I found the historical accounts of the development of forensic science to be this book's main draw. The parallel thread, about a specific homicidal ma...moreI found the historical accounts of the development of forensic science to be this book's main draw. The parallel thread, about a specific homicidal maniac, seemed to be forced into a mold and timeline to align with the parts about the slow change from reliance on hearsay, folktales and suspicion to scientific methods and hard, physical evidence, but it doesn't quite work. The homicidal maniac's story doesn't fully mesh with the background on various 'alienists' blazing new trails in forensic science, and very often true-life stories of other crimes and murderers are introduced to elucidate some aspect of the alienists' work or rivalries. Really, I think the recurring plotline about the homicidal maniac could've been reduced to just one of the many crime stories in the book. (less)
Such an interesting and funny book! I love it when smart women win, and Tina Fey is a terrific example. The book charts her rise from humble beginning...moreSuch an interesting and funny book! I love it when smart women win, and Tina Fey is a terrific example. The book charts her rise from humble beginnings through her rise up the ranks at SNL, with plenty of juicy celebrity tidbits thrown in along the way. Fey shows an amazing level of candor, relating not only her personal successes but plenty of stumbles and outright failures along the way. She's also quite open with her insecurities at various points in her life and career, and in the end one comes away with the feeling that a girl with a head on her shoulders really CAN accomplish her goals without compromising her principles, even in showbiz.(less)
I really LOVED this book. Having watched the entire run of The Tudors, I was very interested in learning more about this fascinating period of history...moreI really LOVED this book. Having watched the entire run of The Tudors, I was very interested in learning more about this fascinating period of history. While Wolf Hall is a fictionalized account, it still includes a great deal of historical detail, and it was interesting to compare accounts of various events between this book and The Tudors. It doesn't focus on the glitz, glam and machinations of the royal family so much as The Tudors does, but there's plenty of political intrigue here, nonetheless. (less)
I've enjoyed many of Straub's past works, his books are usually very reliable thrillers. But this one wa...moreMr. Straub, I expected better. ='[
I've enjoyed many of Straub's past works, his books are usually very reliable thrillers. But this one was plodding, and filled with way too much talking-heads dialog where I'd have preferred to "see" the action characters described. This is actually a function of the narrative structure, because the narrator is retelling events that were retold to him - he didn't actually experience any of the critical events at the center of the story.
Such a chore to get through, I gave up at the halfway point.(less)
This was a very enjoyable thriller. I'd seen the movie of the book previously, and the movie was terrib...moreReview of the unabridged audiobook.
This was a very enjoyable thriller. I'd seen the movie of the book previously, and the movie was terrible, but the book can hold its own alongside anything Crichton has to offer. (less)
This is a terrific book for any author or aspiring author, whether you're just getting started with platform or consider yourself fairly knowledgeable...moreThis is a terrific book for any author or aspiring author, whether you're just getting started with platform or consider yourself fairly knowledgeable on the topic. I'm an author with four books in print who is active with social media, I have two blogs and four websites, and there were still some new ideas and tips for me in this very accessible book.
Author Christina Katz demystifies author platform. She not only defines the term, but goes on to separate the hype from the realities in clear, plain-spoken chapters which provide authors and aspiring authors with the ideas and tools they need to start or grow a platform. Katz addresses both the hows and the whys, making it easy for the reader to prioritize his or her own platform goals. And this is not merely a conceptual book, it's filled with practical advice and tips the reader can immediately put to use.
I especially like the way Katz addresses common author/aspiring author fears and insecurities which can undermine effective platform work. Unlike so many books and articles I've read on the subject, this one doesn't assume the reader is already a tech whiz. Katz guides the reader, gently but firmly, through the process of identifying strengths and weaknesses, then explains how to capitalize on strengths and avoid allowing weaknesses to dominate. I also like the author's tone, which is very casual and friendly; you really feel like Katz is right there with you as you read. (less)
I gave up on this audiobook about 2/3 of the way through and went over to the Sparknotes website to se...moreReview of the unabridged audiobook.
I gave up on this audiobook about 2/3 of the way through and went over to the Sparknotes website to see how it ended. It was around the 2/3 mark that the narrator's asides about the political landscape of the U.S. in the eighties became more frequent, lengthy, tiresome, and distracting from the main story of lifelong friendship between two New England boys.
I read on Sparknotes and elsewhere that these asides are supposed to have a dramatic function in the novel, showing how the hopeful boy protagonist grew up to be a bitter and cynical man in many respects, but every time the author would leave the boys' story to allow the adult narrator to blather on about Reagan and the Star Wars program and the like, I kept wishing I could fast-forward through those passages. Eventually I got so sick of them that it wasn't worth continuing to listen to the book. If they'd been left out entirely, maybe this book would've rated 5 stars with me. Impossible to say. (less)
The 6th Seal pulled me in from page one. It's yet another good vs. evil, end of the world scenario, but it's written so smartly and believably that th...moreThe 6th Seal pulled me in from page one. It's yet another good vs. evil, end of the world scenario, but it's written so smartly and believably that the situation seems new.
The bad guys are truly frightening, and Emanuel doesn't rely on cheap gore for scares. His dark characters can convey a bottomless pit of want and ambition with a mere gesture or turn of phrase. Much of what they are is revealed through the reactions of those around them. It's been a long time since I've had this type of visceral scare from a book. The good guys are heroic, but in a way that's entirely relatable. There are no action hero types here, just ordinary folk who want the world and everything they love in it to endure.
Emanuel brings a realism to the final conflict, skillfully balancing the military/epic and the spiritual/personal. There's a lot of soul here, yet no religiosity.
If you enjoy the works of Peter Straub, or you've enjoyed Dan Brown's books but wished they had a bit more depth, this is the book for you.(less)
Infected is the first thriller I couldn't finish because it creeped me out so completely. And I've read a lot of thrillers. I am no stranger to the wo...moreInfected is the first thriller I couldn't finish because it creeped me out so completely. And I've read a lot of thrillers. I am no stranger to the works of King, Straub, Lovecraft, Poe and many other authors who've made it their business to scare the living daylights out of readers. But this book, with its storyline about tiny, alien invaders who literally get under the skin of their hosts in order to set a larger, collective plan in motion, was so realistic and evocative that I soon found it impossible to read more than fifteen pages at a sitting without getting a temporary case of the phantom creepy-crawlies.
Oh, I WANT to finish it. I WANT to know what happens to the hero, Perry Dawsey, and how the aliens' plans ultimately pan out. But every time I find some spare minutes to read a little more, I also find myself eyeballing the book with a mixture of anticipation and dread---and dread is winning. Luckily for wusses like me, the book is being made into a movie. I plan to go see that movie when it comes out to finally get closure on the story because I figure the movie won't take nearly as long to digest---or recover from!---as reading the book a couple of chapters at a time over a period of weeks.
If you're looking for a really good, visceral scare, and you're made of sterner stuff than I am, Infected will exceed your expectations.(less)
What can I say? If you like Kathy Griffin (I *love* her!), you will love this memoir. If not, not. It's like a combination of her dishy standup and mo...moreWhat can I say? If you like Kathy Griffin (I *love* her!), you will love this memoir. If not, not. It's like a combination of her dishy standup and more heart-tugging personal details of her family life and marriage. 'Nuff said.(less)
**spoiler alert** If you liked Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell (as I did), you will definitely like this book. It has the same wonderful attention to h...more**spoiler alert** If you liked Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell (as I did), you will definitely like this book. It has the same wonderful attention to historical details and speech patterns, the same matter-of-fact approach to the supernatural in the story world, and the same generous sprinkling of humor throughout. From my perspective, in one important regard it goes Susanna Clark's book one better, and that's in terms of its protagonist, Alexia. She's smart, brave and level-headed, yet still prone to mischief.
Carriger's take on souls in this book is entirely original, so far as I know. Alexia is an otherwise ordinary human being who was born without a soul, and is therefore immune to the powers of supernatural beings. Those beings, in contrast, are made supernatural by a surplus of soul.
There are steampunk elements here, and romance as well, but I think I might have enjoyed the book even more if the romantic subplot had been left out.
[I don't think what follows is a spoiler, since it's pretty heavily hinted on the back cover of the book, but if you don't want to take the chance you can stop reading here:]
I enjoyed the professional interactions between Maccon and Alexia, but found the eventual romance between them seemed broadcast from their very first scene together in the novel. As is typical in stories of an unlikely male and female thrown together, they rub one another the wrong way initially but eventually succumb to their mutual attraction. The non-romantic interactions were variously amusing or character-revealing, and helped to advance the story, but the romantic side struck me as superfluous and predictable. And that was a shame, since pretty much everything else in the book is very original and *un*predictable.
Still, very much worth the read and I'll likely buy the next book in the series. (less)
This was a very interesting and entertaining book. I was inspired to read it after watching the first two seasons of The Tudors on cable, which left m...moreThis was a very interesting and entertaining book. I was inspired to read it after watching the first two seasons of The Tudors on cable, which left me wanting to know more about the real Henry VIII. Now I just wish I knew how much of this novel was based on historical fact and how much was embroidery. Either way, it's a ripping good read. (less)
Liked this a lot, though was annoyed with the author's tendency to use characters' first AND last names long after they've been introduced and his exc...moreLiked this a lot, though was annoyed with the author's tendency to use characters' first AND last names long after they've been introduced and his excessive use of "[so-and-so:] said" / "said [so-and-so:]" in dialog passages. Both problems seem like bad habits on the author's part that his editor should have dealt with before the manuscript was published. Otherwise, a fun adventure with some interesting and colorful historical detail. Much better than the movie.(less)
This review is based on the unabridged Audible audiobook.
I thoroughly enjoyed this fictionalized account of events leading up to the erupt...moreThis review is based on the unabridged Audible audiobook.
I thoroughly enjoyed this fictionalized account of events leading up to the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, and the narration was terrific.
It's a tribute to Harris' skill that even though you know going in exactly how the story must end, his novel holds your attention all the way through. In addition to strong characterizations, the book has a lot of historical detail to offer. Fascinating for any history buff or engineering buff (much info about the aquaduct system is given). Also recommended for fans of the period.
An alternative take on the Oz story, in which the so-called Wicked Witch is really just a feminist who's a little too different and a little too smart...moreAn alternative take on the Oz story, in which the so-called Wicked Witch is really just a feminist who's a little too different and a little too smart for the time and place in which she exists. Good Witch Glenda is cast as a popular and somewhat vapid college girl, which somehow makes intuitive sense, while her adversary is a misunderstood outsider turned activist. The Dorothy story is here as well, but Dorothy is little more than a silly, bumbling, ignorant girl in the grand scheme of things.
All in all, a fascinating look "behind the curtain" of the original Oz mythos.(less)
A work of apologetics for skepticism that's based in logic and never stoops to mockery. Becomes a little repetitive, but I guess that's because people...moreA work of apologetics for skepticism that's based in logic and never stoops to mockery. Becomes a little repetitive, but I guess that's because people's reasons for believing weird things are repetitive too.(less)
**spoiler alert** I'd give this 5/5 stars, except for one major problem I had with the book. Half the narration comes from the protagonist as a young ...more**spoiler alert** I'd give this 5/5 stars, except for one major problem I had with the book. Half the narration comes from the protagonist as a young man and the other half is from the same character as an elderly man, and they seem like two completely different people. Where the young man was humble, kind, idealistic and somewhat of a romantic, the old man is a misanthropic, bitter, and proud.
While it's true that the man endured many hardships and had his share of heartbreak during his life, he ends up happily married, gainfully employed, and with an extended family of children and grandchildren who visit him regularly, so it's not clear why the old man is the way he is. There's no particular event or series of events that seems to explain it.(less)
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