The Vanishing of my Spare Time: A Review of the Vanishing of Katherine Sullivan by Christina Weaver12/25/2014 Review by Matthew Feldman The title of my review may come off as a misleading insult to the title of the book and the overall story, however my faithful readers, I can guarantee you, with one hundred percent certainty that this is not the case. The purpose of the title was to compound how completely absorbed I was by this book and the quality of work that this author has produced.
The Vanishing of Katherine Sullivan is the debut book of Christina Weaver. Writers who are typically new to the mystery genre generally assume like all stories that there is a beginning, a middle, and an ending for the overall mystery of the story. However, when it comes to Insomnia Publishing’s Christina Weaver’s debut novel, it goes beyond the typical mystery novel, and it considers not only what a good mystery story is, but also how to pull at the reader’s imagination in the constant question of this novel: What happened to Katherine Sullivan? Mystery novels are generally difficult to write because despite the fact that there is a mystery that needs to be solved while the main character attempts to do so, there are always a variety of obstacles and generally some villain behind the plot. However, it’s important to understand the following about a good mystery novel in my honest opinion and review: A mystery novel does have a beginning, middle and an end. These three parts however, in order to successfully put a mystery novel together need three key important additions. The first is to the beginning of the book; a mystery that not only sets the tone for the novel and characters, but a mystery that will unfold like a puzzle as the story continues. The Middle’s mystery if not to be considered as the most difficult part, must not only build on the story and keep it flowing, but it must now add another element of mystery that coincides with the overall tone, while presenting small mysteries to keep the reader’s imagination at a constant wondering and freshly running hamster wheel of curiosity so to speak. Lastly, the ending must not only resolve all of the plot points, or do so ambiguously, but it must also reveal the whole of the underlying mystery that has been generated by the story teller of the mystery genre. In her ebut novel, Christina Weaver’s The Vanishing of Katherine Sullivan does this and definitively more. The cast of characters that we are immediately shown from Chapter 1 to Chapter 24 are not only deceptive and intriguing, but they are filled with this nearly realistic cultural overtones of life in West Virginia and Ohio, and we are presented not only with excellent narrative, but we can feel a real connection to the characters that we meet. Main character, Matt is introduced in the first chapter as not only the closest family member to his Uncle Lucas who the rest of his family finds strange if not outright weird, taking care of his Uncle over the phone due to cardiac issues. Matt, keeping his Uncle calm until ambulances arrive is no easy task. However, not only do we have a medical emergency right off the bat, Matt is faced with citations from the Mayor of the City for Uncle Lucas to clean his hoarder like dilapidated property and house within the span of 2 weeks. It’s in this first week that we learn that not only is Lucas Matt’s Uncle and closest relative, but also a stubborn and mostly irritable man. This stood out particularly to me as a reader because I have friends (who will remain anonymous for professionalism sake) that are or who have relatives just like these character. Through a combination of the setting and realism of these fictional characters we feel, or at least I did anyway, drawn further into the world that Ms. Weaver crafted for us. To perform this miracle undertaking that is cleaning his Uncle’s House, he enlists the help of his voice of reason Brother Sam, and Sam’s son, Matt’s nephew, Steve who is the average typical societal teenager. With their help, most of the work is done in the 2 week time span and we also learn that Matt is close with his brother and his nephew; however, he is estranged from his Politician Uncle Henry, and the rest of his family, with the exception of his father, who has passed on, and his Sister-in-Law, Anita. Uncle Henry is perhaps one of the more relatable characters as he is estranged from his family, rich, sort of views himself as better than the rest of the family because not only is he a Senator, but he’s also running for President (this is not a major spoiler). What makes this character so relatable is the fact that we as readers know someone like this, or actually are related to someone like this, so it’s clear that Christina Weaver was drawing on elements of real life or real life experiences when writing this particular character. However, our story focuses on Matt’s hunt to find out about his Grandparents when during his private cleaning session of his Uncle’s home, he comes across newspaper clippings with names circled and underlined, as well as boxes of old camping gear filled with tenure from the 1950’s; as well as letters from his Grandparents Samuel and Katherine Sullivan, who he knows very little of. Further, after checking the family bible, he realizes that largely, his Grandmother’s date of death is unknown, and it’s very clear that the rest of the family has no idea what’s happened to her. This begins Matt’s quest for the truth. From here, the story shifts between 1947 West Virginia and Present Day Ohio. Through these bits of flashbacks, we learn that Katherine, while appearing to be a simple, beautiful housewife has more to her than what she lets on the exterior. When Katherine and Samuel are introduced, Lucas and Matt’s father Joseph are the youngest sons with their Daughter Emma about to be married. Further, Samuel has just lost his job. As the story progresses, Ms. Weaver not only keeps pushing the story forward with the most enticing way as Matt beings his quest to discover his genealogical roots, and what happened to his grandparents. Through more flash backs to 1947, we learn more pieces of the puzzle (sorry guys, we’re not going to be revealing what these flashbacks are because we aren’t going to be giving away spoilers!). While Matt is on his search, he realizes that there is more to not only his missing grandmother, Katherine Sullivan, but also more secrets about his family and strangely how no one is able to piece together what happened to Katherine. What is revealed about Katherine is that she is from the Mountains of West Virginia, where there is a private community of what we in the suburbs or modern reading culture would call Hillbillies. Despite this small bit of information that we learn, the true shocking points of this story will have your head spinning in wonder at how some of the clues to the mystery were right in front of you the entire time, which shows the mastered brilliance behind this story, in a very Arthur Miller-esque style. Overall, this story from MGS’s review List, published by Insomnia Publishing, Christina Weaver’s debut novel deserves a full 5 Star Rating. It is a thoroughly entertaining read that will make you wonder where the time went as you thumb through the book. All the combinations of this great triple-layered mystery, a cast of character you can relate to, and an unforgettable scenes such as when Matt finds at least 100 grand in cold hard cash hidden in camping equipment and the reports that Uncle Hendry Demands that Matt must turn in on whatever—oops, awe almost said too much! The Story’s tone doesn’t just start with the speed at 30 miles per page, but more like 80, and keeps going through all the way to 400 miles per page of sheer jaw dropping suspense and overall out of nowhere answers to mysteries that are presented and keep the reader constantly waiting for more. The Vanishing of Katherine Sullivan’s conclusion will leave you at the end of your journey with your mind reacting and reeling. Simply put, if you are a fan of fiction and mystery, everything you enjoy about the genre is delivered in this debut novel by Christina Weaver. Readers, make sure you definitively pick up this book. MFG Mouth Off Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars. Merry Christmas Everyone! October 9, 2014 was the release dates that Bungie Developers and Fans alike (I, myself, included) waited on baited breath for. On that Tuesday as of Midnight in certain retail locations, while at 8-9AM on regular retail locations was the release of Bungie’s long anticipated First Person Shooter MMO-Eques styled game, Destiny. The game that offered a redemption to many fans of the RPG like shooter genre that held more serious overtones than predecessors that are as equally awesome such as Borderlands 1 and 2, the Bioshock Series, etc. However, when it came to storyline, many players felt that in terms of gameplay you ultimately learn nothing, which in many ways can draw comparisons to the original World of War Craft games to some degree. It should be understood by many players that the game was intended upon release to be a test run and an introduction to the various things you will encounter throughout the game, from upgrades to powerful enemies who you’ll need to wait to be able to fight, to whole areas that don’t become unlocked until the release of DLC or the ever increased tasks of Raids.
However, in what was supposed to be a marked increase for the Bungie title, has proven to be nothing short of an incredibly harsh penalty to the veteran players. Players who spent time collecting and earning their hard earned gear, be it from the Raid or from the various vendors in the tower (The truth of the weaponry and armor from the Raid, the Vault of Glass, being the difference that it increases your light level and has effects particular to the raid). In now what is released as the first expansion of the game, the Dark Below already offers upgraded versions of exotic weaponry and armor that one previously had, at the cost of having to not only trade in your old gear, but to also spend time grinding to upgrade it once again. In no way does this benefit the player aside from the meager 31+ point stat increase, that while admittedly does matter on a PVE based level; since level disadvantages are removed from the PVP events with the exception of the Iron Banner events, which are also now subject to changes, the game also punishes individuals who have leveled their factions. Faction upgrades which once gave you either ascendant materials, or legendary weaponry or armor that you may or may not have needed, now also can give you items called Commendations, which, can be used to purchase one item per week, as the DLC also increased the price of the Vanguard and Crucible weaponry and armor that one can purchase. Veteran players will notice that armor that was previously 60 Vanguard or Crucible Marks is now 75, and weapons and certain Legendary Armor pieces are now 150 Vanguard Marks, and require at least 1 Commendation. In this regard, Bungie has set veteran players back some, given that while a vast majority of the community may enjoy the PVP styling of the game, the other majority embraces the PVE part of the game more and wants more storyline. Further, the game also introduces new currency, in which to upgrade weaponry that is specifically different than the standard weaponry. On top of now upgrading just regular weapons the Guardians would use, you now receive items called Runed Cores, Embalming Fluid, as well as two other Radiant Energies and Radiant Shards that now increase you weaponry in order to fully maximize them. This is all produced by the new Vendor, Eris Mourn, who is supposed to be the main NPC for the Dark Below DLC Storyline. Now from a Storyline perspective, Eris Mourn’s story is basically told in the trailer. She and 5 other guardians, including the familiar Toland, who anyone whose done Toland’s Legacy exotic bounty quest would recognize, went in to fight the Hive and defeat them when the moon was first taken by the Hive. This failed, only to result in Eris Mourn being trapped in the Hive’s Hellmouth until only recently. Now, she sends the Guardians on a series of 3 Major Storyline bases tasks. These tasks result ultimately in two endings: First, the utter destruction of the main boss that represents the storyline, in usual Destiny Fashion of a Strike, by adding further levels and more open areas to the Cosmodrone Map (not much of an improvement mind you), and ultimately the Raid, which I will touch on further. These three story missions, while interactive and provide the player with a new set of challenges, ultimately did not live up to the hype that was given to them. As a veteran player, I had already felt cheated when I learned that instead of using my strange Coins to buy something useful, I now had to trade in my old exotic weaponry for exotic weaponry that really didn’t make that much a difference in the long game of things (though I will admit, as most Destiny Veterans would, I did switch out my Icebreaker for the new one). However, they offered weapons that could not be bought under normal circumstances, only traded in for, which in some ways could be Destiny’s way of saying, “Lol, waste more of your life playing this game.” Which, brings us back to the issue of grinding, and once again, another issue that we previously did not touch on: The Raids. When Destiny released the Raids, they intended on individuals being able to collaborate with 5 other players and working it out together to beat the Raid as a team and hopefully build friends. However, ultimately, what the Raids are, and how broken the random generation of rewards are for the Raids, in order to complete these obscenely difficult challenging maps you need at least 5 friends who have the time in their busy adult (presumably) schedules, in between work and having to handle their family, to actually work these Raids out within the span of a given week, otherwise, it completely resets. What still remains broken, is the fact that in the Dark Below, they do not fix this issue by adding a Matchmaking system to the actual Raid games. By doing so, they are able to ensure the Raids for their challenging and demanding time, are at least going to be played by a full fire team of 6 people, regardless of when the individuals are able to join in or not. Bungie has yet to address this problem, but continues to fix smaller problems such as nerfing loot caves, boss exploits, and weapon damage? This makes very little sense to a veteran gamer whose dedicated his time between running an indie publishing company, taking care of their family, and going to Graduate School, incredibly difficult, and now here I am, practically forced to restart the entirety of my overall damage because of the errors made on behalf of the developers because they could not properly interpret their decisions in what was supposed to be a long term investment on their end? I, as well as many players on the forum and even Polygon Blog, feel incredibly cheated by the DLC’s raid. Even beating Crota, all this does to tell us about the game is that we destroyed what the Hive view as a God, and basically not even their actual God, but the son of their God ORYX. Keeping all this in mind, level adjustments were made as well as rewards to resources and the Daily, Weekly, and Nightly Strikefall, and a level 26 Playlist was added to the strike list. As well, new maps have been added, which in truth, fall short of delivering anything but below average interest in the grand scheme. They do not offer up any of the new weaponry or armor that was supposed to be promised and all they can deliver on is the way they were intended to be played for the types of maps that they are. Overall, MFG would rate the Dark Below DLC at 2 out of 5 Stars total. The game’s lack of storyline development further, only is lacked by the complete and utter penalty that veteran players take. Upcoming Releases: Mime The Book, by Raz T. Slasher: 2015 Vengeance of Avalon, by Mariah Lynde: Book 3: 2015 Get Over it, by Matt Feldman: 2015 The fall of Saints: Audiodrama produced by Meztrailov Fantasy Games: Written by Matt Feldman and Raz. T. Slasher; 2017 Humancentipede: The Musical Parody: Written by Matthew Feldman and Matthew Blum and Raz T. Slasher; produced by Meztrailov Fantasy Games 2016 |
Alrick WalkerWriter, Reviewer, Blogger Archives
September 2018
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