Necro Files is a collection of “horror” stories, written by twenty authors over a period of 20 years. Many of the authors have won or were nominated ...moreNecro Files is a collection of “horror” stories, written by twenty authors over a period of 20 years. Many of the authors have won or were nominated for awards, such as the Bram Stoker Award. I was thrilled when I found out I won a copy on Goodreads (as a first read giveaway), especially since Halloween was just around the corner and I was in a mood to be scared.
The book ended up being a total disappointment. Some of the stories had a twist at the end that was reminiscent of the TV series The Twilight Zone, except the twists in Necro Files were so telegraphed and poorly done that I see what was coming in most of the stories, and in a few, in the first paragraphs. Only one story had an ending that caught me off guard and that is because the protagonist lived, and in the situation he was in it was totally unbelievable that he wasn't killed. This ruined the story.
There are some “Extreme”, violent “sex” and graphic passages in the book, making this an ADULT ONLY book
Gore and violence doesn't equal horror no matter how “extreme” or detailed it is. In a few of the stories it felt that the writer was just trying too hard. Example: What is worse that having sex with a dead person? Having the dead person rotting and full of maggots! (Guess this type of writing is what justified the use of “Extreme” in the title of the book).
One of the stories had a torture passage that was hard to read, but the character development was so poor that there was no real emotional investment to make a true impact.
The two scariest parts of the book, for me, was when in one of the stories had a character describe the process of making hamburger (wasn't scary enough for me not to want a meatloaf for dinner). The other was when a character was described as wearing what looked like a plaid fur coat.
I was wanting a book that left me wanting to leave the lights on and maybe give me a shiver or two. What I ended up with was a book that felt as if it was always over reaching and trying to shock the reader instead of trying to scare the reader. Sometimes less is more.
The worse thing about this book is that it took away my desire to read. Hope I get it back soon.
If only horror and horrible meant the same thing...
When this book (Peace) was recommended to me, I read the description and was a bit reluctant to read it at first. The plot sounded all too familiar. A...moreWhen this book (Peace) was recommended to me, I read the description and was a bit reluctant to read it at first. The plot sounded all too familiar. A soldier witnesses a murder committed by his Sargent and must decide if he should report it. After seeing the book was only about 170 pages I decided I would give it a try (that and the fact that I trust the person who recommended it to me).
The setting for Peace is Italy during WWII. Most of the story takes place during the mission after the murder takes place. Corporal Marson and two of his men must scout ahead for German troops and report back to the Sargent. Richard Bausch meshes together a wonderful story of the “current” mission, the past, and personal memories that build the reality of the characters that the readers will feel for and know on a personal level.
The thing that sets this story apart (from what felt so familiar to me), is the fact that Richard Bausch has the murder taking place so fast that no one could have stopped it and at a time that it was almost understandable (for a moment). To muddle things further Corp. Marson and his men hear the Nazi's committing an atrocity and they are helpless to stop it. The story makes it impossible not to compare “the murder” with the acts of war.
As a reader you should be prepared for an emotional story that is hard to put down. One that is profound on many levels and is told (written) so well you will be thinking about it long after you have finished it. (less)
I often compare books to food, some are snacks, meals, a feast, etc. Lanark: A Life in 4 Books is a carnivores d...more(NOT A CAUSAL LIGHT READ!)
I often compare books to food, some are snacks, meals, a feast, etc. Lanark: A Life in 4 Books is a carnivores dream, this book is all meat. It's 560 pages of metaphors, similes, and a twisted reality that will give your brain plenty to chew on for a long time. Lanark is part fantasy and part biography that took Alasdair Gray nearly 30 years to write. The story is told out of order (book 3 is at the beginning), and the Epilogue comes before the last 4 chapters, yet the story flows perfectly.
Alasdair Gray has masterfully created a bizarre fantasy world that is so tightly wrapped around reality that the two become one. I found the story totally unpredictable.. It has a dark, and has bleak feel to it, but somehow it manages to keep a spark of hope throughout the book.
The main character isn't very likable, but I found myself caring for him (or at least what happens to him) and understanding him. As for the other characters it's more about understanding what they represented. The fact is everything in this book is a representation of some aspect of life. I'm still having Ah-ha moments where I'm putting it all together. I won't give details simply because I don't want to ruin any of it.
Lanark: A Life In 4 Books is one of the best novels of our time. The title says it all (this book is about life).
(less)
This book is exactly what the title says it is, it's a Survival Guide. Reading this book is NOT like reading a novel, it doesn't tell a story, it tel...moreThis book is exactly what the title says it is, it's a Survival Guide. Reading this book is NOT like reading a novel, it doesn't tell a story, it tells you how to survive a zombie outbreak. The Zombie Survival Guide explains how to chose weapons, what tools you'll need, and what actions you need to take.
Max Brooks does such a good job, that after reading the survival guide, I find myself being more prepared for the coming zombie outbreak than I am for any other possible “natural” disaster. Max explains everything (that's known) about the virus that turns people into zombies.
The last part of the survival guide gives accounts and “proof” of previous outbreaks that have occurred thorough out human history. The “proof” is laid out chronologically and offers artifacts, stories, and eyewitness accounts (several with the disclaimer that government officials deny that any zombies were involved).
The brilliance behind Max Brooks book The Zombie Survival Guide is that he did it the way all survival guides are done and he did it convincingly. The knowledge it contains is what will keep you alive and without it your chances of survival plummets.
This is the first time I have been intimidated writing a book review. One would think that if I read the book this review would be 100% grammatically ...moreThis is the first time I have been intimidated writing a book review. One would think that if I read the book this review would be 100% grammatically correct, that just isn't going to happen (I suffer from grammar allergies). Whenever someone starts talking or I start reading about adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, and modifiers all I hear is what sounds to me like Charlie Brown's teacher (wah wah wah). I found myself having to reread paragraphs to get some of the information sink in (phrasal verb). This book might actually be a cure for those, like me, who suffer from grammar allergies; if taken in enough doses.
Reading the book not only helped me learn if what I was doing was right or wrong but also explained what made it right or wrong. The “Quick and Dirty Tips” are great and easy to remember. If your memory isn't the best, the tips are listed in the back of the book “Quick and Dirty Grammar at a Glance”. Knowing this could have saved me from reading the first 200+ pages (I kid). I recommend reading the entire book. I will have to reread this book several times and keep it on hand for reference. I'm not a professional or “serious” writer, I just post some book reviews and random thoughts on my Blog. I'm not too worried about my grammar. I just want my posts to not be horrendous.
I highly recommend this book to everyone and think it should be mandatory for students. (less)
I saw Jon Ronson on The Daily Show and his book sounded interesting. The book is multifaceted as he looks into the mental illness industry and he take...moreI saw Jon Ronson on The Daily Show and his book sounded interesting. The book is multifaceted as he looks into the mental illness industry and he takes a look at the theory that psychopaths are running the world. Jon (Ronson) interviews scientologists (who believe that the doctors are manufacturing mental illnesses), doctors and psychopaths.
The theory that psychopaths are running the world comes from the fact that about 1% of the population are psychopaths, the lower or higher you go in society the percentage of psychopaths goes up. According to this book about 20% of inmates are psychopaths and about 4% of CEO's are psychopaths.
(Scary thought: Next time you are at a sporting event or concert, stop and think, for every 1,000 people there, there are10 psychopaths).
Jon also looks at madness in the media. It seems that if you have the right kind of madness you'll get attention from the news or end up on a reality TV show. Apparently the general population wants to see people that are crazier than they are so they can say “I'm not that bad”. After reading this part of the book I was thinking, “that explains a lot”.
The book contains the Bob Hare Checklist (it can also be found online). The checklist will help you spot psychopaths on your own. Doctors use it to rate someones responses and them give them points either 0, 1, or 2. There are 20 items on the checklist so the maximum score someone can get is 40.To be diagnosed as a psychopath someone would need to score at least 30.
Here is the checklist:
The twenty traits assessed by the PCL-R score are:
glib and superficial charm grandiose (exaggeratedly high) estimation of self need for stimulation pathological lying cunning and manipulativeness lack of remorse or guilt shallow affect (superficial emotional responsiveness) callousness and lack of empathy parasitic lifestyle poor behavioral controls sexual promiscuity early behavior problems lack of realistic long-term goals impulsivity irresponsibility failure to accept responsibility for own actions many short-term marital relationships juvenile delinquency revocation of conditional release criminal versatility
The book also takes a look at misdiagnosing, over labeling, over medicating and pharmaceutical companies pushing their drugs.
I have to say although I found many interesting things in this book and thought it was well done. I just didn't think it was a really good of a read. I just can't quite put my finger on why.
This is a memoir about a girl who was born in 1965 and grew up in a small Indiana town. At first I was thinking I would have little interest in or fin...moreThis is a memoir about a girl who was born in 1965 and grew up in a small Indiana town. At first I was thinking I would have little interest in or find anything I would relate too in her story. I was wrong. Haven Kimmel did a great job of telling her story in a way that was interesting and funny. I found myself relating to many aspects of the story. Being about the same age as Zippy helped me relate to the era she grew up in, but the story is about more than being born in the 60's, growing up in a small town or being a girl, it's about being a kid and being a kid is something we can all relate to.
As I was reading “A Girl Named Zippy” I found myself having fond memories of my own childhood and moments spent with my parents. What more could one ask for? (less)
This was a fun and entertaining read from beginning to end. Imagine a world where civil rights are extended to all, no matter your sex, race, religion...moreThis was a fun and entertaining read from beginning to end. Imagine a world where civil rights are extended to all, no matter your sex, race, religion, or if you are living or one of the undead. Justin Gustainis has created a world where humans and the supernatural coexist. The main character is Stan Markowski, a cop on the supe (supernatural) squad. He handles cases that involve crimes committed by or committed against supernatural beings (Vampires, werewolves, witches, goblins etc).
For me this book had an old school crime novel feel to it, which I loved. Add the fact that it's full of supernatural beings (some law abiding some not so much), and you end up with a familiar yet new take on crime novels and life in general. Written with humor and suspense, I found the plot action packed and fast paced but a little predictable. Even though some of the destinations were predictable, the journey getting there certainly wasn't. As I was reading Hard Spell I found myself thinking this would make an interesting movie or, better yet, a weekly series*.
This book does contain strong language and violence, with that warning I would recommend it to anyone.
**spoiler alert** So far I have thoroughly enjoyed every book by Iain [M.] Banks I've read. 'The Bridge' is no exception.
The Bridge was a s...more**spoiler alert** So far I have thoroughly enjoyed every book by Iain [M.] Banks I've read. 'The Bridge' is no exception.
The Bridge was a strange and surreal ride. It starts with an auto accident and a man falling into a coma. In the coma he finds himself in a strange world (living in a city on a bridge), not knowing who he is or of life before the bridge. The bridge lies between the city and the kingdom. His life is filled with strange happenings, bizarre dreams all the while reality is bleeding through. The story takes you through parts of his life before the accident, his life in the coma and his dreams which are more like nightmares. The different story lines all have elements from his real life. Regrets, choices made, choices that need to be made and the internal battle he must fight. When I was finished reading the story I was totally satisfied and happy to be alive.
This is another book that I would only recommend to adults not just because of the sex and violence but because Iain [M.} Banks is such a good writer he can make you feel the desperation, hopelessness and horror on such a deep level it will leave some readers feeling a bit uneasy (until you finish the book). Several of the books I have read by Banks have been dark and emotionally straining at times but he (Banks) always manages to have the perfect ending (some happy, some not so happy) that leaves me with a feeling of awe and a desire to read more. (less)
I'm kind of in the middle of a Banks binge, trying to get a few of his non M books read (Iain Banks = fiction, Iain M. Banks = SciFi).
This ...moreI'm kind of in the middle of a Banks binge, trying to get a few of his non M books read (Iain Banks = fiction, Iain M. Banks = SciFi).
This is the first non M book that I think could have been an “M”. Walking on Glass has three stories that come together towards the end. The first story is about a man walking to the house of the woman he loves to tell her how he feels. Along the way he recalls moments he spent with her and how he felt at the time, he is walking on air. The second story is about a man that just quit his job before they could fire him. He knows they are out to get him. His tormentors are relentless. He has to avoid their microwave guns and the lasers in the axles of cars. He knows that if he tells what he knows they will lock him up (in a hospital) to keep him quiet. The third story is about a couple who have been locked in a castle until they either kill themselves, or until they can answer a riddle. To give an answer to the riddle they have to figure out the rules to a game and play it to it's conclusion, games like Chinese Scrabble or spotless dominoes. The riddle they need to answer is: What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?
Iain Banks does a wonderful job of putting the reader inside the head of the characters, so you don't just feel for them you feel with them. Walking on Glass is on the dark side and contains adult situations and some suffering.
As I was reading I knew what it was like to be each of the characters. To be in love, to understand what it would be like to believe there are tormentors out to get you, or to be frustrated with trying to learn a game just so you can try to solve an impossible riddle.
Towards the end of the book there were times that the suffering was so intense that I felt physical pain and could not stop reading for fear that the pain would stay with me. The stories come together and the ending was perfection that left me completely satisfied and happy that I read this book. (less)
Before I decided to read this book I looked it up on http://goodreads.com It said to strap on a jock strap grab a barf bag and be prepared to get kick...moreBefore I decided to read this book I looked it up on http://goodreads.com It said to strap on a jock strap grab a barf bag and be prepared to get kicked in the nuts (paraphrasing).
This book does contain strong language, sexual situations and vivid descriptions of things most people would be happy not to have described.
Once I sat down and started to read Grundish and Askew it was hard to put down. The story is full of great characters and the plot was interesting and intriguing enough that I just didn't want to stop reading. The author, Lance Carbuncle, did a few things that I normally can't stand. One example is having a character know he is a “fictional character in a lame novel” (his words not mine) and another example is the mixing of reality and the dream world. Even with that said, Lance Carbuncle's story telling made this a story that was funny, moving, a bit disgusting and worth reading as along as you have a better than average tolerance for offensive material.
There are only a select few that I will recommend this book to but I'm sure that those I do recommend it to will enjoy it immensely. (less)
A Song of Stone is brutally dark. The writing is beautiful and poetic. The subject matter is horrific. The story takes place during a no name war in a...moreA Song of Stone is brutally dark. The writing is beautiful and poetic. The subject matter is horrific. The story takes place during a no name war in a no name country and is told from the view of Abel as a first person narrative.
Abel and his lover Morgan are nobles. They attempt to abandon their castle and flee to safety disguised as refugees when they are captured and taken back to their castle by a lieutenant and her band of soldiers. This is where the cat and mouse game begins. The story contains graphic violence, sex, incest, rape and human cruelty at it’s worse.
The further I got into the story the more it seemed to have a hold on me. The closer I got to the end the more I felt a need to finish it. By the time I got to the last chapter I wanted it to not end I no longer wanted to know, but still I had a need to know.
When I finished reading A Song of Stone it felt as if my psyche was savagely beaten and bruised, it may take weeks for my mental health and well being to recover, if ever.
When I closed the book I immediately wanted to read something else but I’m not sure if it’s to dilute the feeling A Song of Stone left me with or if it’s because the writing was so good (and deep) that it ignited something in me that makes me want to read and read and read.
I would recommend to ADULTS ONLY that have read the reviews and are still interested. Not recommended as a first Iain (M.) Banks read. (less)
I received The Cursed Man by Keith Rommel through Good Reads (http://www.goodreads.com) as a first reads giveaway. This is one of the first suspense/h...moreI received The Cursed Man by Keith Rommel through Good Reads (http://www.goodreads.com) as a first reads giveaway. This is one of the first suspense/horror books that I have read. The Cursed Man is book one of the thanatology series ( the study of death and the ways in which people deal with it).
Alister, the main character in the story is cursed. Death is in love with him and death is jealous. So jealous that it kills anyone that so much as talks to Alister within a day, and death won't let Alister die. Alister has been locked away in a mental institution for over two decades with no human interaction, when a young doctor shows up. The doctor doubts the curse and tries to help Alister. When the doctor lives through the day you start to wonder if Alister is really cursed or just mentally ill.
Keith Rommel did an excellent job of weaving Alister's past and present, telling a story that kept me reading and wondering where it was going and how it was going to end. This book has suspense and horror from the first page to the last. For me last few pages are the most terrifying, gut wrenching part of the story and was a bit hard to read but it was also perfect.
This was the first book I've read by Keith Rommel but it won't be my last. I can't wait for book two of the thanatology series. If you like horror and suspense you are going to love this book.
(less)
Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk is a collection of short stories with the theme of animals being more like people. As with most short story collections, some ...moreSquirrel Seeks Chipmunk is a collection of short stories with the theme of animals being more like people. As with most short story collections, some stories are better than others. Since this was a David Sedaris book I was expecting some laugh out loud moments. I was a little disappointed that those moments never materialized. The stories are well written and are poignant. If animals were more like people especially like the ones he based most of his characters on then hunting would be much more fun.
Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk is worth reading when you get around to it, but I wouldn't jump it to the top of any reading list. On the plus side it's such a fast read you can put it on your list anywhere and have it done in a day. (less)
This was a Goodreads (http://goodreads.com) first reads give away. I was thrilled when I found out I won this book. The book was a collaboration bet...moreThis was a Goodreads (http://goodreads.com) first reads give away. I was thrilled when I found out I won this book. The book was a collaboration between two authors. Lisa Lutz would write the first and all odd numbered chapters and David Hayward would write the even numbered chapters. There was to be no discussion or outline, they would read the others chapter then add their own and pass it back and forth until they finished. I thought the premise was unique and held possibilities in an experimental way.
I received the book and read the editor's notes. I was a bit worried when I found out that David was an ex-boyfriend of Lisa's. Before the story gets started and between each chapter, the two authors write notes and critique each other.
After the first 5 or 6 chapters I was loving this book and was sure it was going to get 4 or even 5 stars. The notes between David and Lisa were as interesting as the murder mystery. There were a few passive aggressive things going on, like when Lisa told David he should do some back story for some of the characters, David did just that including a back story for the cat. When Lisa suggested that some of his language was a bit too 'high end' (and she didn't want to Google so many words), David toned down his language throughout his next chapter and in parenthesis added definitions to words that most people would already know. At first this kind of thing was humorous and didn't harm the story.
By the time I got to chapter 10 or so, things were falling apart. It seems to me that the writers let their pettiness and egos get in the way of the story. Instead of building on each others characters and adding to the story they seemed to spend their chapters tearing each others characters down (including killing them off) and trying to repair damage to their characters (including making them just injured and not dead). Towards the end they (the writers) were making comments about who is winning and losing. In my opinion neither one of them won and the story ended up losing. A collaboration and a competition are not the same thing.
As a mystery it had a strong beginning, but the more you read the more erratic it became. It went from solving one murder to solving 9 possibly 10 if you count the 4 possibly 5 people killed years earlier. The characters personalities kept changing with every chapter so by the end of the book you didn't care who did it or who might die next and you wouldn't have been a surprised if the cat (Irving, my favorite character) turned out to be the killer. By chapter 20 or so I had a good guess at who the killer was going to be (and I was right), so according to their notes I knew who did it before the writers. I didn't have all the details figured out until the end (and neither did the writers from what I could tell).
The only thing that kept this book from getting 1 star and staying off my 'burn-pile' shelf was the fact that I actually liked a lot of the writing by both authors. As far as experiments go I can't say this one failed (an experiment is something you do to see the results) but I can say that I didn't like the results of this experiment.
I wouldn't mind seeing this experiment tried again, but by two writers that didn't have so much animosity towards each other.
I would only recommend this book to people who want to know what NOT to do during a collaboration. (less)
Loading...
