Fake People Online (and how to find them out)

 The more I promote my book, the more weird people show up in my DMs. Cold messaging out of the blue is not uncommon for book promoters with legitimate services, but scammers have the same behavior, which is annoying. Let's talk about what to do about all this, and how we can play detective to avoid giving our information to predators and scam artists. 

The internet is a scary place. Most child human trafficking starts online, as grooming, when people pretend to be the age of the victim. Either they want to be a lover, a protector or father figure, or promise luxury they don't give. They figure out which by a short conversation that lasts nearly three minutes. This was what a representative from Safe Harbor told us. I will have the website for Safe Harbor right here: SAFE HARBOR .  Adults, too, are groomed, but it is easy to get underaged boys and girls (I said boys, you heard me) to interact with a "peer". Given all this information, we need to know if our children are talking to predators. 

Today's blog is all about spotting fakes, such as fake celebrities, predators, or scammers. I'll talk about all three and the many ways to check your facts. I'm going to start with what you should tell your kids to do if someone messages them and they don't know them, then branch out into what detective work you can do to spot the fake profiles online. 

Kids and the Internet

We all know younger children are more trusting than adults, and that's just the reality of this current world. The more we live in it, the more we distrust our environment. This means young Jimmy and young Suzy are prime targets for scammers. Older adults with memory disorders are also prime targets, but are unlikely to be online (that's mostly phone scams, I think). Given that, the first rule I'll teach my future children is to never message anyone you don't know in real life. This is the modern "stranger danger". I would tell my children to come to me with any random, cold DM (direct messages) and show me. 

I would also tell them to use the block button if anyone sent them anything inappropriate. It is not worth their energy or mine to reprimand the person verbally - and I would tell that to anyone at any age. No one is entitled to a response. If anyone is pushing a response, block them. That goes for anyone reading this. This is not just a rule kids should abide. Any harassment warrants the block button. The creeps online are easier to deal with because of this concept. 

I don't suggest digging into the detective work (conversing to check the facts) as a kid. I suggest leaving it to a capable adult. However, a quick Google search may be a good idea if you see a DM from a celebrity name. A kid can easily Google search a name and I suggest letting them. However, I don't think they should try to fish for information to verify by conversing with the scammer. Let adults do that, assuming the adults present are less likely to spill personal information. 

Courtesy of Rappler

Verifying Identities

Now that we have told our children not to interact with the potential scammer, let's move on. Fake social media is an imposter pretending to be someone else or someone using information from someone else (without their permission) to create an account. This is done to falsify information, harass, groom for sex trafficking, and ruin reputations. Believe it or not, followers who aren't people can make people think twice about your business (if you had one on social media). 

The first check is the profile picture.  Look for avatars and symbols, or stolen pictures. Low resolution pictures are a bad sign, especially for celebrity pages. Run the profile picture through Google to find the source. If it was ripped from someone else's page you've definitely got a fake. The verified accounts (on some social media) are great ways to know a real celebrity from a fake. Just know that not all celebrities have the checkmark, yet. Not all social media has the mark, so be careful. 

Double-check account names and URLs, which can be checked easily. What you need to watch out for is a lack of vanity name, which will be used in real celebrity social media most of the time. If the account name links up and the info is the same across the board (for instance, if the social media links to a real author's website) they are probably genuine. If it doesn't link up and doesn't match, beware. Also, famous people should have lots of followers. If public figure accounts interact with celebrity accounts it is a good sign of a genuine, real person. 

The content of the page is also something to pay attention to. Fake accounts aren't posting often. They'll be full of recycled images, stock photos, and memes. They might also have extreme views posted. Look at comments to see if it is just "subscribe to me" over and over, which indicates a bot. Slurs, curse words, and weird slang are also neon signs to fake pages. 

I found a fake one - what now?

First, unfollow it immediately. Report it to the site by following the instructions found in this link. You can block it if you want. Where fake profiles go, bots and trolls are close by. Bots can be good (sending weather and sharing news) or bad (mimicking social agendas and toxically commenting on pages). Bots are short for robots. 

Bot behavior is easy to spot as robotic or unnatural. If someone is pushing an agenda on multiple platforms and posts it might be one. Little to no profile info and location that doesn't match the person are common here. Low-resolution images or avatars are commonly used by bots and names are jumbles of letters and even characters. Few to no followers is a dead giveaway. 

Trolls are people trying to sabotage other people and be mean on the internet. They have real people on the other end. If it links to disinformation websites, posts third-party content only, has the exact same comment under multiple posts, and is almost exclusively commenting on online discussions you've got a troll. 

Fake accounts are illegal in the US if you engage in revenge porn (sending images without consent of all parties), harassment, spreading false information, or impersonating law enforcement. You can make social media accounts as satire legally. The best ways to not be impersonated include setting accounts to private, keeping private info out of your social media, being wary of what you post, only accepting friend requests from those you know, and confirming with your friends to make sure they really are friending you on social media. 

I found a source that includes private investigator services for this issue. If you want that, it's the first source on the source list. 

Courtesy of youtube.com

Spotting Child Predators

 So, we need to talk about this. I hate the idea that children are sold for sex, but it exists. It starts subtle and they may not know they are being groomed for this heinous crime. Let's talk about the signs of predators online - before the kids find them. 

Being over-friendly and curious is not a good sign in these interactions. They want to fish for info. Digging or fishing for details is a bad sign. Step in now. 

Don't let your kids turn on location online or post location-specific social media. That advertises where your kids hang out. Adults do this, too. Your social media tells everyone where you go. 

If someone is always available that's suspicious and kids will eat up any compliments they get. Again, fishing for info is not good. Flattery is a mousetrap in this case. Always available and flattery is a deadly combo. 

If someone says "don't tell anyone" that's a red flag you could cover the ocean with. They are predators. Cut that interaction off, now! When predators talk to kids they also start to obsess over keeping the secret and hiding behind closed doors. They'll withdraw. Keep an eye out for this. 

If you check your child's social media at random and find they have portions of conversation deleted and missing, act now. They may have been told to delete it and you need to make sure you find out why. Tell them they are not in trouble and they won't lose privileges for showing you their messages. 

The rule that you don't respond to random DMs and you show your parents your random DM messages is a good one. It will prevent a predator from gaining any hold on your child. Also, don't let your child meet online friends (unless you actually knew them from real life before you friended them). 

Time online during late hours all the time is a sign you've got a predator situation. The less parental supervision the better for these creeps. Also, random numbers on your child's phone are a sign. Ask them about their new friend and how they met. If they get irrationally upset when they can't get online or hide screens from you, check on them. 

Beware cold DMing, where the message comes from out of the blue. Out of nowhere messages are a sign of scammers, but also a sign of predatory people. Gifts out of nowhere are a bad sign, too. 

Pornography on devices is never good, but it's worse when a predator sends it. Furthermore, when conversations turn sexual you've got a predator. They want the victim to engage. Some don't disguise their age. Some back off if refused because they want immediate results and others groom in subtle ways. 

For more information on this topic see the link here.

Additionally, here are some phrases that you need to look for. Find out what to do to prepare your child and prevent sexual abuse at this link.

1. Can you keep a secret?  2. You're my special friend  3. Let's spend some quality alone time together

4. Does somebody need a hug?  5. Want to hear a dirty joke?   6. Your parents don't understand you. I know how you feel.  7. Your parents will never forgive if they find out what we did, you didn't say no!

Sources:

Fake Social Media Accounts - How to Spot Them & What to Do

How to spot a predator online - Digital Citizen Academy

10 Signs your Child Could be Talking to an Online Predator — Micah's Promise

How the Honesty of Online Predators Makes Them Easy to Spot | Psychology Today

The Facts About Online Predators Every Parent Should Know | Common Sense Media

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I wrote a book! I am delighted to say that I have 5 five-star reviews up on Amazon now, which is amazing. I hope you like it, too. If you're interested in buying a paperback, hardcover, or ebook version go to my website link in this blog or click here to go straight to my Amazon page. 

Jack Thomas is running from a past case. He's hiding in Wrenville. Is his past case catching up with him? 

Find out in my first book, Wrenville, a stand-alone suspense novel.

Second chance pile - read it or unhaul it #3

 This is going so well that I'm continuing this challenge a third time. The last two had me keeping one book of five - twice. I have less than a dozen books on my second chance pile right now. Let's keep going. 

Courtesy of Wallpapers.com

As usual, here are the rules. 

1. I pick up a book at random from the pile. 

2. I read at least 5 chapters. 

3. I decide if I keep going or DNF (do not finish) it. 

4. I review it. 

The process above is what'll happen to these books. I'm trying to do at least three per blog. If I DNF two in a row, I pick five. If I'm not enjoying myself and I'm not compelled to keep reading I will put it down. Onward!

Sherlock Holmes and the Egyptian Hall Adventure by Val Andrews

Courtesy of bakerstreet.wikia.com

This is another Sherlock Holmes. It wasn't Arthur Conan Doyle obnoxious, refreshingly enough, but I wasn't sure of it two chapters in. To clarify, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't screaming "read me" either. By chapter four I was hoping chapter five came faster - and not because I was interested in the storyline. This is a clear donate/unhaul. 

As Sherlock Holmes' adventures go, this one wasn't that bad. I also didn't get overly into it and need to know the culprit. It took place at a magic hall that had magic and illusionist acts. It wasn't anything out of the ordinary for Holmes, nor did Watson seem stupid (like he sometimes does in other stories). I simply wasn't compelled to keep reading. 

Courtesy of simonandschuster.com

In The Company of Sherlock Holmes by multiple authors

This was an anthology of short stories from other authors - all inspired by Sherlock Holmes. In this case, five chapters will equal five short stories. I have some confidence in this one, since Jeffrey Deaver is included in the anthology and I like his Bond novel. After three-ish short stories, I decided to keep it. I'm reading it slowly and at my leisure. 

One thing to note is the variety of authors and the variety of stories. You've got stories inspired by Sherlock Holmes, so not everything is a Sherlock Holmes story. I'm not giving it a star rating. There are too many stories to rate, so I won't. I'm pretty sure I'll like the majority of them, but I also know I might not. I'm keeping it and I made my decision. If it gets to the point that I only like five of them, I'll still keep it for those five alone and mark the good ones. 

Donna Parker Secret Agent by Marcia Martin

Courtesy of abebooks.com

This is a story about a high school-age girl. The book itself is from the late 1950s. I'd say it reads like a Nancy Drew combined with an afterschool special on voting. It isn't exactly in amazing shape as a physical book, so I'm careful with it. The cover was falling off. It's a fun read. It centers on Donna Parker in her journalism class. She's having a conflict with her best friend, who wants to join another club and doesn't do everything with her anymore. Different classes and clubs get in the way. The journalism club leads Donna Parker to a different crowd of people. Basically, Donna is growing up. 

I'm keeping it. It's not only a fun read, but an antique to add to my collection. I'll put it with the Nancy Drews. It's from 1957 and I can see the influence of the Cold War in it, including a plot to steal helicopter plans from Tommy (a character who won an award for his new plans) and an Uncle who pops up out of nowhere. It seems spies are about. Also, Donna grows apart from her friend Ricky (a girl) who seems to be growing up, too. To her surprise, though, Ricky helps her mother throw a massive surprise birthday party. Also, we have a sketchy janitor and a whole theme about voting, complete with voting for a school Mayor and getting a 90 percent vote for the actual election in their community (by campaigning to get everyone to vote). They really push the "everybody vote" theme, without being obnoxious. They even babysit so the women can vote, and interestingly enough, a woman says her husband doesn't support her voting but she's doing it anyway. 

I won't spoil anything else, in case you actually find a copy and read it. It could be read in a solid day or maybe one afternoon (if uninterrupted). It isn't common to find these in antique stores. You might have to check online. There are four in all and I think they flow into each other. The ending seemed to hint at that. There was a character from the previous book and it seems to be about Donna Parker growing up. If I find another I'll pick it up. It might be worth getting the whole set. This was a four-star read. 

Conclusion

At the end of all this reading, I found some good ones. The short stories are marked as both read and unread because I want to savor them instead of binging them. Donna Parker fits in nicely with my Nancy Drews, as she is a lot like Nancy Drew (an ordinary girl doing amazing things). I only found one dud, and that was Sherlock Holmes. As the pile grows smaller I find fewer duds. We'll see if that's true for round four. I have a strong chance of finishing my shelf clean-up before Christmas because I keep doing this challenge. 

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I wrote a book! I am delighted to say that I have 5 five-star reviews up on Amazon now, which is amazing. I hope you like it, too. If you're interested in buying a paperback, hardcover, or ebook version go to my website link in this blog or click here to go straight to my Amazon page. 

Jack Thomas is running from a past case. He's hiding in Wrenville. Is his past case catching up with him? 

Find out in my first book, Wrenville, a stand-alone suspense novel.

A silent film review - Girl Shy from 1924

 Girl Shy, starring Harold Lloyd, is from the year 1924. Right now Beta Reading is in full swing, so I'm back to researching the 1920s again. I just watched Girl Shy and can give you a review. I give it 9/10 stars. 

Courtesy of tcm.com

The Harold Lloyd films always have a flare for drama in them. Our main character is an underdog and an awkward kid all around. That's what you have to expect in a Harold Lloyd film. We have Harold Meadows working at a tailor shop with a crippling fear of women and a crippling stutter. A whistle will end his stutter for a while, as the film illustrates right from the beginning. He's also writing a book (a serious book in his eyes, comical in others) about women and how to get them to love you. I wouldn't try any of his techniques, solely based on the two chapters we see acted out. That's our main character for you. 

Our love interest (the woman) is a rich girl named Mary with a jerk boyfriend she calls a friend - and refused to marry at least 6 times. I guess they were engaged too, so I'm somewhat confused. You see her jerk boyfriend with a woman in town saying "When can I meet your family" (paraphrased), and he brushes her off. Our love interest has a small lap dog that Harold saved and helped her hide on the train. It was a loud lap dog, too, and had no interest in being hidden. It was adorable, probably a pomeranian. 

It starts out being cute, then gets dramatic around the last third of the movie. The manuscript he dropped off at the publishing house was rejected - then unrejected and retitled something rather insulting "A boob's Journal". Due to this rejection (he didn't know they'd reconsidered) he self-sabotages his own romance because he thinks he's a loser. I did not enjoy seeing that part. It was heartbreaking. He later gets a 3000 dollar check and the note with it. He's insulted and says they can't have it if they are making fun of it.  

Mary, our main lady, almost marries the jerk boyfriend. The day of the marriage the woman from earlier shows up again, only to announce and prove she is the WIFE of the jerk boyfriend. Oof. Harold then goes on a long, long, long scene of hopping and stealing transportation (including a bootlegger's car) to get to the wedding. He crashes it just in time to show her the proof and ask her to marry him (stuttering while doing so). A successful wedding crash saved Mary from dating a cheater and redeemed our main character. Hooray!

Courtesy of manchesterinklink.com

What I Liked

This one was cute, adorable even. I loved the little lap dog incident, which actually had our main character eating a dog biscuit to cover for why Mary had the biscuits at all. They were trying to hand it into the bag that hid the dog because it was yapping. It was silly and adorable. I also loved the two main characters - except for when Harold decides he's worth nothing and tries to throw away a good thing. 

This one had all my attention, as opposed to the other Harold Lloyd I watched (The Freshman, 1925). This was more of a rom-com (romantic comedy) than anything. I liked that. You see a lot of jokes and physical humor in these. It takes a special kind of acting to pull all that off. There was nothing I disliked enough to even have a section on what I disliked. Even the long segment of hopping transportation was entertaining. 

Overall Thoughts

This one is worth watching. I'm putting a link here for you to watch it (🎬 Movie - Harold Lloyd in Girl Shy - (1924) (youtube.com) ) 

If you want a cute film that has a rom-com feel, but some dramatic tension, you'll love this. It's wholesome and fun. You get a lot of cute animals thrown in at random, too. I will say you see some bare bottoms (some kids swimming in a river while Harold tries to find a romantic spot to sit with our main lady) for a brief minute. The animals include pet birds, piglets and mother pig, kittens and mother cat, and the lap dog that makes an adorable ruckus through the train. It's worth watching. 

As for the book he wrote, our main character was fantasizing and it was hilarious. The Caveman methods are pretty much throwing anything in your way on the ground and being a barbarian (literally smacking someone on the butt with their own shoe). That method was for flappers. The vampire romance was basically indifference. Quite dramatic and not helpful if you really wanted to find love. Those two illustrated scenes are funny. What's also funny is the jerk boyfriend saying "They say the 7th time is lucky. I'm going to try proposing again", only to annoy her and cause her to crash her car into a ditch. One man is writing bad fiction and the other is just an idiot. All the same, Mary chose the right man at the end of the story. Fortunately, his book wasn't published. And fortunately, none of the methods he wrote about were used to romance our main lady. 

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I wrote a book! I am delighted to say that I have 5 five-star reviews up on Amazon now, which is amazing. I hope you like it, too. If you're interested in buying a paperback, hardcover, or ebook version go to my website link in this blog or click here to go straight to my Amazon page. 

Jack Thomas is running from a past case. He's hiding in Wrenville. Is his past case catching up with him? 

Find out in my first book, Wrenville, a stand-alone suspense novel.

Second Chance Pile - Read or Unhaul It Challenge #2

 I'm doing it again. I need the motivation and help. The pile is still too deep. If you don't know what this is I'll explain. I'm reading five chapters of a book, randomly selected from the Second Chance pile of my personal library, and deciding whether to finish or DNF (do not finish) it. Let's dive in. 

1. I pick up a book at random from the pile. 

2. I read at least 5 chapters. 

3. I decide if I keep going or DNF (do not finish) it. 

4. I review it. 

The process above is what'll happen to these books. I'm trying to do at least three per blog. If I DNF two in a row, I pick five. If I'm not enjoying myself and I'm not compelled to keep reading I will put it down. Onward!

The White Rose Resists by Amanda Barratt

Courtes of moonglotexas.com

This was given to me by a coworker, who loves historical fiction. I trust this coworker's taste, but I'll admit that I dropped this book 19 pages in. The book was not poorly written, nor was it bad. It's about the students in Germany who resisted the Nazi regime. It came highly recommended and this was the copy I was gifted.  The problem is me; I didn't want to sit through the hard emotions this book was serving up only 19 pages in. I was not here to be depressed, I was here to be entertained. This is why I don't pick this genre up without a friend's suggestion. Given that, I didn't make it to chapter five at all. 

You'd love this if you like historical fiction, the 1940s era, and history from the time of Hitler. You'll put this down (like I did) if you don't want to wade through the dark emotion this serves up. It comes right out with it in the first chapter alone. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas vibe is what this gives you. Please decide accordingly, now that you know. Anything this heavy should have a warning on it. It has left my library. 

The Last Bookshop In London by Madeline Martin

Courtesy of lostinbookland.com

I got bored at chapter two. I will not lie. I wasn't invested in the main character and couldn't care less. I'm not the audience for this. You might protest that this book was great, as would my coworker who gave me the book, but I'm not the audience for this. 

The basic idea is that a woman moves to London in wartime to work at a bookshop, amidst London getting the brunt of the war at the time. I don't know any other details. Really, I skimmed chapter three, and the interest in the book, for me, wasn't any better. I feel bad because the same coworker who gave me the book above gave me this, yet, I have no will to finish it. 

Chasing Shadows by Lynn Austin

Courtesy of Audible.com

Again, I see that historical fiction is not something I'm an audience for. I was only in the prologue. I stopped reading. The mental distress of WWII era books is not my thing. I'm learning more and more what I don't want to read for leisure. Again, this book was given to me by the same person as the books above. I feel bad, but now I know our tastes differ (which isn't a bad thing). 

The basic plot is about three women during the WWII invasion, set in the Netherlands. If you like hearing about the underground you might like it. I was not bored, yet the emotional weight was already present in the prologue. Keep in mind this isn't going to be a light reading experience. I've learned that I don't want to sit with this heavy, dark emotion. The world is already dark enough without reliving WWII. 

The Intimate World of Abraham Lincoln By C. A. Tripp

Courtesy of Kobo.com

Do you want to know if Abraham Lincoln was gay? I don't. I picked this up with no thought whatsoever and have no idea why. The writing was also geared toward researchers, so there you have it. It was not written for leisure reading. My eyes glazed over at the wording alone. I'm not keeping it. It'll be in the little library with the rest of them. 

If you have an interest in knowing if Lincoln was gay and sleeping with a man, go ahead and try it out. I don't have any interest in such things. I can freely admit it makes no difference to me what he did with his free time and why his marriage was like it was. He was a president who ended slavery. That's all I need to know. 

Storm Front by John Stanford

Courtesy of Goodreads

I listened to chapter one and was already intrigued. I did look up if I needed to read it in order of series, but thankfully I don't. It has the feel of Philip Marlowe without the Noir-style flair. It starts with a stolen archeological stone and gets more complicated from there. They end up chasing this stone and the man who stole it all over the place. You've got a rough, hardboiled detective feel in a small community in Minnesota. It's connected to Israel (as the dig stone came from near the Jordan River). It has a possible Israeli operative in it. It's a quick, easy read for an afternoon or morning. 

Do keep in mind that the F-bomb is spoken. Please note that if you hate cussing. Also, there are minuscule traces of sexist dialogue (some dialogue that irks me a little), but it isn't as bad as I thought. It isn't out of the ordinary for the hardboiled detective genre. It's easy to get past. Specifically, it is usually attached to or about a character nicknamed "Ma" (who is a mother, but not to our main character). Side characters often comment on her boobs. I was at least happy they didn't describe her body in detail while she skinny-dipped - they let your imagination fill that info in. The same goes for sex; they did not describe it, just hinted that it happened. 

Another thing that irked me is specifically ball/crotch/testicle-related dialogue or figures of speech - all of which happens way too often, and never in a sexual connotation. If it happened once I wouldn't be commenting on it, but it happens at least 8 times in the book. I cringe at it every time. Also, I cringed every time they mentioned Ma's boobs. Seriously.  Stop! 

All that aside, it was a 3.75-star book. It was above average and I liked it. I'm keeping it. It's the only success story in this blog. If you like Marlowe and don't mind a rough Minnesota Agent, you'll like it. Also, if you dislike reading sex scenes, you'll be happy with it.  

Concluding Thoughts

I know some of you might be in a similar position to me, that you might be given books you aren't sure of. My best advice is to try them. If you love it, great, but if not you tried. That alone is a mark of friendship. I also advise you not to lie about your thoughts and tastes to spare feelings. It'll help your friend find books you'll love later on when you are honest. Maybe they don't even ask your thoughts, for all you know. 

One of the original books I had for this challenge is the second in a series, so I'm keeping it. It's no longer on the second chance pile, at least until I read the first one. I had to change my book selection mid-challenge. This is the fastest I've burned through the pile, yet. Only one is staying, and that is Storm Front. Despite some of the cringe, I am keeping it. It passed my test (whether it is better or equal to 3.5 stars). I learn more about my reading tastes with every challenge. I might get through my books before Christmas, at this rate. 

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I wrote a book! I am delighted to say that I have 5 five-star reviews up on Amazon now, which is amazing. I hope you like it, too. If you're interested in buying a paperback, hardcover, or ebook version go to my website link in this blog or click here to go straight to my Amazon page. 

Jack Thomas is running from a past case. He's hiding in Wrenville. Is his past case catching up with him? 

Find out in my first book, Wrenville, a stand-alone suspense novel.

Eragon - A Review

 I picked up Eragon from a little library while I was cramming duplicate books into the empty spaces. I exchanged 9 books for one. Today we review that one book. Let's get to it. 

Courtesy of pics.alphacoders.com

I watched the Eragon movie in 2006 and did not fully understand some of it. It turns out what my parents remembered is about what I remembered, too. Which wasn't much except a few scenes. Of what I remember, we have an old man dying on a flying dragon, the dragon and egg itself, a scary scene with someone being interrogated while our main character hid and watched, and a weird cursed woman who was cursed by some weird guy. This is what I remembered in a nutshell. I picked this up purely on the knowledge I enjoyed the movie when I was 11. 

I read this book and was immediately hooked. It began with an excellent prologue and a likable protagonist. After a few chapters, I knew I'd made a good choice. I had a signed copy, too, so I don't know who or why someone put this in a little library. Not everyone is a book dragon, I guess. 

What I liked About It

Let's start from the top. It has similarities to Game of Thrones in the format, but only the format. Both have a prologue that is intriguing but doesn't reveal all. Both introduce you to the world the author built while introducing the characters, making you attached to the characters before the action even begins. Before everything gets intense you know the character and life of your protagonist. You know the town, the people in it, the family, and what their normal life is like. This then gets turned upside down by the events leading into the main plot.

This book is clearly meant to be the first in a series, setting up how the main character learns about his power and abilities. He tests out magic, gets trained by Brom, and learns more about his dragon as they travel to get revenge for his Uncle's awful death. Brom is teaching Eragon what he needs to know for the future plot and future books. This means the next book will likely explain Eragon's and the dragon's abilities less than the first. This is a long, but entertaining, training segment until Brom dies.  

After Brom dies, you see a more mature Eragon. He buries him, has a new companion with secrets he's not sharing, and saves the elf he saw in his dreams after a brief stay in prison (and a rescue). This is where the training montage ends. We get real life smacking him into adulthood as soon as Brom dies. He's 16 and now of age (according to the story). He's making decisions and not impulsively using magic as often. He's learned to use his knowledge. He still makes mistakes, but he's much more cautious. 

To save the elf Eragon rescued, they travel to the Varden, where Murtagh starts getting really temperamental fast. He reveals that his parentage is the reason he's running from both Varden and Empire. Basically, he becomes a problem and an ally at the same time. He ends up, because he didn't split company, trapped into joining Eragon to see the Varden. This is where all the crap hits the fan, in case you were wondering. It's just gotten worse for this traveling party. 

With the Varden, hostility still comes. The elf is being cared for. The Varden doesn't know about Murtagh's secret at this point. The prologue with the elf courier connects directly to this elf, Arya. She was the courier from the prologue. They say it directly. She'd been heavily tortured by a Shade (a race with pointed teeth) by this point in the book. Eragon had seen visions of her in her prison cell before he rescued her. At this point Murtagh is kept separate for his own safety (in a cushy room) and the elf is now healed. Then the crap really hits the fan in an epic battle where Eragon defeats the Shade from the beginning, earning himself a long scar (that looks similar to Murtagh's back scar) and glory, as well as a vision of a strange man in white. The man warns him to keep the mental interaction secret. 

It has not gone Game of Thrones dark, which I was afraid of when it began like Game of Thrones. It's definitely young adult fantasy. It touches on darkness without diving into it deeper than it needs to. You get the point when it does get dark, though. Already our character is damaged, yet when I read this book it isn't a heavy, dark read. It's dark enough to get the point across without scaring its younger audience. 

Courtesy of Amazon

Our Main Characters

Eragon, our protagonist, starts off reckless and then grows up as he's trained. By the end of the training montage portion of the book and Brom's death he's grown into the age of adulthood(16) in the book culture. He's not as reckless. He's on his own and he knows it. He and Saphira are a team, an unstoppable one at that. By the time of Brom's death, he's seen some stuff. He's even saved an elf soon after. He's not a "perfect" protagonist and I like that. He's relatable. 

Saphira is a dragon. She's wise beyond her age. Not only is she sassy and witty, but she's an excellent source of help to Brom, Murtagh, and Eragon. She's bonded to Eragon deeply, something that makes her far more than a pet. She's speaking in thoughts to Eragon. It's a great way to give her more agency than just being an animal. It turns out that dragons had their own society way back when. Not surprising when you see how wise Saphira is. 

Brom is short-lived in this saga. He functions as a mysterious mentor, trains Eragon, and dies in battle. He had secrets for a significant portion of the early chapters. When he revealed all at Eragon's urging Eragon was ready for it. His death transitions Eragon into full adulthood, ending all training montages. He's a wise man who berates Eragon for his serious mistakes early on, driving home that magic is no joke and can kill you if misused. Brom is also reckless in some ways, making his bond to Eragon make more sense. 

Murtagh is a mystery, too, but not a mentor. He's a traveling companion who's hiding from both Empire and Varden, and we don't know why for chapters at a time. Eragon tries to look in his head and sees an impenetrable wall for his trouble. He saved them all, minus Brom who was far too injured to make it. He's been a great help in troubling times. He doesn't ask about Eragon's past and Eragon doesn't ask about his - that is until they need to go to the Varden. He's become a friend and traveling companion. The only thing that he won't do is go to the Varden, due to an issue with his parentage, which causes no end of conflict when the elf they rescued needs a poison antidote. At that point, he became a bit of a problem and was more of a liability. He does battle with the group, but I still am not sure of him. 

Arya, the elf they saved, is unconscious for much of the plot. She then becomes an unstoppable force in the end book battle. She allows Eragon to take out the Shade that controlled the Urgals. Not only that, but she's no damsel in distress. She's a powerful elf and is stronger magically than anyone at the battle. She's amazing and Eragon is enthralled by her. She's no weakling. I love her. 

What To Note

The first thing you need to know is how long this book is. It is a thick fantasy of about 500 pages. If you can barely finish a 200-page novel you'll have a hard time finishing this. The second book is even thicker, 768 pages (not counting the pronunciation guide and elvish/dwarven dictionary). Pick it up when you have time on your hands, not when life is too busy to sit down for fifteen minutes. 

The second thing to note is the genre, which is young adult high fantasy. This was aimed at Young Adult audiences, which means you don't go as hard (or as dark) as Game of Thrones or adult fantasy. High fantasy is more out there. Think epic quests, dragons, elves, dwarves, and magic systems. It doesn't blend real life and fantasy, instead, it creates its own world. This is a good start to getting into fantasy if you want to do so. 

The third thing to note is the book is not the movie. It isn't even close. It was a fun watch, but it didn't explain as much as it could have. It didn't help I watched it when I was a little young for the series, too. I was in elementary school for reference. I kind of want to rewatch it to see it more clearly, through adult eyes. My experience aside, you do need to know the movie and book don't match. 

There are now five books, counting the newest one "Murtagh". The fifth focuses on Murtagh after the events of the first four books. I do want to continue, and I intend to, but I don't know that I'm picking up book 2 right away since it is so long and I have so many on my bucket list. Don't be shocked if the review for "Eldest" shows up on my blog in the next two years. I'm reading these slowly, at my pace. I don't have all day to sit with a book these days. Adulthood is hard. 

The little dictionary at the back is nifty. You'll want to use it. It includes some pronunciation help and translations (so you know what someone said). Use it when you are reading out loud. Not all the words are intuitive and I got some pronunciation wrong while reading. 

Overall Thoughts

This a five-star fantasy and I was nearly compelled to start the 768-page book that was next. I highly suggest picking it up, especially if you want to dip your toes in high fantasy. It doesn't go Game of Thrones hard, so you can get a sense of the genre without struggling through the cruel darkness. It doesn't shy from dark ideas, but it doesn't dwell on them too long. It's the perfect blend of dark and light ideas. Check it out next time you see it somewhere. It's worth the hype and worth the reading time. 

My overall thoughts on all of it have a lot to do with what the storyline sets up. Basically, I am excited to see if Murtagh is actually trustworthy. Eragon may trust him, but I'm still not sure. Arya is amazing and I want to see more of her. Eragon is a bit naive when it comes to people and sees the world through a positive lens, which is unique in such a dark world. I love that. I nearly picked up the next one, the page count being the only reason I didn't. 

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I wrote a book! I am delighted to say that I have 5 five-star reviews up on Amazon now, which is amazing. I hope you like it, too. If you're interested in buying a paperback, hardcover, or ebook version go to my website link in this blog or click here to go straight to my Amazon page. 

Jack Thomas is running from a past case. He's hiding in Wrenville. Is his past case catching up with him? 

Find out in my first book, Wrenville, a stand-alone suspense novel.

Making A Reading Routine

Reading routines will get you through more books than just the open pile by your shelf. It'll get you into a habit of reading, something that will get you more into reading, provided you like the books you pick up. Let's start with how to get those habits going. 

  Courtesy of Mercy Home for Boys and Girls

I have so many books I couldn't possibly read them all in my lifetime. I keep buying them like a book dragon. I impulsively picked up book 2 of Eragon (Eldest) and realized how thick that series is. It'll be a while before I even reach for Eldest. This is why a reading routine may aid me in my quest. We'll start with practical, easy ways to create habits and move forward from there. 

Practical Tips

Keep a planner, if you haven't already done so, and add your reading to it. Because no one likes leftover tasks, you should add your book to your list (even if 15 minutes is all you can spare). Any time in a book is good. Some have created book journals, if you want to take this further. Reading trackers and planners can help you create a reading habit over time. 

Doing your reading first thing in the morning or right before bed is one tip you can try. Maybe you are a mid-day reader, though, so I totally understand if this isn't your jam. I do know that reading before bed helps you sleep. I also know falling asleep while reading is possible. Do you. This is just one tip. 

Set a goal for reading time. If you can set a number of books, hours of reading, or pages of reading that will keep you going. It can be weekly, monthly, or you can set a whole year ahead. Keep in mind that this can be changed as the year goes on, as you find what works and doesn't work. Do what is practical for you. Set an achievable goal. Change it as you need to.

Read what you want to read. Assuming this is leisure reading, you can pick your book. If you don't like it, put it down and pick up another. Reading what you don't like will put you in a "reading slump", which is when you stop reading for a while or don't enjoy reading for a short time. Read books you like and you will avoid this. You'll also want to sit down with your books more often. 

Do you have an existing routine, one already firmly in place? Make reading a part of that. Attach it to something else you always do all the time. This works for nearly anything. Established routines with added features are easier to maintain. 

Courtesy of winkgo.com

Be reasonable. A busy human being cannot maintain the writing routine of someone who has all the time in the world. Unless you can somehow pause time to read your book, I'd suggest starting with a goal that can be achieved on the busiest of weeks. Your busiest week might give you fifteen minutes of reading or half an hour of reading, but it is achievable. You make the rules. If you want to exceed that time, you go do that. If you want to make it shorter on a chaotic week, you do that. Any reading is good. 

Reading challenges can give a boost to your routine when you need to spice it up. Try the Read-it-or-unhaul-it (read it or get rid of it) or the one-shelf challenge (pick one bookshelf, one shelf, and as many books from that one shelf as possible in a set time). Readathons for a set amount of hours can be fun, too. You set the time on all readathons you attempt. There are so many, you can try a new one each year or month. Just plan for the time you'll need ahead because reality won't pause. 

Design your space around this habit. If you set the book on your nightstand (say you want to read before bed) and see it at the end of your nighttime routine, you'll pick it up more often. Put reminders around you. Be intentional and plan for it. Make the book an attractive option and join a community of readers. Make the form of a book convenient, because it is easier to pick up a book on your nightstand than have to walk across a room to find it. After all this is set up, then track your reading and reward yourself when you hit goals (realistic goals).

Speaking of designing your space, find a quiet, less distracted zone you can read in. If this means finding a local park, go for it. If you have a space you can design for your reading that's fantastic. Whatever you need to do to cozy up your reading nook/corner, you are welcome to do so. Put your phone in another room for best results. TV and internet should be a distance away from your zone, unless you are reading or listening from the internet. 

Courtesy of bhg.com

Carry a book everywhere you go. Whether you are reading on a phone, a physical copy, or an e-reader is not important. Use what you like best. Reading when you find time is a great way to get into a habit of doing so. MP3 players are also great, for audiobooks particularly. Be prepared to wait for anything in the world or spend all the extra time you have reading. 

Making a list of books you like or want to read is great. You can use excel, word document, digital list devices, or anything you want. Pen and notebook will work if you dislike technology and apps. The sky is the limit for tracking reading and making a list of "want to read" books. This is known as a TBR (To Be Read). Go about it however you like and track anything you want. 

Read to your kids. It teaches them a love of reading and keeps you accountable. If they like the book, they'll ask to be read to. You get quality time, accountability, and you cultivate a child's reading habit along with yours. Three wins in one tip. 

Depending on what you own, libraries and bookstores are great. Secondhand bookstores are even better and cheaper than a trip to a huge one. Make it a treat to get a new book. Libraries are the cheapest of all - free!

Finding More Reading Time

Reading (audio) while going on a run or exercising in a gym is a great way to get more reading time. If you are looking to make more time for your reading, I'd suggest trying it. Maybe you'll get lost in the story and exercise more often (in healthy spurts, please). 

Another great tip for finding more time is reading while on the go. On a train, on a plane, in a car...You have options. Audio is best for driving. Maybe you can even use your phone to read ebooks on the train. Time spent traveling can be expanded into a reading adventure. 

Courtesy of artofit.org

Replace your social media time with reading and you'll find how much time you wasted doom-scrolling. That's right, put the phone or device away for a set amount of time. It'll help you curb any social media addiction you have, as well as freeing time to do other things. Social media isn't evil, but it does steal time from us on a daily basis. 

Waiting on a class to start, a time clock, a friend, or an oil change? Whatever you wait for, take a book. You'll read at least a few chapters waiting for your child to finish play practice or your family to be ready for an outing. It's nifty to have an ebook on your phone in this scenario, in case you don't have room for a physical book. People who want to do this often arrive early for more reading time. 

Audiobooks while you work, bathe (with common sense - not in the shower unless you have a shower speaker), or do household chores will gain you more time for reading. It's great to have your book in multiple forms for this purpose. I find myself doing this more and more. It focuses me on my task. I like to crochet or sew to my audiobooks, especially when I have Christmas gifts to make and the season is flying by. 

You can blog your reading experiences if you like, but you don't have to. I came upon that tip. I know some of us do that (me), but if you don't like the idea of posting on the internet for all to see, don't. I'm mentioning it for any who want to freely share their views on books and authors. Do you on this one. Not everyone wants to post stuff online. 

Why Do This?

Reading has many mental health benefits, including stress relief after only 6 minutes of reading (genres of any kind). You can gain new understanding and go into a state of "deep reading", allowing yourself to grow in empathy and critical thinking skills, which creates a better human connection. Read before bed for better sleep, according to Psychology Today. Older adults are less likely to cognitively decline if they read once a week. It is even possible (not sure on this one) that readers live longer. 

If you have a library overflowing off of shelves you probably want to read them. I am currently working through a second chance pile that remains from my shelf cleanup. It technically won't be cleaned up until I try them all. I need to get moving before Christmas comes and the holidays eat my reading time. I also started a thick fantasy (Eragon) and need to get moving on it. No more open books until I finish it, or I'll go into a reading slump. 

Maybe you have a long TBR and you set a lofty goal for yourself. I'm giving one word of warning on this. Your TBR should not rule you; you rule your TBR. Just because you set your TBR in January doesn't mean you have to achieve it or you'll die. You will live if you don't finish it this year. Don't be hard on yourself when you miss the goal. The point is to read, not to stress yourself out with your own goals. Roll over the leftover TBR to the next year. It's not the end of the world to miss the goal. You can adjust next year's goal based on what you did this year. 

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I wrote a book! I am delighted to say that I have 5 five-star reviews up on Amazon now, which is amazing. I hope you like it, too. If you're interested in buying a paperback, hardcover, or ebook version go to my website link in this blog or click here to go straight to my Amazon page. 

Jack Thomas is running from a past case. He's hiding in Wrenville. Is his past case catching up with him? 

Find out in my first book, Wrenville, a stand-alone suspense novel.

Sources:

 10 Ways to Create a Daily Reading Routine — On Book Street

How To Create A Daily Reading Habit And Improve Your Well-Being (forbes.com)

Step-by-Step Guide to Start a Reading Habit - HobbyLark

Creating a Reading Routine for Mental Health | Psychology Today

14 Ways to Cultivate a Lifetime Reading Habit - LifeHack

35 Ideas For How To Read More - Everyday Reading (everyday-reading.com)

Read it or unhaul it - second chance pile edition

 I've done the read it or unhaul it challenge before, but right now I have two piles of books I need to go through. I'm motivating myself to finish my book cleaning project. I intend to finish it this year. If I'm going to do that, I have to rid myself of the second chance pile before Christmas. Today's challenge is only the second chance pile. 

Courtesy of Dreamstime

1. I pick up a book at random from the pile. 

2. I read at least 5 chapters. 

3. I decide if I keep going or DNF (do not finish) it. 

4. I review it. 

The process above is what'll happen to these books. I'm trying to do at least three per blog. If I DNF two in a row, I pick five. If I'm not enjoying myself and I'm not compelled to keep reading I will put it down. Onward!

Sundays In Fredericksburg by Key, Sowell, Stevens, and Vawter

Courtesy of Ebay.com

I read five chapters and didn't dislike it. However, I was not compelled to keep reading any further, mostly because it was just okay. I need to keep plowing through the books on the pile, so I have to be cut-throat on what I keep and don't keep. I put this one down, mostly because I wasn't intrigued enough to keep reading.

 If you like cute, Christian romance you'll like this book (with four romances included). If you want faith-based romance in your library you can check it out for yourself. The writing is good, the faith message is sincere, and anyone could read it (since I don't anticipate steamy scenes in this). I just don't have the motivation to keep going through it. 

Courtesy of Barnesandnoble.com

Soul Tattoo by Samuel Kee

I started with the prologue and it had my attention right away. This one had a possibility of being finished and fully read (especially after it's only 200-some pages) because it was not shallow like the other faith books I'd picked up. Chapters later I was still tuned in and saw no reason to stop. And I didn't stop. Nothing was shallow, nothing hit me as off. This was a solid four-star book. 

The best thing about this book was that all levels of faith could read it. A new Christian could read it and an established one (me) could thoroughly enjoy it. It hit on deeper content and didn't hide from it. It was not a surface-level faith book. I was glad I didn't impulsively donate the second chance pile before I reached this one. 

Why Her? by Nicki Koziarz

I thought I'd DNF this book right off the bat, but no, it started speaking to me. I don't necessarily find myself playing the comparison game consciously. Despite that, when I started reading this book I became aware that I might be and not realize it. The concept of this book is beating the comparison game through your faith in Christ, and being okay with yourself wherever you are standing. Then I got to chapters three and four (as I counted the prologue as a chapter for the five-chapter-rule) and my interest waned. It went from 3.5 to 3.75 stars to a 3-star book. Which means I DNFed it because it was less than compelling by chapter four. 

Courtesy of Proverbs31.org

This book was not horrible, nor was it the greatest. It was just okay. Just okay does not stay on my bookshelf and won't be remaining in my home. I have to be decisive on this challenge because this is my donate or keep it decision. I stopped reading at chapter four and placed it on the donate pile. She also focused on comparisons with other women, while I do not struggle with comparisons with other women - I compare myself to other authors who are doing better than me, if I'm honest, and gender doesn't actually factor into it. That's where she started losing me. Everything else was nice, but it didn't have to be a she I was comparing to. 

An Island At War by Deborah Carr

I read the prologue and the book was already quite heavy. I tend not to read this heavy of content. The last time I did it was worth it, but it took a lot of energy and dedication to finish. I started with the prologue and read up to chapter four. I was still not sure I wanted to continue. In that spirit, I pass on this one. I realize war is dark. This was on the second chance pile for a reason. In complete honesty, it isn't a bad book, but I need to make hard decisions while going through my second chance pile. 

Courtesy of Audible.com

The plot of this one revolves around a family on the Channel Islands, where the military left the Channel Islanders to their own devices without support. They were swiftly occupied and those that were there were on their own. If you couldn't get off the island you were stuck there. It is set in the 1940s through about 1944 (I looked ahead).  Our main character has lost her father to bombing and gunfire in the prologue and has just sent her sister on the ferry to London despite her sister's cries and begging. She has her and her grandmother, both working on a farm together. If I wanted to struggle through this one and shove through the darkness and emotion attached I would, but I was still on the fence. That's a neon sign for "donate me to someone who likes this genre more". Well written, but just a little too dark for my taste. 

At Home In Mitford

Okay, so this one I gave up on because I couldn't play the audio book CD on my disc-drive-less laptop. I looked it up on YouTube and couldn't find much, either. To be fair, I did judge it for being a Hallmark and I don't actually know enough to feel I'm missing out on anything. My coworker liked it, but that's all I know. I can't play it on my laptop to even test it. Long story short, I want to get on with the clean up. 

Courtesy of Amazon.com

Is it bad that I'm not giving it much of a chance? If I can't even play it, no. I can't even test it. It's worth nothing to me. I can donate it and give it to someone who can play it. I honestly believe that one might have left on its own, anyway, thus I don't feel guilty for plopping it into the donate pile untested. 

conclusions

I'm doing this to motivate myself. I need to get through the large stack of books and decide whether to donate or keep them. I'll do this again because it's worked so well. Some of you might be wondering why I don't just dump the whole lot of it into a donation bin and be done with it. I've donated 4 out of 5 books in this blog alone. The reason is simply this; I found diamonds among the rough in this pile and don't want to lose out on good books out of laziness. Most of the pile is being DNFed rapidly, yes, but I'm giving them five chapters to prove they are worth keeping. Soul Tattoo is just one example of a diamond in the dirt.

Why five chapters? Easy, by then you should be into it. If you are not into the book you can stop wasting your time on it after those five chapters. If you are into it you'll go way past five and read the whole thing. This method ensures I waste no reading time. I can stop before that if it is worse than mediocre. Try this method at home to see if your shelf is truly representing you. It works.  

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I wrote a book! I am delighted to say that I have 5 five-star reviews up on Amazon now, which is amazing. I hope you like it, too. If you're interested in buying a paperback, hardcover, or ebook version go to my website link in this blog or click here to go straight to my Amazon page. 

Jack Thomas is running from a past case. He's hiding in Wrenville. Is his past case catching up with him? 

Find out in my first book, Wrenville, a stand-alone suspense novel.