Book Reviews by Ehlen Administration

Hubris Falls by Matthew S. Hiley My rating: 5 of 5 stars One last huzzah after cramming four years of college into five, Brian Hamilton and his friends ride off together on a rafting trip in an effort to thwart the real world for just a little while longer. The story evolves with a few flashbacks, a lot of stoner humor and man-child antics, but goes from darkly comedic to darkly life-altering just as fast as the rapids. In general I have really enjoyed all the Matthew Hiley books I have read, and while this was no different it was a bit of a departure from his other books. Still a lot of drugs and swears, but definitely more thoughtful, attacking issues head on instead of through satire. While I don’t know Hiley’s history, this story seemed more introspective, more personal. It is a well-crafted story that has long term implications for the reader, and forces you to confront issues that you might not have been expecting to deal with on a post-college river trip. If you enjoy ch...

Baseball Dads by Matthew S. Hiley My rating: 4 of 5 stars I hate baseball. This is a very unpopular sentiment as I now live in a baseball town, with some of the best baseball fans on earth. I appreciate what it does for the local economy, and yes, haters, I understand the game. I just don’t find it enjoyable. This book, though, was right up my alley. For those of you diehards there is plenty of baseball, and for those of you into sarcasm noire Baseball Dads definitely is a love story. I will warn you, there is a lot of language, drugs and impossible porny sex, so don’t read it if you have a sensitive stomach. There is also a character who cannot text to save his life, for all you grammar nazis out there. But the basic gist of the story is one Dad, Dwayne, is tired of his talented son being overlooked on his baseball team because he refuses to play into the social politics that is apparently very common in Texas youth sports. Rather than kiss up to the coach, he arranges for him t...