The Turndog Review: Adopted Reality

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Hello there and welcome to The Turndog Review: the books I read, reviewed.

I aren’t a professional critic, instead all I offer is my honest opinion into everything I read. However, I do this with a difference, as I don’t only offer my personal views on the Writing, Plot, and Story, but also the Book Cover, Book Marketing, and Author Website.

We live in a modern world where being a writer is different to years gone by, and I feel the whole experience of the book matters. This covers everything from the initial find, the actual read, and everything that follows. Therefore I hope this review not only offers a great insight into the book and author, but also into my own mind and what makes me tick.

So without further ado let’s begin, and today I focus on Adopted Reality by Laura Dennis

 

Published: 2012

Read: July2012

Discovered: Laura sent me the Book

 

Overview:

Laura is someone I speak to via email fairly often. She found my Blog one day, reached out, and we are now no longer strangers. As such, she sent me her new book and asked me to take a look.

This was the first time a reader has sent me their book. I instantly came up with a rule: Read 25%.

I have no idea what the future holds, but I may get many of these requests. If I try and read everything, bad things will happen. 25%, though, is manageable. It’s also enough for me to form an opinion. As for Adopted Reality, I read all of it.

This tells you everything

It’s Laura’s memoirs, and boy is it a journey. It’s a crazy start. She thinks she’s a bionic woman who caused 9/11. We then start seeing into her past, and before long, things begin to make sense.

The look into her past is golden. It’s traumatic and devastating, but at times very hopeful. Most of all, it’s real.

If you’re a dreamer and a wanderer, like me, this is a book you can throw yourself into. I believe we’re all pretty close to the line of insane. Most people don’t know it, and those are the people who tend to move through life with a smile. Those lucky bastards.

 

The Good:

It’s very well written. Laura isn’t an educated writer in the traditional sense (as far as I know), but shows that someone with a story to tell, can tell it. It also debunks the whole idea that a self-published book is of a poor standard. This is far from poor.

My main love if the back-story. It’s very heart felt and I found myself unable to put it down. As I say, I came in with the idea of getting to 25%. I was over half way before I realised I’d broken my new rule. In general, I really connected with Laura’s character. I don’t know how much of the story is 100% real, but I really felt at ease all the way through (despite it being a traumatic time).

 

The Bad:

The start is a little crazy. If I didn’t insist on getting to 25%, I may have given up. I’m really glad I didn’t, but the few chapter or two didn’t hook me.

This is a worry for sure. So many people read the first chapter for free and make their minds up. I don’t tend to read like this, but many do. Once you get past the first few pages, things go from good to better.

 

Book Cover:

I’ll be honest, I’m not a huge fan. It’s purely subjective, but I’m not a fan. It’s a lovely picture, but I don’t think it works as a cover. The text is too small and the colours blend into one another too much.

It’s on my iPad, and even now, after I finish, I take a double take at it; wondering what book it is. As I say, this maybe totally subjective, but it doesn’t work for me.

Adopted Reality

 

Book Marketing:

There isn’t a great deal in the book itself regarding marketing. There’s a link to the website, and some nice insight into Laura, but that’s about it. As anyone who reads these reviews, I desire more J

Laura does do a good job Guest Posting and getting her name out there (including a Guest Post on this very site) and is making good strides. It’s the mentality of an indie author to go out there and make things happen. In that sense, she is doing great.

I do feel the book itself could have more. There are so many things people can do, but few take do more than the bare essential.

 

Author Website & Engagement:

Laura’s website is clean and crisp, and overall easy on the eyes. There isn’t huge depth to it, but it gives you all the information you need regarding her and her book. What Laura does a great job of, is involve herself around the web

Her Facebook and Twitter is in regular use and these are things I’m sure we will continue to see rise in the future. Laura is still finding her feet I feel when it comes to marketing and engaging, but it’s a fine start.

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This is a book I recommend. If you’re a dreamer, or have lots of questions, it gets you thinking about your own life and how things could easily change. It reminded me in parts of ‘Perks Of Being A Wallflower’, which is a big compliment in itself.

It’s heart wrenching but real. It’s hard to put down and keeps hold of you with a tight grip. The marketing and book cover has some work to do, in my opinion, but overall it’s a worthy…

4 Turndogs out of 5

4-Turndogs

 

Thanks for reading this version of The Turndog Review. I review every book I read, not only for the writing, but the marketing, website, and general communication from the author.

Turndog Millionaire – @turndog_million

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