Niles creates a somewhat new twist on the detective/nior genre with his hard-drinking, down-on-his-luck PI Cal McDonald. Really deserving of 3.5 stars...moreNiles creates a somewhat new twist on the detective/nior genre with his hard-drinking, down-on-his-luck PI Cal McDonald. Really deserving of 3.5 stars, it is a fun read with fast paced action for a short, lazy afternoon on the couch. By no means was this an incredibly well written book, it was rife with tired cliches, sentence fragments and even typesetting errors. However, his portrayal of dark desperation and frantic pacing made it a page turner for me. This kind of book makes me smile with its lack of literary pretension.(less)
2 stars barely. Card really needs to concentrate on propelling the action of the story instead of going on multi-page rambling conversations. Often t...more 2 stars barely. Card really needs to concentrate on propelling the action of the story instead of going on multi-page rambling conversations. Often times it seemed like I was reading transcripts from drunk people, as that is the only time I have heard anyone ever converse about such topics and with that plodding, circular pacing. There was a great story buried in here somewhere, but it gets lost in about 100 extra pages of pointless writing, and then ends abruptly when it's still getting interesting! I think I will not read anything written by this author again. Especially after that weird rambling afterward about his theory regarding "mormon writing". Bizarre. (less)
I would rate this closer to a 2.8 than a 3.0, but once again this Card gets way to wordy and could easily cut out close to 200 pages from this 3rd in...more I would rate this closer to a 2.8 than a 3.0, but once again this Card gets way to wordy and could easily cut out close to 200 pages from this 3rd instalment in the Ender Saga. Although the begining was a tedious drag, it did start to pick-up the pace about half way through. The use of telepathic conversations between the father trees and the Hive Queen to open the chapters was also interesting, and the development of the Jane character kept involvled. In all, better than the second book, and it ended at a crucial point that makes me excited for the final instalment.(less)
Barely a 2.0 for this book. Card took the introspective action of the first book and then totally ignored it in favor of long-winded conversations. Wh...moreBarely a 2.0 for this book. Card took the introspective action of the first book and then totally ignored it in favor of long-winded conversations. What a drag. Also, I was really hoping the buggers would have a more important role in this sequel. This book is obviously more set up for the next 2 novels than a stand alone story.(less)
An amazing adventure tale with a heavy dose of prose and philosophy. Jack London was able to create such vibrant characters that I actually felt emot...more An amazing adventure tale with a heavy dose of prose and philosophy. Jack London was able to create such vibrant characters that I actually felt emotionally connected tothe book. My only complaint is that the last few chapters were a little heavy with sailing terms and I had a hard time visualizing the repair of the ship at Endeavor Island. A solid 4.2(less)
Harry Shearer tries to drop even more annoying uber-hip, po-culture references the that douche bag Tom Robbins. However, he still manages to put out a...moreHarry Shearer tries to drop even more annoying uber-hip, po-culture references the that douche bag Tom Robbins. However, he still manages to put out a half-decent story with some funny satire. And I'm pretentious enough to feel good about myself for reading about "native american" culture.(less)
Although the style was a little outdated and seemed almost choppy at times between paragraphs, I was fascinated with the subject matter and the handli...moreAlthough the style was a little outdated and seemed almost choppy at times between paragraphs, I was fascinated with the subject matter and the handling of the characters. The coloquial dialects that the author gave voice to were just fun to read outloud over and over again, and I was able to vividly visualize the battle scenes due to Crane's descriptive prose. Definitely the best Civil War story I've ever read, and I wish it had gone on longer.(less)
**spoiler alert** I actually think this little gem of a book is 3.4. With his short, concise sentences and paragraphs, the author West, is able to pai...more**spoiler alert** I actually think this little gem of a book is 3.4. With his short, concise sentences and paragraphs, the author West, is able to paint such vivid beautiful scenes. It kind of falls apart in the last few pages during the final moments of the riot and then kind of just stops with no resolution, but on a whole I was excited to get a few minutes here and there when I could squeeze in a few pages. The main focus of the book is the author's outstanding writing style, while I feel that the story itself was more incidental.(less)
Slow and barely readable. The end was a nice twist which I did not expect, and it was kind of interesting as a look into small village life in 19th ce...moreSlow and barely readable. The end was a nice twist which I did not expect, and it was kind of interesting as a look into small village life in 19th century England, but honestly, I don't really care about 19th century small village life in England! Whatever, people will alwys read boring books and then try to explain why they're not boring, but its only a thinly veiled attempt to feel superior to other people who just can't understand "good fiction, not that crap that people read nowadays". This book was kind of a drag to read and I only made it through because it was so short.(less)
Pretty good. I got a little bored with the over-development of characters and the level of depth to the story, but that isn't a mark against the craft...morePretty good. I got a little bored with the over-development of characters and the level of depth to the story, but that isn't a mark against the craftsmanship of the story, more just a sign of my impatience with long winded authors. I think Mr. Irving could have shaved a good 100 pages off of the book and it would have still been as good. I am now intriuged to see the movie; how they can make a cohesive 2 hour film out of that seems unfathomable. A solid 3.8 stars.(less)
As a collection of essays, you have to expect that some are going to be hit or miss, but when this book was good, it was absolutely amazing. With piec...moreAs a collection of essays, you have to expect that some are going to be hit or miss, but when this book was good, it was absolutely amazing. With pieces by such luminaries as Desmond Tutu I became a better person for reading this book. And I got it for free when I was vacationing in Durham and walking to the train staion and found it in a box of trash on the curb in front of a bookstore. Random. And then I found five dollars! (less)
**spoiler alert** This book has been my albatross for months now. I originally began it 11 months ago and I curse the day I picked it up. It is long a...more**spoiler alert** This book has been my albatross for months now. I originally began it 11 months ago and I curse the day I picked it up. It is long and meandering, with paragraphs that can run for over 2 pages! A story about a young man who has a moment of moral weakness when he abandons his ship in a fit of panick, he spends the next few years running from who he was at that moment. In his early 20's he finally gets the chance to sacrifice his life in another moment of lapsed judgment. The narrative style was OK at best as a way to relate a posthemus story, but...blerg. There is no way I could ever recomend this book and I truley feel sad that I know somewhere in this world, some poor school kid is being forced to read this right now. Please ignore all my misspellings.(less)
Really I'd give this 3.5 stars. I thought the book was quite profound while I was reading it, but after finishing it and having time to digest it, I...more Really I'd give this 3.5 stars. I thought the book was quite profound while I was reading it, but after finishing it and having time to digest it, I realize it wasn't as great as I thought it was. Don't get me wrong, I still think it's really good, just not great. To quote a wize man I once knew: "It's kind of like literaray chinese food, it's fantastic while you're reading it but you're hungry again 15 minutes later". (less)
Really more of a compilation, with just new material linking together already published stuff the Books of Lost Tales. Some parts were fleshed out mor...moreReally more of a compilation, with just new material linking together already published stuff the Books of Lost Tales. Some parts were fleshed out more fully than before, but whatever. It was still entertaining, and it makes me sad that there won't be anymore new Tolkien to read, ever again.(less)
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