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Michael Bennit #1
The iCandidate
The award-winning novel that will make you feel good in these tough political times.* Silver Medal - Global Ebook Awards for Fantasy/Contemporary, 2015* Finalist - Montaigne Medal for Most Thought-Provoking Book, 2015* Winner - National Indie Excellence Award for Political Thriller, 2014* Silver Medal- Reader's Favorite Book Awards for Fiction - Drama, 2014
When A Traditional Candidate Meets The iCandidate, the Nation Will Never Be the Same!Former Green Beret turned history teacher Michael Bennit likes to inspire his students. After losing a bet to one of his classes, he finds himself running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Partnering with his students to campaign exclusively on social media, the race turns into a national sensation and a sleazy incumbent fanatical about hanging onto his power becomes desperate to destroy it- at any cost.
"The iCandidate is one of the best books that I have read in a long time and the characters and twists will keep you reading long into the night." -- Reviewed by Samantha Rivera for Readers' Favorite
"The idea of an outsider running for Congress and winning is appealing to readers sick of politics as usual." -- Amazon Vine Reviewer, based on excerpt
"This is extremely original. I have never read anything like it. I enjoyed the multiple perspectives that I was given. Each one gave a little bit more to the story and made me start to see the plot coming together." -- Amazon Vine Reviewer, based on excerpt
If you like House of Cards, you’ll enjoy reading how The Michael Bennit Series turns the American political process upside down when the little guy is pitted against the Washington elite set on destroying him to preserve their power in these political dramas.
THE iCANDIDATETHE iCONGRESSMANTHE iSPEAKERTHE iAMERICAN
Buy your copy and start the journey with Michael and his students today!
For updates on Mikael Carlson’s new releases, sign up for his newsletter at mikaelcarlson.com.
When A Traditional Candidate Meets The iCandidate, the Nation Will Never Be the Same!Former Green Beret turned history teacher Michael Bennit likes to inspire his students. After losing a bet to one of his classes, he finds himself running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Partnering with his students to campaign exclusively on social media, the race turns into a national sensation and a sleazy incumbent fanatical about hanging onto his power becomes desperate to destroy it- at any cost.
"The iCandidate is one of the best books that I have read in a long time and the characters and twists will keep you reading long into the night." -- Reviewed by Samantha Rivera for Readers' Favorite
"The idea of an outsider running for Congress and winning is appealing to readers sick of politics as usual." -- Amazon Vine Reviewer, based on excerpt
"This is extremely original. I have never read anything like it. I enjoyed the multiple perspectives that I was given. Each one gave a little bit more to the story and made me start to see the plot coming together." -- Amazon Vine Reviewer, based on excerpt
If you like House of Cards, you’ll enjoy reading how The Michael Bennit Series turns the American political process upside down when the little guy is pitted against the Washington elite set on destroying him to preserve their power in these political dramas.
THE iCANDIDATETHE iCONGRESSMANTHE iSPEAKERTHE iAMERICAN
Buy your copy and start the journey with Michael and his students today!
For updates on Mikael Carlson’s new releases, sign up for his newsletter at mikaelcarlson.com.
359 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 8, 2013
664 people are currently reading
944 people want to read
About the author
Mikael Carlson
33 books85 followersMikael Carlson is an award-winning political fiction author, including a silver medal from Readers' Favorite and National Indie Excellence, Lyra, and Global E-book Awards.
Mikael is a proud U.S. Army Paratrooper and retired Army National Guardsman. He graduated with a Master of Arts in American History in 2010 and with a B.S. in International Business from Marist College in 1996.
An avid traveler and unabashed political junkie, he is the author of the Politics as Unusual blog You can find him at www.mikaelcarlson.com.
Mikael is a proud U.S. Army Paratrooper and retired Army National Guardsman. He graduated with a Master of Arts in American History in 2010 and with a B.S. in International Business from Marist College in 1996.
An avid traveler and unabashed political junkie, he is the author of the Politics as Unusual blog You can find him at www.mikaelcarlson.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
October 22, 2024
Mikael Carlson adds new excitement and flavour to the political thriller with this series debut. When an admired history teacher challenges his advanced students to do well on their exam, they up the ante. High marks see Michael Bennit agree to run for Congress, though he has no hopes of winning. Choosing to run a virtual campaign, Michael and his students begin building a movement, though they prefer not to play the game many politicians know best. With a seat in DC waiting, they will have to cobble something together before the vote in November. Carlson delivers an entertaining piece and has me eager to read on!
Michael Bennit has always had a passion for America, with a military past and a hunger to share the foundations of the country’s development. He is a beloved history teacher who seeks to challenge his students by creating a thought-provoking advanced course. During a bet with his students, Michael agrees to run for an open seat in the US House of Representatives should they all pass his final exam with high marks. Challenge accepted, though Michael Bennit could not have expected to have to follow through with the bet.
Agreeing to run for the open seat to represent the Sixth District in Connecticut, Bennit begins a campaign that is different from the way it has always been done. Receiving pushback from school administration, parents of his students and his fiancée, Bennit begins planning how he will seek to make a difference. With his campaign staff solely comprising his students and seeking not to fall into the trap of traditional political campaigns, the use of social media becomes the sole means of selling Michael Bennit to his constituents. Meet the iCandidate and the new way of capturing the public’s attention.
While things start off poorly, media outlets soon start following the Bennit campaign and his quirky means of connecting to the American political system. As Bennit has established politicians trying to tear him down and Election Day around the corner, the team will have to do what they can to make a difference, even if that does not yield one of the 435 seats in the House. Carlson spins a great tale that is sure to keep the reader hooked throughout.
Mikael Carlson may be into something here, delivering a great political thriller with a spin to keep things entertaining. The narrative opens with ease and provides readers with a multi-perspective to ensure the story gains depth from the early chapters. As the story builds, political and social themes develop, providing the reader with something well worth their time. Great characters provide backstories that leave the reader curious and seeking more, while the setting keeps things from getting too dense. Plot points and political development provide a great flavouring for the reading journey, surprising things at various points. Carlson does well with this debut and has me eager to get my hands on another great political thriller.
Kudos, Mr. Carlson, for a great story with strong underlying themes.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Michael Bennit has always had a passion for America, with a military past and a hunger to share the foundations of the country’s development. He is a beloved history teacher who seeks to challenge his students by creating a thought-provoking advanced course. During a bet with his students, Michael agrees to run for an open seat in the US House of Representatives should they all pass his final exam with high marks. Challenge accepted, though Michael Bennit could not have expected to have to follow through with the bet.
Agreeing to run for the open seat to represent the Sixth District in Connecticut, Bennit begins a campaign that is different from the way it has always been done. Receiving pushback from school administration, parents of his students and his fiancée, Bennit begins planning how he will seek to make a difference. With his campaign staff solely comprising his students and seeking not to fall into the trap of traditional political campaigns, the use of social media becomes the sole means of selling Michael Bennit to his constituents. Meet the iCandidate and the new way of capturing the public’s attention.
While things start off poorly, media outlets soon start following the Bennit campaign and his quirky means of connecting to the American political system. As Bennit has established politicians trying to tear him down and Election Day around the corner, the team will have to do what they can to make a difference, even if that does not yield one of the 435 seats in the House. Carlson spins a great tale that is sure to keep the reader hooked throughout.
Mikael Carlson may be into something here, delivering a great political thriller with a spin to keep things entertaining. The narrative opens with ease and provides readers with a multi-perspective to ensure the story gains depth from the early chapters. As the story builds, political and social themes develop, providing the reader with something well worth their time. Great characters provide backstories that leave the reader curious and seeking more, while the setting keeps things from getting too dense. Plot points and political development provide a great flavouring for the reading journey, surprising things at various points. Carlson does well with this debut and has me eager to get my hands on another great political thriller.
Kudos, Mr. Carlson, for a great story with strong underlying themes.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
May 9, 2020
I love political novels. This one is high on my list of entertaining, if not utopian,politics. Michael Bennit is a high school history teacher who makes a bet with the students in one of his classes. Everyone gets an A on the final and I will run for congress against the incumbent. The rub? Bennit will run his campaign totally on social media. No meet and greet, no fundraisers. Those same students become his campaign staff. Of course it consists of the usual high school nerd who is well conversant in the ins and outs of the internet.
As this is the first of a series there really is no suspense, only curiosity as to how the incumbent will try to employ dirty tricks to upset Bennit’s campaign.
Sometimes, in my mind’s eye, when I read an interesting novel I will picture someone in one of the roles. In this one my history teacher from when I was in high school, 60 years ago, makes an appearance. Also, Chelsea, Bennit’s teenage campaign manager takes the persona of Ally Sheedy from The Breakfast Club. But hey, that’s only my take.
As this is the first of a series there really is no suspense, only curiosity as to how the incumbent will try to employ dirty tricks to upset Bennit’s campaign.
Sometimes, in my mind’s eye, when I read an interesting novel I will picture someone in one of the roles. In this one my history teacher from when I was in high school, 60 years ago, makes an appearance. Also, Chelsea, Bennit’s teenage campaign manager takes the persona of Ally Sheedy from The Breakfast Club. But hey, that’s only my take.
May 24, 2023
Original plot, interesting characters, average style.
June 5, 2014
While the book takes a little while to get going, it was well worth getting through the early introductions to the main characters. Divided between short chapters where each of four different players narrate events from their point of view, once the intros are out of the way, the interactions between them quickly begin to come together and weave a coherent story. The book leads to a moral lesson that's not a bad one for our day and age, and for anyone interested in politics, history and/or the direction of our country, should make for enjoyable reading.
December 2, 2013
In need of a bit more editing, and inherently a bit of a sophomoric story (think any film featuring teens and a montage) - nonetheless, a really, really fun read. Preachiness, screenplay-ready caricatures and predictability aside, it's well written and grounded with a level of intelligence not often found in a work of mass-market appeal. Caveats in place, I'd recommend this as a terrific light read to just about anybody.
July 24, 2020
I loved the iCandidate as well as the others in the series. The book in my opinion sums up how most people feel about Congress. Mikael gives us a great character to believe in and to root for. I am hoping for a 5th book to the series. I am not ready for it to end.
November 5, 2013
Writers write about what they know and Mikael Carlson certainly knows about history and politics. More importantly, he understands the power of social media and its role within our capital and within in our homes. The iCandidate is hilarious, insightful and hits home for any reader who has the slightest opinion of the people governing our country. Dirty politics and corrupt officials aren’t anything new but Michael Bennit’s (protagonist) lesson for his students is a lesson for all readers.
Without giving anything away, Michael Bennit opens a dialogue for the power of social media within our own conscious. You’ll quickly fall in love with each unique character and find yourself rooting for Michael and his students while trying not to get too attached to their success yourself. The iCandidate is a rollercoaster of emotions and I look forward to the next ride.
Without giving anything away, Michael Bennit opens a dialogue for the power of social media within our own conscious. You’ll quickly fall in love with each unique character and find yourself rooting for Michael and his students while trying not to get too attached to their success yourself. The iCandidate is a rollercoaster of emotions and I look forward to the next ride.
September 10, 2015
I Loved it
I don't leave long review or post book reports. I Loved the entire series. The story is about a simple man who loved his country and his ability to inspire his students. The story start out about a bet with the students and with all the twists and turns, all of the characters end up in Washington. WhAt I Loved about these books is the Mr Michael Bennit, NEVER WAVERS in his beliefs and maintains true to himself. A most honorable man and if we ever needed an honorable man in Washington, it's now. If this was a real story I would vote for this man in a heartbeat.
Read this book, enjoy all the history lessons and have a glimmer of hope, that maybe somewhere out there we could find o ur own iCAndidate, Mr Michael Bennit.
Thank you, Mr,. Mikael Carlson for an outstanding series of stories on a most honorable man
I don't leave long review or post book reports. I Loved the entire series. The story is about a simple man who loved his country and his ability to inspire his students. The story start out about a bet with the students and with all the twists and turns, all of the characters end up in Washington. WhAt I Loved about these books is the Mr Michael Bennit, NEVER WAVERS in his beliefs and maintains true to himself. A most honorable man and if we ever needed an honorable man in Washington, it's now. If this was a real story I would vote for this man in a heartbeat.
Read this book, enjoy all the history lessons and have a glimmer of hope, that maybe somewhere out there we could find o ur own iCAndidate, Mr Michael Bennit.
Thank you, Mr,. Mikael Carlson for an outstanding series of stories on a most honorable man
December 5, 2013
The characters are great. Author makes you cheer entire way through book. A big thing with me is reading fiction and learning something, author got an A+ on this. Highly recommend!! Cannot wait for next nook in series iCongress!
December 2, 2013
Absolutely excellent ... Except for using conscious for conscience repeatedly ...
Character development, plot development and concept all superlative.
Character development, plot development and concept all superlative.
November 20, 2017
We live in a society in which the President of the United States regularly addresses the American public by means of late night tweets to his millions of Twitter followers, and local politicians regularly find themselves in hot water for poorly thought out posts on their Facebook pages. In 2017, as I write this review, there's no question that social media is an integral part of politics. But back in 2013, Mikael Carlson saw the developing trends in politics and social media and chose to speculate about the direction in which they were going in his political novel, The iCandidate, The result was a crackerjack political thriller that may become reality within the next election cycle or two.
The candidate in Carlson's book is Michael Bennit, an ex-Green Berets turned Connecticut high school American history teacher. He’s got a comfortable, low-key life but everything changes rather rapidly when he accepts (and promptly loses) a bet with his students to run for Congress if they all get A’s in his class. Bennit agrees to run, but only if a few of his best students become his campaign staff.
Bennit qualifies to run as an independent, but his task is seemingly impossible, since the incumbent, long-time Democratic Congressman Winston Beaumont, is very popular in the district. But Beaumont is venal and corrupt, interested only in legislation that helps fill his political war chest rather than actually improving the lives of his constituents. Beaumont seemingly has an easy route to re-election this time around, since the Republican candidate is a joke, but Bennit decides to discard traditional politicking entirely and run his campaign entirely through social media. Not only that, but he refuses to discuss his stand on any of the important issues, making the campaign all about his values and character. Amazingly, Bennit’s campaign catches fire, prompting Beaumont to unleash the full array of dirty tricks at his disposal. As election day nears, however, the race becomes extremely tight.
Author Carlson employs a rather unusual but highly effective narrative device in The iCandidate. He tells the story in a series of short chapters from four separate first-person viewpoints: Bennit, one of the students on his campaign staff, a freelance political reporter whose favorable stories about Bennit get picked up by the national media, and one of Beaumont’s campaign aides who is responsible for some rather scummy campaign stunts. The author’s device allows him to provide insight into lots more campaign developments than he could get from any single point-of-view, while, at the same time, explain motivations and make the story surprisingly plausible.
The author originally wrote The iCandidate as a screenplay and it shows with an emphasis on plot and rather shallow characters who conveniently fit into their black or white hats. Most of the students are merely sketched in (the jock, the misfit, etc., sounding like a West Wing version of The Breakfast Club), while villains like Beaumont and Bennit’s principal (who tries to get him fired) exist primarily to serve as foils for Bennit’s clever putdowns. But the formula works pretty well here, and the result is a good old-fashioned page turner. The only really three-dimensional character is Bennit himself, who reveals various layers of his personality as the book progresses, leading to some fairly surprising plot developments. In addition, there are some eerily prescient moments, such as the candidate debate in which Bennit pulls out a copy of the Constitution from his pocket to show to the Republican candidate. Other plot developments also track events from last year’s campaign so closely that some readers may want to recheck the publication date to ensure the book was actually written at least four years ago.
The one real flaw I noticed in The iCandidate may also be a byproduct of its origin as a screenplay. Although the characters mention frequently that Bennit is running his campaign strictly through social media, we actually see very few examples of it: no tweets or Facebook posts or descriptions of other campaigns. It would have made the book even more entertaining to show how the campaign was actually being run rather than just mention the phrase “social media” repeatedly.
The iCandidate is a slick political thriller with a likable central character, some nasty (albeit shallow) villains, and enough plot twists to keep readers off guard until the final chapter. More than that, it’s a prophecy for the future of political campaigning that’s already come true to a large extent and rates to be even more accurate by the 2020 Presidential election. I heartily endorse The iCandidate now and hope readers give it another look in a couple more years as well.
The candidate in Carlson's book is Michael Bennit, an ex-Green Berets turned Connecticut high school American history teacher. He’s got a comfortable, low-key life but everything changes rather rapidly when he accepts (and promptly loses) a bet with his students to run for Congress if they all get A’s in his class. Bennit agrees to run, but only if a few of his best students become his campaign staff.
Bennit qualifies to run as an independent, but his task is seemingly impossible, since the incumbent, long-time Democratic Congressman Winston Beaumont, is very popular in the district. But Beaumont is venal and corrupt, interested only in legislation that helps fill his political war chest rather than actually improving the lives of his constituents. Beaumont seemingly has an easy route to re-election this time around, since the Republican candidate is a joke, but Bennit decides to discard traditional politicking entirely and run his campaign entirely through social media. Not only that, but he refuses to discuss his stand on any of the important issues, making the campaign all about his values and character. Amazingly, Bennit’s campaign catches fire, prompting Beaumont to unleash the full array of dirty tricks at his disposal. As election day nears, however, the race becomes extremely tight.
Author Carlson employs a rather unusual but highly effective narrative device in The iCandidate. He tells the story in a series of short chapters from four separate first-person viewpoints: Bennit, one of the students on his campaign staff, a freelance political reporter whose favorable stories about Bennit get picked up by the national media, and one of Beaumont’s campaign aides who is responsible for some rather scummy campaign stunts. The author’s device allows him to provide insight into lots more campaign developments than he could get from any single point-of-view, while, at the same time, explain motivations and make the story surprisingly plausible.
The author originally wrote The iCandidate as a screenplay and it shows with an emphasis on plot and rather shallow characters who conveniently fit into their black or white hats. Most of the students are merely sketched in (the jock, the misfit, etc., sounding like a West Wing version of The Breakfast Club), while villains like Beaumont and Bennit’s principal (who tries to get him fired) exist primarily to serve as foils for Bennit’s clever putdowns. But the formula works pretty well here, and the result is a good old-fashioned page turner. The only really three-dimensional character is Bennit himself, who reveals various layers of his personality as the book progresses, leading to some fairly surprising plot developments. In addition, there are some eerily prescient moments, such as the candidate debate in which Bennit pulls out a copy of the Constitution from his pocket to show to the Republican candidate. Other plot developments also track events from last year’s campaign so closely that some readers may want to recheck the publication date to ensure the book was actually written at least four years ago.
The one real flaw I noticed in The iCandidate may also be a byproduct of its origin as a screenplay. Although the characters mention frequently that Bennit is running his campaign strictly through social media, we actually see very few examples of it: no tweets or Facebook posts or descriptions of other campaigns. It would have made the book even more entertaining to show how the campaign was actually being run rather than just mention the phrase “social media” repeatedly.
The iCandidate is a slick political thriller with a likable central character, some nasty (albeit shallow) villains, and enough plot twists to keep readers off guard until the final chapter. More than that, it’s a prophecy for the future of political campaigning that’s already come true to a large extent and rates to be even more accurate by the 2020 Presidential election. I heartily endorse The iCandidate now and hope readers give it another look in a couple more years as well.
February 11, 2019
Breakfast Club 21st Century
What a riveting story. I loved it. My review will be a few of my fav quotes.
We’re going to campaign exclusively using the Internet and social media. No speeches, no fundraisers, no shaking hands, and absolutely no kissing babies. This will be the country’s first virtual campaign.” “The new front porch,” Vanessa states. “Exactly.” “Okay, that’s unique. But how will anybody notice us if all we are running is a campaign online?” Emilee asks. “We make it go viral,” Brian offers.
“We run the first modern-era front porch campaign.” Mister Bennit looks at each of our faces, all caught in expressions ranging from baffled to thoroughly confused. “Let me explain,” he adds. “Now here comes today's history lesson,” Emilee says wryly. “In 1896, William McKinley ran a campaign with the help of an Ohio business tycoon named Mark Hanna. While his opponent traveled 18,000 miles by railroad, McKinley gave most of his speeches right from his front porch.”
“Miles, this ‘charade’ is ahead of your candidate in the latest Marist poll by double digits. If that isn't enough reason to tell you ‘no,’ try this: my students would never let me forget that I dropped out and endorsed a man whose first and last names are both synonymous with penis.” ( the guy's name is Dick Johnson)
“‘Our campaign has faced many obstacles already,’ explained Orsini, ‘but our school board has the power to end the whole thing. It strikes me as counterintuitive how elected officials can, in good conscience, be against the practice of democracy and the social and political activism of teenagers.’”
the prevailing feeling in the country is our elected officials no longer serve the interests of the American people. Citizens in our district want more than money from Washington. They want to be represented and have a voice in the direction of our nation. Someone who is more interested in listening to the people than engaging in trivial partisan bickering.
“The Framers never intended the House of Representatives to be full of career legislators.
“We are losing faith in our elected officials. Politicians have never been regarded as scrupulous, but the rise of the Information Age has shown us our representatives are no longer instruments of the people, but of themselves and the special interests that finance them. We have allowed it to happen, so maybe that’s what we deserve to get.”
What a riveting story. I loved it. My review will be a few of my fav quotes.
We’re going to campaign exclusively using the Internet and social media. No speeches, no fundraisers, no shaking hands, and absolutely no kissing babies. This will be the country’s first virtual campaign.” “The new front porch,” Vanessa states. “Exactly.” “Okay, that’s unique. But how will anybody notice us if all we are running is a campaign online?” Emilee asks. “We make it go viral,” Brian offers.
“We run the first modern-era front porch campaign.” Mister Bennit looks at each of our faces, all caught in expressions ranging from baffled to thoroughly confused. “Let me explain,” he adds. “Now here comes today's history lesson,” Emilee says wryly. “In 1896, William McKinley ran a campaign with the help of an Ohio business tycoon named Mark Hanna. While his opponent traveled 18,000 miles by railroad, McKinley gave most of his speeches right from his front porch.”
“Miles, this ‘charade’ is ahead of your candidate in the latest Marist poll by double digits. If that isn't enough reason to tell you ‘no,’ try this: my students would never let me forget that I dropped out and endorsed a man whose first and last names are both synonymous with penis.” ( the guy's name is Dick Johnson)
“‘Our campaign has faced many obstacles already,’ explained Orsini, ‘but our school board has the power to end the whole thing. It strikes me as counterintuitive how elected officials can, in good conscience, be against the practice of democracy and the social and political activism of teenagers.’”
the prevailing feeling in the country is our elected officials no longer serve the interests of the American people. Citizens in our district want more than money from Washington. They want to be represented and have a voice in the direction of our nation. Someone who is more interested in listening to the people than engaging in trivial partisan bickering.
“The Framers never intended the House of Representatives to be full of career legislators.
“We are losing faith in our elected officials. Politicians have never been regarded as scrupulous, but the rise of the Information Age has shown us our representatives are no longer instruments of the people, but of themselves and the special interests that finance them. We have allowed it to happen, so maybe that’s what we deserve to get.”
January 9, 2022
I read this book through the Prime Read program. When I first started, I wasn't sure what to expect. I began reading late afternoon and would up continuing to 1AM when I finished, it was that good. The way that the run was developed and how an unknown could scare an incumbent. This incumbent eventually had to resort to dirty tricks just before the election.
Because he was a teacher and was not financially well off, he issued a challenge to a group of students who soon became his campaign team. Their plan was to use social media as the basis for getting his message out. Initially his 1st press conference was a dud and it took the help of a journalist that had an axe to grind with the incumbent. As the campaign went on and as the election got closer, it soon became important that Michael, the teacher, was a part of the debate. To get an invitation, the group used reverse psychology and it worked. The showing at the debate was so impressive that the incumbent's team had to resort to putting a lie out which would gravely injure Michael's campaign.
To find out if Michael was able to overcome the impact of the lie, what consequences Michael wound up enduring, what the journalist's reason for jumping on Michael's boat and who and what revelations was revealed in the end, then you need to read this book. It is well worth it and I am looking at reading more from this author.
Because he was a teacher and was not financially well off, he issued a challenge to a group of students who soon became his campaign team. Their plan was to use social media as the basis for getting his message out. Initially his 1st press conference was a dud and it took the help of a journalist that had an axe to grind with the incumbent. As the campaign went on and as the election got closer, it soon became important that Michael, the teacher, was a part of the debate. To get an invitation, the group used reverse psychology and it worked. The showing at the debate was so impressive that the incumbent's team had to resort to putting a lie out which would gravely injure Michael's campaign.
To find out if Michael was able to overcome the impact of the lie, what consequences Michael wound up enduring, what the journalist's reason for jumping on Michael's boat and who and what revelations was revealed in the end, then you need to read this book. It is well worth it and I am looking at reading more from this author.
October 31, 2023
WHAT A GREAT BOOK!!!
Too many "new" books are rehashing old plots, stereotyped characters, and "deus ex machina" endings when an author is unable to satisfactorily resolve the difficulties he or she has created.
This book immediately grabs your attention - and puzzled me initially - since each chapter is in the voice of and in the character of one of the participants in the story. After you get to know each character, it provides an enchanting multi-faceted telling of the story. And the story itself, which starts out as an intimate little tale suddenly blossoms into something entirely different - and completely believable.
I hesitate to say more because I want you to have the experience of going on this delightful journey with these captivating people, Even the villains are well-drawn, and each interaction is seen by at one participant in different perspectives (there's that thing about multi-narrators).
I cannot count the number of "free" first novels I have read without ever purchasing volumes 2 or 3 or whatever. As soon as I reached the last page - with a certain sense of disappointment that it WAS the last page - I immediately went online and ordered volume 2. If it proves anywhere as engrossing as volume, I suspect I may end up with all 4 editions.
I cannot say how MUCH I enjoyed this book and how thoroughly I recommend it!
Too many "new" books are rehashing old plots, stereotyped characters, and "deus ex machina" endings when an author is unable to satisfactorily resolve the difficulties he or she has created.
This book immediately grabs your attention - and puzzled me initially - since each chapter is in the voice of and in the character of one of the participants in the story. After you get to know each character, it provides an enchanting multi-faceted telling of the story. And the story itself, which starts out as an intimate little tale suddenly blossoms into something entirely different - and completely believable.
I hesitate to say more because I want you to have the experience of going on this delightful journey with these captivating people, Even the villains are well-drawn, and each interaction is seen by at one participant in different perspectives (there's that thing about multi-narrators).
I cannot count the number of "free" first novels I have read without ever purchasing volumes 2 or 3 or whatever. As soon as I reached the last page - with a certain sense of disappointment that it WAS the last page - I immediately went online and ordered volume 2. If it proves anywhere as engrossing as volume, I suspect I may end up with all 4 editions.
I cannot say how MUCH I enjoyed this book and how thoroughly I recommend it!
August 21, 2021
Huge relevancy for our time and future for our democratic republic
There's no question that our country and world are in multiple, cataclysmal , existential crises due to apparently equal failures in autocratic, dictatorial, socialistic, monarchical, and (above all) for our USA democratic republic's insincere, incompetent, self-serving leaders. There are many changes that must be achieved to avert the multitude of catastrophes confronting all people of the world today; but it seems that the installation of a "few" Michael Bennits into with courage, determination, social compassion, empathy for the wellbeing of the diverse population(s) would go a long way to lead us through the multiple catastrophes threatening the existence of our world...I'm hoping the Michael Bennit Series Book 2 is as relavent and as hopeful as this Book 1...
There's no question that our country and world are in multiple, cataclysmal , existential crises due to apparently equal failures in autocratic, dictatorial, socialistic, monarchical, and (above all) for our USA democratic republic's insincere, incompetent, self-serving leaders. There are many changes that must be achieved to avert the multitude of catastrophes confronting all people of the world today; but it seems that the installation of a "few" Michael Bennits into with courage, determination, social compassion, empathy for the wellbeing of the diverse population(s) would go a long way to lead us through the multiple catastrophes threatening the existence of our world...I'm hoping the Michael Bennit Series Book 2 is as relavent and as hopeful as this Book 1...
October 1, 2022
Better than any amusement park roller coaster!
I want a real Michael Bennit to run for office - the book reveals that our
“ representatives “ do not represent anyone except their own pockets and those that line them with money to pass needless “fluff” instead of “ real life” issues that affect everyday Americans. I am going to ask friends that are teachers to present this situation to their students and see what they think .
My question that has yet to be answered by anyone that holds public office at the state or federal level - “ When was the last time that you went to the grocery store and purchased groceries for your family “ ? Unless it was a political rally they haven’t been to a grocery store in years !
Congratulations on this series I cannot wait to read the next !
I want a real Michael Bennit to run for office - the book reveals that our
“ representatives “ do not represent anyone except their own pockets and those that line them with money to pass needless “fluff” instead of “ real life” issues that affect everyday Americans. I am going to ask friends that are teachers to present this situation to their students and see what they think .
My question that has yet to be answered by anyone that holds public office at the state or federal level - “ When was the last time that you went to the grocery store and purchased groceries for your family “ ? Unless it was a political rally they haven’t been to a grocery store in years !
Congratulations on this series I cannot wait to read the next !
September 15, 2020
Holy shit this book was awful! There is soooo much wrong with it, I don’t even know where to start. A friend recommended it so I decided to pick it up even though the synopsis didn’t appeal to me much. But it was worse than just the storyline. The text is so forced and cliche and incredibly juvenile. It reads like a 16 year old girl wrote it. There were several storylines being told through 4 main characters and it just didn’t work. It was predictable and, simply, lame. I’m shocked this book is the first of a trilogy. My friend is excited to keep reading... I was excited to finally be finished with this one. 😂
February 15, 2023
Just plain intriguing
This is the first book of Michael Carlson's that I have read. It seems or sounds trite to say I hated to put it down but it's true the development of the characters and the story and as a retired teacher so many of the situations that he addressed or made come true are spot on. Around 2:30 the way through I had a feeling that Kylie and Michael would end up together but it was more of a realistic development then so many of the novels where it's obvious that two people are going to end up together. I loved reading this and just was eager each time I picked up my phone or my tablet to read more and I really really liked it.
This is the first book of Michael Carlson's that I have read. It seems or sounds trite to say I hated to put it down but it's true the development of the characters and the story and as a retired teacher so many of the situations that he addressed or made come true are spot on. Around 2:30 the way through I had a feeling that Kylie and Michael would end up together but it was more of a realistic development then so many of the novels where it's obvious that two people are going to end up together. I loved reading this and just was eager each time I picked up my phone or my tablet to read more and I really really liked it.
Read
August 9, 2020Great read don’t miss this novel
This is the type of book you can’t put down .the characters are amazing never know where this is going. A. Cheer for Michael we should have more teachers like this character. I enjoyed this story so much. The author makes good on show how we should be more concerned about who we elect & why. A book many should read. I will continue to read the siege of this character Michael & hope his journey is fruitful.
This is the type of book you can’t put down .the characters are amazing never know where this is going. A. Cheer for Michael we should have more teachers like this character. I enjoyed this story so much. The author makes good on show how we should be more concerned about who we elect & why. A book many should read. I will continue to read the siege of this character Michael & hope his journey is fruitful.
September 20, 2020
Great read terrible editing
I enjoyed the storyline and writing style. A lot. It was an interesting concept. I really struggle with the boundless editing errors. Wrong use of word forms, passive verbs omitted, singular use of words when plural was the correct choice. The publisher should stop simply using spellcheck and at least employ grammar check, too, or hire a skilled proofreader before final edit. There were well over 20-unheard of in professional publishing.
I enjoyed the storyline and writing style. A lot. It was an interesting concept. I really struggle with the boundless editing errors. Wrong use of word forms, passive verbs omitted, singular use of words when plural was the correct choice. The publisher should stop simply using spellcheck and at least employ grammar check, too, or hire a skilled proofreader before final edit. There were well over 20-unheard of in professional publishing.
December 5, 2020
I now have a new favorite author!
Usually I like reading thriller and action- packed novels, but this one took me by surprise. Can a group of high school misfits win a bet with a teacher and then assist him to run for Congress? I loved the way he inspired his students to experience learning through experience. Being a former American history teacher, his historical quotes and quick humor were much in line with the plot.
I really look forward to the next one!
Usually I like reading thriller and action- packed novels, but this one took me by surprise. Can a group of high school misfits win a bet with a teacher and then assist him to run for Congress? I loved the way he inspired his students to experience learning through experience. Being a former American history teacher, his historical quotes and quick humor were much in line with the plot.
I really look forward to the next one!
April 24, 2022
The iCandidate
Michael Ben it is a high school honors history class who agrees to a bet with his students, if they all get an A on the final exam he will be a candidate for Congress. When the unexpected happens the students and the I candidate are in for a whirlwind Sumner and early fall. The incumbent uses all the dirty tricks in his arsenal and somehow squeaks out a victory. The students learn from experience and realize that change is at hand in America's political system.
Michael Ben it is a high school honors history class who agrees to a bet with his students, if they all get an A on the final exam he will be a candidate for Congress. When the unexpected happens the students and the I candidate are in for a whirlwind Sumner and early fall. The incumbent uses all the dirty tricks in his arsenal and somehow squeaks out a victory. The students learn from experience and realize that change is at hand in America's political system.
October 10, 2022
Left me on the edge of my seat the entire time, I couldn’t put it down!
The way this book was written was immaculate. It rare to find a book that I simply can’t put down without wanting to know what happened next, but the multiple cliffhangers at the end of chapter kept me coming back for more. I am starting the second book as soon as I finish this review, because I have to know what happens next.
The way this book was written was immaculate. It rare to find a book that I simply can’t put down without wanting to know what happened next, but the multiple cliffhangers at the end of chapter kept me coming back for more. I am starting the second book as soon as I finish this review, because I have to know what happens next.
October 31, 2023
This was the authors first book, so I’m giving it a bit of a pass. It’s not great. I will read anything political, so yes, I’ll read the next one. But I hope the writing gets better. There were places in this book that were just cringe-worthy…for more than one reason. I was creeped out a couple times at how he describes everything from high school girls to the protagonist that is modeled on himself.
September 11, 2019
The best read for a long time .
Here the author teaches us has the iCandidate taught his students . The depth of insight into the 30 individual stories being told is masterly . I could do an in-depth analysis but it is not necessary . This is a truly great book , it should be required reading in all literature courses .
Here the author teaches us has the iCandidate taught his students . The depth of insight into the 30 individual stories being told is masterly . I could do an in-depth analysis but it is not necessary . This is a truly great book , it should be required reading in all literature courses .
September 24, 2020
Inspiring read
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Fun, fast paced, intriguing story line. The characters were believable. My only disappointment was the number of grammatical and syntactic errors and misspellings I encountered. I believe it may have something to do with how the kindle version was generated.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Fun, fast paced, intriguing story line. The characters were believable. My only disappointment was the number of grammatical and syntactic errors and misspellings I encountered. I believe it may have something to do with how the kindle version was generated.
May 1, 2021
Worth a second chance
When I started this book I couldn't get into it, too many short chapters, too many people to keep straight. I laid it down and left it for weeks. Decided to give it a second chance and I couldn't put it down. Very insightful look at our election process and the dirty dealings that it has become.
When I started this book I couldn't get into it, too many short chapters, too many people to keep straight. I laid it down and left it for weeks. Decided to give it a second chance and I couldn't put it down. Very insightful look at our election process and the dirty dealings that it has become.
July 22, 2022
FABULOUS!
iCandidate is a breath of fresh air in much needed in today’s toxic political climate! Thank you Mikeal!
The writing is intelligent, clever, moving and the story compelling… the inquisitive learning opportunity, powerful! I was glued to the page from beginning to dynamic end. Can’t wait to read the next book in this intriguing series!
iCandidate is a breath of fresh air in much needed in today’s toxic political climate! Thank you Mikeal!
The writing is intelligent, clever, moving and the story compelling… the inquisitive learning opportunity, powerful! I was glued to the page from beginning to dynamic end. Can’t wait to read the next book in this intriguing series!
June 25, 2023
Great first book!
Like some books I have read in the past, I chose this when offered in an email. Now that I have read it, I will definitely be continuing the rest of the series.
This book made me think of how the way things are done could change due to Social Media. Whether or not it will work depends on how people view it.
Like some books I have read in the past, I chose this when offered in an email. Now that I have read it, I will definitely be continuing the rest of the series.
This book made me think of how the way things are done could change due to Social Media. Whether or not it will work depends on how people view it.
April 13, 2024
PURE JOY TO READ
An absolute must read. I honestly don’t know the last time I actually fell in love with all of the characters in a book! Truly wish all teachers were as dedicated as Michael Bennit.
As a former teacher, I so appreciate his methods and approach to the art of teaching.
An absolute must read. I honestly don’t know the last time I actually fell in love with all of the characters in a book! Truly wish all teachers were as dedicated as Michael Bennit.
As a former teacher, I so appreciate his methods and approach to the art of teaching.
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