Yeah, I guess that "disappointing" just about sums it up.
The hero does not grow from th...moreThis was ... disappointing.
Yeah, I guess that "disappointing" just about sums it up.
The hero does not grow from the moment he is introduced until the end of the book when ... yeah, can't write that because - spoiler. Suffice it to say that here are characters that do not change. They never willingly reach out to other human beings, each time they join a group or person, that relationship is forced upon them. Sex - with no responsibilities - starts because they are turned into animals in heat and can not be responsible for their actions. As middle school and high school and college students they all drink like fish, and when they graduate they move on to more dangerous pastimes, again, without any actual consequences.
You just don't like any of the characters - who pick up French cuisine without learning it from anyone because they are Just That Smart. No adults were involved in the making of these people, whose families are without exception unloving and uninvolved. For the most part, so are their teachers. No moral baseline for any of them either - the single "Christian" character is unlikeable and a pompous stereotype.
And the author apparently has no children, either, and completely forgets when he was a child. Accordingly, he "makes the whole children in a Fantasy world" more adult by saying that the discoverer of The Generic Fantasy World was simply trying to escape sexual abuse by a neighbor, or otherwise, why on earth would he explore?
No discovery of humanity and growth in this book. No adventure. No joy.(less)
Not impressed. The writing is good, but the theology is flawed and, you know? it's been WAY done too many times. Not only the human beings can be sa...moreNot impressed. The writing is good, but the theology is flawed and, you know? it's been WAY done too many times. Not only the human beings can be saved by works here, but the fallen angels as well, who condemn God for a bewildering variety of things that actually contradict themselves. See, this is what happens when you try to re-write stuff that's been done to death. You get sparkly vampires and film Noir angels that know better than the Almighty.(less)
Enjoyable, and interesting, especially with the introduction of Louise. I'd missed this book while reading through the series, and it's nice to find ...moreEnjoyable, and interesting, especially with the introduction of Louise. I'd missed this book while reading through the series, and it's nice to find out where she enters into the story.(less)
Yeah, this was pretty darn bad. The information was incomplete, and the author was trying to be Joseph Wambaugh. His personal opinions, which are in...moreYeah, this was pretty darn bad. The information was incomplete, and the author was trying to be Joseph Wambaugh. His personal opinions, which are incredibly negative about everything, are intrusive and unwanted. Words are used repetitively, and annoyingly. Read through to the end to see if it could get any worse. The answer was Yes.(less)
I was surprisingly pleased with this book, as I'd never read any other "48 hour" works. Gail Abbott Zimmerman is concise and does not striv...moreI was surprisingly pleased with this book, as I'd never read any other "48 hour" works. Gail Abbott Zimmerman is concise and does not strive to insert herself into the story framework. The information is interesting and follows a cohesive thread. I'd read others by this author.(less)
Well, this book had the advantage of a unique and interesting world creation. Some of the characters were interesting.
But this "epic...moreWell, this book had the advantage of a unique and interesting world creation. Some of the characters were interesting.
But this "epic" was too forced, and too steeped in modern thinking to go much of anywhere. If the author had spread it out, taken more time to develop things, rather than rushing to a conclusion, it would have been the better for it. I got the impression the author knew where he wanted to go and traveled there as quickly as he could. Yes, we have "character development", but it's a pushing sort of book, when it comes to suspending disbelief.(less)
Well, I expected yet another sword jockey fights against great odds book, and that part I got. But this is told in a humorous, faux noire style, with...moreWell, I expected yet another sword jockey fights against great odds book, and that part I got. But this is told in a humorous, faux noire style, with back story gradually revealed, and interesting characters who are not always what they seem.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, Were-wolves are dominant and sexy. At least the one living next door always seems to be. But the rest of this book is not trite an...moreYeah, yeah, yeah, Were-wolves are dominant and sexy. At least the one living next door always seems to be. But the rest of this book is not trite and true.
Good writing and characters that hold interest put this book a step above the others in this genre. Has the added bonus of a little Native American skin walking to supplement the European folklore of the Were-wolf.
J.D. Robb writes with massive character knowledge and the complete understanding of her world creation. Salvation in Death reminded me of some of the...moreJ.D. Robb writes with massive character knowledge and the complete understanding of her world creation. Salvation in Death reminded me of some of the best works of Dell Shannon, because the characters are multi-layered individuals working their way through a series of puzzles to the end.
In this story Lieutenant Dallas and her crew solve the story of a priest's death in a long and complicated series of events dating back years from the futuristic world's time. There is no master criminal in this one, but venal and fallible humans which makes them all the more interesting.
I think this one of the series is (in particular) well written and worth reading.(less)
Yeah, hmmm. Somebody really likes Spike from the Buffy series, only without his actually being all that dangerous. Crispin/Bones is a former male pr...moreYeah, hmmm. Somebody really likes Spike from the Buffy series, only without his actually being all that dangerous. Crispin/Bones is a former male prostitute (so you know what's going to go on with that background), who died in Australia after being transported for petty theft. Liberal use of the word "luv" can be expected.
Once again we have a wishful Romance thriller written by someone who wishes men were gentle, mind readingly thoughtful, and overly caring. Her Mary Sue character is a adolescent one woman army whose use of language changes from page to page, depending on whether or not the author wants her to sound Tough, or hurting.
Pages long sex scenes pepper the book to show how caring and in love the British vampire is with the main character, and slow down the action. The writing has possibilities, but the author needs to work on her characterization, plotting, and consistency.(less)
Still, an enjoyable read, good world creation with the advantage of some surprises that are logical and speak to those who have read a lot of these sorts of books.(less)
This is as much a memoir as it is a biography. Dietrich was Hitler's press agent, and gives personal accounts to illustrate his premise that Hitler w...moreThis is as much a memoir as it is a biography. Dietrich was Hitler's press agent, and gives personal accounts to illustrate his premise that Hitler was a man with emotional demons and mental illness.
Published in 1955 originally. So... nothing really new.(less)
Interesting, but a little difficult and confusing. The author points out that something is a fact, then contradicts himself towards the end of the bo...moreInteresting, but a little difficult and confusing. The author points out that something is a fact, then contradicts himself towards the end of the book.
otherwise, not particularly enjoyable read, but full of information. Not a juicy book.(less)
Jim Chee and his spunky fiance Bernadette become embroiled with Cowboy Dashee in the story of a man who died in a fiery airplane crash in the Grand Ca...moreJim Chee and his spunky fiance Bernadette become embroiled with Cowboy Dashee in the story of a man who died in a fiery airplane crash in the Grand Canyon years ago.
Interesting how favorite characters are relegated to the background in this, another Joe Leaphorn mystery. Leaphorn is less active, and more of a pas...moreInteresting how favorite characters are relegated to the background in this, another Joe Leaphorn mystery. Leaphorn is less active, and more of a passive observer as he brings together the main elements and watches their reactions.
Still it was enjoyable. Leaphorn receives a photograph with the picture of a cursed Navajo rug thought long burned from an old friend who turns up dead. Who is the owner, and how is he connected to a serial robber who died in that fire?(less)
Well, there's always a problem when someone writes in another culture, and this includes Victorian, or in this case, Albertian, England. On occasion ...moreWell, there's always a problem when someone writes in another culture, and this includes Victorian, or in this case, Albertian, England. On occasion words would spring up, or attitudes, which were decidedly written with a modern slant instead of Victorian. When they showed up they were jarring.
Time travel, too, is problematic. The author tried to treat with the issues, but it was more confusing than anything else. I enjoyed part of it, but not all, as some of the characters were too far removed from their real counterparts (Florence Nightingale as a vivesectionist), and the Dr. Moreau touch was too much.
It wasn't BAD, but it was not good. Or as good as it might have been.(less)
Jim Chee novels are always good. What's amazing is that they are consistently good, and the writing is well done. Reading them I feel as though I am...moreJim Chee novels are always good. What's amazing is that they are consistently good, and the writing is well done. Reading them I feel as though I am transported to a very different culture.(less)
This book was meant to be a thrilling tale "of The Christ", and perhaps if the author had not forced Him in, it might have been better liter...moreThis book was meant to be a thrilling tale "of The Christ", and perhaps if the author had not forced Him in, it might have been better literature. One of the few books that I can say was better as a movie, although the history of the author is almost more exciting.
Not a bad read, but not a particularly worthy piece of literature either.(less)