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4 ratings | 4 reviews
avg rating: 4.50

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	04/25 Lee is currently reading: The Terror: A Novel (Hardcover) by Dan Simmons bookshelves: currently-reading	my rating:
	Lee said: "Reading this right now. Bought it because it was pitched as a supernatural historical novel. Sounded bizarre; into my basket. " add a comment

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April 25

Lee is currently reading:
The Terror: A Novel (Hardcover)
by Dan Simmons
bookshelves: currently-reading

my rating:

Lee said: "Reading this right now. Bought it because it was pitched as a supernatural historical novel. Sounded bizarre; into my basket. "

add a comment

Lee gave

to:
The Ruins (Hardcover)
by Scott Smith

my rating:

recommended for: cynics, students of human behavior, sadists
read in April, 2008

Lee said: "Decent page turner by a good author, but hugely frustrating due to a hard-to-swallow "reveal" at the halfway point, in addition to having characters that are well-written but difficult to like. At a certain point in my reading I had to pre...more Decent page turner by a good author, but hugely frustrating due to a hard-to-swallow "reveal" at the halfway point, in addition to having characters that are well-written but difficult to like. At a certain point in my reading I had to pretty much remove myself from any identification I had with the characters and instead start to see the book as an allegory about human frailty, or as I like to look at it, "human jackassery."

The book actually succeeds as an allegory about our shortcomings and the argument could be made that it is a critique of smug American culture abroad, along the lines of the more forgiving reviews of the film HOSTEL.

A lot of backlash exists against the book due to a reveal at the midway point that the novel isn't a suspenser per se but more of a horror novel with supernatural elements. The copy I bought used was dogeared and well-read up until the very page where this reveal occurs, as if the previous owner gave up at that turning point.

Of the handful of characters trapped in the jungle setting and surrounded by hostile "natives" I only sympathized with two of them, one being "Mathias" the aloof-thus-unknowable German, but mostly "Jeff" who is determined to save the other characters, despite their profoundly useless and shortsighted natures. I saw in them exactly what he saw: an utter lack or preparedness for not only their jungle excursion but life in general. Especially the character "Stacey" who is a complete waste of skin, who wears sandals on a jungle trek and allows small children to rob her, through simple distraction, of her glasses and then her hat; she is oblivious to her surroundings and relies entirely upon others to guide her through life, yet is stubborn and frustrating whenever someone gives her advice that does not include comfort or convenience. It is a wonderful characterization of a decidely unwonderful bumpkin.

Equally encouraged to die soon by this reader was Jeff's girlfriend Amy, a slightly-better prepared person than best friend Stacey, but crippled by a tendency towards complaint and stubborn pouty withdrawal, again paradoxically dependent upon more-prepared friends, yet refusing to "follow" them when she should. Whenever left to their own devices while Jeff is either foraging or seeking oputside help, these bozos fall to pieces and either get stinking drunk or make idiotic decisions that imperil everyone.

Largely it is the population of aggravating characters that keeps this book from a higher rating, as I did enjoy the writing style but found the company unpleasant. I'm sure this was the point but I already knew about most people what the book seeks to educate, so its no five-star read IMHO. It *is* worth a couple bucks, give it a shot if you dig reading about morons who deserve to die....less "

1 comment

February 15

New comment on Leah's review of Cujo

Lee wrote: "For YEARS I counted this as my fave King book ... It shouldn't work --- its restricted in its setti...more "

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New comment on Leah's review of The Dead Zone

Lee wrote: "LOVE THIS ONE. I always completely identified with Johnny's plight. He is a great martyr character...more "

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New comment on Leah's review of Firestarter

Lee wrote: "Really awesome book! It was an early attempt at "Sci Fi" by King. But its more of a thri...more "

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New comment on Leah's review of Bag of Bones

Lee wrote: "I have heard less-than-great things about this ... Although I've not actually read it, mind you :) ...more "

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February 06

New comment on Leah's review of The Mist

Lee wrote: "I am real happy you dug the movie! Personally speaking, this though is my fave King work by far. I...more "

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September 12, 2007

Lee gave

to:
A Feast Unknown (Paperback)
by Philip José Farmer
bookshelves: already_read_em

my rating:

recommended for: People who like to read about 2 dudes sword-fighting
read in September, 2001

Lee said: "I adore this crazy thing. Its basically Tarzan meets Doc Savage, only with a ton of crazy sex. I'd say more but I just can't be bothered. Its very memorable however. "

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Lee gave

to:
The Road (Paperback)
by Cormac McCarthy
bookshelves: already_read_em

my rating:

recommended for: anyone who will listen
read in October, 2006

Lee said: "It is a subject dear to me, nuclear winter. Like warfare, the metaphor is powerful to me, and escapes others. I don't mind. I started out seeking the horror and misery of fallout and devastation and gained unexpected emotional resonance and impact...more "

1 comment

September 05, 2007

Lee gave

to:
And I Don't Want to Live This Life: A Mother's Story of Her Daughter's Murder (Paperback)
by Deborah Spungen

my rating:

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