Chris Lee

First off, wow! Karin Slaughter has an uncanny ability to describe the depravity of certain areas of small towns and accurately depict the types of people you might find living there. The way people talk, act, and carry themselves was spot on. I grew up in a town that was not far off from the one depicted in the book. They are the kind of places where bullying is a fierce, never-ending, daily occurrence. They are the kinds of places where you have to spend the last few minutes of class each day plotting out which bike route would be the safest way to get home. They are the kinds of places where you need a steady head, a strong will, and a huge heart to soldier on. Before I get to the review, I really just wanted to shine a quick light of hope and offer a big hug to those out there who suffer or have suffered from merciless bullying or harm in the past. I know all too well what it feels like. Don't ever let them get to you because we've got your back, always.

** “This above all: to thine ownself be true.” *

Whew! Okay, that was heavy. Now, let's get to the book. This was so good. I mean, so, so, so good. It has a story that winds between two periods of time, has two captivating mysteries, a complex family dynamic, and a pulse-pounding finale. Not only that, it's written in a way that is so incredibly fierce and descriptive. It pulls no punches, and we get to see a variety of ways characters handle the cards they are dealt, for better or for worse.

// A vicious attack takes place at a family's home in a small town that haunts them for years to come. //

This one was really hard for me to put down. I found myself thinking about it throughout the day, going over plot points and trying to figure out what was going to happen. I had a few things right, but that ending sent me reeling. Well, you know what? It was actually the last several chapters. I was utterly captivated. Like, phone on silent, pretend I'm not here kind of immersion. It's been quite a while since I've audibly gasped at some of the conversations that went down towards the end.

// “Sometimes, your world turns upside down, and you need somebody to show you how to walk on your hands before you can find your feet again.” //

I really do not want to talk about the plot at all. I have quite a bit to say about each and every character and would like to go into detail, but it's best to go in without knowing much. But what I will say is that I enjoyed the snark, the banter between the characters, the nods to some literary and TV classics, and some of the off-kilter humor. This is a book that is going to swirl around in my head for quite awhile, I think.

This book definitely has some dark moments, so you might want to check trigger warnings*

──∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗── Extra

I really do not have much to say about the novella. To me, it was pretty standard sci-fi fare.

Let me set the scene for you here. A husband, a wife, a secluded cabin in Maine, a bed, and a pair of handcuffs. You could probably guess where this is going; I thought I did, but this single-location thriller is an incredibly enthralling read that only the master of suspense could provide.

Without saying too much more, Jess, the main character, is left chained to the bed after a not-so-hot and heavy session with her husband. Certainly, they left a note with the family on when to expect them back. Not so fast there. Maybe they wanted to keep their kinky getaway a secret, or maybe this was all planned as something much more sinister.

Our main character is put through the ringer in this novel. Not only is she coming full circle with her past, but she witnesses some pretty hairy things in the room as well. Let's just say it involves a bit of “misery” and elements from a book featuring a St. Bernard, if you catch my drift.

As Jess conjures up the ability to escape from her perilous position, she is struck with flashbacks and ominous voices that really add a spark to the situation. These voices and flashbacks give us insight into her past and current psyche. It is a troubled one, as you can imagine coming from King, and each chapter ratchets up the tension to a surprising conclusion.

One more quick note that I mentioned in an update: Jessie is constantly worried about a glass of ice water leaving rings and water spots on the nightstand. Now that this is next-level OCD neurosis, I can definitely appreciate it and would be worried about myself.

First off, and I'm not the least bit ashamed to say it, I balled my eyes out for at least five minutes after I finished this book. It uh, yeah, it definitely struck a chord. I thought the subject matter was touching, the relationships tugged at the heartstrings, and the overall message was important. Once I started it, I could not stop, the flow and writing style was so incredibly entrancing. I really had no idea what I was in for. 

Evelyn's character was incredibly interesting but not relatable at all. She has looks nobody could compete with, steps on just about anyone to get what she wants, and has a generally unkind temperament. But what I did like about her was her unflappable commitment to her family and loved ones. 

The way in which the author describes detailed emotions makes my heart sing and break at the same time. It's something I can't say I've ever experienced in a book. The characters were just so realistic! I think it's a book with incredible staying power. It's unrelenting and does hold your hand. It has a powerful message and a nail biting plot. 

I just want to read it all over again. 

First of all, what exactly is The Omnivore's Dilemma? According to the author, there is a national confusion about knowing exactly where our food comes from and what propels us to choose one food over another.

If you are quite busy throughout the day, you might grab some fast food, a boxed meal, or something from a can. Convenience is key. This book does not argue if processed food is good for us; we all know the answer to that. It does, however, try to trace the food chain to find out where it all comes from. If you enjoy the TV show “Inside the Factory” on BBC, you will undoubtedly like this.

So, where does the book start? A farm, no doubt. Yes, but the crop of choice is used in almost anything and everything you can possibly imagine. Your food, your car, the textiles you walk on, and it can even be traced to the book cover you are holding in your hand.

This magical crop is

Knowing that the book is a classic really hinders my review in a way. About halfway through the Maltese Falcon i was could not help but think about why its considered so great. The book has unlikable and scummy characters who are hard to root for and as i neared the last few pages became even more disappointed. Maybe the film is better and allows for more character development but the old detective story is just plain bland. We have had several decades of similarly paced books based on detectives and maybe this was groundbreaking at the time. I just did not have a great time with it in the present.

●○ Animal ●○ - a living organism that feeds on organic matter, typically having specialized sense organs and nervous system and able to respond rapidly to stimuli.
●○ Liberation ●○ - freedom from limits on thought or behavior.

This book focuses on the treatment of animals, the processes of factory farming, product testing, and touches on their philosophical history. If you are so inclined to read it, know that it is pretty heavy material. Material we should all know about, but extremely graphic in its own right. This isn't really the place to have a full on conversation about the issues brought up in this book, but they are extremely important and I will be mulling them over in mind for a very, very long time.

For the past five years, I have been transitioning to a plant based diet and will be fully in by the end of this year. The reason I bring this up is because I have a hard time explaining my reasons to friends and family in a way that helps them understand. Now, I'll just point them to this informative book.

──∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗── 5 ★'s ──∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗──

The premise reminds you of the Jurassic Park sequels. You know trouble is brewing on the other islands, but they come up with an excuse to go back.

Scythe is a tale of two halves. On one hand, it's a thrilling YA novel full of intrigue and exciting world-building. On the other hand, it's a tale that shines a creative light on concerns we all have here in the real world. A YA reader and an adult would probably have a completely different experience reading this, and that's what makes it so great.It's a simple story. The world has moved past diseases, murder, and accidental deaths, and people are potentially living forever. To keep somewhat of an order of things, Scythes pick people to glean. These unfortunate people cannot be brought back to life with revivals. Oh! There is also somewhat of a worldly overseer called the Thunderhead, but let's leave that element a surprise.Enter two young adults who are chosen to join the Scythedom and become the next bringers of doom. How do they fit in? How are they trained to accomplish these dastardly deeds, and what do they do about these feelings towards one another?I like how it fuses dystopian perspectives with actual historical references. Also, the winks to politics, freedom, and the pitfalls of being impetuous in this world were tops. While reading it, I was reminded of some of my favorite writers, such as Bradbury, Sterling, and Roddenberry.It's easy to read, fun, a bit dark, and has a great writing style. It's brilliant!⭐ Rating ⭐❖ 4.5 out of 5 ❖

In a nutshell, the book is about intercepting a transmission and the quest to piece together what it means. What I found enjoyable about the Prox Transmissions was not the characters or plot, but the ideas that stitched them together. It's trying to reach the heights of something like Tenet, but it's not quite there. It feels unfinished. Perhaps when we get the full story, I can reevaluate the series.

It's fun piecing together the visuals of the Starset albums. Check out My Demons after reading this one. All in all, I liked it but did not love it. 

Can a father with an issue of authority, fervent distaste for the world, and limited inner strength be a shining light to the general masses who want him dead? That's a question that teeters through Steven King's “The Running Man,” a book that carries underline critiques of corruption and hampers on the social injustice of class structure.

The book was published in 1982 and is surprisingly set in the not-too-distant future of 2025. A future that is close to home on so many levels. Basically, the world is crumbling economically, and most people live in an impoverished state. Our main character, Ben Richards, needs a large sum of money to help get his sick daughter treated. He decides to enroll in a violent game show run by the government in hopes of raising funds. Little does he know that he will appear on the Running Man segment, where he will be hunted down by a hitman. The more days he survives, the more money he receives. Oh, and did I mention nobody who has been on this particular program has survived? Easy-peasy, right?

|| “Protest did not work. Violence did not work. The world was what it was, and Ben Richards moved through it like a thin scythe, asking for nothing” ||

Ben has an exciting time in Co-op City. Every day before 12 a.m., he must film several minutes of himself and mail the finished product to the TV studio. The studio producer takes said tapes and dubs voices over them, making Ben out to be a menace to society when the footage airs on prime time. A few colorful metaphors about authority does the trick. This enrages citizens and encourages them to turn him in.

|| “These people,” Richards said, “only want to see someone bleed. The more the better.” ||

Once Ben's feet hit the ground running, he seeks a disguise, a car, and bogus identification papers from a shadow broker and a few gang members. This allows him to dress as a visually impaired priest as he makes his way from New York to Boston and eventually to Derry.

I nerded out on this book. Like, I couldn't stop reading. It was one giant tree filled science-gasm. And I was all in. If you know me, you know I enjoy the outdoors just about as much as I enjoy reading. To me, nature is a great teacher because she can humble you, educate you, and leave you breathless with her beauty. But, as it pertains to the book's specific content, you're probably asking yourself, “A book about trees. C'mon Chris, really? “ “Is it that interesting?” To that, I would say absolutely, and this is why. 

You will learn how trees communicate, how they collect and store water, how they ward off pests, and most important of all, how they help the planet and its surroundings. The book does a great job explaining each concept, and I thought the chapters flew by. 

If this sounds like something you'd be interested in, I'd say give it a shot. You will never look at a tree the same way again.

It was not all that thrilling to me. The main character was hard to get behind and the conclusion of the story was just ordinary.

It's time to go back to a time when folks used payphones, engines had more than four cylinders, and teens gathered in cars to watch movies and make out in picturesque views of the hills above the city. This tale, however, is not all sunshine and rainbows. In fact, it's the exact opposite. I was fortunate to go into this book without ever having watched the movie (I love John Carpenter films) or hearing much about it. Following in the footsteps of some of my other favorite King books, Christine has chills, laughs, panic-inducing segments, supernatural occurrences, and a love story. I felt like it cruised along at a high pace and offered up so much more than a story about a maniacal car that goes on a rampage. Christine is like Michael Myers and Freddy; she has an agenda and a tie to those who gaze upon her or want to take a ride in her. It's super creepy, and I was completely enamored with the plot.

The tale begins with two buds driving around the city and stumbling upon a 1958 Plymouth Fury. One of the MC's is attracted to the bucket of bolts and has to have it. As you can imagine, once the car is put back together and starts to come to life, people start to perish. What I find most interesting is the living nature of the car and how it influences others. We all know friends who get addicted to a certain vice or mindset, and no matter how much you try and explain to them that they have a problem, they will not listen. This book not only covers the mental but the physical breakdown as well. I do not want to get into specifics if you have not had the pleasure of reading it, but some characters have a physical change in appearance as they fall under Christine's spell, and the changes described are terrifying. As you dive deeper into the madness and muck, there is an underlying bit of hope, something King is a master at. I had so much joy with the investigative part of the book as well. Is it just a car, or something much more terrifying?

I have to talk about the “action” scenes a bit. Just like the slasher icons I mentioned before, Christine is driven (pun intended) to take out certain people, let's say. Do they deserve it? That is up to you to decide as you read it, but think about your favorite horror movie and place a car as the entity trying to break into a home. Does it work? Probably not, but King makes that particular part a nail-biter.

OK, OK, so I know that I have praised it so far, but I do have a few nit-picky things to point out. One, I knew from the get-go what would happen to the main characters relationship triangle. I have experienced something similar, and had a gut feeling where that situation would ultimately end up. Two, this is an EXTREME nit pick, but the hamburger part was a weird plot device. I know you have to come up with a way to explain something happening inside a car, but that was just an eyebrow-raising moment for me. Your results may vary. Third, I thought Arnie's parents were a little too accepting of Christine in the beginning. I would have liked a bit more meat on the bone there.

Other than that, it was incredibly captivating. I would be incredibly interested in knowing what my GR buddies think of this one. If you haven't read it or have been putting it off, add it to your Halloween reading list. You will not be disappointed.

A criminal named Frank acquires an interesting box that can be used to conjure up whatever the solutionist desires, or so he thinks. Seeking the pleasures of the world, Frank solves the box and opens up a doorway in his bedroom, welcoming in a few interesting guests. These guests, named Cenobites, who wear some sort of pseudo-sadomasochism apparel, eventually grant Frank his wish.

|| “ Your most treasured depravity is child's play beside the experiences we offer.”

We are then introduced to Frank's brother, Rory, and his wife, Julia, whom Frank had an affair with right before their wedding day. Since that day, Julia has wanted Frank back, so you can sense her surprise when he shows up in her room, but something is definitely awry. He asks Julia for a favor that is downright depraved and immoral.

|| “No tears, please. It's a waste of good suffering.”

If you are familiar with the movie Hellraiser, then you will be at home with this novella. Although Pinhead is not mentioned by name, the descriptions of the creatures and Frank's transformation are much more terrifying to read than how they are depicted on screen. (imo)

Barker has an extraordinary way of describing extreme violence with haunting realism. Since there is really no character to ‘root for', you find yourself becoming enveloped in the ferocity and savagery of the story. It's curiously sensual in parts, and the ending packs a punch that I will not soon forget.

|| “ Everything tires with time, and starts to seek some opposition, to save it from itself.”

I believe this is considered a classic in the splatter-punk genre, and although it touches on some pretty heavy themes, it was quite good. Are there any other must-reads in the genre that I should add to my reading list?

The two men in “Strangers On A Train” are despicable people. One, a well-off psychopath who berates women, and the other is a brilliant yet insecure fella who lacks a few basic moral filters. Perhaps número dos is not too bad in the beginning, but time will tell as the novel chugs along. Does the dynamic fit a twisty murder plot? To me, the book has flashes of brilliance, but some of the melodrama and filler irked me quite a bit.

Guy and Bruno meet on a train. A few drinks are shared, and before long, Bruno lays out a perfect murder. Bruno will murder Guy's wife; he is on his way to divorce, and Guy will in turn murder Bruno's father. Does this sound like a foolproof idea to you?

If you can get past the ‘perfect' meetup and subsequent murder coercing, I think you might enjoy it a bit more than I did. The chapter describing the deed was an eerie look into the mind of a psychopath and included quite a bit of introspection. This, coupled with the extreme detail, really set the tone for the rest of the book. Sadly, it takes until about the last third to really ramp up again. The middle portion of the book is filled with too much melodrama and philosophical takes, which I usually enjoy, but it sort of plateaued for me. It is understandable that these characters would get caught up in these ramblings of crime, but it hits it over the head a bit too much. It all could have been compacted a bit more. The alcoholism, the blackouts, and the staunch remarks started to get pretty grating. Also, it never really hits that sense of Annie Wilkes type crazy, if you know what I mean. Maybe we are just a bit desensitized to these types of stories, but back when this was published, I'm sure it was eye-opening.

On the other hand, the writing is pretty great. I read that the movie iteration was directed by Hitchcock, and this makes perfect sense. The stalking chapter in particular had a Hitchcockian feel to it, so I can see why he would gravitate toward it. Oh! One more point. The murder in and of itself was pretty clever. Back then, it would have been almost impossible for authorities to catch on to how it was committed. There is some detective work that shows up in the last third or so, but the ‘gotcha' moments are pretty far-fetched and frankly uninteresting in my opinion. I can definitely see other writers being influenced by the interrogation scenes as well. Karen Slaughter comes to mind.

All in all, it had some amazing moments, but I feel like it could be trimmed up a bit. My advice would be to go into it not expecting a cat-and-mouse chase or an in-depth character story, just some tension surrounding a few blokes who devise a creative act of evil. A more sinister version of My Dinner with Andre, for example.

It's just as the liner notes say; this is required reading.

There are certain books that speak to the heart and send shivers up the spine as you read them. The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran is one of those books. It will help make you a better person, it will help dampen demons in the soul, it will help set perspectives, it will help you to never underestimate your self-worth, it will make you question if you are doing enough to help your fellow human, and it will help inspire you to level up your appreciation of the world around you. Truly, truly amazing! But enough of me babbling on. Here are some of my favorite quotes. ❖ “ The hidden well-spring of your soul must needs rise and run murmuring to the sea;And the treasure of your infinite depths would be revealed to your eyes.But let there be no scales to weigh your unknown treasure;And seek not the depths of your knowledge with staff or sounding line.For self is a sea boundless and measureless.” ❖❖ “The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.Let your bending in the Archer's hand be for gladness;For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.” ❖❖ “Some of you say, “Joy is greater than sorrow,” and others say, “Nay, sorrow is the greater.”But I say unto you, they are inseparable.Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.” ❖Its in the public domain on project gutenburg or on audio at librovox. Give it a go. ⭐ Rating ⭐❖ 6 out of 5 ❖

If you're looking for a book that masquerades as a thriller but, in reality, is more of a psychologically macabre art house horror story, then this might be for you.

There are no ghosts, vampires, or creepy puppets in this. Oh, no. It's a tale with a simple concept. One you might have even seen or read about in a typical police procedural, but with a few unique twists.

The book stars four women who work the night shift at a boxed dinner processing plant. Each has troubles at home, but after Yayoi's husband, Kenji, comes home and says he's gambled their life savings away, she's fed up and

If you and I sat down to talk about what this book meant or what we got out of it, I bet our reasoning would be fairly different. Sometimes a book speaks to you, makes you understand yourself better, or puts things into perspective. Stumbling across these treasures and feeling that jolt, no matter how long it lasts, is kind of why we read.

Bradbury weaves beautiful allegory into a book that could be considered scary, but not for the reasons you might suspect after reading the synopsis.The story is set in a small town that gets a visit from a carnival. It uses a vast array of sights and sounds to invite the locals to come and see some of its unique attractions. Our main characters are swept up in the moment and make their way to the scene in the dead of night. Little do they know, the rides and those who run them might be up to something sinister.

I marked this book up a lot. I mean, it's going to be hard to read over. The margins are packed! The actual story was fine, but the family dynamic is what really captured my attention. I felt that some passages were written for me, or at least explained certain feelings I would never be able to express myself. I.e., the father and son converse on the porch.

In terms of writing, it might be a bit too whimsical for some, but I loved the lyrical prose. It was touching too. I found myself with a slight mist under the eyes in some parts and gleeful joy in many others.

I think I'll be more like Will, Jim, and Charles and not dwell on regrets or how the future might shape me. Give this book a shot and see how it affects you.

Frost said it best: “In three words, I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on.”

Douglas Adams' “The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy” is a hilarious comedy in the vein of Monty Python (the holy grail is my favorite comedy of all time), Spaceballs, and early Zucker movies. I enjoyed every minute of it despite how corny, ridiculous, and silly it was, and even though I am obviously very late to the party, I am delighted I showed up since this (spoiler) is the funniest book I have ever read. Here is one of my favorite parts:

// “You know,” said Arthur, “it's at times like this, when I'm trapped in a Vogon airlock with a man from Betelgeuse, and about to die of asphyxiation in deep space that I really wish I'd listened to what my mother told me when I was young.” “Why, what did she tell you?” “I don't know, I didn't listen.” \

The story is pretty simple. The earth is destroyed, but a single earthling, Arthur Dent, survives thanks to his best friend (and alien), Ford Prefect. The two roam around the universe using The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy as guidance and a towel (because why not?) to try and learn how the third planet from the sun was created.

Since this is considered a classic by so many people, I thought I would just touch on a few bullet points that really stood out to me and made me chuckle:

• Infinite Improbability Drive – So funny! The way it is used and how it was developed was genius.
• Zaphod Beeblebrox – I mean, is there a funnier name for a character? I think not.

Shiver me timbers!

This may be an unpopular opinion, but I thought the book was rather dull. (I'm sorry, younger self.) For all its romanticizing of pirates and would-be treasure hunters, the actual meat and potatoes of the story lacked any real world-building in my opinion. Now, I'm not going to sit here and criticize one of my favorite books as a child, but I can't get the information I learned from the book Black Flags, Blue Waters, and other similar real-world accounts of the crews who flew the Jolly Roger out of my head.

Pirates were not that glamorous and did not live great lives, as you can imagine. Most were caught, incarcerated, starved, or worse. So, even though a part of my nostalgia died, the heart of the quest was still intriguing. I just remember it being a bit more descriptive. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

Ooh La La. This novella is transgressive, morally bankrupt, and takes a long, cyber-punky dive into the world of outward-facing beauty and body influence. From one extreme to the next, we follow P. Burke, a non-attractive teen who attempts to end it all but is halted by a bureaucracy and offered a job.

This job consists of transforming her body, showing off products, driving around in “sun-cars”, living large, and disappearing from everyone she knows.

After a brief mind-to-body transfer, the new job teaches her how to walk, talk, interact, and sell her personality. Here is a fascinating quote about how it all works:

|| “When you wash your hands, do you feel the water is running on your brain? Of course not. You feel the water on your hand, although the “feeling” is actually a potential-pattern flickering over the electrochemical jelly between your ears.” ||

** If Mona Awad partnered with William Gibson and took on a pseudo-cyber tech novel, I can see it being something similar to this story. **

There is something artful about how the author blends concepts like transference with complex issues like body image. My experience with it was sort of like viewing an experimental art installation. The visual language might be leading you to feel a certain way or take interpretations and graft them onto your personal worldview / experiences. This books sporadic narrative and themes of cognitive dissonance might make you

Part two of the Hodges trilogy: If the first book was a short-fuse thriller with twists and turns, the second book is a slow-burn escapade with a nail-biting conclusion.

This one had me on edge and reeling. It was good, if not great in some respects. I appreciated the keen sense of the writer and the audience. It never dilutes the anticipation or panic looming until the very end.

It felt to me like a lesson. Stay in school, make something of yourself, care for others, and ultimately do the right thing. Except when you know that King is the author, these themes are going to be compounded with fear, anguish, depravity, and more.

I thought it was very exciting and will get to the last installment after a break with a few other happy-go-lucky reads. I don't think my heart could take three in a row at the moment.

I'm kind of a stickler for reading books in order, but when I found out this series could be read as a standalone, I was excited to dig right in. But before I begin, I must give thanks to all of my GR buddies out there. If not for the community, this book would not have crossed my radar, and I would have missed out on a fun adventure.

❖ Quick Summary: A merchant hires a rag-tag team of miscreants to hunt down the inventor of jurda parem, which gives the user otherworldly abilities.

Okay, so after thinking about the action-packed, rip-roaring last few chapters, I think I have come to a conclusion. I really enjoyed the heck out of this one! It had just the right amount of world-building, humor, charisma, and fun. The author has a keen sense of how to maneuver the characters around some hefty themes while still taking the time to get to know each and every one person in the team. Speaking of, let's do a quick rundown.

“When everyone knows you're a monster, you needn't waste time doing every monstrous thing.”

Kaz Brekker – all-around witty criminal mastermind. cool name, right?
Inej Ghafa – a spy, an acrobat, and a strong-willed idealist. best character IMO
Jesper Fahey – gambler extraordinaire and a heck of a shot.
Matthias Helvar – a grumpy dude who has differentiated opinions on loyalty and love.
Nina Zenik - a kind soul and Heartrender who can manipulate the body.
Wylan Van Eck – explosive expert.

“The heart is an arrow. It demands aim to land true.”

In a nutshell, Kaz must lead the group into a fortified area to retrieve the inventor of the drug and make it out scot-free. Sounds easy, right? Not so fast! They must climb incinerators, take out some guards without raising alarms, and, oh, do it while some of the team members are at each other's throats. It's a fun little espionage thriller where the banter is high and the swashbuckling is intense meteoric. (meteoric?? Wait, does that make sense in this context? Hmm. Well, it sounds good, so I'll keep it. It's staying here. I stand by it. Lol. Look at me internalizing thoughts and writing them down. Geez, move on already.)