the complex details of shell companies but also into the mindset of those who control them and those who are being controlled. The reader can feel the boss’ is…

Guest Post: Where fiction and history overlap… by Douglas R. Skopp
Guest Posts , Latest Posts / January 18, 2012

I recently spoke with a woman who, just minutes before, finished reading Stieg Larssen’s The Lady with the Dragon Tattoo: “What a wonderful, gripping book,” she said. “Yes,” I said, “so I’ve heard. I’ve not read it.” “Oh, but you must. It’s wonderful.” Her enthusiasm was all over her face. “Why is it so wonderful?” I asked. “It’s so real. So gripping.” “Really. I’ve just written a book based on my research,” I said, hoping to persuade her to read my novel, Shadows Walking. “Everything in it either happened, or could have happened. Some of the characters and the dialogue, of course, are fictional. But the historical setting in which they make their choices and the consequences of those choices—I didn’t invent any of that. It’s as ‘real’ as I could write it.” “What’s it about?” she asked. “Nazi Germany. How a well-meaning, intelligent doctor decides to join the Nazi Party, then does what Nazi doctors did, and finally tries to understand why he made those awful choices.” “Oh, no. I won’t read anything like that,” she said with a shudder. “Why not?” I could not resist asking. “Because it’s true. It’s too real. It really happened.” “But you just…

Thoughts on: Wine to Water by Doc Hendley

About: Wine to Water by Doc Hendley is a non-fiction memoir of the author starting the Wine to Water non-profit. The charity brings clean water to many parts of the world. The pub­lisher is giv­ing away one copy of this book— enter at the end of the post. 288 pages Publisher: Avery ISBN: 1583334629 My rating for Wine to Water – 4 Great price on this book in paper or elec­tronic for­mat through the Man of la Book Affil­i­ate Account Thoughts: Wine to Water by Doc Hendley, a CNN hero, is an inspiring book told in the prose of the liked and endearing author. While never owning a motorcycle I have hung out in one or two biker’s bars, met people much like Doc described in his book and always felt welcomed – even with the toughest crowd. The highlight of the book for me was Doc’s ingenuity getting water and equipment to remote places around the world. Surviving some dangerous, almost deadly events, losing friends and facing hurdles from bureaucrats, local and international will break most people – but Doc kept on. Witnessing government sponsored genocide would have most people running for the hills – but not Doc. The story was well paced, easy to read…

Introducing: The Man of la Book Loyalty Program
Latest Posts / January 15, 2012

Loyal readers are the backbone of this blog. I know it and humbly acknowledge that fact. As of today all the followers of Man of la Book can enter a the ManOfLaBook.com Rewards Program for fabolous prizes, fame and fortune. OK, just fabulous prizes. How to Enter Simply click on the the green button under the “Rewards Program” widget on the right hand side. Click to Enlarge Earn Points Visiting – for your first visit to ManOfLaBook.com every day you will earn 100 points Liking content– for your first Like on ManOfLaBook.com every day you will earn 100 points Tweeting content – for your first Tweet on ManOfLaBook.com every day you will earn 100 points Google +1 – for your first Google +1 on ManOfLaBook.com every day you will earn 100 points Commenting – for your first comment of the day you will earn 100 points Fabulous Prizes $5 Amazon.com Gift Card – 8,500 points Zynga.com – 15,000 points Groupon – 20,000 points All of these have limit one per users but prizes will change and I will add more customized prizes as the program matures. Please note As of now I am trying this program, if it doesn’t work out (I think it will) I’m going to do away…

Giveaway & Guest Post by author Jon Reisfeld: Three Days of Terror in November
Guest Posts , Latest Posts / January 14, 2012

Three Days of Terror in November How Kristallnacht Continues to Haunt, and Instruct, Us Today ===================================================== Mr. Reisfeld has kindly made available the following books for giveaway (enter at the end of the post): Two (2) Signed paperback copies of The Last Way Station Two (2) eBook copies of The Last Way Station One (1) eCopy of Jerusalem Imperilled by Harry Freedman ===================================================== As night fell over the Third Reich on Wednesday, November 9th, 1938, Nazis at all levels of government launched a vicious, organized, national pogrom against the Jews. The attacks, unprecedented in their scope, brutality and brazenness, lasted for three days, during which time squads of sledge-hammer-wielding ‘brown shirts’ took the lead, savaging, looting and, in some cases, leveling Jewish businesses, homes and houses of worship. By the time the rioting stopped, organized mobs had ransacked and destroyed 267 Jewish synagogues, setting most of them afire. They had wrecked and plundered an estimated 7,500 Jewish storefronts and shops, desecrated Jewish cemeteries, and vandalized and looted countless Jewish homes. Many Germans welcomed the violence. Eyewitnesses described mothers lifting their children up over bystanders’ heads so that they, too, could see the destruction of Jewish property, while their parents cheered on the…

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