Customer Reviews

Tantrum

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sent the item on time, and item was pretty much brand new. no complaints at all

The Councilman is a young Philadelphia politician who is trying to figure out his true purpose. His life changes when an assassin's bullet misses him. The police assume that it's a mob hit, but the Councilman figures out that this is not the case. The Councilman has something that his unknown enemies want, and they will kill him to get it. Meanwhile, a missing woman suddenly shows up in order to run from her past.

Tantrum is an interesting political thriller by Charles D. Ellison. You get an insider's view into how shady politics can be. There is a unique twist to this plot that you won't see coming. Although Tantrum featured an unusual storyline, there were a lot of dry and unessential parts in this book. There are so many characters and situations that are featured in the story that you don't know how they connect to the main plot. The assassination attempt gets lost because there are too many side characters and stories that may confuse the reader. The ending of the book felt like a forced attempt to lead into a sequel with many questions unanswered that could have been cleared up to make a more complete story. Tantrum is still a good read for those who are looking for something different.

Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for Urban-Reviews

The world of politics can be glamorous, sexy, seedy and in the novel TANTRUM, dangerous. "The Councilman" is a young, vibrant, motivated and intelligent Philadelphia politician. Many of the politician's constituents seem to believe that he is a Godsend. He seems to be just what the voters of Philadelphia needs. He is shaking up the political structure and giving his fellow elected officials a dose of reality. Many believe that the young political leader has what it takes to move up the ladder in Philly and beyond. So if "The Councilman" is the greatest thing since sliced bread, why is he the target of an assassin's bullet? Is it a disgruntled citizen out for the politician, a jealous member of the city's political structure, a mob hit or something much more sinister from the councilman's past? What deadly secrets does he hold? Philadelphia soon learns that all that glitters isn't gold, and just as quickly as someone rises to grace they can easily fall from it.

TANTRUM by Charles D. Ellison, is a roller-coaster ride of a novel. The pace is fast and the action is vivid. The hosts of characters that Ellison presents in the novel are intriguing. Ellison creates many narratives that all come together in the novel's climax. This political thriller is for anyone who wants a jolt with their reading.

Reviewed by L. Raven James
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

As I walk into the bookstore to search for a literary tome to pass an evening or two, I'm dismayed by the selection laid out before me. Do I buy yet another book chronicling the misadventures of a young woman looking for love in all the wrong places? Maybe I should exchange my hard-earned cash for one of the numerous soft-porn stories being passed off as urban erotica. Perhaps Ray Ray's account of his ghetto fabulous days before the feds caught him will satisfy my desire for mental intoxication.

Same books, different titles.

As I'm about to head to the video store a book catches my eye. I pick it up and find that it's not a glorified romance novel or a book about Ray Ray and `em. This one looks like it might have a plot and characters with depth. I won't have to suffer through a straight to video DVD after all.

Tantrum by first-time author Charles D. Ellison is the story of "The Councilman", a controversial legislator in the city where American democracy was born and politics is a bloodsport: Philadelphia. The novel starts with a bang literally as an assassin's bullet narrowly misses The Councilman's head. The story becomes more compelling as it moves along at a frantic pace with an intriguing mix of colorful characters and interweaving plotlines.

Ellison, a Philly native son and current resident of Bowie, Maryland, described his debut novel as "a book about the evolution of a man and the intense personal challenges faced by public figures". A former Congressional staffer and talk radio correspondent, Ellison draws inspiration for this gritty tale through extensive multi-media and policy expertise on both sides of the political aisle.

I really enjoyed reading Tantrum, as it was not the typically trite novel with cardboard characters and questionable plots. The story was complex as politics, action, and drama were present as well as technology. Ellison stated, "I wanted to throw in a very captivating science fiction bend that could spice the story while drawing in a diverse crowd of readers."

Despite the milieu of themes in the novel, the most intriguing aspects of the book are Ellison's writing style with its heavy emphasis on metaphor and the complexity of the characters. From the Councilman himself with his personal demons to his former lover and would-be assassin, Croix, to Germani, a shadowy figure acting as puppet master throughout the novel we see characters who jump off the page and make you wonder how much of Tantrum is truly fiction and not a thinly disguised autobiography. I especially got this feeling when Minister Ankh made his appearance.

Minister Ankh is introduced as an "armchair revolutionary on steel crutches". The Minister brought to mind several well-known activists whose agenda seems to be agitating against the same system that will feature them regularly on a cable news show. In response to a question about Ankh, Ellison stated, "Politics on any level is about accumulation of power". This is apparent with Ankh as the contradictions of his existence are explored.

With his debut novel, Charles D. Ellison has injected new life into the literary world. I see this as a great harbinger of things to come. I highly recommend Tantrum for true fans of the written word.