Tag: James Rourke

Stone Souls by James Rourke Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Two people adjusting to life in an American Utopia discover the true cost of peace and the extreme methods that some of the new nation’s leaders are willing to go to in order to preserve that Utopia in author James Rourke’s “Stone Souls”.

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The Synopsis

What price would you pay to become a member of a vibrant society where poverty and crime have been eradicated? Medical advancements render cancer no deadlier than the common cold. You can teleport to your next destination. Art flourishes and intellectual accomplishments are celebrated the way lesser nations celebrate athletic contests.

The only cost is your soul.

Raymond and Karen Butler, as new citizens of the Common States of America, endeavor to embrace the nation’s demanding vision. The allure of prosperity collides with the ferocious realities of initiation. Their struggle to accept new customs and modes of thinking unfolds under the cruel gaze of Kurt “Stone” Adams, the secretary of internal security, who defends the nation he loves with revolutionary intensity.

Would you sell your soul for Utopia?

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The Review

This was a gripping and haunting sci-fi dystopian read. The world-building was excellent, really doing an amazing job of bringing this “Common States of America” to life in a visceral way. The horrors and shocking events that readers see come to life by this new hierarchy in order to maintain their “utopia” is terrifying, and coupled with the religious and philosophical discussions that bring to mind social and political issues our own world is facing at this time, this book is filled with so much tension.

To me, the heart of this narrative was in the unique character perspectives and the language used in this new world that speaks to the foundations of this society as a whole. The perspective readers get from both the newcomers to this society and the person practically running things was great to see as it gave a balanced viewpoint of this society, and the language very much reminded me of an almost cult-like mentality, as it often referenced a distrust of the outside world and showcased an often brutal hand of authority and standards that were impossible to live up to, leading to tragedy.

The Verdict

Memorable, haunting, and engaging, author James Rourke’s “Stone Souls” is a must-read dystopian sci-fi novel. The book’s commentary on our over-reliance on technology as a whole and the cost of perfection and a utopian society at the cost of humanity and morality as a whole made this a truly one-of-a-kind story and will stick with readers long after the book’s end. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

James Rourke has been a high school teacher of history, psychology, and philosophy for twenty-eight years. His commitment to these three disciplines guides his writing . “The Comic Book Curriculum” is praised for revealing “how major superheroes and their stories raise some of the deepest and most important ethical and psychological questions we all need to ask and answer.” This aspect of storytelling, the quest to tell stories that entertain, challenge, and uplift the reader, inspires James in his fiction as well.

Interview with Author James Rourke

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn Interviews1 Comment

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

I just finished my 25th (and easily my most unusual) year as a teacher. I teach history, psychology, and philosophy. These disciplines definitely influence my writing, as does the act of being a teacher! I believe the best way for a student to learn and appreciate history is to engage, what I call, their historic imaginations. There is a lot of creative energy generated in my class and I know that rekindled my desire to write…a desire I was first aware of in the third grade.

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2) What inspired you to write your book?

As you know, Anthony, that question is always a bit harder to answer than people think. There’s a full pie chart of inspirations for this story. When I teach history I always view it as a grand narrative of big and small stories that revolve around suffering, struggling, and – hopefully – overcoming. In psychology, which I also teach, we see a grand array of suffering, struggling, and overcoming. When writing this story I clearly wanted to continue that classroom motif. I believe that comes through clearly to readers. You stated in your review of Out of the Basement that one of the book’s strengths is the ability to highlight “…the inner demons so many people must face and yet hide behind a carefully orchestrated mask to hide the pain,…” To me, that is a key to the book…you don’t have to personally know the protagonist’s pain to connect to the idea of suffering and struggle. There is an exploration of a core concept of our shared humanity at play in the story, an aspect of the human condition that any reader can connect with.

3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

The back cover of the book has the phrase “Find Hope in the Darkness.” That is definitely one theme at work in the book, the idea that even at the worst of times hope exists. It may be obscured or seem unavailable, but it is there if we can look past our pain and find it. That’s definitely one of the many themes embedded in the pages of Out of the Basement.

4) What drew you into this particular genre?

I teach psychology and a class called P3: Philosophy, Psychology, and Pop-Culture. The P3 class evaluates and utilizes movies, music, and television shows to illuminate psychological and philosophical theories. My interest in those topics in my classroom strengthened my interest in those types of stories. 

5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?

Ha! That’s a great question. I think I would like to walk a few laps around the park with Father Sylvan. That character has a deep well of insight, compassion, and patience. I think I could learn a thing or two from him!

6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

Thus far, Facebook. I’m new to the social media marketing game so that’s where I started.

7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

Write and be open to suggestions from thoughtful readers. You don’t have to take every suggestion to heart, but listening to people’s reaction to your manuscript can be very helpful. We all have blind spots when we write so extra eyes can be helpful. A group of creative people sharing ideas and their work can also help you maintain a writing schedule. 

Speaking of writing schedules, don’t try to adopt someone else’s or feel guilty if you don’t write every day as some stress you must. I am a full time teacher, I teach in an evening program, and have four children. Some days I don’t write a word. Sometimes days on end. I do, however, take notes and record thoughts on my cell phone to refer back to when I carve out my writing time. 

8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?

Book sales, I hope! I am holding some online book events and trying to be creative in the promotion of Out of the Basement. I have a dystopian manuscript, Stone Souls, that I hope to have released in the near, and hopefully post-COVID-19, future.

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Out of the Basement Review

About the Author

James Rourke has been a high school of teacher of history, psychology, and philosophy for twenty-five years. His commitment to the idea that these three disciplines can assist his students to connect not only with his material, but to the unifying aspects of humanity, also guides his writing. “The Comic Book Curriculum” is praised for revealing”how major superheroes and their stories raise some of the deepest and most important ethical and psychological questions we all need to ask and answer.” This aspect of storytelling, the quest to tell stories that entertain, challenge, and uplift the reader, inspires James in his fiction as well.

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJamesRourke/

https://jamesrourkeauthor.com/?fbclid=IwAR3nARK89cAvBsRQdhpwab6BgzHwe_kaJynxLqqEacEePgRsiIueL39ahHo

Out of the Basement by James Rourke Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviews2 Comments

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A writer with a haunting past must face his history and forge a new path forward in author James Rourke’s novel “Out of the Basement”. 

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The Synopsis

Michael Tanner is a citizen of two worlds. His outer world as a respected college professor affords him the opportunity to quietly pursue his joy of learning. His inner world, shaped by childhood abuse, is a prison of shame and pain where he battles mythological monsters that draw power from his nightmarish memories.

Though Michael has mastered the art of hiding his pain while in full view, the unexpected success of his new book, Bruce and Buddha: How Rock and Roll and Ancient Wisdom Can Guide your Life, pushes him well beyond his comfortable existence.

Bolstered by the possibility of romance, the encouragement of old friends, and a new ally, he decides he must face his past. Only by challenging humiliation can he earn the inner victory necessary to bring authentic peace to his life.

The Review

A truly powerful read, the author does an amazing job of creating a personal story of inner-turmoil that the protagonist has to fight from bleeding into his everyday life. Interspersed with the protagonist’s personal struggles is a fantastic and intellectual study of philosophy and mythology that really fascinated me. 

While exploring the study of great philosophers and how modern-day equivalents exist even unwittingly in music, television, and film from some of pop culture’s greatest artists was a fantastic concept to explore. One of the early discussions that the protagonist had with a reporter that immediately stood out to me was the concept of synchronicity, as this is something that has played into my daily life for the last year or so and the study of it has been a truly remarkable journey to undertake, so getting to see the protagonist’s perspective was incredible. 

The Verdict

Thought-provoking, emotional, and grounding, this was a quick yet engaging psychological drama that readers will instantly love. Memorable and relatable characters showcase the inner demons so many people must face and yet hide behind a carefully orchestrated mask to hide the pain, creating a truly one of a kind narrative that cannot be ignored. Be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

James Rourke has been a high school of teacher of history, psychology, and philosophy for twenty-five years. His commitment to the idea that these three disciplines can assist his students to connect not only with his material, but to the unifying aspects of humanity, also guides his writing. “The Comic Book Curriculum” is praised for revealing”how major superheroes and their stories raise some of the deepest and most important ethical and psychological questions we all need to ask and answer.” This aspect of storytelling, the quest to tell stories that entertain, challenge, and uplift the reader, inspires James in his fiction as well.