Bookworm Press

The Jennifer Project by Larry Enright

Larry Enright has written many excellent novels in a variety of genres. The Jennifer Project is futuristic story about present-day reality. Others that I loved are The Transcriber, the series The Adventures of Walter Stickle, FIN, A Cape May Diamond, The Blacker Death. I picked my review of The Jennifer Project as example. Here it is:

Dr. Deever MacClendon, a brilliant scientist, who speaks and acts like a hippy, develops together with the help of his best friend/sometime-lover, Dr. Jennifer Crane, a close-to-human, highly intelligent “machine” he names “Jennifer.” His ultimate goal is to use it to create a better world where people don’t have the power to hurt one another. The powers that be (corporations, the government) want to use his invention to achieve—what else?—power and money. MacClendon, a good, kind-hearted guy sees himself forced to deceive and manipulate in order to keep his invention from getting into the wrong hands. Jennifer—his invention—supports him and Dr. Crane “wholeheartedly.” Will MacClendon succeed or will his invention cause the destruction of the world? Will he be able to save his human friend and lover, Dr. Crane? Who is really in charge here? MacClendon? The Corporations? The Resistance (those who fight the government)? Jennifer, the invention? Well, you have to read the book to find out.

This is a fascinating novel, full of “groovy” sixties-like language and humorous situations. But it is also a serious book that portrays the human evils—cruelty, greed, egomania—as well as the power of love and compassion. Lots of scientific research must have gone into this story. Since I am scientifically handicapped, I have no idea how much of it is real, but it sounds authentic!

As in the other of Larry Enright’s books, the colorful, quirky, flawed but lovable, very funny characters keep you entertained from beginning to end. Perfect! I loved it!

If this review triggered your curiosity, check out this fascinating author. Click on the book cover above or the book link here: The Jennifer Project.

Stay safe and sane during these difficult times and stay tuned for more excellent reads in the coming weeks.

Hotel Obscure by Lisette Brodey

Here is the second post in my series of “Stay-At-Home”-posts honoring some of the authors I have met, either personally or over social media, and whose works have inspired me. Lisette Brodey has published several excellent novels about family, friends, and relationships as well as a few very funny romantic comedies. One of my favorite work of hers is Hotel Obscure, a collection of short stories. Here is my review:

Powerful, heart-wrenching, and heart-warming

Hotel Obscure is a collection of heart-wrenching, heart-warming, and unsentimental stories about people from all walks of life who, for different reasons, have fallen on hard times and end up in a cheap, dilapidated hotel in a less than stellar neighborhood. The place is a dead-end for many but also a new start for some. The inhabitants include men and women who try to escape an abusive relationship or oppressive environment, people in financial straits, drug-addicts, prostitutes or other bankrupt souls. With deep psychological insight, with warmth and humor, the author portrays this motley crew of hurting or broken souls. Excellent work, I wish I could give it more than 5 stars!

I hope I got you interested in this talented author. If yes, click on the cover of the book or on the title link above.

More to come! Have a great week and stay safe!

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I want to give my prospective and current readers some background to the creative process behind my novel. I think it’s always interesting to hear “the story behind the story.”

In my case, it was a series of deaths in my family and among my friends a few years ago. Within three months, I lost my mother, my brother-in-law, and one of my closest friends. The death of my mother left me as the last survivor of our immediate family, my father and my only sister having passed on years before. After the funeral, I began the difficult task of cleaning out our family home in Switzerland, getting it ready for renovations. I shuffled through old documents, read letters my parents, my sister, and I exchanged, while I lived abroad. I even found a love letter my father had written to my mother while he served in the Swiss Army during the Second World War. I took down my father’s paintings in the home–he was an artist as a young man–and wrapped them, so they wouldn’t get damaged during the renovation. I met with a stonemason to talk about the tombstone on my parent’s grave.

One evening, I was sitting in front of the fireplace in the only room in our house that wasn’t full of boxes and bags, staring into the flames. It was a cold January night. Thick snowflakes were floating to the ground. I finally had time to reflect and to mourn and I did what I always do when I am in an intense period of my life. I began to write. I wrote about a young painter, who struggled with loss and loneliness, about a stonemason, who carved tombstones and who, interestingly enough, became the harbinger of new life for the young woman.

The novel is pure fiction, all the characters are made up, but the building blocks of the story can be found somewhere in my own life. Over the following few years and with the help and support of some very dear friends, the book took on shape. What began as a time of death and loss was transformed into something new, life-affirming, and uplifting. I offer it to you, dear Reader, and I hope you will enjoy it. If you feel like it, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts.

The novel is available as an eBook at Amazon.com for the Kindle.

If you prefer paperback, click here.

Thank you and Happy Reading.
Christa