Ismerene
All my reviews can be found at The Tiny Reader's Reference! Come on over and say hello!Short & Sweet: [b:Hyperion 77566 Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos, #1) Dan Simmons https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405546838l/77566.SY75.jpg 1383900] is a fast-paced, wordy, high science-fiction novel that focuses on characters and world-building rather than immediate story progression. Extremely immersive and very colorful.I started tabbing this book, it is that elaborate.It's easy to get overwhelmed and/or confused, especially if you are parallel reading and put this novel down for any length of time. [b:Hyperion 77566 Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos, #1) Dan Simmons https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405546838l/77566.SY75.jpg 1383900] gives naught a care, however, as it dumps you immediately into the action, where we meet “The Consul” as he's summoned to the planet, Hyperion.We are then introduced to the six main characters, called “Shrike Pilgrims”, aboard a treeship headed to the planet, the home of the ‘Shrike'. The progression itself would be dull otherwise, if Dan Simmons had not injected their trajectory with a back-and-forth narrative - fueled by the group's desire to know each other and their experiences with Hyperion better - explaining each person's background. Its quite frankly brilliant, as it breaks up the monotony and allows us to feel like we physically travel from memory, to real time, and back again.Each story is told in a different way, with a different voice, and through this method of storytelling do we learn more about the world we're in and the elements within we previously didn't understand. In this, every character's motivations are revealed, adding dimension and depth. They transform by the end of the novel, creating actual people instead of caricatures - very little of the Pilgrim's actual journey is expounded upon. The story is pretty much cemented in memories.I read reviews that stated that [b:Hyperion 77566 Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos, #1) Dan Simmons https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405546838l/77566.SY75.jpg 1383900] was a setup for the second book, [b:The Fall of Hyperion 77565 The Fall of Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos, #2) Dan Simmons https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1541174620l/77565.SY75.jpg 1882596]. It's quite accurate, as this novel was pretty much character and world-building. Sounds boring and repetitive, but [a:Dan Simmons 2687 Dan Simmons https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1427999015p2/2687.jpg] manages to keep it fresh with the constant changing memories, voices, and points-of-view.I did dock a star, as it began to drag toward the end. However, I feel this is a novel that can, and should, be read multiple times, and the history and world created is rich and endlessly interesting. The ending left off at a perfect point for [b:The Fall of Hyperion 77565 The Fall of Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos, #2) Dan Simmons https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1541174620l/77565.SY75.jpg 1882596] to pick up the thread, and I will be reading the next in line. High science-fiction done right - absolutely recommended.
Short and Sweet: Voices from Chernobyl is a poignant novel that utilizes a unique storytelling structure to convey the heartbreaking reality of the explosion???s aftermath. An absolute must-read for any interested in the human element of this tragedy.It is??? difficult to review [b:Voices from Chernobyl 357486 Voices from Chernobyl The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster Svetlana Alexievich https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1316637138s/357486.jpg 1103107]. Almost as difficult as reading it was. At first, when you open the novel, you are greeted with the raw... read more
I also ramble review over at A Tiny Reader's Reference. Come say Hi!Short but Sweet: Despite suffering from weighty unnecessary detail and a story-like structure that leans more toward fiction than true crime, In Cold Blood utilizes a unique storytelling structure that allows for a peek into the minds of the killers, the effect the murders had on small town Holcomb Kansas, up to the trial and beyond. Caution: This book contains several uncensored uses of a racial slur toward people of color.That synopsis sounds good, right? Intriguing? No hint of any dated storytelling, long-winded writing, and detrimental attention to detail, right? Right?! [b:In Cold Blood 168642 In Cold Blood Truman Capote https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1424931136s/168642.jpg 1940709] did not wow me. To be honest, I expected it to, based on the 4.04 rating on Goodreads and a title of ???must read!??? for the true crime genre. Perhaps that is where I went wrong, going into a book first published in 1965 with 2016 expectations.But, if I were still being honest, what tripped me up about this novel were a few things not related to date ??? mainly, the lengthy introduction/lack of a genuine hook, the detail that felt overloaded or unnecessary, and the lack of a conclusion/exploration on the killers themselves. I shall explain.The opening in [b:In Cold Blood 168642 In Cold Blood Truman Capote https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1424931136s/168642.jpg 1940709] is long. The viewpoints alternate between the family before their murder (and the investigating force afterward) and the killers. While this sounds like a viable storytelling method (and for the most part, it is) we are dropped in around twelve hours before their demise ??? twelve hours of hearing about Nancy???s relationships, Bonnie???s mental health issues, Herbert???s morning routine, etc. It goes far beyond establishment of routine and character. A method of print empathy and characterization I???m sure, but quite frustrating to trudge through when it stretches on and on.This method is not spared for the killers either, where we get to read pages and pages of their prep before the murder ??? like the restaurant they ate at, the exact food they ordered, the car they drove, who drove, where they slept, the arrangements, etc. This is one of many examples of the weighty detail that permeates through each section, something I feel reduces the effectivity of actual, relevant detail.Interspersed in the narration was, literally, copy-pasted segments relevant to the chapter or section at that time. In one situation, it was the entire letter penned by the sister of one of the killers ??? all four and a half pages worth. In another, it was conclusions, from a newspaper, drawn and published ??? all five pages of it. I surmise they were included in this novel for transparency, but it really didn???t do it for me??? I ended up skimming through it.[b:In Cold Blood 168642 In Cold Blood Truman Capote https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1424931136s/168642.jpg 1940709] did not reach a point of excitement for me until the infamous break in the case occurred, and then the ball got rolling and became more exciting ??? especially as the killers began to make poor decisions that would, ultimately, allow for their capture.I feel I should have loved this more than I do. It???s been regarded as a ???pioneer in the true crime genre??? and praised for accurately delving into the psyche of the killers (source), a claim I will unfortunately have to partly disagree with.Is the background of the killers discussed? Absolutely. In-depth, long-winded discussion. But when I finally turned the last page and closed the book, I felt like I didn???t have a full understanding of the killers and why they did what they did. The conclusions, if any, felt incomplete and cobbled together. It felt wasted, especially given the conflicted and changing stories about that night, and the apparent choice-based juxtaposition one of the killers had ??? a venue I wished had been explored more thoroughly.I sound like I hated this novel, and I truly did not. Once it picked up, I had to finish it. I even did some research afterward, and saw some pictures (both NSFL and otherwise) so it was a really neat thing to connect story to picture. But the work that I had to do in order to get into the novel in the first place bothered me enough to almost put it down, had the reviews not saved it.I???d recommend picking this up if you???re a fan of true crime (my reason) or if Vincent Bugliosi???s [b:Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders 105992 Helter Skelter The True Story of the Manson Murders Vincent Bugliosi https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347694754s/105992.jpg 1077715] was far too long and/or dry. It presents the crime and aftermath as a tale rather than a succession of events, a method that may appeal to you. To my disappointment, it did not appeal to me.
Short and Sweet: Set firmly on the line between reality and fantasy, [b:Daughter of Smoke & Bone 8490112 Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #1) Laini Taylor https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1338613368s/8490112.jpg 13355552] is a phenomenal story of star-crossed love, betrayal, loss, and hope against all odds. Characters are 3D, their motivations just as clear, all set against a centuries-long war with the two who seek to turn the tide for peace. One of the most well-written and engaging YA novels I've had the pleasure of reading, to date. I'm burned out on YA, I'll be honest. The insta-love, the ~tragic~ choices; I find myself pulling away from the genre despite some of my favorite novels originating in YA. So when [b:Daughter of Smoke & Bone 8490112 Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #1) Laini Taylor https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1338613368s/8490112.jpg 13355552] arrived on my doorstep - fueled by a flurry of glowing reviews and five star ratings - I dived in with some reluctance. Reluctance that, as I swam through the first part, deepened upon getting to know the main character Karou on a superficial level. The scent of a Mary Sue weaved faint upon the winds, and I was not pleased.As I read further, however, Laini Taylor brought her back down and turned her into a human like the rest of us, but with extraordinary circumstances - with an extraordinary love interest alongside. This ability to turn extraordinary things into something compelling and engaging is a theme through this novel, and will not let you leave feeling unsatisfied.[b:Daughter of Smoke & Bone 8490112 Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #1) Laini Taylor https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1338613368s/8490112.jpg 13355552], at its most basic core, a Young Adult love story. But, to reduce it to that singular point would not be doing the novel justice. Laini Taylor does a wonderful job of weaving the romance in such a way that, aside from serving as the catalyst, it also provides a richness and depth without sacrificing plot. No love triangles, no assholery from Akiva. It is romance as it should be written, with the butterflies and fiery touches and longing glances, but also with very real consequences. The world itself is one of the most unique ones I've had the pleasure of experiencing. Many other fantasy novels will pull from tropes or other books as reference, but [b:Daughter of Smoke & Bone 8490112 Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #1) Laini Taylor https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1338613368s/8490112.jpg 13355552] takes it to a new level. It presents not just one plot question, but many, and holds onto them up until the very last page. The ending, while satisfying in the questions it does answer, also leaves room for the next two novels in this trilogy: Days of Blood and Starlight and Dreams of Gods and Monsters. Both were immediately added to my to-reads list, as I will definitely be completing this trilogy in full. Truly, an absolute pleasure to read.
All my reviews can be found at The Tiny Reader's Reference! Come on over and say hello!Short & Sweet: [b:Never Let Me Go 6334 Never Let Me Go Kazuo Ishiguro http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1353048590s/6334.jpg 1499998] is a novel of many facets, all of which will inspire discussion between whomever may read it. Where it lacks in action and engagement, it makes up for in emotion, all the way up to its heartbreaking end. This is not a happy book. I originally planned, while sketching out this review in my mind, to sit down and state plainly that [b:Never Let Me Go 6334 Never Let Me Go Kazuo Ishiguro http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1353048590s/6334.jpg 1499998] is weird. “How it won awards is beyond my understanding” and “I didn't quite know what the heck I was reading half the time”.But as I mulled it over, I realized my flaw was going into this novel with expectations. I expected a traditional novel structure. I expected overt action. I expected a ‘movement' based story that engaged me from page 1. [b:Never Let Me Go 6334 Never Let Me Go Kazuo Ishiguro http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1353048590s/6334.jpg 1499998] is none of these, and it doesn't pretend to be, either. The beauty in this story is not action, or movement, or the way the story is presented to you. It is in the subtleties, the mundane over darkness, a normal veneer over something sinister.In replacement of action, we get trickle truth to keep us reading - just enough information for our ‘this is weird' sensors to perk up a little bit, to metaphorically smell a rot under a beautiful bouquet of flowers. And you keep reading for snatches of information, while a small voice in the back of your mind is saying, what the hell is going on here? Even after the answers are given and the book closes on the last page, so many questions are left unanswered. The writing itself is very basic and conversational. I wrote in my notes that it is “very much a ‘hanging out with a childhood friend and reminiscing about old times' type of story”, and I still stick by that. In fact, that is the whole setup, where we meet Kathy, a ‘Carer', who is taking care of her childhood friend, Ruth. They wile away the days talking about their time at Hailsham, and we are teleported into Kathy's memories.Is this novel engaging? Not in the slightest. I can put this book down and it'll drift to the far back of my mind - it doesn't stand out in that regard. A lot of other reviewers have struggled to finish it, or rated it poorly - those reviews are absolutely valid. But if you're looking for a very quick story that is not among the norm, something different, pick this up. Just make sure to also leave your expectations at the door.
Short and Sweet: At a weighty 689 pages, Vincent Bugliosi leaves no stone unturned in the telling of the Manson Murders case, the following convictions, and aftermath. If there is one book you???re looking for to cover the entirety of this saga in clear ??? and often disturbing - detail, [b:Helter Skelter 105992 Helter Skelter The True Story of the Manson Murders Vincent Bugliosi https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347694754s/105992.jpg 1077715] is it. Separated into 8 chronological parts, all labeled with dates, it begins with an outside view of the incident, stepping into the shoes of the neighbors and what they heard that night; a small snapshot of 10050 Cielo Drive, and the discovery the following morning by Winifred Chapman, the maid that worked the property. From there, it takes you along the journey of the investigation, the LaBianca murders, and how prosecuting the case was handed to Vincent Bugliosi. We go through, quite literally, every step ??? Bugliosi???s interviews, his notes, his tiny, often frustrating and well-fought steps forward in gathering every clue, no matter how big or small. [b:Helter Skelter 105992 Helter Skelter The True Story of the Manson Murders Vincent Bugliosi https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347694754s/105992.jpg 1077715] also delves into the psychological aspect and backgrounds of all parties involved, including the victims. Their background descriptions are not long, nor short ??? just enough to give you a clear picture of the person. It's refreshing and even touching to see how Bugliosi insisted on illustrating the victims as more than just names, headlines, or reports. “Yet the victims had lived,” he writes, “and each had a past.”I know tone is a problem for Bugliosi???s other written works, but I feel this is not one of them. There is emotion where emotion is understandably warranted, but I found that a majority of the narration was factual and straight to the point. It didn???t have the ???clutter??? of emotionally charged writing that other true crime books may suffer from. [b:Helter Skelter 105992 Helter Skelter The True Story of the Manson Murders Vincent Bugliosi https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347694754s/105992.jpg 1077715] truly shines with showing you what happened in stark black-and-white detail, and allowing you, as the reader, to conjure up the emotion on your own.The one downfall I found? The sheer amount of names. Due to the attention to detail, every person involved, whether it is Manson himself or the counselor who heard the screams on that August night ??? they all get first and last names. While this fits nicely into the detail-oriented narration, it can get overwhelmingly confusing. A ???Cast of Characters??? is listed at the beginning of the book, a type of reverse glossary, which does help immensely in following along. Would I recommend [b:Helter Skelter 105992 Helter Skelter The True Story of the Manson Murders Vincent Bugliosi https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347694754s/105992.jpg 1077715]? Absolutely. It takes your hand and transports you to the scene, as if it happened yesterday, and walks with you through every aspect of the saga. An absolute star in it's genre and a must-read for any true crime fan.
Short and Sweet: [b:Evermore 3975774 Evermore (The Immortals, #1) Alyson Noel https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362336360s/3975774.jpg 4021549], despite boasting a compelling idea, suffers from textbook tropes and choppy, emotionless storytelling that breaks up any investment in characters and their experiences. Characters turn into caricatures, and any questions the story may legitimately create are quashed, unexplained, or answered lamely.I... Don't really know what to say, so I'll just type out the notes I wrote as I read.1. Casual storytelling.2. Tropes. Tropes everywhere. 3. Sooooo.... what is WITH the random tulips?4. Touchy touchy ***** 5. “Its not what you think”6. Haaaaay backpack full of tulips NBD7. STOP. WITH THE TULIPS.8. When did he transition to BF status?9. You're just now discovering the power of alcohol?10. What the fuck 1: You can see here I initially tried to be serious. The storytelling method is very casual, as if the protagonist (Ever. Ever) is speaking with you directly. It was interesting, but a method that may not be for everyone.2: Here's an idea. Take a shot every time you stumble across a cheap trope. Haha just kidding no seriously don't.You imagine it, its in this book - anguished protagonist/mysterious love interest/airheaded BFF/gay BFF/mean girls/”I'm a freak!“/tragic backstory/overwhelming guilt/insta-love.3: The tulip thing got weird.4: The main love interest kept touching Ever from the very beginning, when it was not appropriate. Strange, intimate touching that aggravated me by-proxy. They'd barely spoken five words together when he was already whispering in Ever's ear, brushing his fingers along her jawline, pulling her close, etc. I tried to keep track with every scene this happened in with asterisks, but I lost count.5: Always the cry of a long misunderstood hero, masquerading under mystery, caught red-handed under sketchy circumstances. Please. Please.6: Yes, this happened. I kinda hoped she would start eating them, but no dice.7: Fun fact - it took her until the last few pages to google the historical meaning of tulips and their “flower language”. 8: He appears. He disappears. He's cryptic. He's manipulative. He disappears. Through several kisses and date-esque truancy, Ever suddenly labels him a boyfriend. Oh, don't mind his flakiness, he's handsome and his touch is silencing9: Ever suddenly realizes that alcohol dulls her senses and becomes a raging alcoholic (sniff sniff... can you smell the tropes in the air?) You cannot tell me this is the first time she's discovered that alcohol has this power. 10: I kept reading for the wrap-up. I got fuckery instead.I wanted to like this story. Damen's ~mystery~ was compelling (in which he-is-but-not-really-a-vampire, is no trope sacred?!) but I desperately wanted to reach through the pages, grab Ever's backbone, shake it upright and make her figure it out. I literally have a list of questions even after I turned the final page. Summerland? Transcendental Meditation? Chakras? The conclusion was, if possible, as muddied and confusing as the story itself, and closed on a minor note. Overall - I should have listened, I should have heeded other reader's reviews. But I was foolish. Optimistic. Naive. Yea, I have walked in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and in it I found... tulips.
Short and Sweet: I will echo the Angels and Demons-esque feel; [b:The Einstein Prophecy 24429934 The Einstein Prophecy Robert Masello https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1434549503s/24429934.jpg 44017762] weaves from the ancient good vs evil story of Saint Anthony, against the backdrop of WWII. While the opening was strong and the plot idea riveting, it suffers massive setbacks from plot holes, forced storyline progression, and a somewhat scattered conclusion. Also, Einstein. Literally. [b:The Einstein Prophecy 24429934 The Einstein Prophecy Robert Masello https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1434549503s/24429934.jpg 44017762] opens with a nice pull: Lucas Athan, part of the Cultural Recovery Commission, is sent in to recover artifacts stolen from the Third Reich. He???s tasked with recovering an ???ossuary??? (coffin) that the Reich was particularly invested in obtaining. Once recovered, it???s brought back to Princeton for further investigation, and with it comes the ~exotic~ Simone Rashid, whose work revolves around breaking the mystery of this ossuary.This had all the elements I like - an ancient relic exhumed from the depths of the Sahara Desert, pried open to reveal strange artifacts that bring about unbelievable happenings. But unfortunately, this book fell short in a myriad of ways, enough for it to take a full eight days to me to finish. Plot holes, mixed with forced narrative, forgotten points, and piecemeal action - These were my biggest issues. Often, action would happen, begin to reach a climax, before abruptly cutting off to the next chapter. This happened all the way up until the actual plot began to tighten to a conclusion. It was frustrating, feeling myself wrapped up in these character???s situations - will Simone make it out of the ship alive? Will her father make it? Does Lucas survive the shrapnel? - only to have it cut off and wrap up in the next chapter, calmly, delivered to you like the evening newspaper. The lack of urgency lost my attention. Even when the Germans violate a huge international law via the Geneva Conventions, the whole situation is glossed over. The plot holes seemed to go hand-in-hand with the forced narrative. I didn???t start to notice this until action for the story as a whole began to pick up. For example, after the ossuary is obtained and shipped back to the States, the military feels its importance to the Reich needs to be understood. So they enlist Lucas (plausible) to study the ossuary with one other expert in the field (plausible) when Simone barges in (slightly non-plausible, but I???ll take it) and it???s set up in a public museum (really) where anyone can go in or out (uh, okay) where an infiltrator is then able to slip in at night with no security (are you kidding me) and mess with the ossuary itself. And this is also an example of forced narrative - no military interested in an item like this would leave it unsupervised in a public place. But because of these non-plausible situations, the story now has problems to solve and continues on. Personalities change to suit the narrative, and this was seen the most often with Lucas. This became obvious to me when his otherwise tempered personality inexplicably changes during a dialogue segment of a pivotal chapter. I was left saying to myself, ???Lucas wouldn???t respond to that man this way, especially when he???s doing Lucas a favor.??? It was small things like that, that jostled the delicate framework of a story and yanked me right out of it. Insta-love. Yes, this book has it. It went from ???I notice him??? to ???I batted my eyelashes because he???s ~so handsome~ and whoops we???re embracing oh would you look at that we're in love teehee”. Like [a: Robert Masello 201369 Robert Masello https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1431026378p2/201369.jpg] decided halfway through that these two characters should get together, so we're suddenly hit over and over with their attraction. Far, far too much poetic philosophy that waxes on for pages and pages, especially during Einstein???s chapters. I started skipping these passages; aside from offering (from what I could see) little-to-no significance to the story???s progression itself, it was massively annoying. Similarly, I struggled to find a reason for Einstein???s presence in this book. What exactly does he provide? What does his viewpoint offer? The answer I was left with was ???very little???. His chapters are mostly waxing poetic and studying. The ending that revealed that he???d been used as an instrument for the demon???s destruction of mankind via the atomic bomb was a good one, but it fell flat in the face of previous chapter???s worth of absolute fluff. Even after the conclusion, I was left with way more questions and almost no energy to care about the answers. The latter 25% of the novel picks up, and only then did I become fully immersed to the end. If only the whole novel had that energy, that kick, it would not have been such a thing to slog through. I have not read [a: Robert Masello 201369 Robert Masello https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1431026378p2/201369.jpg]'s other work, and I certainly haven't written it off yet, but unfortunately after reading [b:The Einstein Prophecy 24429934 The Einstein Prophecy Robert Masello https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1434549503s/24429934.jpg 44017762], I will be more cautious in the future.
Short and Sweet: [b: Foreign Faction 15760050 Foreign Faction - Who Really Kidnapped JonBenet? A. James Kolar https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1355063768s/15760050.jpg 21459789] utilizes a four-part structure to illustrate a thorough and factually driven picture of JonBenet???s murder, the aftermath, and the debate that continues until this day. An absolute must-read for anyone seeking more information on this case.[b: Foreign Faction 15760050 Foreign Faction - Who Really Kidnapped JonBenet? A. James Kolar https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1355063768s/15760050.jpg 21459789] opens with a telling of what, based on interpreted evidence and John Ramsey???s on-record statements, an intruder scenario would look like. It turned me off at first, and I must admit it was due to my own biases; I???ve always believed wholeheartedly that there was no intruder involved. However, [a: A. James Kolar 6508540 A. James Kolar https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png] not only believes that there was no intruder, but disseminates the entire theory with factual precision. His tone is not malicious; rather, it wanders into incredulity, especially given some of the evidence and statements. Really, the only time emotion crept into Kolar???s narrative is when it???s relevant to his experience, or when it cannot be helped - shown clearly, for example, when he discusses John Ramsey's attempt to leave to Atlanta the very same day his daughter???s body had been discovered.Each piece of evidence - from the samsonite suitcase, the lock of hair knotted around the garrote, the infamous undisturbed webbing, even to the behavior Burke Ramsey exhibited after the fact - is discussed in detail, with pictures, and how it supports the family theory, especially when compared to the belief that an intruder was the culprit.It is obvious, though not stated plainly, which side Kolar falls on - this novel is not unbiased. But his conclusions are completely founded and researched, even if you were to put aside his integral role in the case itself. His tireless dedication to finding the truth led to a breakthrough regarding the twin abrasions on JonBenet's back - a breakthrough that, in my opinion, would not have occurred had Kolar not picked up the mantle and pushed through, despite heavy opposition from the DA. [b: Foreign Faction 15760050 Foreign Faction - Who Really Kidnapped JonBenet? A. James Kolar https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1355063768s/15760050.jpg 21459789] made me angry, and I hope it makes you angry too. I believe this to be required reading for anyone with interest in this case, and why it still remains open-but-cold. There is a reason that this book has over 4 stars on Goodreads.
Short and Sweet: Despite a shorter size and somewhat clunky writing, [b: The Exorcism of Sara May 27311086 The Exorcism of Sara May Joe Hart https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1445988285s/27311086.jpg 47367798] packs a variety of creepy and unnerving moments, leading to an unexpected twist and satisfying conclusion.We are introduced to Lane and his father, veterinarians in the world of post-depression Wisconsin. The town, while small, still boasts some semblance of modest wealth. A late-night, bizarre birth assist kicks us off into strange occurrences that grow stranger and sinister by the day. A malformed blackness crawling from a puddle in broad daylight, a vulture with an unwavering stare, and a plot twist that took me completely by surprise. This tells of an exorcism, but not in quite the way you may think.While concise, the synopsis doesn???t really do this novella justice. I can see this easily becoming a full-length novel, only for the variety of questions I still had after I turned the last page and caught my breath.???Lane, hold the lantern steady,??? my father said. I did, the trembling in my arms making the glass shade rattle in place. Something growled like a tomcat and there was a wet tearing sound followed by another anguished bleat from Josha. A match popped alight, blazing like a miniature sun. In the glow, the two-headed kid stood behind my father on its hind legs, mouths crimson and dripping. I did scream then.”
Short and Sweet: [b: Seed 11422798 Seed Ania Ahlborn https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1305997493s/11422798.jpg 16356035] is a character-driven horror story that takes a new angle on the concept of good and evil, and how it manifests from one victim to the next. Seed opens with Jack Winters, our protagonist, driving along a dark road with his family - wife Aimee Winters, and two daughters, Charlotte (Charlie) and Abbey. For a brief moment, he sees a set of glowing eyes that he hasn't seen in years, right before his headlights briefly flicker out. In response, he flips the car, and his childhood skeletons come flooding out of the closet, bones clacking, to target Charlie. And while this could be labeled a ???demonic possession??? novel, it doesn???t cut clear lines in the dirt like others may. There???s no priest involved, no holy water splashed onto Charlie with a dramatic reading from the Bible. There is only Jack, and his horrifying realization of what Charlie is going through- and how it may end- when she spirals.[a: Ania Ahlborn 4867939 Ania Ahlborn https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1442457541p2/4867939.jpg] does a fantastic job of illustrating without becoming heavy-handed. I saw their house with minimal description and got a feel for their dynamic without pages of prose. When it came to the unusual happenings, it was straight to the point, like the difference between a found-footage film and traditional horror.Personality shined. Not only did I get a sense of each character as a whole, but I could also predict with certainty how each character would react when placed in progressively dire situations. I found myself getting personally angry with each character when they made a decision; a frustration for the reader, but a testament to the skill at which these characters were illustrated.However, because personality shines, this novel takes a bit of time to ramp up. I personally love a slow-burning horror novel, but if you???re looking for something to punch you on the onset, this isn???t it.My only issue? Even after the somewhat predictable-but-necessary conclusion, I still had so many questions ??? who is Mr. Scratch? Why Jack? What does it want? What exactly happened in Jack???s childhood place, deep in the woods, behind that dingy trailer? Ultimately, the question that this novel addresses isn???t the what where when why how, but can. Can extrinsic evil be passed down like brown hair, hazel eyes, and attached lobes? And what do you do, if it can?
I like to think of this book as existing with two halves, the first part and the second part. The first part was phenomenal, and the reason why I rated so highly. The recording at the beginning, the image of a darkened, “dead” plane against the backdrop of an otherwise busy airport... fantastic. The first part yanked me in with a solid constructed mystery - ‘Why did this plane land and promptly go silent?' followed by ‘Why did everyone on board simply drop dead?'...where it then led me to the second part, where I found out this was a vampire novel. I have no issues with vampire novels. [a:Guillermo del Toro 167605 Guillermo del Toro https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1244751075p2/167605.jpg] does a fantastic job of illustrating a creature we have otherwise, in recent years, ‘domesticated'. What I did take issue with was the excellent setup and somewhat lame conclusion. As [b:The Strain 6065215 The Strain (The Strain Trilogy, #1) Guillermo del Toro https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1326225354s/6065215.jpg 6241525] progressed, the plotholes and fantasy got larger and more grandiose, leaving all of the beloved science behind that had originally made this story so riveting. Many characters that began as individual people slowly degraded and bled into one voice with no color. The story plunked its way to a off-tune conclusion, no doubt leaving wiggle room for [b:The Fall 11991 The Fall Albert Camus https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388187123s/11991.jpg 3324245]. Based on the reviews written for the sequel [b:The Fall 11991 The Fall Albert Camus https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388187123s/11991.jpg 3324245] and the conclusion [b:The Night Eternal 6945530 The Night Eternal (The Strain Trilogy, #3) Guillermo del Toro https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327932900s/6945530.jpg 6965593], I will pass on these two and leave them be. Not a horrible book by any stretch, but one I also won't revisit.
I knew, after reading [b:The Hot Zone 16213 The Hot Zone Richard Preston http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320438393s/16213.jpg 909325] that [b:The Cobra Event 376613 The Cobra Event Richard Preston http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1223665252s/376613.jpg 817262] wouldn't disappoint, and I was right. Fast paced, [b:The Cobra Event 376613 The Cobra Event Richard Preston http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1223665252s/376613.jpg 817262] had me on the edge of my seat up until the very end. My removal of a star certainly had nothing to do with plot or characters. I didn't quite notice this in [b:The Hot Zone 16213 The Hot Zone Richard Preston http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320438393s/16213.jpg 909325], but Preston's method of storytelling is a double-edged sword; very straightforward, but in such a way that it creates vivid imagery. It does get tedious, however, when the sentences would reduce themselves to short, choppy bites of information (“They wear a chainmail glove on their dominant hand. It shows dominance in the workfield. It prevents accidental cuts. So they are worn during autopsies.”) which did serve to pull me out of the narrative a few times. It improves as the story progresses, but it did get frustrating. Four out of five stars, and a definite library search to find more of his work!
As much as I'd like to, I'm struggling to mask my disappointment with [b:Angelology 6691426 Angelology (Angelology, #1) Danielle Trussoni http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347562444s/6691426.jpg 6886872]'s sequel, [b:Angelopolis 16158489 Angelopolis (Angelology, #2) Danielle Trussoni http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362380627s/16158489.jpg 13523893]. Eager to read the next installment, I walked away feeling like the richness the first book provided had been stripped away in the second.1. The Fight ScenesVera, Azov, and Sveti are attacked by Gibborim in a helicopter. Excellent scene to create tension, yes? They're trying to crash them into the ground. Great scene to illustrate the ruthlessness of the gibborim and create tension for the survival of the passengers.Nope. It was glazed over in half a page, and I was left confused. ALL of the fight scenes are like this; glazed emotionlessly over with no building of tension or drive whatsoever. I started laughing at scenes like this, so lackluster in their creation that it felt textbook-esque. The ‘threat' that the angels supposedly possessed for humans was utterly absent. 2. The CharactersIn [b:Angelopolis 16158489 Angelopolis (Angelology, #2) Danielle Trussoni http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362380627s/16158489.jpg 13523893], we are introduced to a myriad of characters in which the story roughly splits: Azov, Vera, and Sveti in one, Verlaine, Bruno, and Yana in the other. A wonderful chance for development but, as stated above, most of these characters and their relationships were glazed over. For example, I was constantly told about a strong mentor-like relationship between Bruno and Verlaine that had formed in the ten years since [b:Angelology 6691426 Angelology (Angelology, #1) Danielle Trussoni http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347562444s/6691426.jpg 6886872]; yet I did not feel nor believe any of it. This tread continues for nearly every character and interpersonal relationship in this novel. The ONLY character I truly cared about was Dr. Raphael Valko, and I believe that was formed because of the events that occurred in [b:Angelology 6691426 Angelology (Angelology, #1) Danielle Trussoni http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347562444s/6691426.jpg 6886872]. 3. Verlaine, Evangeline, and the Shittiness that Unites ThemThroughout Angelopolis, Verlaine hammers away at our skulls insisting that he must save Evangeline, that she's his TRU LUUUUUUUV, that it took him nearly two books to realize that's what he felt (Really dude. Really.) I glean no other personality characteristics other than this point of focus. How have those ten years changed him, besides his ‘toughening' with becoming an angel hunter? What of his love of art so openly shown in Angelology? He continuously makes stupid decisions, to the point where it became a theme. “I cannot believe I'm going to freeze to death.” Well, I can. You practically waltzed into a Nephilim train car and begged her to kill you. The fuck did you expect?“I can't believe Dr. Godwin captured me.” Really? Your rash decision to flounder about the prison like a dumbass, risking everyone in the process, certainly reflects your other shitty decision-making skills. You are bordering on TSTL here, dude. Through all of this, we are banged against the head with the fact that Verlaine is tough, a seasoned angel hunter who is the best of the best. Evangeline was, in my opinion, the most irritating character I had the misfortune of reading about in this second installment. A farcry from [b:Angelology 6691426 Angelology (Angelology, #1) Danielle Trussoni http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347562444s/6691426.jpg 6886872], she must have had a total of five pages in which we directly interact with her in any meaningful way. She felt beige and flat, a character so rich before now flattened to a concept. With the cliffhanger in [b:Angelology 6691426 Angelology (Angelology, #1) Danielle Trussoni http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347562444s/6691426.jpg 6886872], I was excited to read about her growth. How has she coped? Where has she been living, with whom has she associated with, did she ever return to the convent? Why ten years to make contact with Verlaine and the others? What of her belief in God now? I feel like a lot of the drama could have been cut in half if she had just showed up to the angelologists and come clean. Her childlike behavior, annoying at first, became creepy as the story progressed.But, in my opinion, they deserve each other. Why? Because they both fucking suck.-When Verlaine meets with Evangeline and she fights Eno, instead of killing her which would have saved lives Evangeline takes this bullshit holier-than-thou route, allowing her capture to make some stupid statement. What? Did Evangeline not think the angelologists wouldn't pursue her? Why would she give the Nephilim what they wanted? Thanks for all that unnecessary goddamn work. -When Verlaine acts like an idiot (a common theme) and he's imprisoned with her, they are (quite quickly) rescued by Yana and Bruno, who are also fighting Eno. Does Evangeline, who fought Eno before AND WON, step in and help them escape? No. THEY FUCKING RUN OUT THE DOOR AND ABANDON THEM BOTH WITH A COLLAPSING, EXPLODING PRISON AND A DANGEROUS ANGEL.4. The EndingWhat? Did I miss something? In love with her for nearly two whole books, and now Verlaine is going to capture and kill Evangeline? Are you high? You must be high. [b:Angelopolis 16158489 Angelopolis (Angelology, #2) Danielle Trussoni http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362380627s/16158489.jpg 13523893] was given three stars because I did love the concept. The way Russian history was entwined with Nephilim, Evangeline's parentage reveal, it was basically the only reason I kept reading. The storyline's cliffhanger, with the Apocalypse arriving upon the Watcher's release, makes for an excellent setup for an action-packed final installment. I can only hope that the third takes after the first, and brings life back to the story.
Every time I sit down to write a review, Goodreads asks at the top: What did you think?
I think this book's middle and ending pissed me off, that's what I think Goodreads.
Away begins shortly where The Line left off. Rachel has Crossed and, with Pathik by her side, they face a whole new set of challenges.
The writing was still mediocre. To be fair, when the action picked up, the writing improved. But my beef isn't with the writing. MY ISSUE IS WITH THE CHOICES SOME OF THE CHARACTERS MADE.
Spoilers below for the ending of Away.
Indigo's death. INDIGO'S DEATH. This character's choice chapped my ass more than anything else in this whole book. He had ample opportunity to get Pathik OUT and return them both safely. He had an opportunity to scare the other guards to get them out.
But he did not.
He chose, instead, to make in my opinion an unnecessary sacrifice all in the name of not harming another.
Indigo had just reunited with the woman he loved and had just brought his whole family together. And in one completely unnecessary ‘sacrifice', that was brought grinding to a halt.
I understand that a large portion of this book is dedicated to teaching the morality of harming no one, but goddammit. Goddammit.
I am angry that he made that choice.. I am angry that Mrs. Moore is now without her partner, Pathik is without a grandfather, and Magram is without a father, simply because Indigo valued the lives of three ruthless and corrupt strangers more than his family.
That's how I see it.
Now, I cannot say with any certainty what I would have done in his situation. Its very easy to talk a big talk.
But, I felt screwed over. I felt like my happy ending was ripped from my hands by a stupid, martyr-esque decision that could have been avoided.
In retrospect, the mere fact that Away invokes this type of emotion in me says something about my love for these characters despite the issue with writing.
I rated Away higher than The Line purely because of my reaction to Indigo's choices. The writing issue was, unfortunately, still glaringly present, but if a book evokes anger out of me like this, then it must be doing something right.
When I first begin a novel, no matter what genre, author, or length, I will know within three to five pages whether or not I'm going to have a good time. With [b:The Line 6494966 The Line (The Line, #1) Teri Hall http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348228871s/6494966.jpg 6686411], I knew, and I wasn't happy. We are roughly introduced to Rachel, her mother Vivian, and their world: The US, now a police-state, has placed an unyielding barrier around the border that is referred to as the Line. The land across is dubbed “Away” and the sightings of strange people and creatures across the Line are called “Others”. My frustration with this book stemmed purely from the writing. The whole book is in a telling form. The whole thing. It really served to yank me from the narration and beat me over the head with the fact that I was, indeed, reading a story. So why three stars and not one? I found discussion questions in the back. This is a book that is not geared for anyone near my age range. I realized that I was using an adult set of expectations to review a book geared way more toward children. To me, it seemed unfair. Yes, I took stars off because the writing was that frustrating to wade through. But Rachel is a pleasant protagonist to deal with, her relationship with Vivian was beautiful to see, and the plot itself is a great one. This is a review of of execution, not idea. I also took off a star for that ending: When Rachel Crossed, why did Vivian and Ms. Moore not follow? Both of them really had nothing else going for them in the US. Ms. Moore had Jonathan, but she could have what, written a note or something? Neither had ties to the US as it was, so why did they stay behind to jeopardize Rachel's safety as well as their own? IDGI.Overall a good book for readers much younger than I. Though the writing itself was difficult, I will most likely be reading the next installment [b:Away 7732360 Away (The Line, #2) Teri Hall http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1311705255s/7732360.jpg 10515363], as I do want to see what happens next.
I have read many dystopian novels, the genre is one of my favorites. Oftentimes, the world created is without threat or consequence; I do not feel nor believe the full oppression of the regime in the novel, or the rules that are in place seem abritrary or ridiculous.
Over and over, when I scour for new dystopia to read, The Handmaid's Tale cropped up every time. It is truly a shame I didn't immediately dig into this book when it was initially purchased for me.
We are first introduced to Offred, a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead, a woman who is old enough to remember a better time before. Through the entire story, we are spoken to as if we are there with Offred, hearing her story. This definitely served to bring me with her into this horrible world, and to feel alongside the small triumphs, her panic, and her heartbreak. We slowly learn about Offred's past, the nusances of her position, and the world she now is forced to carve an existence from.
I can only describe the manner of writing as ‘flowy'; it creates spectacular imagery that isn't a stretch nor a burden to read:
A Tennyson garden, heavy with scent, languid; the return of the word swoon.Light pours down upon it from the sun, true, but also heat rises, from the flowers themselves, you can feel it: like holding your hand an inch from an arm, a shoulder. It breathes, in the warmth, breathing itself in. To walk through it in these days, of peonies, of pinks and carnations, makes my head swim.
There are zero infodumps, a trait I do unfortunately see in dystopian novels. We are only shown was is needed, and are slowly revealed pieces of Offred's story; her past, her “training”, her current situation, her hopes. It weaves itself together into a wonderful ending, with an addendium that enhances the conclusion.
If I had to pin down one thing that I felt was a negative, it would be Offred's lack of personality; It felt as if she was merely a vessel that we stepped into to see the world from her eyes. If this was intentional, it was masterfully done.
Five stars, and an insistence that if you enjoy well-written dystopia or even a fantastic story, place The Handmaid's Tale at the top of your list.
This is one of those novels in which the synopsis posted above is really all you can go on.
Genesis had me actively guessing up until the very last pages. Do yourself a favor and pick it up. The format of writing never gets stale, the story itself is rich, and the ending will surprise you. At 150 pages, its an afternoon well spent.
[b:The Tommyknockers 17660 The Tommyknockers Stephen King http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1193781002s/17660.jpg 150226] tells the story of Bobbi Anderson discovery of an object in the woods that slowly begins to turn the minds of the residents of Haven, Maine. This book was long. I did (and continue to) enjoy [a:Stephen King 3389 Stephen King http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1261866457p2/3389.jpg]'s method of setting- and character-building; he isn't afraid to create a detailed minor character, just enough for you to care when he mercilessly kills them off in the proceeding five or so pages.This character building trait is the sole reason why, at the end I felt simultaneously ecstatic and grieved over Gard's death. I spent seven hundred pages with this guy, saw him at his highest and experienced his deepest lows. His death was what impacted me the most, and I felt that the way Gard went was the most appropriate way.The multiple points of view and slight altering of timelines made this story an engaging read. However, as others have pointed out, the book was a little too long. There are several excellently-written peaks within the buildup, and it illustrates [a:Stephen King 3389 Stephen King http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1261866457p2/3389.jpg]'s ability to write a nail-biting, suspenseful scene. But between these, the story seemed to drag a bit and I had to exert discipline to finish. I reason this is why it took me two weeks to finish, but the ending was definitely worth it!Also- and this may be a personal preference- the blending of science fiction and reality was jarring. The initial concept boasts of a story about wildest dreams coming true (In my paperback copy, “Would you like to make your wildest dreams come true?”) this notion is highly misleading; wishes don't particularly play into the plot at all. Its kitschy scifi mixed with reality and adult horror. Because of this, the story shook me from its depths and made it a bit hard to get into. Overall, I enjoyed [b:The Tommyknockers 17660 The Tommyknockers Stephen King http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1193781002s/17660.jpg 150226]. I wouldn't read it again, but I would recommend it to others!
Oh dear. Okay.Let me preface this review by stating that I went into it with low expectations. Perhaps that is why my frustrations exist so strongly, but it was nigh impossible to avoid the discussion and the excerpts that flooded the internet upon its release. I read them, I discussed them, and when I obtained a copy of [b:Fifty Shades of Grey 10818853 Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades, #1) E.L. James https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1385207843s/10818853.jpg 15732562]. I took a deep breath and dived in. The Good:As we all know, this novel originated as Twilight fanfiction. As its written, it can certainly stand alone. The concept is great and, barring what I will soon discuss, the character development has promise. I was appreciative that there weren't info dumps, and that information (mainly about Grey) was slowly revealed. Relationships and the world had depth. (I'm trying, guys.)The Bad:This novel originated as Twilight fanfiction. Throughout the 75% I progressed through, I briefly saw who were which characters (Jos?? = Jacob, Mia = Alice). The writing also reads like fanfiction gone published. This is glaringly evident within the first chapter of [b:Fifty Shades of Grey 10818853 Fifty Shades of Grey (Fifty Shades, #1) E.L. James https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1385207843s/10818853.jpg 15732562].The character parallels brings me to Jos?? Rodriguez. I had an issue with how he was handled. Towards the middle of this novel, he and Ana are drunk. He starts pushing himself onto Ana, and then our dear savior Christian Grey swoops in to save the girl. Okay. Whatever. However, Jose is illustrated as Hispanic, and James even goes so far to point this out by his usage of token expressions such as ???Dios Mio!???. It bothered me how the only other minority in this book was the one who attempted to assault Ana. As fantastic as Christian Grey may be as a lover, Ana's constant vaginal orgasms (with only two mentions of her clitoris in what I read.) were wholly unrealistic. In reality, 25% of women have orgasms during intercourse. That isn't counting the disrepancy between vaginal and clitoral ??? that's overall. Not only is Ana a magical unicorn that possesses the physical ability to come from penetration alone, but so can her roommate, Kate! I know that women like this exist, but for the rest of us who physically cannot, its frustrating to read a novel that sold faster than Harry Potter further portray women in an unrealistic sexual light. Women need clitorial stimulation, and there are people out there who don't even know the clitoris exists. The sex scenes, after the first initial ones, began to drag. For the most part, they consisted of the same verbage, and towards the end of the book I started skimming them. Ana's constant physical reactions to everything Christian did - ???My breath hitched.??? ???I flushed and held my breath.??? ???I gasped.??? ???My breath stuttered.??? It is honestly a miracle to me how she was alive at the end of this book. Every time Christian had to remind her to breathe, I cringed. Which brings me to...The Ugly:Anastasia Steele. Innocent, virginal, shy, sarcastic Ana, flying too close to the Sun like Icarus. James portrayal of her naively and innocent nature is excellent. However, what puzzled me the entire time ??? Why Ana? Why is she an exception to Grey's every single rule? What about her categorizes her from previous subs he's been with? Was it the balance between her submissive and defiant traits? How she came out with a few witty one-liners? What was it? Ana was wholly flat and one-dimensional, possessing unicorn-like traits and zero flaws. (BTW skinniness is not a flaw.)The Annoying:If I hear ???THERE??? or ???foil packet??? or ???oh... jeez??? or ???groaned??? or ???Mr. Grey??? or ???Ms. Steele??? one more goddamn time I will hurl something. Would I recommend this book to someone else? No. Do I condemn those who do read it? No. One should never feel guilty about guilty pleasures, and that is what this trilogy encompasses. I feel that, with a bit more character building (especially with Ana) and a couple more rounds with editors, that this book (and the others following) would have been receieved far better.This is, however, not my type of guilty pleasure, and as such I won't be completing nor moving on to [b:Fifty Shades Darker 11857408 Fifty Shades Darker (Fifty Shades, #2) E.L. James https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358266080s/11857408.jpg 16813814] and [b:Fifty Shades Freed 12881778 Fifty Shades Freed (Fifty Shades, #3) E.L. James https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320316311s/12881778.jpg 18034963]. YMMV
I don't know how I got this book or why I began reading it.
That being said, it is as others have described; a bit much in some areas. (the section on personal appearance did irk me.) However, the book does offer many small bits of useful information that I feel we could all use to get ahead not only at work, but also in other areas of life as well.
I just finished this [b:Deadlocked 13371322 Deadlocked A.R. Wise http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327904258s/13371322.jpg 18600703] and wow! It definitely delivered! This installation did not drag like the others could (book four?) and I was very pleased with the way Charlaine handled the story.I especially enjoyed:Eric and Sookie's (basically) failed relationship. It felt like pulling a splinter from a wound. I knew this was going to occur, as [a:Charlaine Harris 17061 Charlaine Harris http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1307925926p2/17061.jpg] herself stated that Sookie would not end up with a vampire (nor become one) due to her desire to create and raise a family. I felt like this was repeatedly foreshadowed, with Tara's birth of her twins, and the conversation between Bill and Sookie in the vehicle.Eric was seriously an asshole in this book!The emphasis on non-supe characters. I got so sick of “this Fae, that Were, them Vamps”. I got to see some evolution with the ordinary folks of Bon Temps, and that was a refreshing change.Speaking of Fae, I'm glad that particular storyline had both a point and an ending. I'll be honest in saying I got so sick of it! This was a wonderful read, definitely one of the better written novels in this series. I can't wait for the final installment in 2013!