I really enjoy Max Brooks' stories. I love his insightful way of looking at the zombie culture, what it represents, what it means for us, what we woul...moreI really enjoy Max Brooks' stories. I love his insightful way of looking at the zombie culture, what it represents, what it means for us, what we would, or could, do about it if it were to occur.
I recently recommended Max's World War Z to a friend, and loaned him my copy so he could read it. (Don't worry, it's back in my possession now, and unharmed. :D) He returned it with the comment that it was probably one of the best stories about society in crisis he'd ever read, and that the realism was incredible. I completely agree, which is why I recommended it to him in the first place. ;)
So anyway, my point in mentioning this is that Max Brooks' books have been on my mind recently, and so when I was browsing Audible last night looking for something to listen to so I could clean the kitchen (What? Like you don't...), I discovered Closure Limited. I'd never heard of it before, so I was kinda excited by the thought of new material.
So, I downloaded, listened, and cleaned... in that order. Priorities, people. O_o
Overall, I liked this - maybe not AS much as Zombie Survival Guide or World War Z, but close. I think part of what detracted from this a bit was the format and the reading. For one thing, the reader sounded a lot like Max Brooks himself to me. I have heard Max read on the WWZ audiobook (the abridged one - I've yet to listen to the newer unabridged version), and I've seen him on that one zombie documentary show that I can't think of the name of... *IMDBs* "Zombies: A Living History". So for the intro, the reader's voice worked fine for me... but in the stories themselves... it wasn't the best match.
That's not to say that the performance wasn't good... It was good, but I am kinda picky when it comes to audiobook readers, and I wouldn't say that Christopher Ragland is among my favorites. The male voices were OK - but the females were... not. And three times he had to do accents: one from The Netherlands (if I remember right?), another from Vietnam, and then a woman from China. Oddly, the Chinese woman's voice distracted me the least, which was kind of contradictory to how I felt about how he read other women - maybe it was the more staccato way in which he read her that helped. Not sure.
Before I talk about the individual stories, I'll just mention one other thing that detracted from this book for me, with regards to the audio version. That issue is that each story is headed by a chapter. "Chapter One: Closure Limited". I didn't actually NOTICE this, though, until midway through the 2nd story, when I was wondering what the hell the events I was listening to had to do with where I thought the story was going. I'm used to stories jumping around at chapter breaks. It gives a different perspective, and progresses the story, etc, so I heard, "Chapter Two: Steve & Fred" and didn't think anything of it being a NEW story, but a 2nd chapter in the story I was listening to already.
It was a little distracting, the be honest. Probably in print form, this wouldn't be an issue, because I'd know, getting to the next story, that it's not really "Chapter Two". Anyway, so when I eventually realized that it was a different story, it made a LOT more sense.
Moving on to the stories themselves, I really enjoyed them.
Closure Limited: Think about a zombie apocalypse... You know that the undead are everywhere, and that they are relentless killing, and turning, machines. Think about your loved ones, the ones that are now out of contact with you in your safehouse, or compound, or whatever. You don't know whether they are alive or dead or undead. You hope that they are alive, but the odds are... slim. After a while, the wondering starts to get to you... it starts to be harder to live with NOT knowing than it would be to just mourn. That's where Closure Limited comes in - they allow you to end that uncertainty. They provide a service that gives just what their name says: closure. Granted, there's a certain amount of self-deception that's required, because, after all, you HIRED this company to give you closure... but if you just need the symbolic aspect, you're all set.
This one really made me think... It is kind of awful in its way, and extremely risky, but could I really say that I wouldn't want something like this to exist if I was in the situation of needing it? At the very least, it would be cathartic to destroy the hope that just stubbornly hangs on and insists on tormenting us...
Steve & Fred: When I listened to this one last night, I was... not impressed. It didn't help that I didn't realize it was a new story (as I mentioned above), but to add to that the story also has a shift of its own. So, to be fair, I listened to this one again this morning, and I've changed my initial opinion. This is a GOOD story. It's like a little polaroid of a story, one that is still working on developing toward the middle. There's not much to this one - it's 22 minutes long, so, maybe I'd estimate a similar number of pages if the reader goes through 1 per minute. Maybe double if he reads slower. I dunno. But either way, the way it expands to show the whole situation is impressive, and enormous in its capacity for dread. And the irony of the story-within-a-story aspect is not lost on me. This is good stuff.
The Extinction Parade: This one is probably my least favorite of the lot, and oddly enough for the "unreality" of this zombie story containing vampires. Yes. Really.
I mean, it's not that I'm against vampires and zombies in the same story; in fact, usually I'm good with that. But in Max Brooks' universe, zombies invade the normal, everyday world due to a virus. There's nothing paranormal about them. So the insertion of the paranormal here just felt... out of place.
That being said, if I put that aside, the story is still a good one. It brings to light the concept of resources - that if suddenly a previously thought continually renewable resource suddenly starts to dwindle, would those who rely on the resource notice in time to stop it... COULD they stop it even if they did?
The Great Wall: This story, previous to my re-listen to Steve & Fred, was my favorite of the four. Now, I'd say they are tied. I loved this story for everything that it represented in terms of human resilience and stoicism and courage. It brought tears to my eyes, both of pride and sadness, and I loved every second of it.
This one is definitely a keeper for anyone who enjoys zombie lit, or who is a fan of Max Brooks, or both. I definitely recommend it. (less)
Despite like 20 people I know having read (or wanting to read this), I'd never heard of it until discussing the best Urban Fantasy books and series......moreDespite like 20 people I know having read (or wanting to read this), I'd never heard of it until discussing the best Urban Fantasy books and series... And then, because I'm half-demon myself, this one stood out from the crowd and sounded like it'd be something I'd really enjoy. To be quite honest, I'm a little tired of the vampires and the werewolves and whatnot, so demons and ghosts seemed like a nice change.
And it was.
I really enjoyed this book. I've been in a bit of a slump lately, and so it seemed like it took me forever to read this, but I got there in the end and I liked it a lot. I loved the kind of... gritty realism the book had. It felt less like fantasy than real life - if real life had ghosts and demons and those who were capable of seeing and dealing with them.
This book seems to come with an intertwined recommendation: If you like The Dresden Files, read Felix Castor. And vice versa. (Again, odd, because last year I read EVERY SINGLE HARRY DRESDEN BOOK THERE IS and Felix was mentioned not one time to me... HMPH!) Anyway, I can kind of see why, because Felix and Harry both kind of have that snarky, just-a-guy-who-can-do-stuff thing going on. But, they were quite different, too. I've been thinking about it this morning, and it's taken me a little bit of time to realize it, but in SOME ways, I liked Felix more than Harry. (What? Like it's WEIRD to brood over fictional characters or something. Pfft.)
I don't want this to be come off sounding like a criticism of Harry, because it's not. Some of the things that I'm going to mention are parts of WHY I love his character so much. But they work in HIS world - not so much the one that Felix lives in.
First, Harry has this kind of (to use Hermione's words from The Order of the Phoenix) "saving people thing". He's chivalrous and kind-hearted with a dirty mouth and a quick temper. He has a lot of internal doubts about his ability to be the man -or the wizard- that he needs to be. Which is, of course, what makes him that man/wizard. Harry Dresden knows who he is and what his powers can do, and he has a kind of feeling of responsibility to use them to help people. I love these things about Harry, because the man that it makes him (without giving anything away) is one that I love and pity in equal measures.
But Felix was... just a guy. And I liked that. OK - maybe just a guy who was slightly more in tune with the no-longer-alive than most other people. He didn't have the hero thing going on. He didn't really head out into the fray to protect "his" city or to do good deeds... he just got caught up in a mess. He has his own doubts, his own dark history, his own fears. I really hope to see more of this in the remaining books in the series.
I liked the plot as well, and I think that it lent a good deal to the realism of the story. This was an already fucked up situation that went completely FUBAR, and then some. There are books (like The Dresden Files) where the fantasy is so entwined that to remove it would be impossible - and I wouldn't want to. But then there are books like this one, where the fantasy aspect is more... like an addition. Take away the ghosts and demons and whatnot, and you STILL have a really good story. With them, and you have a really good urban fantasy story. And I really liked that. But the fantasy aspects never felt tacked on or like an afterthought. They meshed perfectly with the story and the world, especially old city London with all its history, and I loved it.
I will definitely be reading more of this series. (less)
I scooped this one up quicker than lightning when I heard it was available for free on Audible. I love me some BSands. And this story did not disappoi...moreI scooped this one up quicker than lightning when I heard it was available for free on Audible. I love me some BSands. And this story did not disappoint, though it wasn't at all what I expected.
In fact, the first little while of the story reminded me a lot of a Joe Hill story. I love both authors, and both are men I'd gladly leg-hump in a flicker of a heartbeat were I to run into either of them on the street... or in a bar... or in their kitchens.
But I digress.
I love both authors, but they have very different styles. Yet the beginning of this story felt like the opening lines of a Joe Hill story, and that was exciting to me. Joe Hill takes the everyday world and turns it on its head and then shows us the fantastical in the everyday. You never know just where he's going to take a story, but getting there is so worth it.
And that's pretty much exactly what BSands did here. Well, what he does all the time, only this was a real-world setting rather than a fantasy-world one. Which is why it reminded me of Hill. But, I think I said that.
I absolutely LOVED the concept of this story, and the way that it was different than one would expect. I loved the way that the Aspects and Leeds... interacted. I loved the theory behind his particular division of mind, and the ways in which it benefited him. It was fascinating, and I would not at all mind a novel length story based around this character, err, I mean these characters.
I also really loved the concept of the mission that Monica brings to Leeds, and the ramifications that could arise because of it. (I'm trying to be vague here, if you hadn't noticed. It's kinda hard. LOL I want to go all rambly raving leg-hump, but I will restrain myself.)
Finally, I loved, once again, the way that Sanderson ties religion, or rather faith, into his stories. It's kind of a big deal for me to say that, being of an atheist-leaning agnostic persuasion. I just really like the way that Sanderson gets to the heart of a matter, and lets the story be, without leaning on it with his own opinions, even though we're able to see what his opinions are. He's a believer, clearly, and his stories deal with that - but never in the way I'd predict, and never in a way that feels preachy. And I appreciate and respect that.
Fantastic little story, and I highly recommend the audio. (less)
I've started this review 6 times now, and each time, I've deleted it because it doesn't quite convey the right thing. I think the problem is that I'm...moreI've started this review 6 times now, and each time, I've deleted it because it doesn't quite convey the right thing. I think the problem is that I'm not sure just what that thing is. But one thing I do know is that I love books that make me feel like this... that "I don't know what I need to say but I need to say something, to talk about this with someone because this book won't keep quiet in my mind" feeling.
I guess it's lucky that this was chosen for our latest group read then, because I filibustered there with every jumbled, messy, half-formed thought that my tired-because-I-stayed-up-until-nearly-2am-with-this-book-then-worked-a-full-8-hours mind could think of... Because this book won't keep quiet in my mind. I finished it last night around 1:30am, tears streaming down my face, hurting for everyone and furiously heartbroken over something so unnecessary and so seemingly unavoidable as what was depicted. Then I slept, and I dreamed about this book, with hazy, distant figures without names or faces, but bigger than life aspects.
It's rare that I dream about books. It doesn't matter if I read it up until the minute I drop off; I only dream about a book I'm reading, or have read if it pulled me into its world first. I dream about the books that touch my soul. *cue dramatic music*
This book was just... wow. If I were to nitpick anything, it would be that Eva's pen wandered a tiny bit too much into the outside world. I wanted to see her world, the world of her family, or her lack thereof. It took a little bit to get there, and for a while, there were hints but the narrative meandered along in its own time. But oh my, once it got going, it really got going. I don't think it was just my last minute mad dash to read this the day before my bookclub meeting that helped me to read 75% of this book in one night after work... it was unputdownable. Once I glimpsed this family's world, I couldn't look away.
There is... so much to talk about in this book. And I don't think that I could even attempt to do the topics or themes any justice (as I didn't in my bookclub, not for lack of trying). This is a book that begs to be turned around to the beginning again and immediately re-read. It's like one of those optical illusions. At first, the picture is simple, but then once you see the hidden picture within it, you gain a new appreciation for the whole.
This book was beautifully written, insightful, questioning and heartbreaking. It was nothing at all like I expected, and even guessing the things that I guessed (which turned out to be true), it didn't make the impact any less. This book was so incredible at making me sympathize and empathize with each person's perspective, though we only see these through Eva's brutally honest memory, that it was impossible for me to lay blame anywhere, even though the potential for assigning blame was huge.
This was expertly executed (pun intended), and it is not one that I will forget any time soon. (less)
Another great book in this series and another rollercoaster ride.
I had to set this one down a couple times (briefly, briefly... I had to know what ha...moreAnother great book in this series and another rollercoaster ride.
I had to set this one down a couple times (briefly, briefly... I had to know what happens!) because I was so worried at the way things were going down. Nervous little ball of nervousness, that was me. I am so addicted to these books it's ridiculous. When I am not reading them, I'm thinking about them. Can't get them out of my head, really.
And with that... On to number 5... and then the wait for 6 begins. *sigh*(less)
Whew, what a ride! This was definitely more actiony and less 'drool-all-over-myself-y', but it was really enjoyable.
I noticed in this one that Frost'...moreWhew, what a ride! This was definitely more actiony and less 'drool-all-over-myself-y', but it was really enjoyable.
I noticed in this one that Frost's descriptions of action leave a bit to be desired though. Not the fight scenes necessarily, but little things. Like this line: "My head was jerked back next, so hard there would be strands of it in his grip." What? Strands of head in his grip?
I really like the continuing evolution and discovery of this world, and I like that Cat is real and identifiable and not just a sexy victim. I also very much like, no love, the lack of bed-hopping in this series so far. I don't read much romance, but ugh, bed-hopping doesn't do it for me. I appreciate a little sexual tension, but sluttiness is annoying, not attractive.
Anywho... I'm off to continue the awesomeness that is this series. :)(less)
Alrighty, well this is going to be a real quick review, because I wanna just move right along to the next book.
So here goes: OH MY GOODNESS. Yum. Whe...moreAlrighty, well this is going to be a real quick review, because I wanna just move right along to the next book.
So here goes: OH MY GOODNESS. Yum. Where can I get a Bones of my own? (Enter lewd jokes here.)
I loved this book just as much as the first and now I'm off to read the next one because I'm addicted and in the 3rd book there be Bones.
Last Chance to See chronicles Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine's trips to far flung places to see, and call attention to, endangered and borderline e...moreLast Chance to See chronicles Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine's trips to far flung places to see, and call attention to, endangered and borderline extinct animal species.
I listened to the audio, read by Douglas himself (except for the very end which is read by Mark Carwardine), and it was brilliant. Not only does Douglas really bring each destination and trip to life, but he does so in a way that allows the reader to understand his feelings regarding these things, but without sounding judgmental or like a finger-wagging nag.
And on top of that, his sense of humor and brilliant mind are like sunshine on a mostly cloudy day. It's all seriousseriousserious... then WHAM! Unexpected funny. What I wouldn't have given to be tagging along for this trip! DA, exotic locations, trying to help endangered animals, and my goodness, if the experts that they talked to were all half as funny and awesome as DA portrayed them, I'd have needed some adult diapers so that when I pissed myself laughing nobody would know and I could keep on trekkin'. As it was, just listening to him imitate them, I kept giggling uncontrollably. Just imagine that with facial expressions. Oh man.
But this is really a serious book. It's a bit dated now, from the late 80s or so, but the issues it contains are just as prevalent now as they were then, if not more so. Some of the plights he described, particularly that of the Yangtze River Dolphin, the Baiji. Evolutionarily blind because of the muddy river water, they existed for thousands of years by echolocation, and then when China started to develop industrially and started to use the river with powered boats etc, the dolphins could no longer hear, became confused and would be hit by boats or propellers, or get caught in fishing nets and die either way. And that's not to mention the pollution and poisons in the water from industrial waste, or the fact that people still eat them. Or did, before they were declared "functionally extinct" in 2006. *sigh* Just the way that DA described these poor dolphins broke my heart - blind, confused, hungry due to lack of food due to human fishermen, in constant fear and pain from the pollution and noise pollution in the water, and with nowhere to go... it makes me really hate humanity sometimes. But, in the Chinese people's defense, it seems that they truly didn't know that there were dolphins in the river until almost too late, and then they scrambled to help... But too late won. :(
I definitely recommend this book. It's an important and brilliant one. And it's Douglas Adams. That should be enough.(less)
I've never read any of Lauren Myracle's other books. I'm not much into the whole "txt-spk" thing, so those books have never sparked my interest. Not m...moreI've never read any of Lauren Myracle's other books. I'm not much into the whole "txt-spk" thing, so those books have never sparked my interest. Not my cup of tea. Other than those, I couldn't have named another book Myracle had written before today. But this... this book called out to me. Not only because of the absolutely gorgeous cover, but because of the premise, and because it's set in the South. I love me some books set in the South. And because it has Issues. Issues with a capital 'I'.
And boy, did this deliver. If it hadn't been written with such grace and honesty, and a light touch and sense of innocence, it could have gone so very, very badly wrong. The Issues in this book are the kind that outsiders abhor and denounce, while those living in and around and with them are almost oblivious to their existence as an 'Issue' at all. To those people, it's just life. Normal. Everyday. This book touched on a lot of things. Poverty, addiction, class division, alcoholism, abuse, homosexuality and homophobia, fear and hatred, small-town politics, friendship and loyalty, etc. So many things that some could have easily gotten lost and confused. But even with all of these issues entwined throughout the story, I never felt that it forgot what it was.
I loved the way this story was written. I love the way it was parceled out, little by little, edging closer to the truth and the consequences and the brokenness, like a hungry mouse sneaking closer to a crumb not far from the cat's bed. The mouse knows that rushing will cause it to lose its chance, to be hurt -- but caution and stealth may win it a chance to survive. This book was like that. It crept along, building momentum, until it reached where it needed to be.
I instantly fell in love with these characters, especially Cat and Patrick. My heart broke for the things that they lost, both before and after Patrick is beaten and left for dead. I loved their friendship, and the simple acceptance of it. I loved Mama Sweetie, Patrick's Grandma, and her kindness and wisdom and faith. I usually find it hard to accept religion in books, because so very often it comes across as preachy. That was not the case here. It was less religion and more a matter of faith - a simple knowledge that there's something and someone there for us. No judgment, no fire and brimstone, no recriminations for every little thought, just a sense of "If you want, you can - if not, that's OK too." I liked that.
This book is gorgeous and amazing from cover to cover, and I was so wrapped up in this community and these lives that I almost didn't want to see, but I couldn't look away. I found one thing, one little thing, about the very end to be a bit unbelievable, but I understand it, and I wasn't disappointed. All in all, I loved this book and I think it's one that I will need to own, to re-read and absorb and love.
Confession Time: I'm very bad at categorizing genres and sub-genres, so it didn't dawn on me that Leviathan Wakes would be considered a "space opera"...moreConfession Time: I'm very bad at categorizing genres and sub-genres, so it didn't dawn on me that Leviathan Wakes would be considered a "space opera" until I saw it in the genre listing on the book's Goodreads page. I still don't really know what that is (space opera, not a Goodreads page), despite having read the Wikipedia page and stuff. I think of "space opera" and this comes to mind:
Probably not the same thing. But I did realize that my last attempt at reading a "space opera", The Warrior's Apprentice, left me distinctly underwhelmed.
So, if not for Audible, this book was probably a Lifer. By that I mean a book that will just sit on my radar forever, but never actually get picked up and read -- at least not for a long, long time. I have lots of these, unfortunately. There are just too many books, and too little time in the day. (If only my job would stop being so insistent that I show up!)
How did Audible, that evil (MWAHAHAHA!) Amazon company, factor in you ask? Well, not only did they give me a $10.00 credit for my 1 year anniversary of having an account with them (woohoo! free money!), but then they also put this audiobook on sale for $4.95. So Audible bought me this audiobook. And it rocked. Thanks, Audible!
So let's get down to business and talk about how much I loved this book.
Wait, wait... no... I was right before. This much:
Because I loved The Fifth Element, and I loved Leviathan Wakes.
This book had everything. Great, believable, and realistic characters, an interesting plot, fantastic scope and worldbuilding, just the right amount of plausibility to make it terrifying, brilliant humor that was perfectly timed and hit just the right notes to make me laugh out loud, and it had what were awesomely called 'vomit zombies'.
In fact, the only thing I can find to criticize, and it's more of a nitpick, is the overabundance of saids peppering the narrative. Holden said, Miller said, Naomi said, Fred said, Amos said, etc etc etc. Listening to the many saids being read was a little tedious, but only occasionally; it was mainly noticeable during long stretches of pure dialogue.
Otherwise, I loved everything about this book, and the reading. The reader did a great job at letting the story do the talking, and despite only getting to listen to this in small chunks at a time, I was engrossed in the story.
I loved the characters, and especially enjoyed the way that the two main characters, Holden and Miller, interacted with each other. They are from different sides of the personality spectrum, with two completely different ways of handling a situation, but when the shit (or the zombie vomit) hits the fan, they effortlessly slip into "Let's discuss this when we aren't dead" mode, and just kick ass. I loved it. I thought they complemented each other wonderfully, and the arc of their working relationship was realistic and understandable, from both sides.
Which brings me to the dual narrative. This story is told by alternating viewpoint chapters, and I thought it worked perfectly. We get to see things from two different perspectives, and it allows for so much more story information to be conveyed without huge info-dumps. I liked the noir detective story feel of Miller's chapters, and it contrasted nicely to the more high-tech, adventure feel of Holden's chapters. And then when they run into each other and become a sort of hybrid, I loved that, too.
Speaking of the technology, I thought it was brilliant. We've colonized other planets, and moons, and we can mine ice from Saturn's rings, and travel through space at 7+ Gs. The methods of combating nausea and blackouts during travel at these speeds is interesting, and plausible. The technology that allows us to live on little rocks millions of miles away from the sun is fascinating. But it's still familiar, in a way. RADAR and LADAR are things I've heard of. It's not too much of a stretch to get from where we are now, to where this story shows us in just a few short centuries.
The Protogen project is also plausible, and frankly terrifying, as is the reaction to it. I was totally Team Miller on this one, despite usually landing on Holden's side of the opinional axis. I shudder to think of situations like the ones depicted in this book, and can't help but think that it would happen exactly like this if it were to one day come to pass. I would hope that we've learned from past mistakes... but we don't. This is not-too-distant-future, where we've colonized the solar system, but we're still human. Racism and bigotry is larger scale, because our bodies have adapted to living off-earth, but our minds are still stuck in the 'us vs them' small-town mode, and now we just have more differences to divide us.
But I digress. I loved this book. I loved the world(s), and the characters, and, well, everything. This worked perfectly as a stand-alone novel, but I definitely cannot wait to read more of this series. (less)
If you know me, you know that I love books that make me cry. The messier the cry, the better. But I have a couple requirements...moreOh man, oh man, oh man.
If you know me, you know that I love books that make me cry. The messier the cry, the better. But I have a couple requirements for those books.
1) It must be honest. 2) No emotional manipulation. 3) It must have a point OTHER than being a tear-jerker.
I think that pretty much sums it up.
I've read books, like Hurt Go Happy by Ginny Rorby that might edge up on the emotional manipulation bit, but still get a huge recommendation from me because it's sort of appropriate to the book. There, the aim is to get people's attention, to educate, to send a message that the horrible things depicted in that book are happening EVERY DAY, and so bringing the pain is OK if it does that.
This book though. Oh man. It's got all the requirement bases loaded and hit the effing awesomeball out of the park. I don't usually resort to sports analogies, but it's apt here, so I'm leaving it.
I'm not going to talk about the specifics here, because I think that this is best experienced for oneself. I will say that this story touched me on many different levels, and was so... visceral. Intimate and real. The characters were very real and sympathetic and interesting as well, and the parallels between them and the story-within-a-story (which I don't usually like) were cool too. Like little nudges in the ribs regarding Conor's point of view.
There's a bit of horror, a bit of the fantastic, but it's interpretable, and was brilliantly handled. As was everything else in the book.
After listening to the audiobook (which was easily among one of the absolute best readings I've ever heard. THANK YOU, Jason Isaacs!), there was a short interview between Isaacs and Ness regarding the book. There wasn't much said about the story, but a little bit said about the reactions to it and the intentions Ness had in telling it, and I found myself nodding. Wiping tears and nodding and thinking, "Nailed it." This was based on a story idea that Siobhan Dowd began before her death. I've never read any Siobhan Dowd, but now I think I have to. Just to see.
Read this book. Just... read it. It's one of THOSE. (less)
Before I read this book, I had read some reviews which had me wondering if this one would be something I'd like, reviews from people whose opinions I...moreBefore I read this book, I had read some reviews which had me wondering if this one would be something I'd like, reviews from people whose opinions I trust. I am willing to read anything though, so the book stayed on my "TBR Someday" mental list... Until I decided to read it along with some friends. Friends who then got me so excited to read this that all of my reservations were hanging by a thread and blowing in the breeze.
And I can honestly say that not only did this book not suck, but that I loved it so much that I feel like other books I've loved should now be re-evaluated on this new scale in my head. I love it when a book exceeds my expectations and leaves me kind of lonely afterward because it's over. But luckily, this story isn't over... I've only just begun. SQUEEE!
I'm not going to discuss the story in this review. I wouldn't even know how to do it justice anyway. I will say that it kept me completely enthralled all the way through. Reading this book was less like reading and more like living it vicariously through the characters. I loved the characters, and reading about them had me a bundle of anxiety almost from the very beginning. I HAD to know what would happen, and at one point I had my fists so tightly clenched in nervousness that I left fingernail marks on my palms. One event was so gut wrenching to me that it took about 10 minutes to fully hit me, and then I was lost. I was so angry and shocked and hurt by this event that I had to vent and let it out and I was left seething and miserable... and then the sadness hit.
THIS is the kind of thing I read for. All of those feelings and reactions are why I read. The bar has been raised.
I loved the writing as well. In fact, it worked so well for me that I barely even noticed it - which to me is a great thing. I don't want to notice the writing - I feel like if I do, the author should have done better at making it invisible. The subtleties in the writing were awesome, especially the voices of the characters in their point of view narration - not their dialogue, but their interpretation of things going on around them. The foreshadowing was so perfectly done that I didn't even realize it was being used, even though it was serving its purpose and making me into that little bundle of nerves, until it was mentioned.
I loved this book. I cannot wait until the next one. Fantastic. (less)
These books make me giggle so much. I have loved all of them so far.
I actually found that this one was a bit more... emotional... than normal. I real...moreThese books make me giggle so much. I have loved all of them so far.
I actually found that this one was a bit more... emotional... than normal. I really, really enjoyed that. And it opened up some plotline possibilities for future books, so I'm really looking forward to seeing what Timeless has in store.
I really enjoyed this collection of stories. I listened to the audiobook version read by the author himself, which I think added quite a bit to the ex...moreI really enjoyed this collection of stories. I listened to the audiobook version read by the author himself, which I think added quite a bit to the experience. It's been my experience that authors who read their own stories as audiobooks are generally not the best. While it's true that they know their characters and their stories, many of them just don't have the voice or talent for oral storytelling. That's not to say that the author isn't a storyteller - obviously they are, often they just shouldn't do it orally.
Neil Gaiman, thankfully, is a natural oral storyteller. He brings the story and the characters to life, and the listener forgets that they are listening to something that was once written because it feels so naturally spoken -- like the story is just flowing through him to us.
Many of these stories took me by surprise. I don't think of Gaiman as a YA author, but even so, I didn't expect the themes and details of the stories in this collection to be so jaded or brutal. Gaiman doesn't make these things the focus, but rather adds them in an almost nonchalant way that has more of an impact because it's NOT the focus.
I also really enjoy Gaiman's perspective and unique way of seeing the world and everything in it. I like his ability to effortlessly maneuver his readers right into the position we need to be in for maximum effect, and when we get there, he flips everything, so we're left wondering just what happened and how we got where we are when obviously we were just on our way to somewhere else.
I'm not much for poetry, and I didn't really get much out of the poems that were included here, so I couldn't give this one a 5 star rating, but aside from that, I loved this collection. It's a keeper. (less)
I loved the characters in this story. They were all fantastic. Not only was the dialogue great, but the artwork and dialogu...moreThis was freaking awesome.
I loved the characters in this story. They were all fantastic. Not only was the dialogue great, but the artwork and dialogue together perfectly meshed to create a full story. And the artwork is A-MAZ-ING. I just loved looking at each of the panels so much that it was kind of distracting. Meaning that I kept being distracted by the awesomeness of the art, and all the little details and movements and color and expression, and so I would have to remind myself to continue with the story because I wanted to know what happens next!
The story flipped back and forth around in time, with several different storylines playing together, but they all worked wonderfully, and I loved it. There were even some Dark Tower and Stephen King Universe tie ins. Sidewinder, Colorado? A birth date of May 19, 1855. 1+8+5+5=19. Some palaver here and there, a toe-tag I stared at for a full minute, just lots of little things that just make this an awesome, awesome story. Not to mention it's the wild west and everyone's a gunslinger in some way... even if they aren't Gunslingers.
I'm so, so glad that I gave this book a chance. I've had somewhat bad experience with books that have been hyped as much as this one has, and I genera...moreI'm so, so glad that I gave this book a chance. I've had somewhat bad experience with books that have been hyped as much as this one has, and I generally try to avoid the hyped ones, but for once, finally, here is a book that lives up to the hype and more importantly, deserves it.
I don't really have words to say what I felt was great about this book without sounding cliche. This book was brilliant on so many levels, I feel like I want to start it over from the beginning and listen to it again. Right now.
I grew up in the South, and I have always loved it. The slower pace, the afternoon thunderstorms, the heat and humidity that makes it hard to breathe, the crickets, crepe myrtles and spanish moss, the old feel and the history... all of it. If I had my way, I would buy an old plantation house in Georgia somewhere and never leave. It would have deep porches, and a huge shade tree in the yard, and green everywhere I look, and not another house in sight from my own. This is my idea of heaven.
"The Help" reminded me of this, and makes me so homesick I can taste it. The accents of the readers probably made it worse, because they were so familiar. I'm not sure if I'm happy that I listened to this audio first or not, actually. The readers brought a LOT of interpretation to it, and I normally dislike that. But I secretly enjoyed it here simply because the accents were ones that I'd forgotten that I'd missed for so long. It actually made me a little sad to listen to the accents, as pathetic as that may seem.
But the readers were very good, I must say, and this is among the best audiobooks I've listened to. Aibileen was by far my favorite reader. Her sections were just... alive. Not to say that the other sections weren't, but there was just something about hers that just had a little more oomph. Maybe it was simply because Aibileen was my favorite character, or maybe simply because she was the first voice I heard, and so I formed an early opinion. I think that it was just her sections that really spoke to me, and really caused my stomach to knot up.
This story really spoke to me. It took me through such a wide range of emotions, I don't even know where to start. Mostly though, it made me angry and proud. Angry because of the way that people used to think, and still do in lots of places, and proud because of the way that better people have stood up and said its wrong, and of how far we've moved past our hatred and ignorance.
I loved this book from the start, when we first meet Aibileen. She tells us how she has raised 17 other-people's-babies, and how she's been a maid/nanny since she was 15. I loved Aibileen's character. She's strong, patient, brave, smart, funny, and fair. I teared up right off the bat when she tells about her son, and when she tells us about little May Mobley (guessing at the spelling here, as I haven't seen it in print) and how she's all but ignored by her own mother. Aibileen just had this straight-forward honest feel about her that I loved.
Minny is also honest, but in a different way. Not revelation honest, but in-yo'-face honest. I loved Minny, who cared despite herself. Minny isn't a trusting sort. She's got tall, thick walls around her heart to protect herself, and we get to peek over them to see inside, occasionally.
Miss Skeeter is the person I most identified with, at least as far as her opinions and actions. I admired her bravery and courage in going against the grain and sacrificing things she didn't even know she had to do the right thing. I like to think, that had I been alive in 1960's Mississippi, that I'd've done the same thing. Certain things should just be done because they are right, no matter the cost. I also admired her for being true to herself, and not allowing herself to be married off to someone who couldn't accept her for who she is.
This book mainly centers around racism, and that is my hot-button "issue". I will say it right now: I cannot stand racism. We're all just people: white, black, asian, hispanic, middle-eastern, whatever. Religion, culture, history, ideas, etc - THESE things are what make us different, and we should accept and honor each other for them, not fear and hate each other because of our skin tone.
I don't know how much of the pro-white, pro-segregationist propaganda depicted in this was true, but I have a feeling that most, if not all of it, was. Black people are good enough to raise white people's kids, but not put their glass in the same cupboard because they'll spread "disease". Shameful, awful behavior. I still have a knot of anger in my stomach thinking of the way that people were treated for nothing more than the pigmentation in their skin. The lengths to which one group of people would go to put another group down and make them suffer made me angry and bitter - I had to keep reminding myself that this was a book. But even so, this kind of thing DID happen, once. It hurts my heart to know that as a people, we have this kind of behavior in us. I just don't understand it.
So much of this story broke my heart, but was hopeful at the same time. Of course we know where the civil rights movement takes us, and how far we've progressed, but reading, or rather listening to this, I felt almost like I was living it through these women. The historical markers that Stockett added in, the murder of Medgar Evers, the assassination of JFK, MLK's march on Washington DC, all helped to make this feel very real. I was so tense during parts of it that I left fingernail marks on my palms from clenching my fists. It's definitely a book that will shove your feet into three pairs of shoes and shove you out the door to walk in them. I think that I will be feeling this book for a long while to come.
I admit that I'm a little torn on what to rate this book, so I split the difference, although I'm really tempted to go all StarSearch™ up in...more4.5 Stars
I admit that I'm a little torn on what to rate this book, so I split the difference, although I'm really tempted to go all StarSearch™ up in this piece and do 4.75 stars. (Wait, did they have a 5 star rating system? No, I think it was only 4. Crap. Well, anyway, you get the point. That is, unless you're younger than me and don't even know what StarSearch is. In that case, you're a jerk, and go away.)
Anyway, I'm torn because, having seen the movie before, I think that Roman Polanski nailed the ending... He stopped at just the right point, and left us with that lingering empathetic horror, the mystery, the "What the fuck?!" feeling. We get just a hint, and the rest is Rosemary's reaction, and that subtlety's often better than the giving up the whole shebang.
The book takes the ending just a smidge further, and with a smidge more detail to the what, and that smidge further opens a line of possibility that is horrifying in itself. The things that a mother will accept, the things that a PERSON can accept, it's scary to think of in extremes like this. Imagine raising this baby with the eye of the world watching. Jeez. The terrible twos would be... apocalyptic. So... yeah, I'm torn. I don't know which ending I prefer. They are both great in their own ways.
I listened to this one as an audibobook, and I LOVED it. It was read by Mia Farrow and honestly, I think that her reading may have upstaged her movie performance. Not that she wasn't great in the movie, because I think she was, if a teeeeeensy bit melodramatic, but the audio relied solely on her voice, and so it was a bit more subtle and intense at the same time. I'm not sure how to really explain it, but just trust me, it was awesome.
Mia portrayed Rosemary's naivete perfectly. Perfectly. I feel like, perhaps if I'd have read this, I'd have found some of it a bit ridiculous. The things that Rosemary goes along with, I'm thinking, "No! Don't drink the putrid drink again! Are you STUPID?!" but then Mia does such an insanely great job at showing us this small town, kinda sheltered girl on her own in the big city, with her barely-married-a-year husband, in way over her head, super excited that she's FINALLY pregnant, and just wanting to do the right thing, even though she's not sure just what that is. She's manipulated on all sides, she's tricked and fooled over and over, and even though she's smart, she just doesn't know to be suspicious until it's too late. Mia Farrow shows all of that perfectly. The wavery quality in her voice, the whispers, the hesitation, the doubt and fear... all of it comes through, and really adds a lot to this story, I think.
Then there's Ira Levin's writing in general. Really great stuff. It's so... layered. But it doesn't FEEL layered. It feels straightforward and almost simplistic, but it's like seeing tree after tree after tree, and then finally stepping back far enough to realize that it's a forest after all. It doesn't change what it is, but the big picture is a sum of the parts. I loved the little things, the tiny details that Rosemary saw as a whole lot of trees, never realizing that she was too close to see the forest.
Also, I was really kind of impressed by Guy Woodhouse in this, although it feels very strange to say so. He managed such a ridiculously fine line of manipulation, it's hard not to be impressed that he carried it off for so long, even while being feministically pissed at his audacity and selfishness.
I was also struck by the emotional and mental abuse tactics that Guy used to keep Rosemary in line. Always keeping her home, with no money and no means of getting any, cut off from friends and family. She was always watched or followed. He didn't even let her do her own shopping - the neighbors would do it in the guise of being neighborly and helpful in deference to her sickly condition. Even without the paranormal bent of this book, it would be terrifying just for those reasons. I kept hoping that she'd leave, go to a friend's house, anything, but she didn't. I knew the storyline already, but I still wanted her to just GO. Guy wasn't physically abusive, but he was emotionally neglectful and distant and cruel (not to mention all the rest), and she just wanted so badly to have a happy family that she couldn't see it.
This is a fantastic book. I'm so glad that I splurged on it. Highly recommended.
Ok... I know what you're thinking, "THREE AND A HALF STARS?! For Coraline?!!" But yes. 'Tis true.
It's not that I didn't like it; I did. Quit...more3.5 Stars
Ok... I know what you're thinking, "THREE AND A HALF STARS?! For Coraline?!!" But yes. 'Tis true.
It's not that I didn't like it; I did. Quite a bit. And as usual, Neil's reading of it was great, full of wonderful characters and fantastic storytelling. But there was just something about it that was kinda... I dunno. Not quite right?
There were times when I seriously wondered how old Coraline was meant to be. Is she meant to be a very smart 5 year old, or an average smart 9 year old? I could go both ways depending on the situation.
The story might've said what her age was, but I don't think so. I think knowing one way or the other would have been better, because I kept wondering whether the ease or struggle of each situation was realistic or not. Is it realistic for a 9 year old to not be able to reach the top of a fridge even standing on a chair? I guess it's possible, if she's very short, but much more realistic for a younger child. Would a 5 year old have interacted with the Beldam the same way? I don't know, but that seems like the actions of an older child.
This aspect kinda took me out of the story at inopportune times, and I would find myself wishing I could be sure. I thought of even going with a median age of 7... but that just didn't seem right either. Although, that's probably what Neil was going for and I'm just too dense to see it.
I did really enjoy the "Other" world and the darkness of the story. I really enjoyed Coraline's intelligence and wit and perseverance and poise in the face of danger. I really liked the Cat, although, as much as I love cats, and the character of the Cat, I thought it was again unrealistic. Real cats take no interest in the piddly life or death affairs of humans. Now if it were a dog that had helped Coraline, that would have been believable. Dogs are friendly and helpful. Cats are selfish jerks who don't give two tinkles in the litterbox about humans. They know it, and we know it, and they know we know it, and it amuses them to no end that they know we know that they know and yet we still try to cuddle them and make them love us with promises of food and treats. That's their game.
See??
Anyway... This was an enjoyable story, and I definitely recommend it for those looking for something fun and short. (less)
I love reading Richard Matheson's stories. Even if the story itself isn't quite to my taste, and not everything he writes is, the writing is so enjoya...moreI love reading Richard Matheson's stories. Even if the story itself isn't quite to my taste, and not everything he writes is, the writing is so enjoyable to read. I don't know what it is about it that makes it so, but it's just so accessible and straightforward and unassuming, and it just hooks me right from the start. I love it.
I've seen the movie based on this book, before I knew it was a book, and before I'd ever read anything of Matheson's, and I enjoyed the movie. That's really the best way to do it, because it allows me to enjoy both versions independently for what they are. The movie is... pretty far removed from the story in the book. Other than the hypnotism catalyst and the ghost-story mystery, there's not very much similarity between them. But maybe that's for the best, because I was quite surprised by the direction the book took, and enjoyed it quite a lot.
I really like the deeper line of thought and questioning that runs through this book. This is a short book, but inside is some interesting stuff that pertains to consciousness and higher consciousness and the like. I like Matheson's theories on things, although I don't usually agree with them. But at least he reasons things out and provides something to think about. That I will most definitely give him credit for.
The mystery aspect of this book was a good one. I thought I had it all figured out and I didn't. I love when a mystery keeps me on my toes.
Anyway, I would definitely recommend this one for any fan of paranormal mysteries... I mean paranormal in the broadest sense here, as there are no vampires (sparkly or otherwise), werewolves, or anything, but it is outside the realm of the strictly mundane world.
Horror October 2011: #1 (Ok, a little early, but who's counting?)(less)
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