Location: United States
Member Since: July 17, 2010

Alice Yeh


Where to find Alice Yeh online

Website: http://www.hideandread.com
Twitter: alice_unblocked
Facebook: Facebook profile
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/alice-yeh/5/7b3/a32
Blog: http://www.hideandread.com

Where to buy in print

http://tinyurl.com/3xf33uc

Books

This member has not published any books.

Smashwords book reviews by Alice Yeh

  • The Ghost Of A Flea on Jan. 25, 2011
    star star star star star
    Though initially unenthusiastic about what appeared to be a story of bitter men attempting to be philosophers, the The Ghost of A Flea quickly morphed into an intriguing tale of drug deals and the inability to know whom to trust. Red herrings abounded, and for the longest time, I was uncertain whether the main character, Roger, was hallucinating, confused, or caught up in some grandiose form of hypnosis. The manipulation around him was subtle and maintained that delicious sense of suspense that drives any good thriller. The language in this book was as hard and driven as the plot, allowing for important details without belaboring the point by being overly descriptive. Necessary items were introduced with the same straightforwardness as ones that were later revealed to be unimportant, and through it all, that sense of dread and fascination was maintained. There were multiple instances where "passed" was used instead of "past," and more than one instance of the you're/your and who's/whose confusion. All three are generally unforgivable faux pas in my book, and had the rest of the novel not been written so well, the whole work may very well have been written off. Characterizations here were absolutely flawless. Each person involved was distinctive, their traits consistent even with all of the acting and subterfuge woven in. Betrayals were believable, and revelations were informative without being excessively explanatory. Like any good villain, the "bad guys" had that self-defeating, hubris-driven tendency to monologue, which were like a lifeline when I, like Roger, was caught up in grasping at thin air for understanding. By far the most enigmatic character was Peggy, a woman whose loyalties were constantly called into question either to be bolstered or decimated by the contents of the following scene. The ending of the novel was satisfactory and tied up all loose ends without resorting to deus ex machina, for which I was quite thankful. As intricate as it was enthralling, The Ghost of a Flea is one of the most surprising books that I've come across. Nothing was as expected, and I was frequently left hankering for the next great reveal. If suspense and mind games are your cup of tea, then imbibe with pleasure as you work your way through this well-written work. Stimulated Outlet Book Reviews
  • The Gray and Guilty Sea on March 20, 2011
    star star star star
    Garrison Gage is a recluse in a tiny town, a retired private detective who looks at the world through a jaundiced eye. One could hardly blame him: his last case in New York left him a widower and a cripple. Passing his days with crossword puzzles and solitude, his gumshoe instincts are reawakened when he comes across a random dead girl on the beach. So much for retirement. In The Gray and Guilty Sea, Nolte draws us in right from the get-go. Everything after that is a fast-paced story that keeps you wondering what the next location or contact will reveal. The path is not so much twisted as it is hidden; there are no sudden surprises, but the mystery still takes some time, and a great deal of Gage's energy, to unravel. Woven into the fabric are subplots involving a love interest and an ailing neighbor, as well as said neighbor's teenage granddaughter. Nolte successfully develops these without detracting from the main storyline, adding depth to Gage's character without losing steam. With his crotchety personality and his love of getting under other people's skins, Gage is a good representation of a character who would be irritating to work with but thoroughly entertaining to observe. His analysis of those around him is spot-on, thus earning a reader's trust in his abilities as a private detective. Unfortunately, other parts of his persona were a bit less credible. Gage is touted to be a well-versed reader, a connoisseur of jazz, an appreciator of art, and yet a man of simple pleasures. This isn't to say that a person can't be that complex, but something about the presentation of these personality traits —subtle shifts in Gage's speaking style, perhaps — make them difficult to integrate. Instances of him reading philosophy or listening to Coltrane might have boosted the legitimacy of these claims. In a similar manner, the commonality of interests between him and Carmen is a little too perfect, and equally unsupported from his previous interactions with her. Mysteries have a tendency to turn readers into skeptics, digging deeper into characters than they might otherwise do; thus the bar for characterizations is set that much higher. In the end, I disregarded the extraneous information in order to avoid losing faith in the rest of the story. For the most part, the novel is well-written, with a delivery that is efficient without becoming brusque. It meshed well with Gage's voice, his inner monologues flowing seamlessly into his spoken words. Even so, there were scattered passages in which it was glaringly obvious that someone breezed through the editing process. Awkwardly worded sentences, as well as multiple issues with homophones (eg. "waved" for "waived", "not" for "naught") were bothersome, but what really got me were two instances in which characters' names were actually changed: "Tommy" for "Jimmy" and "Angie" for "Zoe". They jarred me right out of the storyline, and it took some effort to convince myself to ignore them long enough to rekindle my interest in the book. Nolte has a good grasp of emotion and human responses and credible actions. In that respect, The Gray and Guilty Sea is quite an enjoyable novel that engages a reader on multiple levels. The ending itself was more than satisfactory. Still, convenient coincidences and forced details diminished its plausibility. Methinks that Gage's cynicism is contagious. Stimulated Outlet Book Reviews (Review copy provided by the author)
  • Hazel Wetherby & The Elixir of Love on April 22, 2011
    star star star star
    In this wildly entertaining book, we follow a thirteen-year-old as she tries to deal with missing parents, stalkers, alien invasions, and a crush on the boy next door. (Technically, he lives across the street and one house over, but who really keeps track of these things?) A mixture of spunk, obstinacy, and a dangerously underdeveloped regard for personal safety, Hazel is every bit the believable "tween", equal parts endearing and infuriating for the adult reader, though young adolescents may see in her something more identifiable. First off, this plot was rather well thought out. Different "bad guys", "good guys", and the cars they drove were mixed in at various time points, introduced early on and then reintroduced with the gradual revelation of at least some of their motives and activities. While side stories can be distracting or unnecessary, they flesh out the story nicely here; they give the reader a better sense of individual characters' personalities and any significant circumstances. Suffice it to say that some of my suspicions proved more fruitful than others. The story is told from the perspective of a reasonably precocious thirteen-year-old, a curious combination of slang and high school level vocabulary. Somehow, the tone of voice still sounds age-appropriate, and I had no trouble believing that Hazel really is a middle school student, albeit one with a diversified mental bank of words. On the whole, Defelis proves himself quite adept at creating characters that are at once entertaining, consistent, and easily accessible. While middle grade fiction often requires a suspension of belief and the shutting off of adult thought patterns, I found myself skeptical more often than not about the things that Hazel was able to accomplish as a minor — renting an office space, for one, and avoiding visits from social services for another. The improbability of these and a few other things was a chunky pill to swallow, though it did eventually go down. Hazel Wetherby & the Elixir of Love is a book that I can see "tweens" enjoying. The plot moves quickly enough to maintain interest, while the story itself is engrossing. Even this grown up stayed up well past her usual bedtime just to find out how it all ends. Suffice it to say that a sequel would be greatly appreciated. Stimulated Outlet Book Reviews (Review copy provided by the author)
  • The Demon Queen and The Locksmith on May 17, 2011
    star star star star
    The so-called "Turquoise Hum" is an unique phenomenon, one that is not quite spiritual and not quite corporeal; it is a signal inextricably interwoven in the lives of individuals the world over. Kevin Brown's father is one person whose existence has been touched by the Hum. He is a Hearer, one who was able to follow this combination of life force and echolocation to find his way to a small town in New Mexico. While the concept itself may seem extraordinarily complex, Baum feeds it to us in digestible chunks through the main character's thoughts and experiences. The plot was well-conceived, one that flows naturally through the author's words and his innate grasp of storytelling. From the moment Kevin meets Joseph and Jackie to his struggles with telling his dad about the Hum, each passage draws you deeper into the tale, even if the fire ants and termites make your skin crawl. One of the author's greatest strengths is that he allows readers to discover things alongside his characters. For example, instead of being told of the children's newfound superpowers, we are able to witness their inception. This sense of involvement is ideal for younger and older readers alike, though it is especially important in maintaining the interest of those who are easily bored by academic text. While it is evident that both fire ants and termites were heavily researched prior to the writing of this book, one major typographical error did bother me to no end: the substitution of "etymology" for "entomology", especially since the misuse of the term came from a character who is supposed to be a specialist. Another source of frustration is that almost all of the speech was indicated using "said" or "asked". With the plethora of dialogue-related verbs available, the unnecessary repetition chafed my ears, and I started sticking to the words inside the quotation marks to soothe the consequent irritation. If only the run-on sentences were so easily managed. The Demon Queen and the Locksmith is an entertaining story that children and adult alike can enjoy. Just plan to set aside a few hours, or perhaps learn how to read and sleep at the same time. Stimulated Outlet Book Reviews
  • Death Has a Name on May 19, 2011
    star star star star
    Brodie Wade is unlike the typical example of a "psychic detective". For one thing, he is neither debonair nor overtly creepy. For another, The Truth, a strange combination of a spiritual realm and an abstract concept, is more of a handicap than a gift, one that has physically tortured him and inadvertently removed him from a loving mother's care. In a twisted form of symbiosis, it has also put a roof over his head. It is difficult to pin this novel into any one genre. First and foremost, it's a mystery: who is after the orbs, and what is The Truth attempting to convey? The story also brings in elements of the supernatural, what with Death and magical orbs hanging over Brodie's head for the duration. The atmosphere has somewhat of a gritty feel, one that would be at home in a thriller. What this hodgepodge of categories means is that Death Has A Name can appeal to a wide range of readers. It certainly had me hooked. I actually had to set it aside until I could devote a good chunk of time to its consumption. The story moves along at a smart clip, giving readers just enough time to absorb their surroundings before moving onto the next locale. Nearly every scene was important for plot development, which means that readers who are easily bored will find themselves paying rapt attention. Unfortunately, it also means that a lot of "nice to have" information is missing, most noticeably decent background information about our protagonist. We learn that he was institutionalized, but the book offers no details as to how he became involved as a consultant for the police. This is something that is highly relevant, given that his occupation is how he became involved in this whole sordid mess to begin with. As far as characterizations go, I found that this story fell a bit short. Michaels, for instance, is rather one-dimensional, while Phil falls neatly into the role of "skeptical friend". The pacing of the storyline compensates well for this deficiency, but it was unable to cover the inconsistency in writing quality. On several occasions, key words would be repeated two or three times within the same paragraph, and mentions of Death and his "bonds" soon became wearisome. Redundancies aside, Death Has A Name is an engrossing read that I would recommend to those who like idiosyncratic protagonists and storylines that move. Stimulated Outlet Book Reviews (Review copy provided by the author)
  • Promise Kept on May 31, 2011
    star star star
    After the Passing, or the fall of the American government, a period of warlord rule was finally broken by the death of the last warlord and the establishment of the New Dawn government. Lives are heavily controlled, from food rations to intelligence tests for job placement. To avoid repeating the series of events that led to the breakdown of the previous government, archivists like psychic Lila Howell are sent to obtain "passings", or life stories, from the elderly who lived through the chaos. Susanne Newton, a legend in her own right, is Lila's latest assignment. One of the interesting parts about this timeline is that the blandly stated chronological list is later fleshed out through Susanne's recording sessions. The "facts" themselves are dry, but her flashbacks lend them substance and feeling, allowing us to see what it was like living under near-starvation conditions and trying to establish a life for herself when few options were available. These scenes also serve the secondary purpose of offering insight into Susanne's character, allowing us to see her as a more than a cantankerous old woman. Even more fascinating than this woman's life is the discordance between the New Dawn government and the rural homesteads. In many dystopian fantasies, controlling regimes are opposed by militant rebels or technological gurus. In Promise Kept, the source of trouble is the farms that are self-sustaining and have no need for New Dawn's offerings. The intricacies of this interplay are revealed as Lila tries to reconcile Susanne's stories with her upbringing in the government crèche. The internal conflict and eventual transformation remain my favorite aspect of this book. Unfortunately, all is not sunshine and roses. The novel is heavily in need of editing, from redundancies within paragraphs to awkward, confusing sentences that had me wondering what the author was trying to say. Words were split unnecessarily (e.g. "straight forward" for "straightforward") and stilted dialogue made several passages painful to work through. There was even one instance in which Lila underwent an unintentional change in her last name. The major plot twist was rather difficult to swallow given the world that the author had created up to that point. Equally befuddling was a sudden shift in Lila's personality at around the same time. In many ways, I felt as if I were suddenly reading a different book entirely. Luckily, some footing was regained by the end of the novel. Promise Kept is a great story for fans of Robin Hood and the idea of the masses fighting a government that has grown too big for its britches. A word of warning, however: the entire book is written in Courier font, and I was unable to change it to something more aesthetically pleasing on my Kindle. Stimulated Outlet Book Reviews (Review copy provided by the author)
  • Twenty-Five Years Ago Today on Aug. 29, 2011
    star star star
    Kris Langley, an editorial assistant, stumbles across an unsolved murder while researching old editions of the Fremont Daily News. Drawn in by the similarities to a personal tragedy, she launches her own investigation, hoping for a featured article and the opportunity to bring closure to a grieving family. Even twenty-five years after the fact. I'm of two minds as I write the review. On the whole, I found the language to be accessible, and the storyline gripping. I was intrigued by the mystery, trying to piece together evidence and guess at the guilty party. Juba does a phenomenal job in engaging a reader's interest, focusing primarily on a fast-paced plot and her own insight into newspaper life. In spite of this, however, my friendly attitude towards the main character began to wane halfway through the novel. Her doubts and concerns felt contrived, as did the rushed development of her relationship with Eric. I confess that I was hoping for something that was a bit more drawn out, given his wariness and her supposed emotional unavailability. Equally disappointing was the final denouement; the resolution itself was fine, but I would rather that more of the information came from Kris's investigation, rather than information-loaded monologues. One of the strongest points of the novel is the dynamics of the newspaper staff. The power struggles are entertaining, and readers can easily sympathize with Kris as she tries to prevent skewing of the truth. More than once, I wanted to give Bruce a good verbal thrashing for his callousness and his immaturity. With that said, both Bruce and Jacqueline come across as one-dimensional, and while the author hints at a deeper explanation for Jacqueline's cutthroat attitude, this avenue is never truly explored. Twenty-Five Years Ago Today is an enjoyable, quick read for the mystery lover who likes a little romance and family drama tossed in. Juba as a great talent for setting up a good intrigue, and I look forward to reading more of her work. Hide and Read (Review copy provided by the author)