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Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/profile/reviews/rexkramer/sort_by/r.review_creation_time DESC/page/4
Review Requests: OFF
222 Public Reviews Given
222 Total Reviews Given
Review Style
I'm honest but encouraging. I try to suppress the wannabe-grammarian in me, but if an error is so glaring that it distracts the reader I will point it out.
I'm good at...
I read a LOT, and always have. Over the years I think I've developed a "talent" for objectively divining what is good story-telling and what is not (regardless of whether or not the story appeals to me.)
Favorite Genres
Honestly, anything interesting. If it's weird/different, has interesting characters and goes in unexpected places, I'll probably like it.
Least Favorite Genres
Poetry. Quite frankly, it's completely lost on me.
Favorite Item Types
Short stories
Least Favorite Item Types
Poetry. Please, no poetry.
I will not review...
Poetry (with the exception of limericks,) juvenile fiction, religion-themed pieces (any religion,) romances, anything cat-related, resumes, or how-to items. Exceptions made if your submission is weird.
Public Reviews
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76
76
Review by Rex Kramer
Rated: ASR | (4.0)
Note: This is a review of a randomly-generated item.

This has possibilities. In my home state there are two islands populated by monkeys (one with those that escaped an old research facility, the other with those abandoned after a Tarzan movie shoot long, long ago.) I sometimes wonder what would happen to those populations, given enough time and isolation.

Anyway, this could be interesting. Let me know if/when you develop it.
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Review of The River  
Review by Rex Kramer
Rated: 13+ | (4.5)
Note: This is a review of a randomly-generated item.

I really, really liked this. You did an excellent job moving from a mundane experience to which anyone can relate, to a traumatic event most people only read about in the news, to a supernatural horror scene.

I was also impressed with the scene you set, especially the foggy country road.

Overall fun, spooky and sad read. Great job.
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78
Review of The Funeral  
Review by Rex Kramer
Rated: 13+ | (4.0)
Note: this is a review of a randomly-generated item.

While reading this story I found myself questioning if a 12 year old, even one "toughened" by the departure and then death of a parent, would communicate so maturely. Once I really thought about it, though, I realized that was a bias based upon my own inability to articulate how a kid of that age thinks. I considered how much my own 13 year old daughter has outwardly matured in the last year, and thus Joey's thoughts and worlds became more relatable. You did an excellent job capsulizing that age, when a child is becoming an adult but isn't quite there yet.

If I have a critique it's that the motivation for the mom's return seems a bit vague, at least to me. Was it her sense of guilt, or that of the father's? It's a small quibble, and overall I enjoyed the tale.
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Review by Rex Kramer
Rated: E | (4.0)
I am extremely useless when it comes to analyzing poetry, and so I won't even attempt it or even rate it. That said, when flipping through randomly-generated items submitted for review and I see a poem inspired by a hockey game, well, that kind of weirdness (and I mean that in a good way) is, to mix metaphors, right in my wheelhouse.

If more poets found their muse the soul-punch that comes with their favorite team's loss or unexpected win, readership amongst their non-traditional potential audience (i.e. slobs like me) would jump significantly. Good job.
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Review of Which Man  
Review by Rex Kramer
Rated: ASR | (3.5)
Note: this is a review of a randomly-generated piece.

I enjoyed reading this, probably because it's so relatable (we've all been caught staring.) It's well-written, flows nicely and has a unexpected turn at the end. The only thing, I think, that may be off-putting is the note-taking by the main character, as it isn't made clear that she is (I assume) a writer making notes for a character and not, well, just creepy.

That said, well done.
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Review of Promised Land  
Review by Rex Kramer
Rated: E | (3.5)
You had me at quantum entanglement.

I'm the guy who watches a sci-fi movie and silently wonders what powers what powers the giant ship flying across the screen, and so your detailed description of that (and everything else about the ship and events on Earth) appeal to me. That said, I'm concerned that the flood of information would dissuade the casual reader from continuing.

I think the adage "show, don't tell" applies here. Exposition isn't necessarily a bad thing, but too much too soon takes away from the story itself. Perhaps spacing out the explanations (bringing them in as events unfold) would be beneficial.

That said, it looks like the foundations for a good story are in place. It's a much-travelled theme, but your introducing real and theoretical technology, as well as contemporary items (the caliphate, new exoplanets, etc) give it a relatable start.

Anyway, this is definitely something I'd read when it's done/more fleshed out. Keep up the good work.
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Review of kolkata: my city  
Review by Rex Kramer
Rated: E | (3.0)
I always enjoy learning about places I have never visited, and from this I learned quite a bit about Kolkata. Thank you for that.

As for the writing, it was a bit "choppy" in that there was a lack of logical flow to the information being provided. The capitalization errors (start each sentence with a capital letter) and punctuation errors distract the reader and thus also disrupt the story's flow.

That said, you packed a lot of information into a short piece, and it's clear from your writing that you care a lot about your home city. Well done.
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Review of The Web Banking  
Review by Rex Kramer
Rated: E | (3.0)
The introduction pulled me in but, due to what I'm almost certain is a copy-and-paste incompatibility issue, the text was pretty much unreadable due to random characters and no paragraph breaks. To be honest I got a few paragraphs in and had to give up because the issues I mentioned was giving me a headache.

I'm giving 3 stars as an "incomplete" for now, but message me if you're able to clean up the text and I'll read the whole thing.
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Review by Rex Kramer
Rated: E | (4.0)
Poetry is a foreign language to me, and so I can't offer and credible criticism on this or any other poem (with the possible exception of limericks, which appeal to my juvenile sense of humor.) That said, I like the subject, probably because it's something to which I can relate. My wife has terrible taste in TV (reality shows are her thing) and, yes, she treats it as an interactive device. "You realize they can't hear you?" is not an uncommon question in the TV den in our house.
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Review by Rex Kramer
Rated: E | (3.5)
It's a funny premise and one to which I (and I suppose anyone who has been in the military) can relate. For those who can't, however, the "cold opening" dialogue might be a bit confusing. If the paragraph explaining that they were in boot camp were moved to the front it might better help set up the scene.

That said, having experienced the chamber I couldn't disagree with Ted more; the worst flatulence would be infinitely preferable to CS gas.
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86
Review by Rex Kramer
Rated: E | (4.0)
This is my first review, so take it with a grain of salt....

I love limericks; whether that's due to my Irish genes, my lack of attention span, or my juvenile sense of humor, I can't say. That said, I liked this one. It's funny (a limerick requirement,) clever, and would be an interesting jump-off point for an absurdist bit of fiction (i.e. "what would life be like for a blind leprechaun?")

My only critique is the second line, which seems a bit cumbersome when spoken aloud (perhaps 1 or 2 syllables too long.) Otherwise, a fun read.
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