Archives: Reviews

KatBookLover

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org Illustrated Short Fiction of William H. Coles: 2000-2016 by William H. Coles is a collection of 33 short stories, two graphic novels and one novella. It seems like a strange mix, but all this work makes a perfect sense. They are linked all together by two things: illustrations and a theme. All the stories are focusing on darker side of human´s soul. Do we really know ourselves? Can we predict our behaviour? What does good and bad
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Vleewrites57

Creating Literary Stories 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org Coles, who has penned other non-fiction books teaching about literary fiction as well as fictional books and short stories, takes great care in differentiating literary fiction from genre fiction. He walks the reader through each chapter of Books One and Two, delving into, but not limiting information to character development, point-of-view, voice, humor, time and narration. As he does so, Coles stresses the importance of the writer’s imagination and creative skill as the foundation for creating
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nobleronin

Creating Literary Stories 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The following is a review of the book entitled Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide by by William H. Coles. I read the book in a relatively short amount of time because I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and I highly recommend it. I rate this book a 4 out of 4 . I do not believe that a rating this high is to be lightly given. However, the reason I give it such a high
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Mlh1981

Creating Literary Stories 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org As a writer, I am always searching for ways to improve my craft so it connects with the reader and leaves a lasting impression. The search for this knowledge can seem daunting because there are so many opinions and thoughts on the best way to connect with a reader of fiction. After reading Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide, I feel a refreshed eagerness to jump right into writing with the information I gleaned from
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keycrump

The Spirit of Want Review from OnlineBookClub.org I liked the novel. It kept me interested to see how it would end. If she would find her true love? Would she be redeemed from past hurt? The characters felt real and believable. The only complaint I would have is I felt the author added some useless information in the story. I felt it dragged the story on instead of adding any significance to the story. I liked that the point of view of the story
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KitabuKizuri

The Spirit of Want 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The theme of the book predominantly explores the depraved nature of man, especially those who command respect in society. There are consequences for those who treat others unfairly as well as those who do the right thing. The capacity for those who are at the apex of trusted institutions to succumb to actions beneath their social standing is real. We see it in real life on the news and in the grapevine, but the reader of
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ernest mwangemi

The Spirit of Want 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org William H. Coles has never disappointed in his work. His ability to create a story full of drama and twists without forgetting the unpredictability of the sequence and characterization. The Spirit of Want is that book that fully captures your attention from the beginning to the end. It fills your mind with many questions and eagerness to know what happens next, this will keep you opening the pages up to the last page. I really liked
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Don Pwai

The Spirit of Want 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The styles used in the creation of the novel enhanced its taste. The author uses suspense, vivid description, comedy and irony, and dialogue in creating the novel. They enhanced the taste of the novel in different ways. I was particularly moved by the comedy in the novel. I could not help but laugh at certain comical scenes in the course of the narration. Characters like Hower Bain are just comical. He is a pastor but the
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Lucas Kalinic

The Spirit of Want 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I loved the themes discussed by the author in this novel. In addition to the theme of love, the author discusses themes like family and marriage life, divorce, religion and hypocrisy, effects of drug abuse and rotten justice system. These themes are self-evident in the society today. Avid readers can easily identify with them. I was awed by the theme of love, family and marriage as a result of their interconnectedness. The leading character, Lucy is
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SophieS1994

The Spirit of Want 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org Clear your diaries! Clear your schedules! And cancel all social plans. Because once you start reading The Spirit of Want by William H. Coles, you won’t be able to stop. Set in 1980s Atlanta, the story follows the romantic trials and tribulations of the beautiful, but oh- so exhaustingly difficult, Lucy MacMiel. On the surface, she is the quintessentially fierce career woman who has it all. She has the looks, the brains, the marriage and her
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Newlyretired

The Surgeon's Wife 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The characters are well developed and easy to follow. We don’t lose sight of each of them. Due to the nature of the story, Mr. Coles does an excellent job describing the medical aspects and use of medical jargon making it simple and easy to understand and follow. Having worked at a hospital known to be one of the first and well known bariatric centers Mr. Cole portrays bariatric surgery and it’s many issues very accurately.
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Jkmj2005

The Surgeon's Wife 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I found The Surgeon’s Wife by William H. Cole to be captivating read. I was intrigued by the medical/ethical dilemma of treating patients with bariatric surgery. The conflict between the two doctors could be felt and was conveyed well throughout the novel. The chemistry and dynamics between characters as the story unfolded made me want to continue reading to feed my curiosity of their lives, forgetting about my own. The ending was shocking and unpredictable! Read
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ReyvrexQuestor Reyes

The Surgeon's Wife 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org This novel is well-written and thoroughly edited, with smoothly flowing narrative and an engaging theme most likely suited for fiction fans, preferably, those above the age of consent because of the family issues. Further, some knowledge of medical procedures would be a plus factor for added enjoyment. I could honestly say that there is nothing for me to dislike in this novel. With that said, my rating for the novel titled The Surgeon’s Wife by William
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Liyanage7

The Surgeon's Wife 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I rate this 4 out of 4 stars as it was well-written and professionally edited with a flow that made me want to read non-stop till the end. The smooth flow and narration of the events which can happen in real life was depicted in a manner that even few lessons can be learned. The twists and turns in the story with conflicts in relationships and politics that can happen in any type of office, not
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Don Pwai

The Surgeon's Wife 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I loved the themes discussed by the author in this novel. The themes discussed in this novel include love and romance, technology in the medical field, marriage and family life, divorce, discrimination and poverty just to mention a few. These are themes that represent the features in the society. They depict the real situation in the society. For instance, the picture of technological advancement posing technical problems to some medics was really excellent. It shows a
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Gathoni1991

The Surgeon's Wife 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I admired the story of one of the characters. Being from a humble background (a single parent family, whose mother worked as a fortune teller in the streets), he studied his way out of poverty to be a respected surgeon in New Orleans. This was my biggest takeaway from the book – how education can remove one from obscure poverty to place them in high society. What I did not like about the story, was how
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Sharon2056

The Surgeon's Wife 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org Coles is an adept storyteller; the book is an easy read with a fast-paced story. The book was exceptionally edited with a few instances of using foul languages. Besides that, I did not find any other flaw in the book, and I wholeheartedly rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. This is an intriguing well thought out love story that shines a light on both sides of the affected characters. I highly recommend to fans
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Karina Nowak

Review from OnlineBookClub.org In all, I really liked the flow of the story and how the author took time to tell smaller stories that eventually crossed over with the main characters. Other than the few surgeons who were mentioned in passing, there were hardly any idle supporting characters. Every character had their own arc, their own purpose, their own story that went ill or good according to their choices. I was able to chew on each of them, their beliefs
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C-obi

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The story was well-written. The characters were well-developed and properly linked. I had no difficulty understanding who was whom in the story. The concept behind the story was realistic. Here you find Catherine, a surgeon’s wife who found herself in a marriage where she was used as a bait for financial favors, falling genuinely in love with the man she least expected. It raises very important questions to parents on the need to respect the decisions
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corinaelena

The Surgeon's Wife 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I really enjoyed reading The Surgeon’s Wife. I believe William H. Coles did an amazing job at creating realistic characters, and that he constructed a very interesting plotline, that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The way the protagonists evolved with the traumatic events they face left me speechless, and I believe the author captured veritable character development in each of his protagonists. Read the entire review here… corinaelena

Y0landa

Creating Literary Stories 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org This book lists the key constituents that set literary fiction apart from other genres. Chapter by chapter, the author breaks down these important components and goes into depth describing each one in detail. I like how the author found ways of giving examples so that the book content would be easily understood. First of all, the new terms introduced in each chapter were listed and defined to clear any doubts before further reading the chapter. Second,
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nobleronin

nancynayana

Creating Literary Stories Review from OnlineBookClub.org I highly recommend this book as a guide for both new and established fiction writers. A handy and very detailed reference if you are writing literary fiction for the first time. The beginners of fiction writing are provided with the reasons why the literary fictional stories fail and when a fictional story is received as credible. The author urges the fiction writer to introspect and figure out ones motivation for writing literary fiction. A truly great work
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KingK123

The Surgeon's Wife 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The author had an incredible flow to this work. Every event correlated to another so smoothly that you never had to guess why something was happening. Even with the introduction of new characters, one never gets lost in their purpose because of the consistency in the author’s writing. The descriptors through the entire novel were also excellent. It was very easy to picture what was happening, even in the surgical procedures. This makes it so those
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B Creech

The Surgeon's Wife 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The author did an outstanding job of creating the characters and their personalities. The storyline was realistic and gave an accurate view of pressures in the medical profession. As a retired nurse, I can relate to the day-to-day stress of working in the medical field; and how adding personal drama to an already stressful job can create explosive situations. I was impressed with Cole’s writing style. The narrative was easy to read, and the storyline was
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GHOSTFRIEND

The Surgeon's Wife 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The story is really intriguing and the author has made really good use of every single page to present to us a power-packed short story. I liked how the characters were made to suit each other. As I have mentioned earlier that this book largely deals on human behaviour and we all know human behaviour is very much unpredictable. The author, however, seems to have a very good understanding of human behaviour because the ways his
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kadinkins14

The Surgeon's Wife 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I would give this novel a 4 out of 4 stars. I thought it was a great length; the story was thoroughly presented without too much verbiage. My favorite aspect of the novel was the relatable moral and ethical healthcare dilemmas that Dr. Boudreaux found himself facing. As a nurse, I have witnessed and debated these ethical issues firsthand and can relate to how he struggles to do what is ethically right for the patients. I
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corinaelena

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I loved noticing the diversity of characters presented in the book. No matter how lonely, or special you might think you are, William H. Coles manages to make everyone feel included. I believe the main goal the author set was to prove that nothing is impossible: life is rough, and many unimaginable things are constantly happening to us. His characters, no matter how unique and deranged, show the rough reality of life. The tragedies presented can
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fmd1821

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org Coles always reveals his preference for profound and often controversial themes in his works. I read some of his novels, but this is the first time I read his short fiction. I found here the same commitment of his longer works. Illustrated Short Fiction of William H. Coles tells stories about love, diversity, death, guilt, and punishment – only to mention a few themes. Coles develops these themes with clarity, and at the end of each story,
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QuirkyPenn

McDowell 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I loved the book. It was an engrossing read and I could not put it down. I loved the characterization. The quirky people he meets are often funny, always endearing and very real. A beautiful story I would recommend this book to anyone interested in character-driven books. There was nothing not to like. It is well written, thought-provoking and for me an original read. Read the entire review here… QuirkyPenn

N_R

McDowell 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org Guilt and redemption, what could possibly make a better theme in a novel? If this is a contrast that interests you, then William H. Cole’s McDowell is the book for you. As a reader, you will experience a range of emotions and be left as you finish the last page with a feeling of compassion. I rate this novel as a 4 out of 4. It was professionally edited and had no grammatical mistakes. Once I
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Astrid Lustulin for Readers’ Favorite

McDowell 5/5 William H. Coles’ McDowell is a page-turner that you cannot stop reading until you finish it. This fast-paced and engaging novel tells the story of a reputable surgeon, Hiram McDowell. He is presented at the beginning as a self-centered and arrogant man who cares only for himself and his children. Even though he reaches the top of his profession, he is even better at falling out with his relatives and colleagues. After a personal tragedy, however, McDowell’s perfect world
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Lesley Jones for Readers’ Favorite

McDowell 5/5 In McDowell by William H. Coles, Hiram McDowell, a self-obsessed, narcissistic surgeon, is on his second marriage and heading quickly for divorce. Hiram believes people, including his wife and children, exist to serve his needs. He manages to make many enemies in business too and is facing an investigation into professional misconduct. Hiram seems oblivious to his family problems, a grandson that falls into crime, a daughter that is struggling to cope since her mother’s death from cancer and
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Jamie Michele for Readers’ Favorite

McDowell 5/5 McDowell by William H. Coles is an engrossing piece of literary fiction surrounding the rise, fall, and ultimate redemption of Dr. Hiram McDowell. McDowell is both the story’s protagonist and, as he truly is his own worst enemy, also the catalyst for his demise. This snowballs from years of narcissism, callous behavior, and a ‘win at any cost’ attitude. He’s blameless in his own eyes. Blameless for failed marriages, for his vengeful colleagues, and for the frailty of his
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Lex Allen for Readers’ Favorite

McDowell 5/5 Hiram McDowell is at the top of his profession, a surgeon admired not only for his skill in the operating room and his contributions to the development of new surgical methods and equipment but also for his philanthropic activities. Add those achievements to his hobby of mountain climbing that includes conquering every 8000 plus foot peak in the Nepalese Himalayas. Sadly, Hiram is also an egomaniac that retains little sense of loyalty or sympathy for anyone other than his
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Grant Leishman for Readers’ Favorite

McDowell McDowell by William H Coles brings us the tale of a man who, having reached the top of his profession, self-destructs and loses it all, then attempts to rebuild his life from scratch. McDowell is a world-renowned surgeon, lauded by all as one of the best in the business and he knows it. This overachiever climbs mountains in his spare time and has summitted Everest along with most of the highest peaks in Nepal. He is known by all as
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K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite

McDowell 5/5 McDowell is another high quality work of literary fiction penned by author William H Coles, this time focusing on themes of privilege and the fall from grace. Our central character is the titular Hiram McDowell, an acerbic and selfish man who cares only for his immediate group of close family. A renowned surgeon, McDowell’s downfall begins when his grandson commits a heinous crime and is soon after found dead himself. The bottom falls out of the surgeon’s world when
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Romuald Dzemo for Readers’ Favorite

McDowell 5/5 I became a strong fan of William H. Coles after reading his novels The Surgeon’s Wife, The Spirit of Want, and Guardian of Deceit, so when I stumbled on McDowell, I knew it would be another spellbinding and well-written story. I wasn’t wrong. It is the same powerful and unique literary voice, focused and steady. With his unique style and signature, Coles creates another compelling character in Hiram McDowell, a successful and respectable surgeon, a man with a dubious
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Divine Zape for Readers’ Favorite

McDowell 5/5 McDowell by William H. Coles is a novel that follows the rise and fall of a man, surgeon Hiram McDowell. McDowell climbs quickly in his career and gains the respect of his peers and the community. But he is not in the good graces of most of his colleagues, thanks to his callousness and pride. His success gets him into the President’s circle, but a tragedy that leads to a conviction destroys everything. McDowell finds himself running from the
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Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers’ Favorite

McDowell 5/5 McDowell by William H. Coles is the story of Dr. Hiram McDowell. A celebrated surgeon, Dr. McDowell is single-minded in getting what he wants. His climb to the top is not without casualties and is not without some questionable practices. Cold and calculating, there is no denying his brilliance but when tragedy strikes, his world comes tumbling down. Grief and anger put him on a criminal path that will see his life of privilege and wealth all but destroyed.
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esaveni74

Guardian of Deceit 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The characters are all well-developed. It was a very thought- provoking novel that captured my attention. The story was written in a simple language that was easy to read and understand. There were lots of twist and turns in the story. The author discusses a lot of social issues, like bad judgment, bad child upbringing, bad choices and mistrust. The author is very talented to write such an interesting novel. The story flowed easily from one
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Nerea

Guardian of Deceit 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The story highlights aspects like deceit, drama, career, athletics, family, education, abduction, relationships and legal development. The relationships featured in the story are quite interesting. They are dramatic and keeps fluctuating. Furthermore, the effects that divided families have on the members and the flaws present in the education system are vividly explained. I enjoyed reading the book Guardian of Deceit by William H. Coles. For a moment, I thought I was watching a movie. The author
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Rosh_360

The Spirit of Want Review from OnlineBookClub.org The title of the book, “The Spirit of Want” is truly justified. Throughout the book, you might hate Lucy for certain parts but in the end, you will always come back to feeling sorry for her as you understand her pain. One of the few sentences in this book that has gravely touched me is when Elizabeth (Lucy’s sister) is talking to Luke about Lucy having abandoned her family. She says, “and what might have happened if
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Sfranco1

The Spirit of Want Review from OnlineBookClub.org I really enjoyed this book. Lucy is a complicated, but very human, character. She is both ruthless and vulnerable. She makes poor choices, and the reader will root for her while also being angry with her. William H. Coles develops Lucy perfectly. He shows how she can both reject and desire love. He shows us her insecurities and how she manages them — sometimes in disastrous ways. We see how she is a strong, beautiful, and intelligent
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SmrutiS

The Spirit of Want Review from OnlineBookClub.org William H. Coles in The Spirit of Want weaves Lucy’s romantic adventures. She is a lawyer by profession. The impression that a reader forms when she first appears, is that of an arrogant and a proud woman with an I-don’t-care attitude. She ends up with an accident the first night that she drives with Luke. She marries him. She takes up Reverend Bain’s case – underage molestation. She loses. Well, what does she lose? What does she
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Seriousbookreader

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org It’s a good, fast-paced read and the book offers poignant storytelling and meaningful takeaways by the author, William Coles. I like that his stories have no open endings. The stories are complete, leaving you completely drenched with emotions feeling like a complete human. Common themes are complicated relationships, humanity, love, and injustice in the world and every shade of emotions. The emotions are piercing and hit you at the most unexpected times. If you are in a
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emptyC

The Short Fiction of William H. Coles 2000-2016 Review from OnlineBookClub.org There are so many subjects covered in this book that that it is hard to pick a favorite out of the thirty-six stories the author has wrote. Most of the stories cover the darker side of humanity such as Suchin’s Escape. Reading about a poor girl who is stuck into prostitution at a young age and tries hard to escape that life was sad. However the help she received from the most unexpected person was uplifting. So
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Janalyn101

The Surgeon's Wife 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I would recommend this book to anyone who likes family drama, medical dramas, or romance novels, as it has all of those included in the book. I wouldn’t recommend it to those who are sensitive to gun violence, adultery, and/or physical abuse. Furthermore, there isn’t much vulgar language or at least not any that I can remember, and that is something that gets my attention. This book was perfectly edited and had no grammatical errors. With
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SMPlaya

The Surgeon's Wife Review from OnlineBookClub.org What I most enjoyed about the book was the investigation into the questionable practices that exist within the privatized medical system. Otherson’s professional problems stem from his promotion of a surgery targeted toward the obese that has specific indications for patient candidates and limited positive results. As Otherson begins to ignore the indications, and as more patients begin to experience complications rather than an enhanced life, his practices are called into question by his peers. I was
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bkiss317

McDowell Review from OnlineBookClub.org I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters and found myself rooting for some over others as the story progressed. Hearing from reporters, co-workers, and relatives of Hiram, gives an interesting perspective as you see that different people have different views on the same thing. One person may have a great respect for a person and their actions, while someone else may view those actions and horrible and appalling. I found myself flipping back and forth
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Kaylene75428

McDowell Review from OnlineBookClub.org This book is a success. McDowell needs to be on the shelf of every bookstore and library. I believe it would also make a great motion picture. Author William H. Coles magnificently portrays the life of Dr. Hiram McDowell not only by description and events, but also in first person point of view letting the reader make their own opinions about the characters. Coles has a real talent for painting a very detailed picture in the reader’s
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Bradie

McDowell 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The character development in this novel is amazing and one of the elements I appreciate the most. It was a unique experience for me to have so much distaste for a character, but I think this is what made the story even more intriguing. Hiram is proven to be callous, rude, and selfish on a multitude of occasions. The interest comes from being able to get insight into the life of a person you would hope
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Thundershake

McDowell 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org McDowell is an exceptionally great story with an amazing plot and characters. William H. Cole’s depictions of the story stand great with wonderfully fashioned characters. Hiram seems an interesting enough character. And though his actions may get on people’s nerves, he seems genuine enough a character. The other characters also share the same realistic nature. One can see the deepness of their being. They aren’t just some characters. They call for attention. And they receive it.
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Rosenblatt1

McDowell 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org In William H. Coles’ McDowell, the influence of greed drives a respected general surgeon and devoted father to use morally and ethically questionable tactics to rise to power as the President of the board of directors of the International College of Surgeons. During Part I of the two-part, 662-page novel, Hiram McDowell seems to be almost completely motivated by base instincts. The reader develops an understanding of McDowell as a powerful and wealthy man who takes
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Gisela Dixon

Creating Literary Stories 5/5 Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide is a non-fiction book on the do’s and don’ts of writing creative fiction stories. William H. Coles is himself an author of fiction stories and in this book, he talks from his own experience about what works and what doesn’t when it comes to fiction or creative writing. In this book, he discusses in detail the craft and techniques of creating stories. The topics covered in this book include character development in
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Samantha Gregory

Creating Literary Stories 5/5 Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide by William H. Coles is a how-to guide for writing fiction. It goes through the various elements needed to get started as well as some tips and advice on things like plot and dialogue. If you are a first-time writer who is struggling or trying to work out your story before writing it, this would be a good book to read first. If you are unfamiliar with things like a plot-driven story,
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K.J. Simmill

Creating Literary Stories 5/5 With more people than ever being able to embrace their inner author, learning resources, information, and guidelines are something in high demand for those wishing to hone their craft. There is a lot to understand, from the definitions of keywords to the all-important narrative and plot design. Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide by William H. Coles aims to introduce topics from conception to execution. As an author myself, I always feel the need to be constantly improving,
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Asher Syed

Creating Literary Stories 5/5 Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide by William H Coles is a non-fiction writing manual for those who are interested in improving their craft as authors. Whether it is flash fiction, short stories, or any length of novel, Coles outlines the foundational groundwork and then builds up through the process of a tale’s construction in order to assist a writer with the fundamentals of successful story writing, as well as explaining why each component is necessary. Spread over
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Edith Wairimu

Creating Literary Stories 5/5 Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide by William H Coles is an informative guide for both beginners and seasoned writers who want to learn more about how to write engaging fiction. It is divided into two sections. The first section examines aspects of fiction writing such as character development, creation of dialogue, selecting the appropriate point of view for your story and other features. In the second section, the book delves into the foundational aspects of writing a
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Anne-Marie Reynolds

Creating Literary Stories 5/5 From award-winning author, William H Coles comes Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide. Ever dreamed of being a fiction writer? Tried your hand at it but just can’t figure out where you are going wrong? Then this guide may be just what you are looking for. This is a no-nonsense, to the point guide that leads you by the hand through the ins and outs of writing a great literary novel. Learn the structure, how to build up
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Ray Simmons

Creating Literary Stories 5/5 I decided to read Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide by William H. Coles because I am a writer and I’m always trying to work on and improve my craft. I have four books published, but I always want to improve, I always want to write more, and better. I have taken courses and read books but, to be honest, not recently. I hoped I would get some new ideas and a new perspective from reading William H.
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Lesley Jones

Creating Literary Stories 5/5 Creating Literary Stories by William H Coles is a detailed and comprehensive guide and a must for any writer. Unlike many other books on the subject, this guide tackles often overlooked areas such as the development of strong characters and plot in far more detail. You will learn to understand the importance of dialogue that propels the story forward and build characters that readers can relate to on an emotional level. Discover the myths to writing fiction and guidelines
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Marta Tandori

Creating Literary Stories 5/5 Many would-be fiction writers have sat before their computers, staring perplexed at the sea of words before them, utterly stumped at why the words that form the sentences, and the sentences that form the paragraphs, simply don’t work. Creating Literary Stories: A Fiction Writer’s Guide, by William H. Coles, would undoubtedly have shed some light on their respective dilemmas. Coles goes about demystifying and dissecting the fundamental elements of literary fiction writing in Book One with sections on character,
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Emily-Jane Hills Orford

Creating Literary Stories What is literary fiction? And what makes it different from memoirs or genre fiction? Literary fiction is something that will stand the course of time; it will make a bold statement and allow the individual reader to grow in his or her experience merely by reading the story. Basically, literary fiction is a complex work of art, something to be savored, studied and analyzed. So, how does one write literary fiction? It must be assumed that any writer can write
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Kansas City Teacher

McDowell 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org Can a person’s identity be defined by his success? The actions of his children? Can one grievous transgression destroy years of work in building a name? I give this book a 4 out of 4 stars. What I liked most about the book is the character development- in the main character, but also the supporting ones. I could see the attitude and outlook of the characters changing throughout the story, reflected in their thoughts and actions.
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sabrims1

McDowell Review from OnlineBookClub.org Coles does an excellent job in blending the different characters and their stories together to create a cohesive storyline and makes the differing opinions and views evident through varied diction and thought descriptions when we are reading the story through a different character’s mindset. The clarity of writing makes it so that the reader does not get lost in what can be a wearying experience of remembering which character is which and what they think, etc. The
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Choine

McDowell Review from OnlineBookClub.org On the surface, this book doesn’t seem very complex, but as the story progresses, the author reveals a lot of information. Although there are many details in this book, it can be considered fast-paced. It is jam-packed with different scene changes, plot twists, and conflicts between characters. Some of these components may be hard to keep up with. If you have trouble following a plot that has multiple scene/character changes or is constantly introducing new information, I
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tnandrews127

McDowell 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org Coles does a very good job in analyzing the characters in the book. I really like that Coles went into detail about each characters’ thoughts. I have never read a book whereas the author would go into detail about the characters’ thoughts. I thought that was really awesome. I felt like I was actually seeing what they were thinking. I really enjoyed this book. There was always a surprise and a bit of a shock every
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cgehan

The Spirit of Want 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org I thoroughly enjoyed the dynamic characters and the unpredictable plot this story brings. I believe that anyone in the legal or medical field would truly enjoy Coles’ work. I also would recommend it to those with sisters or mothers as the story revolves around the sisters’ complicated relationship and a mother of daughters would have an interesting perspective while reading. I found little errors and believe the story to be well edited. Due to the characters
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OliviaLouise

The Spirit of Want Review from OnlineBookClub.org Coles did a great job of developing a complex protagonist that plays with the reader’s emotions. I found myself sympathizing with Lucy one moment and then questioning everything I thought I knew about her the next. Additionally, the plot was suspenseful and unpredictable, yet had a very believable and natural flow. Strategic time jumps take the reader through the years of Lucy’s life and create a window into the long-term impact of her choices. There is a
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KDJ

McDowell 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org After reading McDowell, I have found that the novel is best summarized by Maude’s idoneous words to Hiram: “People content in themselves learn to give selflessly, without concern for personal gain, to learn the joy of being human.” This novel will, if nothing else, prompt conversations around the important topics alluded to within its 472 pages. Parts of McDowell caused personal reflection and consideration of others in the world; therefore, I enjoyed reading it. I rate
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Abacus

McDowell 4/4 Review from OnlineBookClub.org The story is effectively portrayed; the reader wants to experience what is coming next. There is no lack of plot. The author capitalizes on a terrible life-changing tragedy to transform McDowell’s circumstances utterly. The second part of the story explores how McDowell’s changed circumstances impinge on McDowell, the man; he is angry, and he needs to record his daily life to relieve tension and he wants to write his memoirs to one day proves his innocence.
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Romuald Dzemo

Sister Carrie 5/5 Sister Carrie by William H Coles is a psychological thriller that explores the themes of loss, grief, family, and a sister’s struggle to keep her younger sister from harm. After the loss of their parents, none of the siblings wanted Carrie, so Jessie had no choice but to take in her younger sister, determined to bring Carrie up with their parents’ Christian principles and keep her innocent. As Carrie settles in, Jessie’s dream of a loving husband and a
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K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite

Sister Carrie Sister Carrie is a short work of literary fiction penned by author William H. Coles which focuses on relationships and psychology in a dangerous and destructive world. The novella features two sisters, orphaned and searching for acceptance in the wider world. When one sister begins a relationship online, the other older sister is filled with concern. She struggles with the parental role, feeling lost and lonely herself, and this struggle turns into a fraught tension between the pair as she
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Lit Amri for Readers’ Favorite

Sister Carrie After the death of her parents, Jessie Broward takes her 17-year-old sister Carrie under her care. Despite worrying about financial matters, Jessie, an optometrist assistant, gets Carrie a job at the movie theater and life is good for them. An Arab man named Zamel, however, challenges the sisters’ bond when Carrie falls in love and marries him without Jessie’s blessing. Failing her secret relationship with her own boss, Jessie feels lonely without Carrie whom she’s convinced is miserable in a
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Deborah Lloyd for Readers’ Favorite

Sister Carrie 5/5 The Broward parents, from Piedmont of North Carolina, died at the same time, leaving the adult and almost-adult family of four children. After the funeral and cleaning out the house and outbuildings, Henry returned to Arizona and Martha to Michigan. Jessie, in her twenties, had no choice but to take seventeen-year-old Carrie into her small apartment. Carrie had dropped out of high school earlier, and Jessie got Carrie a job at the local movie theater. Jessie’s intention was to
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Christian Sia for Readers’ Favorite

McDowell 5/5 McDowell by William H. Coles is a family saga that follows the life of a selfish and arrogant surgeon, who suffers an epic fall from grace, and the path he travels to redemption. McDowell cares for no one but his children. But then he loses everything when his grandson commits multiple murders and fails in his suicide attempt, which leaves him paralyzed mentally. But the boy dies in very unusual circumstances and McDowell gets a conviction for second-degree murder.
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Rabia Tanveer for Readers’ Favorite

McDowell 5/5 This is the story of a man named McDowell, who had everything he ever wanted. Whatever he wanted, he achieved and he was proud of it. Envied by his peers, he was arrogant and selfish, but not with his family. He truly loved them and wanted the best for them, so when his grandson commits murder and then fails to commit suicide, McDowell’s life comes to crashing to a halt. His grandson, Jeremy, is now paralyzed and living a
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Reviewed By Mamta Madhavan for Readers’ Favorite

Guardian of Deceit 5/5 In Guardian of Deceit by William H. Coles, we see seventeen-year-old Darwin Hastings being sent away to New York from Pittsburgh as his dying aunt is unable to take care of him He is sent to a new guardian, his cousin Luther Pinnelli, who is not only rich, but also a famous football player. He meets Doctor Adrian Malverne on the flight, who will later on play an important role in Darwin’s life and career. His dream is to
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Reviewed By Ruffina Oserio for Readers’ Favorite

Guardian of Deceit 5/5 Guardian of Deceit by William H Coles is another interesting novel from this author. Darwin Hastings flies from Pittsburgh to New York. After the death of his parents years ago, he had been living with an aunt who can’t support him anymore. Now he plans to live with his football-star cousin Luther Pinnelli, dreaming of completing his studies in medicine after graduation. But life isn’t what he expected and people aren’t too friendly; in fact, he finds himself in
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