Book Reviews

Sunny Johnson, goldenwoman@hotmail.com Essence of Story, Assignment 2, beginner level

  1. "Multiple Wounds" by Alan Russell
    http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ts/book-reviews/0684815265/qid=928810458/002-1352225-4026005 <
  2. The murder of an art gallery owner takes Detective Orson Cheever on a quest through the maze of not only local politics but also the mind of a young artist named Holly Troy. Troy has a bewildering array of multiple personalities, who are based upon Greek gods and goddesses. As more murders occur, Cheever, with the help of Troy's therapist, must piece together the truth hidden in Troy's fragmented mind. In the process, Cheever must confront his own repressed feelings about his dead daughter and an unreso lved case from the past.

  3. The protagonist is Cheever, and his external conflict is to find and stop the murderer.

  4. Earthquake Weather" by Tim Powers
    http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ts/book-reviews/0812555198/o/qid=928809916/sr=2-2/002-1352225-4026005#top

  5. As in "Multiple Wounds," this novel contains a murder mystery and has a young woman (Janis Plumtree) with multiple personalities at its core. However, in this bizarre combination of voodoo, psychological thriller, and fantasy extravaganza, the plot includes a number of intertwining plots involving the passage of supernatural power between forces battling for the title of "King of the West." In the midst of surreal experiences involving voodoo and a perpetually bleeding boy, Plumtree finds an ally in fell ow mental hospital escapee Scott Crane, and they find themselves pursued by an evil psychiatrist and an awakening evil from Plumtree's past. Plumtree believes that she must restore the old king to life to atone for the deeds of her evil father.

  6. The protagonist is Plumtree, and her external conflict is to escape the machinations of the evil doctor.

  7. "Deep Space Nine -- episode where Nog loses his leg"

  8. In this episode, Nog has had his first real battle as a member of Starfleet, and though he behaved bravely, being hailed as a hero by all his friends on the station as he returns at the beginning of the episode, he is depressed and withdrawn because he has lost a leg and seen many friends die. Though friends try to reach out to him, he continues to withdraw until he is living in a holographic program of a Vegas lounge, hanging out with Vic the lounge singer. Vic argues with the therapist that she should just let Nog deal with his problems in his own way, and gradually Nog becomes so involved in the program that he plans to stay there forever.

  9. The protagonist is Nog, and his external conflict is coping in the real world with a disability.
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