Simon
DNF
Best way to describe this book. That conversation you have with your horror loving best friend, you discuss Serbian Film, Irreversible, The Human Centipede and your friend eulogises about all the hidden messages and how the film is a take on modern day society, but in the end you agree that those films are actually garbage and its just the two or three shocking scenes that everyone talks about. THAT is this book. Sure I laughed at the foot massage assassins and giggled along at the swimming pool pump masturbator but after that it gets dark with tales of rape and paedophilia . So there are 20 or so of these short stories held together with some truly awful poetry and some incredibly boring in between bits. I would recommend this book to absolutely NO ONE.
I read this after I had read A Thousand Splendid Suns and I don't think it's as good. I guess If I had read this first and A Thousand Splendid Suns after I would say this was better. The format is the same, happy childhood followed by darkness, misery, pain, suffering, death, brutality and then a joyous uplifting ending. I think these books are important and should be essential reading for people with tiny minds living in their tiny little worlds, they might learn something.
Moody folky mystery horror(ish) story set in the Scottish highlands with witchy bits and some ghosts. First 200 pages are nice and atmospheric then the pace explodes and the book becomes something very different, unfortunately the last bit feels really rushed, like the author just wanted it to be over. Probably not for everyone but if you like folk horror you will appreciate what's going on. 4 might be over generous but its spooky month and it's more good than bad. Will definitely read more from this author.
3.5 Rounded up.
This was just ok for me. The emotional side of the book works really well but when you add in the action bits it felt a little bit all over the place. There are some really neat bits though, a lovely nod to the north east of England and the story of Josh & Luis are two that stand out. Not a patch on Head Full Of Ghosts or Cabin At The End Of The World.
I discovered this author completely by accident when I participated in a very short but very detailed conversation about the demonic properties of cold pop tarts, then following a recommendation by a beard (the beard?) I decided to buy this book and I am so glad I took the plunge. This is as good as any horror book I've read. There's two things going on here, on one hand you got the very real human horror of abuse and then there is the paranormal element (a nod to The Dark Half?) It all works and its written brilliantly. The ending was just about as perfect as you can get. Just one thing, there does seem be a recurring thing about wrap around walkways, what was the significance or was I looking at something that wasn't there?
I loved this but can totally understand why some people would struggle with it. This is English folk horror at its best. It reminded me of a 60/70s horror I saw along time ago (can't remember what it's called) where a teacher suddenly realises that there are devil worshipers in the village where she works. Nobody believes her and she slowly descends into madness. The only reason it's not 5 stars is that it does seem overly wordy in places especially in the middle and I found myself tripping over words.
9 loathsome friends with more money than sense take a trip to the highlands of Scotland to celebrate New Years Eve. There's a psychopath in their midst but who is it? The story is told through the eyes of three of the friends and two of the people who work at the lodge. The more you find out the more awful the characters become so much so that when someone dies you really don't care in fact you are rooting for the killer. This was a 2 star book all the way though but reveal of the stalker got an extra star and that was the best part of this book, the rest of it really does go on and on and on and on and on.
4.5 rounded up.
What an absolute joy.
Love, loss, mediums, spirit photography and bathing machines. One tiny criticism is that I would rather have not known what happened to Jonah, I would have preferred to have been left wondering if he was still alone sketching flowers in Wales and trying to fit in with the locals. It seem out of character for him to be brave enough to return to India in search of Pavan's brother.
Another book on the 100 LGBT novels you must read before you're dead list. Set in the 80s, It's a story about a family the gay son, struggling with his insecurities and neediness, the dad coming to terms with his own sexuality and the mother trying to hold it all together while dealing with her own adulterous past. The good bits are really good. The dull bits are REALLY dull. The supporting cast. Jerene, Dan, Elliot are much more interesting than the main cast but overall it balances itself out and is generally rather (for want of a better word) PLEASENT.
3.5 rounded up.
Tough to review. The first 100 or so pages are a real struggle it really does plod and the tone is so flat and it feels devoid of any kind of emotion. After that it does get much better and the ending is devastating. Those first 100 pages though will be too much for some people but do stick with it if you can because it really is a remarkable story.
Oh man, I really wanted to this to be as good as Jack Sparks but it falls well short. Its not bad, in fact it starts off really well, but the supernatural element feels like it was stuck on at the end. It's got some really neat bits in it but the ending just didn't work for me and unlike in Jack Sparks where it didn't matter that the main character was awful, in this one I felt it really did matter and I found myself routing for the porn addict in the end.
The world stops turning and chaos ensues. I really enjoyed this and if you like dystopian thrillers you will probably enjoy it too. I found the bits about what happened directly after the event really interesting, probably more so than the main story itself. The ending sets up a 2nd book very nicely indeed. Not perfect but very enjoyable.
The best word to describe this book is “pleasant” So if you like your crime/mystery with a large dose of sweet milky tea and a plate of scones with jam purchased from the nearest farm shop or garden fete, then you will probably love it. It's not a bad book, as reflected in the 3/5 rating, it was just a bit too wishy washy for me.