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Review of
Memoirs of a Dwarf:
At the Sun King's Court
by Paul Weidner
03-29-08 |
Historical
Fiction At Its Best
- 4 out of 5 stars - |
The point of any great story is not just
entertainment, but the hope that it will invoke, on some level, a
curiosity, an interest, in those things that make up the world in which we
live. That interest may be in human affairs, society, one's own situation,
and the like. If nothing else, Paul Weidner's MEMOIRS OF A DWARF: AT THE
SUN KING'S COURT definitely accomplishes this.
Hugues, an uneducated, orphaned dwarf who begins his impoverished days in
a squalid Versailles, is the story's narrator and protagonist. Throughout
the book he recounts the tale of his rise in the court of Louis XIV. As a
servant, his penchant for curiosity embroils him in some precarious
situations. Appearances are everything as members of society's upper
echelon are just as shady as those they look down on. Yet, the one fault
of the book may indeed be that which propels it forward--the narrator's
voice: How could an individual with no formal education learn to speak and
write so ostentatiously? Still, as the tale unfolds, the reader can't help
but be held captive by the seamless tapestry of events that blur fiction
from historical events.
Upon finishing the book you're left wondering if such a character as
Hugues ever existed, and/or if the Royalty's practice of having so many
little people around was to hide (shelter) an actual family member born a
dwarf.
Such is the curiosity and interest this story Weidner has created. It has
been a year since I have read the book, and yet there are those with whom
I shared the book who never cease from keeping an eye out for information
connecting the fictitious events with the reality of the time.
Say what you will about the book, but should a book be spoken of so long
after it has been read is the highest compliment an author can receive. It
is, then, an example of a great story. |
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Posted on www.AMAZON.com |
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Review of
The Kids on the Block
by
Mario Chavez
02-10-07 |
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Return to the Days of Old
- 5 out of 5 stars - |
There's a little something for everyone in THE
KIDS ON THE BLOCK, an enjoyable new book by author Mario Chavez. Tracing
the lives of the "kids", Chavez recaptures youth in a way few
can as seen through the eyes of memorable characters like Casper, Guero
Flu, Horns, Soapsuds, and even La Plaga. No matter which character you
identify with most, don't be surprised if you find yourself lost in your
own childhood memories. It's difficult not to laugh and tear up while
reading about life on the block, as author Chavez illuminates how those
early relationships and experiences bind us regardless of the years that
fly by all too quickly, and the various paths we inevitably take in life.
Return to the days of old, and what it meant to be a kid, in this poignant
debut novel by Mario Chavez. You'll be glad you did. |
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Posted on www.AMAZON.com |
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