Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if he or she doesn’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.
When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review by Midwest Book Review:
The Big Book of Dan
Daniel C. Dulik
Publisher: Outskirts Press
ISBN: 9781432778590
Reviewer: Charline Ratcliff
Having just finished reading “The Big Book of Dan” by author Daniel C., I’m left wondering what there is to say about it. For starters, it is a compilation of some rather off the wall, eclectic and…eccentric but fairly funny short stories. Dulik has a sense of humor that runs the gamut, and “The Big Book of Dan” is riddled with cynicism, chock full of sarcasm. It also provides a hearty helping of everything else in between.
I’ll be honest. I didn’t find every single story hilariously funny, but “The Big Book of Dan” was, if nothing else, an interesting read from start to finish. Dulik has an extremely dry sense of humor, and, while a few of his tall tales were so dry they were burned, for the most part I enjoyed reading this title. With that said, I think the poems were my favorite, especially “The Narcissist.” Sadly I know a few too many people who have been gifted with that particular…blessing. *chuckle*
Dulik also possesses the fantastic ability to paint pictures using words. Because of this ability, there were several times I found myself cringing as my mind supplied the vivid color images that Dulik’s words so skillfully drew. Oh the horror that the Jimmy Neusbaum recounting invoked! While I never attended Catholic School, I have heard the stories. Of course, these stories are almost always shared in hushed tones after a few alcoholic beverages have sufficiently loosened tongues. It’s almost as if these individuals are worried they will be condemned to purgatory for openly disagreeing with the treatment they received.
So as I continued reading “I Survived! Or Did I?” I idly wondered if Jimmy was merely obsessed with drilling holes in things or if that fifth grade stunt of his was a last-ditch attempt for the elusive “get out of jail free” card. Obviously it worked and…we’ll never know if it was a genius plan or not, since Jimmy was apparently the master of the stare of “utter hopelessness.”
Rather than share more of “The Big Book of Dan,” I’m just going to suggest you pick up your own copy if sharp and sarcastic wit is your cup of tea. I promise that Dulik won’t disappoint.
Self Publishing Advisor 