Paperback Friends

Veronica Maggio is a Swedish superstar. Her modern pop songs come swinging with a self-awareness that is both bleak and hopeful at the same time.

In, ”Allt är för bra nu”, Maggio shares some of her stories about how her songs came to be, and how Maggio came to be a household sledge hammer in the Swedish music scene.

Although, most of the episode I just talk about her music – this being no-fiction and all.

Type: Review | Book: ”Allt är för bra nu”| Writer: Veronica Maggio

My god, this one – Orwell you magnificent bastard I read you buuuuk!

If you wanted me to rant and yell about how overrated this one is; I’m sorry to disappoint. I love what Orwell did in this one, and what he did in general in his writing (of what I’ve read anyway).

Join me as we review Animal Farm, George Orwell’s brilliant novella.

Type: Review | Book: Animal Farm | Writer: George Orwell

The old wind-bag Sam Ögren is at it again. Today I yell about why I get so angry at certain types of fiction. So, like every other episode then, huh?

Jokes aside though, I try to discerning what I think suspension of disbelief is as well as attempt to describe what I mean when I say "world credibility." It comes up a lot in my reviews, so high time I really take the time to explain it.

It’s up to you if I did a remotely good job, let’s hit it!

Type: Writing 101 | Book: N/A | Writer: N/A

Honestly, one of my better episodes; much closer to the quality that I want. Anyway, enough about me, so we are taking a peek at Clare Pooley’s The People on Platform 5. What does Pooley have in store for us?

Something quite heartfelt, but a bit too jolly at times. While this novel is neat, and works as a solid feel-good-story; the world could use a bit for edge to give it some bite.

What’s there is not bad, except for Sanjay.

The novel is a bit longer than it needs to be, but Pooley does a serviceable job. Standouts to me are Martha, Piers and the relationship between Iona and her wife.

Type: Review | Book: The People on Platform 5 | Writer: Clare Pooley

Alright, so less roofies in this one (it's a silly way to pronounce "rough"), but it still borders on the line of crimes against humanity. I'm pretty convinced Jasper T Scott is going on trial for that. He's in line after a few dictators, but he's up there!

I kid, but man this series to a turn. Dark Space Universe - The Last Stand is the third and final book in this trilogy. While it is marginally better than the prequel, the prequel might be some of the least appealing literature I’ve ever read in my free time.

I rush through the beginning of this episode, just so I can take a swing at this series. I think I hate this. It’s not pretty, but let’s finish the Dark Space Universe series.

Type: Review | Book: Dark Space Universe (Book 3) | Writer: Jasper T Scott

My god this one is roofies. It’s really, really rough.

It’s such a shame too because I thought, despite its many flaws, that the first book was not without merit. The action was better than most other novels I've read which is no small feat. Scott really had something going, but then it went terribly wrong…

Let’s see if we can figure out what went wrong with this one, together.

Type: Review | Book: Dark Space Universe (book 2) | Writer: Jasper T Scott

The more I think about it the less I dislike it, but the fact still remains; I don’t like this one very much. Despite this being from the same author who penned Stoner. Stoner, one of my absolute favorite books. A book that has become a staple for my podcast.

Nothing but the Night, has some interesting ideas, and at times Williams exceptional writing shines through the thick, sticky “phantasmagoria” that is the style of this novella. It begs to be interpreted instead of telling us an interesting story with worthwhile characters – something to which I just take offence.

Hardly terrible, but too insistent and needy to break free from its style. Join me for my two cents on Nothing but the Night.

Type: Review | Book: Nothing but the Night| Writer: John Williams

In today’s episode we take a look at “mind control.” I truly hate this “plot device” for the lazy, hack writing that it is 99% of the time.

I yell in intricate detail about why I think this is stupid with examples for how it hurts a narrative, but also how I think you can get smelly mind control to actually work if it’s something you really want to use.

I’m not quite as coherent as I thought when I recorded this xD

I make the point come across at least, but I’m putting extra effort into cutting some of my sloppiness for 2025.

The point of these episodes is to examine writing, writing techniques and anything adjacent; in order to improve our writing – or if you just like hearing me yell about dumb things on the internet.

Type: Writing 101 | Book: N/A | Writer: N/A

This is how we'll do updates from now on =)

Not much to say, thanks for 2024 and I'm excited for what's to come for the podcast.

And really, thank you, for gifting your time to this old fool.

Happy holidays!

This is part two of my very long review of Anthony Ryan's Blood Song.

In part two, I go in the nitty gritty, and explain why I think this is a pretty damn good novel. Yet, also why I think there is a massive fumble at the end.

Type: Review | Book: Blood Song | Writer: Anthony Ryan