Lisa
I read the first half, then my library loan audiobook (you do know about the Libby app, right?) showed up and I listened to the rest.
The narrator was so talented that it made the 2nd half of the novel even more enjoyable than the first. I really want to listen to Blood Meridian now to have an entirely new experience.
Some diehard fans may be disappointed as it is not following suit of the last 6 plus novels. There will be unanswered plot lines and to some, perhaps a lack of a start to finish plot. Take the time to look beyond those expectations and experience something new and as usual, masterfully written.
FYI: We all need a Bobby Western in our lives at some point.
Merged review:
I read the first half, then my library loan audiobook (you do know about the Libby app, right?) showed up and I listened to the rest.
The narrator was so talented that it made the 2nd half of the novel even more enjoyable than the first. I really want to listen to Blood Meridian now to have an entirely new experience.
Some diehard fans may be disappointed as it is not following suit of the last 6 plus novels. There will be unanswered plot lines and to some, perhaps a lack of a start to finish plot. Take the time to look beyond those expectations and experience something new and as usual, masterfully written.
FYI: We all need a Bobby Western in our lives at some point.
Merged review:
I read the first half, then my library loan audiobook (you do know about the Libby app, right?) showed up and I listened to the rest.
The narrator was so talented that it made the 2nd half of the novel even more enjoyable than the first. I really want to listen to Blood Meridian now to have an entirely new experience.
Some diehard fans may be disappointed as it is not following suit of the last 6 plus novels. There will be unanswered plot lines and to some, perhaps a lack of a start to finish plot. Take the time to look beyond those expectations and experience something new and as usual, masterfully written.
FYI: We all need a Bobby Western in our lives at some point.
Merged review:
I read the first half, then my library loan audiobook (you do know about the Libby app, right?) showed up and I listened to the rest.
The narrator was so talented that it made the 2nd half of the novel even more enjoyable than the first. I really want to listen to Blood Meridian now to have an entirely new experience.
Some diehard fans may be disappointed as it is not following suit of the last 6 plus novels. There will be unanswered plot lines and to some, perhaps a lack of a start to finish plot. Take the time to look beyond those expectations and experience something new and as usual, masterfully written.
FYI: We all need a Bobby Western in our lives at some point.
Merged review:
I read the first half, then my library loan audiobook (you do know about the Libby app, right?) showed up and I listened to the rest.
The narrator was so talented that it made the 2nd half of the novel even more enjoyable than the first. I really want to listen to Blood Meridian now to have an entirely new experience.
Some diehard fans may be disappointed as it is not following suit of the last 6 plus novels. There will be unanswered plot lines and to some, perhaps a lack of a start to finish plot. Take the time to look beyond those expectations and experience something new and as usual, masterfully written.
FYI: We all need a Bobby Western in our lives at some point.
Merged review:
I read the first half, then my library loan audiobook (you do know about the Libby app, right?) showed up and I listened to the rest.
The narrator was so talented that it made the 2nd half of the novel even more enjoyable than the first. I really want to listen to Blood Meridian now to have an entirely new experience.
Some diehard fans may be disappointed as it is not following suit of the last 6 plus novels. There will be unanswered plot lines and to some, perhaps a lack of a start to finish plot. Take the time to look beyond those expectations and experience something new and as usual, masterfully written.
FYI: We all need a Bobby Western in our lives at some point.
If only this book had been about the Nancy Drew supervillain concept. Totally missed opportunity for genius.
Spoiler and violence alert...
Call me old fashioned but when an author makes the choice to have a female character's hands tied together with a telephone cord and then a gun shoved in her mouth, I'm out.
Oh yeah and the real winner character who shoved said gun in her mouth is also described as having a golden dick, of which this poor woman will no longer have a chance of getting a piece of.
I mean really, just what is the point, Barbara?
How this book could have such high ratings is really disappointing to me.
Checked out the audiobook through Libby, signed first edition tucked safely into my library.
This brought so much context to the last few albums and ideas behind death, songwriting, faith and how discourse allows for clarity.
Sometimes you just need an easy read and this fits the bill. Plus who doesn't need a solid Swede in their life who drinks their coffee black and knows how to get shit done right the first time?
My rating would have been closer to 4 stars had it not featured a man child as another main character. Replace every chapter focused on him with more Marcellus the octopus and this would have been a favorite winter read.
I was looking forward to this one for awhile and even broke my rule about reading via Libby or the library before purchasing a copy for my home library. The home shelves are starting to get tight and I'm trying to be better on spending too.
The concept was interesting enough, but I could not connect with the characters themselves. The most interesting was the author on book tour and mainly because a friend recently launched her tour for The Crocodile Bride and it was like gaining a behind the scenes peek into what's to come for her in the next weeks/months.
The least appealing was the first character, a third son of a wealthy England family exiled to Canada. I just don't jive with incompetent, clueless, entitled men (or women for that fact). Had I not been trapped in the hospital while reading I wouldn't have made it past the first section and then pushed myself to the end.
I really loved the first chapter and then the book took a hard turn to an alternate storyline. It kept my interest for much different reasons. But finishing, I really want that first story. Time for a prequel to the Forward!
Not my usual thing by any means.... But the audio book was well produced and definitely worked to keep me entertained while trapped in bed fighting a fever for a couple days.
Not sure I'll venture to book two despite this rating.
What I liked the most about this novel is the way someone believing in you can be life changing. I also liked how strangers can come together and form deep friendships. The kind where you accept each others eccentricities but are brave enough to call each other on your shit. Who doesn't need a friend like that?
I do think the novel could have taken on less to make room for depth. However, I feel like the main characters were well developed.
I enjoyed getting insight into the teen trans experience, and I did for myself wondering how authentic the novel would feel to the students I work with.
Crosby pulled me in with Blacktop Wasteland, a genre of writing that was thus far unexplored for me. Razor blade Tears continues the pacing, character development and dialogue that pulled me in previously.
If I had to guess, this will get optioned for a film... Denzel and Dafoe?
Listened to this one on audiobook thanks to my Libby App, perfect format for my “reading” experience.
Was pleased to find this on 1/2 off hardcover day, though I would have gladly purchased it at full price. The art is dreamily brutal and the story a small snapshot of what could be developed into a novel, but that's not Stalenhag's style.
If only I could find copies of his previous works without “now a series on Amazon” stamps destroying the cover art. I wish authors would put their foot down about that. Perhaps a sticker that could be removed so we can still have beautiful copies for our libraries? But I digress.
It was exciting to revive an ARC of this novel as it had been on my shelf for just a few weeks. The start was engaging and pulled me in, but started to lose me when it shifted focus off patient zero whose story could fill an entire novel on its own. That being said, there was a lot to learn and brought some perspective to all the work behind the scenes when a pandemic strikes. Who are the people who chose to rush in and why? How easy is it for a pandemic to spread? Why are our medical systems so woefully unprepared? Def. worth the read, but not the pace and draw I need from books right now.
Well, I really wanted to like this and in fact, it is one of a handful of books I have given up on. This is no small thing because growing up in Minnesota means you weren't raised a quitter, but this book pushed me there by page 119. Please do not let my family know I have shamed them.
I'm pretty sure I read at least 40 pages of made up cinema history like it was supposed to mean something.
Sort the reviews for all other 1 star reviews and know that I ditto them.
DNF
I think many people will love this one, it just wasn't for me. All of the slasher 101 kept me from really seeing characters develop or understanding their significance/background story. I felt much the same way about the new Tarantino novel as well. Too mired film history for me to connect with the characters.
This lost me when the author compared the way someone looked to Amy Winehouse's corpse. Grasping for a hip reference falls more than flat and lands firmly in the the that's just a shitty thing to write category.
The premise was interesting, but if ever someone needed an editor, it's this guy. 1/2 the amount of pages would have likely made this a more effective novel.
The only stunning twist at the end of this novel was that I actually listened to the entire audiobook.
Yikes. Someone come save me from myself.
Full disclosure: much of this went over my head as it is so specific Croatian politics and expat life. However, I loved the cadence, wit and voice behind the essays. I am curious to read more, but will likely seek out her novels next.
If ever I have equally wished for and hope a sequel never happens, it's with this novel. Perfect plot, pacing, characters, and of course, translation.
The parts that were weak were totally mitigated by the fact that if I am ever trapped in another world being stalked by an eight foot long blind giant otter I want the main character in this book by my side for comic relief alone. Cause you know when the sh*t goes down you need your person.
I don't know...I read all 447 pages at times somewhat begrudgingly and other times with amusement.
I'm going to pass it to my 78 year old mother who just moved in with me and see what she thinks.
Will update with her review.
As a teacher of young people I will always be a sucker for a novel that explores the inner workings of a teenager. I did find myself skimming over the flashback portions as the characters on the plane were not as compelling as Edward's main story, which is what kept me reading. There were some really thoughtful moments that will stick with me.