M J Mallon

way too long, too much angst. very little in the way of story resolution at the end, too many cliffhangers. the idea was interesting, but it could have been so much more...

6 characterisation
5 how interested in turning the next page
2 am i likely to remember the story in a year
6 plotting
8 writing ability
5 writing style
7 continuity
8 editorial (publishing) mistakes (lower number, more mistakes)
6 suspension of disbelief (fantasy) - plausible (sf)
2 is the story predictable (lower number, more predictable)
3 am i recommending others read it… (altro)

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this as an Early Reviewer. No compensation was received other than the chance to read this work.

This book, a collection of poetry and prose, is meant to be a reflection of life and thoughts as told by the author to the Fates. While the overall premise seems charming enough, the uneven nature of the works tends to make the book seem half-done, rather than just a dreamy view of recollections and musings. Part of the problem is that the format, an ebook, is not really conducive to this sort of work. The overall writing, however, seems superficial rather than trying to get at the deeper meanings the poetry is meant to evoke.

Recommended for: Those who enjoy a mix of formats in their reading… (altro)

Do What You Love is M. J. Mallon’s motto and a 57-page celebration of family, places she has lived and intends to live, and her friendships and hopes for the future. These are explored in poems, photographs, and conversations with the three sisters of Morai faith (Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos) about family, faith, romance, and “our sweet earth.” Mallon interpreted the sisters as jovial, friendly creatures and spoke primarily with Atropos.

The book is undeniably creative yet unfinished. In one exchange, Mallon writes, “I find an old piece of writing tucked in the album, … crumpled, a forgotten piece I wrote at one of many writing workshops. … [Atropos embellishes] the unedited sentences … as is her way.” This exchange characterizes Mallon’s writing in that her work shows promise but requires careful editing.

The photographs are thumbnails, many focusing on flowering plants and trees, places Mallon has lived, and family. Some poems offer insights, but others need more care and nurturing. The conversations, springing up without warning among the photos and poetry, are marred by sentence fragments, redundancies (e.g., I wish I could. It is my wish), unnecessary words, and careless inconsistencies (Atropos’ finger is referred to as “his”).

Brevity is sometimes a sign the author has succinctly captured the heart and soul of an idea in a few words that say all there is to say. Yet often, it is a sign the author failed to see the truth lying beneath the surface appearance. There are nuggets of the former here, but unplanned gold is sadly left behind in many brief entries.… (altro)