Paperback Friends

What do we say about this one? Orwell is freaking cracked! If Homage to Catalonia is anywhere near as good as his other stuff; it has to be read – pronto! As for 1984 , what can I say honestly? It lives up to expectations. Dark, uncompromising and to the point (manifest parts excluded) this is simply amazing work. Orwell is not for everyone, and if you had to read this for school it might lessen h...

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-fictio...

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...

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...

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 trilo...

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...

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 “phantasmag...

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 w...

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. Join me for the final part of Blood Song . Type: Review | Book: Blood Song | Writer: Anthony Ryan

In this episode we take a look at the quite epic fantasy novel: Blood Song . Written by Anthony Ryan. In many ways this novel is absolutely fantastic. In some ways, there a tough pill or two to swallow. How much does that hurt the novel, and what is so good about it, and what is so bad that it makes me doubt this otherwise amazing fantasy novel? We'll find out together! Since this book was very lo...

I promise this is the last Warcraft content for the rest of the year!   So, what does Twilight of the Aspects bring us? An early Christmas present maybe? Not quite. Christie Golden is at it again, and this time she’s got more to work with. Sadly, it’s still bad villains and larger than life plotlines again. Go figure…   I struggle with Warcraft these days, but there are a few interesting things in...

This is something rare, maybe not as rare as Thunderfury back in the day, but rare still. This is a good Warcraft novel. I poke fun, it's no secret that I have massive issues with the direction that Warcraft has been heading since Frozen Throne . Although, there are bits of cool still left in Warcraft , and Shadows of the Horde is one example of that. Is this spectacular? No, but it is a good read...

World of Warcraft: War Crimes , what can I even say about this one? The novel feel like this is a bit, a joke which is funny as a concept, but does not a strong novel make. Archaic grammar aside, this one does nothing, but more damage to Warcraft's already limping credibility. It's not for everyone, but is it for anyone? Yes, the most die-hard WoW-fans and lore fanatics may get some kind of a kick...

I don't like many movies, but I do like the movie version of This Is Where I Leave You . I decided to read the novel, and I definitely like the movie better. Don't get me wrong, the book is well-written, but it has a very different tone. A tone that does not sit as well with me. It's raw, that's the best way I can describe it. If you like that type of writing, the kind that's just a tab bit too da...

Dark Space Universe is an uneven novel. While it boasts great action and intriguing lore, the story loses something due to its flat, unlikable characters. The action is definitely the standout. The first hundred pages or so lack momentum, but once Jasper T. Scott picks up speed, he doesn’t stop. I should feel more mixed about this novel, but honestly, it’s fun. Dumb, but fun. We’ll see how the seq...

Am I pretentious enough to have a reflective episode, looking back on my long, long podcast career of ten episodes? Well, apparently I am. I kid, of course, but this is a good chance for me to talk a bit about the podcast as a whole—things I think are working well and areas where I see room for improvement. This might not be super interesting for new or first-time listeners, but if you care about...

These types of episodes are aimed at making us better writers, together! For the first episode of this kind, we won't go crazy. We start with the most basic "How do you start writing?" The simple answer is that you just start. Surely there has to be some tips or tricks though? Well, listen along for my take on the matter. Type: Writing 101 | Book: N/A | Writer: N/A

Ruination is Anthony Reynold's attempt at extending the League of Legends lore beyond the MOBA (and a few other games). Where's something like Netflix's Arcane really hits home with great characters and solid drama. Ruination misses nearly every mark. The main problem is Viego. He sucks, he sucks as a character, he sucks as a villain, he just plain sucks... Since the novel features the story of ho...

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet is Becky Chamber’s debut novel, and you better believe it's impressive. Chamber's writes a heartfelt story about a group of ding-dongs that become an odd family. The novel is almost entirely character driven, meaning that the overall narrative is not as important as the dialogue and the characters' own personal journeys. For me, the characters are a bit lackin...

I get a bit nutty with this one, but it's all in good fun. In this episode I tackle Charles Duhigg's The Power of Habit, only to really discover that I don't much care for the genre; slamming Malcolm Gladwell (a little) in the process. There are definitely interesting things about The Power of Habit, and if you like this genre this is an easy recommend if you don't then jump on the "choo choo trai...

Is philosophy important? What does philosophy mean to me, and how could philosophy be useful to you? Today we break form, and move away from the usual review episode in favor of a deep dive into one of my favorite things – philosophy. These episodes will aim to break down certain theories, thought, concepts or general ideas that I think are interesting. Consider them a test for now, but if you don...

Stoner is a rare gem, offering a true life lesson. So often, books that try to teach us something get tangled in their own message or fumble the delivery. But not Stoner . This novel is about one man’s life, and through it, you may learn more about your own than you ever thought possible from a fictional novel. I love this novel. It had a profound impact on me, teaching me about life – Stoner’s an...

It's been a while since I read it, so it was hard to do the story full justice. The Perks of Being a Wall Flower is a coming of age story that manages to encompass the blazing force that is "youth" while also portraying how difficult, tragic and empowering this time of our lives was, is or will be. Chbosky does not shy away from difficult subjects, and from my perspective he does dep...