Michael Noe's Blog, page 12
September 24, 2016
Season Of Decay
Season Of Decay The Decaying Worlds Saga Book 2 - Michael W. Garza 5-5 stars
You want a tight, intelligent zombie novel you've come to the right place. Seasons picks up after the first novel ends so it's pretty important to read the other books in the series before picking this one up. What I like about this series is that Michael has attempted to put his own spin on the zombie apocalypse without relying on gore or even the zombies themselves. The focus is on the survivors who are now faced with a coming horde of the undead. I enjoy Garza's work a great deal because he writes stories that pull you in and make you feel as if you're one of the characters. As the series progresses we can see the story evolve organically which can be frustrating at times, but Seasons is a book that takes a variety of different genres and comes up with something unique.
A tale of survivors is part of the plot, but then you have the Nexus and just how important it is. It's a simple straightforward story that doesn't use the zombies to hook you in. It's the tale of the survivors and there's quite a few surprises to keep you interested. It's clear that Garza plans on taking us on a wild ride, and all we have to do is trust that he'll get us there without trying our patience too much. It is a series after all and we have a cliff hanger ending that gives us a hint of what's to come. The big question is how is this all going to end? The answer isn't clear yet, but it will be.
It's an interesting book that continues the story of Mia and the rest of her tribe. We have characters that we want to see survive and that's important in a book like this. Without solid characters the book just falls apart and you begin to care less and less about reading on. We've read books like these, but this one adds intelligence to the mix. You can have a smart zombie novel that doesn't rely on gore to tell the story, or make us watch as the survivors slowly begin to unravel under pressure. The most frustrating aspect of Season is the cliff hanger ending. You expect something huge to happen and then the book's over. If you're impatient like I am that wait feels like forever. I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and it's an interesting take on a tired genre. The momentum that he's created with the first book is still going but can he keep it going?
You want a tight, intelligent zombie novel you've come to the right place. Seasons picks up after the first novel ends so it's pretty important to read the other books in the series before picking this one up. What I like about this series is that Michael has attempted to put his own spin on the zombie apocalypse without relying on gore or even the zombies themselves. The focus is on the survivors who are now faced with a coming horde of the undead. I enjoy Garza's work a great deal because he writes stories that pull you in and make you feel as if you're one of the characters. As the series progresses we can see the story evolve organically which can be frustrating at times, but Seasons is a book that takes a variety of different genres and comes up with something unique.
A tale of survivors is part of the plot, but then you have the Nexus and just how important it is. It's a simple straightforward story that doesn't use the zombies to hook you in. It's the tale of the survivors and there's quite a few surprises to keep you interested. It's clear that Garza plans on taking us on a wild ride, and all we have to do is trust that he'll get us there without trying our patience too much. It is a series after all and we have a cliff hanger ending that gives us a hint of what's to come. The big question is how is this all going to end? The answer isn't clear yet, but it will be.
It's an interesting book that continues the story of Mia and the rest of her tribe. We have characters that we want to see survive and that's important in a book like this. Without solid characters the book just falls apart and you begin to care less and less about reading on. We've read books like these, but this one adds intelligence to the mix. You can have a smart zombie novel that doesn't rely on gore to tell the story, or make us watch as the survivors slowly begin to unravel under pressure. The most frustrating aspect of Season is the cliff hanger ending. You expect something huge to happen and then the book's over. If you're impatient like I am that wait feels like forever. I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and it's an interesting take on a tired genre. The momentum that he's created with the first book is still going but can he keep it going?
September 20, 2016
Rob Zombie's 31
31 Thoughts and a review
Once upon a time I saw a trailer for a movie called House of 1000 Corpses, and was blown away. Finally a horror film that paid tribute to the films I grew up watching. The second it came out on DVD I snagged my copy and immersed myself in the mayhem. Corpses was, and is a huge influence on me and as I watched it I realized that this was a film by a guy known mostly for his music. It wasn't supposed to be this good, but it was. Critics of course dismissed it and most horror fans didn't understand it, but when it comes to horror films most critics are elite snobs anyway. What Corpses did was show us that you can make a decent horror film that is not only shocking, but entertaining.
I became a fan of Zombie's films, but not his music To this day I still say that Lords Of Salem is his best film, and who knows I'm probably wrong. What matters is that when you see a Rob Zombie trailer you know you're in for one hell of a ride. Zombie's films are never boring, and they always deliver. Even Halloween II had decent moments in it and proved that as a filmmaker Zombie is creates some pretty decent horror. Sure, you can usually see what his influences are, but you'll have that with any director, and you'll always get it when you read a book by your favorite author. If you're a fan of his films, you always get excited when a new trailer is released. I saw a trailer for 31 and I couldn't wait until it was released. It was as if Christmas had come early. This was a good reason to celebrate.
Then I began to see posts on Facebook from people that saw the film and I began to panic. Did it affect my desire to see it any less? Fuck no, it's a film by Rob Zombie. As soon as it comes out on Blu-ray I'm still going to buy it, and I'm going to see it no matter what. It could be the worst reviewed movie ever and I'd still see it. There's nothing you can say that would make me not want to see this film. I have seen the reviews and I've seen the Facebook posts, but I still sat down to watch 31. I had to see it for myself. I saw Blair Witch on Saturday despite what all the critics said I actually enjoyed it. I don't often agree with critics anyway. They get paid to give their opinion and people actually listen to what they say and allow these fucks to dictate what the watch and even what they listen to,
Anyway 31 is not your typical Zombie film. It has certain elements of the same brutality and gore that we've come to know, but this one feels a little off. It's as if Zombie has run out of ideas and decided to give his fans exactly what they want. Does that make 31 a bad film? Not at all. It's still a pretty decent film but it's not his best work. We know what Zombie is capable of so as I watched 31 I felt my spirits sink a little. There are still moments in 31 that remind us that we're still watching a Rob Zombie film and that's the problem. He's seemingly going through the motions and giving us what we want. There's very little originality involved and we've seen this type of movie before.
Maybe when we get the Director's cut we'll get a better version, maybe there's stuff here that reminds us why we love this guys films so damn much, Did I hate the film? Not by a long shot. It is a Rob Zombie film after all so there's still enough fucked up shit in here to keep me glued to the screen. If you hate the guy's films, you're going to hate this one too. As a fan there was enough brutality and gore in the second half to make up for the slow moving first half.
31 is still a decent film, and better than most of the horror that Hollywood keeps pumping out. There's a style to Zombie's films that no one else has. The problem is that there are far too many questions about the game itself, and what happens if there's a winner? I want to see a Doom Head movie. This guy needs his own fucking movie. He's the reason why the 2nd half was so damn watchable. You can't help but like this guy. He's a fucking psycho, but exactly the kind of killer that we just don't see enough of in horror films. I finally liked this movie towards the end. It was exactly what I wanted to see, but the problem is that we've seen it before. Corpses did it better, but so what. I couldn't hate this if I wanted too. You have a survival horror film directed by Rob Zombie. You've seen these before and you will again, but not like this. This is one that will probably give you nightmares.
The question here is, should you see it? It's all up to you. I thought the 2nd half was insane and just brutal enough to redeem itself, but there's that pesky first half to get through, and don't get me started on the shaky cam bullshit and the weird camera angles. Story wise it's simple. Survive or die. Nothing too deep, nothing to hard to figure out, but who will survive? That's usually why these fail, or succeed. Here it doesn't seem to matter. These are disposable characters who don't really matter all that much. They're there to either die brilliantly or spout clever quotes you can share on Facebook and Twitter.I think if you're a fan of horror you should check it out. It's got enough here to keep you interested, but the days of Zombie making a classic like Corpses, or even Salem may be long behind him. You'll instantly forget most of the film once it's over, but Doom Head? That fucker will give you nightmares!
Once upon a time I saw a trailer for a movie called House of 1000 Corpses, and was blown away. Finally a horror film that paid tribute to the films I grew up watching. The second it came out on DVD I snagged my copy and immersed myself in the mayhem. Corpses was, and is a huge influence on me and as I watched it I realized that this was a film by a guy known mostly for his music. It wasn't supposed to be this good, but it was. Critics of course dismissed it and most horror fans didn't understand it, but when it comes to horror films most critics are elite snobs anyway. What Corpses did was show us that you can make a decent horror film that is not only shocking, but entertaining.
I became a fan of Zombie's films, but not his music To this day I still say that Lords Of Salem is his best film, and who knows I'm probably wrong. What matters is that when you see a Rob Zombie trailer you know you're in for one hell of a ride. Zombie's films are never boring, and they always deliver. Even Halloween II had decent moments in it and proved that as a filmmaker Zombie is creates some pretty decent horror. Sure, you can usually see what his influences are, but you'll have that with any director, and you'll always get it when you read a book by your favorite author. If you're a fan of his films, you always get excited when a new trailer is released. I saw a trailer for 31 and I couldn't wait until it was released. It was as if Christmas had come early. This was a good reason to celebrate.
Then I began to see posts on Facebook from people that saw the film and I began to panic. Did it affect my desire to see it any less? Fuck no, it's a film by Rob Zombie. As soon as it comes out on Blu-ray I'm still going to buy it, and I'm going to see it no matter what. It could be the worst reviewed movie ever and I'd still see it. There's nothing you can say that would make me not want to see this film. I have seen the reviews and I've seen the Facebook posts, but I still sat down to watch 31. I had to see it for myself. I saw Blair Witch on Saturday despite what all the critics said I actually enjoyed it. I don't often agree with critics anyway. They get paid to give their opinion and people actually listen to what they say and allow these fucks to dictate what the watch and even what they listen to,
Anyway 31 is not your typical Zombie film. It has certain elements of the same brutality and gore that we've come to know, but this one feels a little off. It's as if Zombie has run out of ideas and decided to give his fans exactly what they want. Does that make 31 a bad film? Not at all. It's still a pretty decent film but it's not his best work. We know what Zombie is capable of so as I watched 31 I felt my spirits sink a little. There are still moments in 31 that remind us that we're still watching a Rob Zombie film and that's the problem. He's seemingly going through the motions and giving us what we want. There's very little originality involved and we've seen this type of movie before.
Maybe when we get the Director's cut we'll get a better version, maybe there's stuff here that reminds us why we love this guys films so damn much, Did I hate the film? Not by a long shot. It is a Rob Zombie film after all so there's still enough fucked up shit in here to keep me glued to the screen. If you hate the guy's films, you're going to hate this one too. As a fan there was enough brutality and gore in the second half to make up for the slow moving first half.
31 is still a decent film, and better than most of the horror that Hollywood keeps pumping out. There's a style to Zombie's films that no one else has. The problem is that there are far too many questions about the game itself, and what happens if there's a winner? I want to see a Doom Head movie. This guy needs his own fucking movie. He's the reason why the 2nd half was so damn watchable. You can't help but like this guy. He's a fucking psycho, but exactly the kind of killer that we just don't see enough of in horror films. I finally liked this movie towards the end. It was exactly what I wanted to see, but the problem is that we've seen it before. Corpses did it better, but so what. I couldn't hate this if I wanted too. You have a survival horror film directed by Rob Zombie. You've seen these before and you will again, but not like this. This is one that will probably give you nightmares.
The question here is, should you see it? It's all up to you. I thought the 2nd half was insane and just brutal enough to redeem itself, but there's that pesky first half to get through, and don't get me started on the shaky cam bullshit and the weird camera angles. Story wise it's simple. Survive or die. Nothing too deep, nothing to hard to figure out, but who will survive? That's usually why these fail, or succeed. Here it doesn't seem to matter. These are disposable characters who don't really matter all that much. They're there to either die brilliantly or spout clever quotes you can share on Facebook and Twitter.I think if you're a fan of horror you should check it out. It's got enough here to keep you interested, but the days of Zombie making a classic like Corpses, or even Salem may be long behind him. You'll instantly forget most of the film once it's over, but Doom Head? That fucker will give you nightmares!
September 13, 2016
I'm a dude and I read a Kasey Hill book!
Firefly Of Immortality (The Guardians Of Light Book 1) - Kasey Hill 4/5 stars
When Kasey gave me a copy to review I was stoked because I thought that her take on the Wizard of Oz mythos was pretty damn cool. She should a lot of promise and easily became a writer to watch for. Now we have Firefly and the premise is cool as hell. I wanted to read this and you should despite my awarding this four stars. It's a book worth reading, but the problem is that I'm a dude and this is clearly not a market that this book was intended for. If you're into young adult fiction with a bit of cheese, then this is for you. If you're like me and don't like young adult fiction with a bit of cheese you should avoid this and find something you do like.
To be perfectly honest I love Kasey's writing style and her characters. These are complex and well thought out which is essential in a book like this. If you have characters that don't pull you into the story then there's no point in reading it. It's clear that she has grown more confident as a writer and has the talent to elevate the young adult market. This is perfect for those that want a bit of edge with their romance. Firefly is unique and doesn't follow the same ideas that most of these books follow, It's a well thought out novel, that shows that Kasey has talent. I could have easily just awarded this one star for not being in my comfort zone, but the thing is that Kasey is a writer to pay attention to. Young adult fiction needs people like her to take a few risks and move the genre forward. Not many dudes are going to review this and that makes total sense, but I'm not most dudes.
It's a great beginning to a series that shows a lot of promise. I know that when the second book is released I'll groan and whine a bit, but I'll read it and roll my eyes at some cheesy dialogue, but as long as the story is interesting I'll keep reading. Now if you'll excuse me I need to read something manly.
When Kasey gave me a copy to review I was stoked because I thought that her take on the Wizard of Oz mythos was pretty damn cool. She should a lot of promise and easily became a writer to watch for. Now we have Firefly and the premise is cool as hell. I wanted to read this and you should despite my awarding this four stars. It's a book worth reading, but the problem is that I'm a dude and this is clearly not a market that this book was intended for. If you're into young adult fiction with a bit of cheese, then this is for you. If you're like me and don't like young adult fiction with a bit of cheese you should avoid this and find something you do like.
To be perfectly honest I love Kasey's writing style and her characters. These are complex and well thought out which is essential in a book like this. If you have characters that don't pull you into the story then there's no point in reading it. It's clear that she has grown more confident as a writer and has the talent to elevate the young adult market. This is perfect for those that want a bit of edge with their romance. Firefly is unique and doesn't follow the same ideas that most of these books follow, It's a well thought out novel, that shows that Kasey has talent. I could have easily just awarded this one star for not being in my comfort zone, but the thing is that Kasey is a writer to pay attention to. Young adult fiction needs people like her to take a few risks and move the genre forward. Not many dudes are going to review this and that makes total sense, but I'm not most dudes.
It's a great beginning to a series that shows a lot of promise. I know that when the second book is released I'll groan and whine a bit, but I'll read it and roll my eyes at some cheesy dialogue, but as long as the story is interesting I'll keep reading. Now if you'll excuse me I need to read something manly.
September 4, 2016
The Dinner
The Dinner - Herman Koch 5/5 stars
Have you ever read a book and then sat and thought about it for a minute trying to decide if you liked it or not? That's exactly what happened after I finished The Dinner. The book itself isn't hard to follow and the message itself is up for interpretation. How it leaves you feeling is where the trouble lies. Is that the mark of a good writer, or is it something else entirely? Koch has written a novel that leaves you exhausted and confused. I wanted to hate the Dinner. I wanted to throw it across the room quite a few times, but I was too invested to quit. I had to read it through to the end. Novels like these are complex, but not because of the plot. It's the characters. These aren't characters that you want to hang out with, and I don't even like them. They all have character flaws and are quite despicable. Not just one or two characters mind you. Each and everyone of them.
Koch has written a novel that you will either love or hate. There's no middle ground here and I like that he had built the novel around them and one very sinister event that binds them all together. One crime that could destroy the futures of their children. You would think that would be simple enough, but throughout the novel you see glimpses of who Paul really is, and maybe the illness he has has been spread to his son. Paul tells the story as if he's indifferent to it all. He glosses over facts and tries to make himself to be the victim at times which doesn't really hold a lot of water when you see what he's capable of. I guess the question here is what would you do to protect your child. What if he's done something so bad that maybe, just maybe you shouldn't protect him at all. The wild card here is Claire. She at first seems to be the most level headed of them all, but looks can be deceiving can't they?
Highly controversial, and not your typical paint by numbers fiction It's a very dark, but engrossing story that works in spite of the characters. It's a dark, yet gripping novel that doesn't want you to have a clear cut love for it. It settles in and demands your attention and you end up enjoying it in spite of these horrible, and often boring characters. It's the story that makes it worth reading. Is it an easy to story to read? No, but that's why it's so good. Normal people don't act this way, and at times you can feel just a bit of anger begin to settle in over the course of Paul's narrative. In the end I ended up loving The Dinner because of its flawed characters and dark plot. Everyone is different of course and for every ten people that love this novel there's about twenty who truly loathe it and that's understandable. It's not for everyone. Some people want a true happy ending, or characters that aren't weak or so dis-likable.
How you approach The Dinner is up to you. It's going to make you think, and it's sometimes going to test your patience, but doesn't great fiction do that? We all crave something different. We all want to read a novel that affects us and challenges us to see things from a darker perspective. If you're looking for a nice cozy book to pass a few hours this isn't for you. It's not a happy novel at all. That's what appealed to me. The darker aspects of the novel really showed why some of these characters behave the way they do. Does it make it right? No, but you at least have a reason. Novels sometimes take us places that we normally wouldn't go. Koch takes us into the darkness of human nature and that is where some people will throw up their hands and opt out. It's their loss and they're missing out on a damn good book. It's disturbing, it's dark, but most of all? It's brilliant and I loved every minute of it.
Have you ever read a book and then sat and thought about it for a minute trying to decide if you liked it or not? That's exactly what happened after I finished The Dinner. The book itself isn't hard to follow and the message itself is up for interpretation. How it leaves you feeling is where the trouble lies. Is that the mark of a good writer, or is it something else entirely? Koch has written a novel that leaves you exhausted and confused. I wanted to hate the Dinner. I wanted to throw it across the room quite a few times, but I was too invested to quit. I had to read it through to the end. Novels like these are complex, but not because of the plot. It's the characters. These aren't characters that you want to hang out with, and I don't even like them. They all have character flaws and are quite despicable. Not just one or two characters mind you. Each and everyone of them.
Koch has written a novel that you will either love or hate. There's no middle ground here and I like that he had built the novel around them and one very sinister event that binds them all together. One crime that could destroy the futures of their children. You would think that would be simple enough, but throughout the novel you see glimpses of who Paul really is, and maybe the illness he has has been spread to his son. Paul tells the story as if he's indifferent to it all. He glosses over facts and tries to make himself to be the victim at times which doesn't really hold a lot of water when you see what he's capable of. I guess the question here is what would you do to protect your child. What if he's done something so bad that maybe, just maybe you shouldn't protect him at all. The wild card here is Claire. She at first seems to be the most level headed of them all, but looks can be deceiving can't they?
Highly controversial, and not your typical paint by numbers fiction It's a very dark, but engrossing story that works in spite of the characters. It's a dark, yet gripping novel that doesn't want you to have a clear cut love for it. It settles in and demands your attention and you end up enjoying it in spite of these horrible, and often boring characters. It's the story that makes it worth reading. Is it an easy to story to read? No, but that's why it's so good. Normal people don't act this way, and at times you can feel just a bit of anger begin to settle in over the course of Paul's narrative. In the end I ended up loving The Dinner because of its flawed characters and dark plot. Everyone is different of course and for every ten people that love this novel there's about twenty who truly loathe it and that's understandable. It's not for everyone. Some people want a true happy ending, or characters that aren't weak or so dis-likable.
How you approach The Dinner is up to you. It's going to make you think, and it's sometimes going to test your patience, but doesn't great fiction do that? We all crave something different. We all want to read a novel that affects us and challenges us to see things from a darker perspective. If you're looking for a nice cozy book to pass a few hours this isn't for you. It's not a happy novel at all. That's what appealed to me. The darker aspects of the novel really showed why some of these characters behave the way they do. Does it make it right? No, but you at least have a reason. Novels sometimes take us places that we normally wouldn't go. Koch takes us into the darkness of human nature and that is where some people will throw up their hands and opt out. It's their loss and they're missing out on a damn good book. It's disturbing, it's dark, but most of all? It's brilliant and I loved every minute of it.
September 1, 2016
Love Wins??
Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, And The Fate Of Every Person Who Ever Lived - Rob Bell 3/5 stars
I remember when this book first came out people lost their minds! It seemed as if everyone had an opinion and if you weren't against it then you were part of the problem and declared an enemy of Christianity. Sadly, I was one of those Christians. It doesn't make sense does it? As a Christian you're job is to show some sort of compassion, and love all people, but when this book came out Rob Bell was the most hated man in America. It's interesting that no one talks about religion and if you do you're attacked because you don't follow the mainstream beliefs of Christianity. The problem is that Christianity is full of hypocrites that talk a great game but when it comes to actually following the Bible they fail miserably.
Now that I'm in a different mindset and removed from my Christian faith I thought I'd read Rob's book again. The difference now is that I can do it with an open mind. That's really the best way to read Love Wins. If you begin reading this ready to attack it then the message itself is going to be lost. You're so set in your belief system of hell and eternal punishment that nothing is going to change your mind. It's okay. Most of us are taught that there's a heaven for good people and then for those that reject Jesus and the Bible well, sorry about your luck but you're gonna burn in hell. There's no leeway or middle ground. You have one chance to repent or else.
We want to project this image of Jesus but what we're taught flies in the face of that. God is often portrayed as a jealous wife, or girlfriend and because of our free will (which God gave us) we face the possibility of being cast into hell. There's no second chances, but Love Wins shows us another possibility and who knows maybe he's right and they're wrong. Rob shows us a lot of proof that what we're taught could be wrong. His proof at times seems a little wonky but let's be honest and admit that all religion is full of contradictions and ideas that just don't make a lot of sense. There are a lot of rules and no real wiggle room. Love Wins is pretty convincing when you look at the state of the world we live in now. Could this be the hell that we're so afraid of? Rob's book shows us that it's okay to question what we believe and seek out the truth. That's something that goes against what we're taught to believe but as I read Love Wins I could see the point that he was trying to make.
Is it faulty? Any book like this is, but the thing to keep in mind is that it opens up a dialogue with other Christians to seek out what the Bible is trying to tell us. It's interesting that God has created us only to allow us to suffer for eternity in a lake of fire. If he loves us wouldn't he try and save all of us? What about free will? Is that our true downfall? If that hadn't been given to us then what? See? There are a lot of questions that Bell doesn't answer, and maybe he can't. What he shows us makes sense because it portrays the God that we are taught to believe in and then there are other ways that you can be a follower of Jesus that hardly anyone actually practices. The idea of a Heaven on Earth seems like a hippie concept but isn't that what Jesus wanted us to do? He wanted us to teach people about him and not hell but somewhere along the way the wires got crossed.
Love Wins does raise more questions than it actually answers, but it's an interesting book that shows us that there's more to faith and religion than hell. It's not something that you'll find in your local Baptist Church or any other church for that matter. Hell drives the point of religion home and if you want to be a Christian it's your job to hammer that into people's heads. The idea of choice has to be removed and in order to have a working relationship you must fear him. Is Rob Bell the Devil? Of course not and the book is not as evil or as vile as people would have you believe. It's an interesting look at faith that could be wrong, but we're all in danger of being wrong. That's what faith is all about. It's not a perfect book, but it does raise some interesting points and allows us to look at religion in a different way. An interesting read that most Christians would love to erase, but they can't so you should borrow a copy from your local library.
.
I remember when this book first came out people lost their minds! It seemed as if everyone had an opinion and if you weren't against it then you were part of the problem and declared an enemy of Christianity. Sadly, I was one of those Christians. It doesn't make sense does it? As a Christian you're job is to show some sort of compassion, and love all people, but when this book came out Rob Bell was the most hated man in America. It's interesting that no one talks about religion and if you do you're attacked because you don't follow the mainstream beliefs of Christianity. The problem is that Christianity is full of hypocrites that talk a great game but when it comes to actually following the Bible they fail miserably.
Now that I'm in a different mindset and removed from my Christian faith I thought I'd read Rob's book again. The difference now is that I can do it with an open mind. That's really the best way to read Love Wins. If you begin reading this ready to attack it then the message itself is going to be lost. You're so set in your belief system of hell and eternal punishment that nothing is going to change your mind. It's okay. Most of us are taught that there's a heaven for good people and then for those that reject Jesus and the Bible well, sorry about your luck but you're gonna burn in hell. There's no leeway or middle ground. You have one chance to repent or else.
We want to project this image of Jesus but what we're taught flies in the face of that. God is often portrayed as a jealous wife, or girlfriend and because of our free will (which God gave us) we face the possibility of being cast into hell. There's no second chances, but Love Wins shows us another possibility and who knows maybe he's right and they're wrong. Rob shows us a lot of proof that what we're taught could be wrong. His proof at times seems a little wonky but let's be honest and admit that all religion is full of contradictions and ideas that just don't make a lot of sense. There are a lot of rules and no real wiggle room. Love Wins is pretty convincing when you look at the state of the world we live in now. Could this be the hell that we're so afraid of? Rob's book shows us that it's okay to question what we believe and seek out the truth. That's something that goes against what we're taught to believe but as I read Love Wins I could see the point that he was trying to make.
Is it faulty? Any book like this is, but the thing to keep in mind is that it opens up a dialogue with other Christians to seek out what the Bible is trying to tell us. It's interesting that God has created us only to allow us to suffer for eternity in a lake of fire. If he loves us wouldn't he try and save all of us? What about free will? Is that our true downfall? If that hadn't been given to us then what? See? There are a lot of questions that Bell doesn't answer, and maybe he can't. What he shows us makes sense because it portrays the God that we are taught to believe in and then there are other ways that you can be a follower of Jesus that hardly anyone actually practices. The idea of a Heaven on Earth seems like a hippie concept but isn't that what Jesus wanted us to do? He wanted us to teach people about him and not hell but somewhere along the way the wires got crossed.
Love Wins does raise more questions than it actually answers, but it's an interesting book that shows us that there's more to faith and religion than hell. It's not something that you'll find in your local Baptist Church or any other church for that matter. Hell drives the point of religion home and if you want to be a Christian it's your job to hammer that into people's heads. The idea of choice has to be removed and in order to have a working relationship you must fear him. Is Rob Bell the Devil? Of course not and the book is not as evil or as vile as people would have you believe. It's an interesting look at faith that could be wrong, but we're all in danger of being wrong. That's what faith is all about. It's not a perfect book, but it does raise some interesting points and allows us to look at religion in a different way. An interesting read that most Christians would love to erase, but they can't so you should borrow a copy from your local library.
.
August 17, 2016
'Merica!!
America, You Sexy Bitch: A Love Letter To Freedom 4/5 stars
I saw this at my local library and the title alone caught my attention. Based on that alone I had to read it . The premise is simple and not as daunting as most people would expect. Michael and Meghan aren't trying to change your opinions at all and only offer up their insight throughout their road trip in a smelly RV. How would this play out? These are two people on opposite sides of the the political spectrum on the road to discuss politics. The thing is that the politics of course come up, but to quote from The Dude: It's just like their opinion man. If you're not into politics all that much you may or may not hate this book, or if you're expecting it to explain why this country's so screwed up you may end up hating this book.
It's more about their trip and how they interact with one another. That's what the book is really about. Meghan is surprisingly not as annoying as I thought she'd be. There was a few moments when my gag reflex kicked in and I rolled my eyes at not just her beliefs but how she can come off as this God fearing person and drink as much as she does. There is a lot of drinking in this book and for the record, Meghan is pretty damn hot.
Michael is laid back and seems to be at ease throughout the whole trip. While there are discussions and arguments they aren't the type where anyone gets offended for long and eventually everyone is happy and drinking again. He's the voice of reason and when Meghan goes off on one of her reasons why she believes in what she does he's there to remind us that we shouldn't take ourselves to seriously. We all have a tendency to do that though.
Overall it's a book that actually gets you thinking a little about politics, but it's not in your face, or overly offensive. These are two people of different political affiliations traveling across the country together and along the way they do meet some interesting people. Regardless of your party there's quite a bit here to make you laugh and even cringe. It's not one of those over the top political books that goes out of its way to make you feel like an asshole or an idiot. If anything, it's a way to look at both sides in a lighthearted manner. Will you learn anything? Maybe, maybe not, but it's a book that you can read and laugh at and then take back to the library and maybe, just maybe you'll read Meghan's book simply because she's hot, and you want to learn more about her.
I saw this at my local library and the title alone caught my attention. Based on that alone I had to read it . The premise is simple and not as daunting as most people would expect. Michael and Meghan aren't trying to change your opinions at all and only offer up their insight throughout their road trip in a smelly RV. How would this play out? These are two people on opposite sides of the the political spectrum on the road to discuss politics. The thing is that the politics of course come up, but to quote from The Dude: It's just like their opinion man. If you're not into politics all that much you may or may not hate this book, or if you're expecting it to explain why this country's so screwed up you may end up hating this book.
It's more about their trip and how they interact with one another. That's what the book is really about. Meghan is surprisingly not as annoying as I thought she'd be. There was a few moments when my gag reflex kicked in and I rolled my eyes at not just her beliefs but how she can come off as this God fearing person and drink as much as she does. There is a lot of drinking in this book and for the record, Meghan is pretty damn hot.
Michael is laid back and seems to be at ease throughout the whole trip. While there are discussions and arguments they aren't the type where anyone gets offended for long and eventually everyone is happy and drinking again. He's the voice of reason and when Meghan goes off on one of her reasons why she believes in what she does he's there to remind us that we shouldn't take ourselves to seriously. We all have a tendency to do that though.
Overall it's a book that actually gets you thinking a little about politics, but it's not in your face, or overly offensive. These are two people of different political affiliations traveling across the country together and along the way they do meet some interesting people. Regardless of your party there's quite a bit here to make you laugh and even cringe. It's not one of those over the top political books that goes out of its way to make you feel like an asshole or an idiot. If anything, it's a way to look at both sides in a lighthearted manner. Will you learn anything? Maybe, maybe not, but it's a book that you can read and laugh at and then take back to the library and maybe, just maybe you'll read Meghan's book simply because she's hot, and you want to learn more about her.
August 9, 2016
Gore Carnival Book 4
Standing Ovation: Gore Carnival Book 4 - Various Authors 5/5 stars
Here we are fiends. We have reached the end of the carnival and one thing that has impressed me so far is the talent that has graced these pages. Jaded Books Publishing has created an anthology that sets the bar pretty high. This is a company that has left behind the corpse of Fat Lip Press and has made a one helluva statement. If you're a new publisher this is how you get noticed. You don't need a gimmick just a stable of talented authors. I'm not going to lie to you. I was nervous going into book 4 due to the fact that it's been so damn good. There's no way they can keep the momentum going can they? Answer? Yes, they do. Not all of these stories take place in the circus but they are dark and sometimes quite funny. I have a sick sense of humor so I'm sure that some of these weren't meant to be funny.
Black Swan Song kicks off the set and it's not a bad story. It features a freak show performer with a strange talent. Dutch Walden thankfully steps away from clowns for this and I cannot thank him enough. What I loved about this was that it doesn't end the way you think it would. I like this one because it's different and Walden is a writer that I look forward to reading more from. Standing Ovation isn't all that gory, but the authors featured here are presenting fresh ideas to a box set that could very easily wear out its welcome due to the subject matter. In Standing Ovation you have stories that feature a trip to hell, a strongman who truly hates his job and my absolute favorite story here which is Zombie Hooker: A Love Story. I liked this because it takes a stale genre and puts quite a spin on it. You're expecting a love story but what you actually get is far more interesting. I've read James H Longmore before and he's truly growing as a writer.
Other high points here are Necrobeard and One Sunday In Hell. It's a nice break from the circus and gives us something different. These authors clearly took risks with their stories and they paid off in a big way. Standing Ovation is a nice end to a well thought out book. Once again, it flows well and allows you to experience other genres without going overboard. You aren't bogged down by gore or forced to sit through a bunch of clown stories. I don't mind them unless I'm reading story after story about clowns and how psychotic they can be. I've written my own clown story so I get it.
So, should you throw down the 10 bucks and get the entire set? You should because this is a unique volume that delivers on all levels. You not only get a bunch of great stories but you also get to meet a few new authors that you're going to want to seek out. This is a launching pad for quite a few of them and what a way to kick off your writing career. There are a lot of horror anthologies on the market but Jaded has given us something more. A four book box set that reaches almost four hundred pages. There are a couple stories here and there that I didn't care for but it wasn't because they were terrible, they just weren't my style. We all have different tastes so I'm sure that there stories here I love and you don't. At the end of the day I highly recommend this set because of how unique these stories are. They don't offer too much in the way of gore, but they make up for it in story telling. I'm proud to be in this set and can't wait to see what Jaded Books Publishing has up their sleeves.
Here we are fiends. We have reached the end of the carnival and one thing that has impressed me so far is the talent that has graced these pages. Jaded Books Publishing has created an anthology that sets the bar pretty high. This is a company that has left behind the corpse of Fat Lip Press and has made a one helluva statement. If you're a new publisher this is how you get noticed. You don't need a gimmick just a stable of talented authors. I'm not going to lie to you. I was nervous going into book 4 due to the fact that it's been so damn good. There's no way they can keep the momentum going can they? Answer? Yes, they do. Not all of these stories take place in the circus but they are dark and sometimes quite funny. I have a sick sense of humor so I'm sure that some of these weren't meant to be funny.
Black Swan Song kicks off the set and it's not a bad story. It features a freak show performer with a strange talent. Dutch Walden thankfully steps away from clowns for this and I cannot thank him enough. What I loved about this was that it doesn't end the way you think it would. I like this one because it's different and Walden is a writer that I look forward to reading more from. Standing Ovation isn't all that gory, but the authors featured here are presenting fresh ideas to a box set that could very easily wear out its welcome due to the subject matter. In Standing Ovation you have stories that feature a trip to hell, a strongman who truly hates his job and my absolute favorite story here which is Zombie Hooker: A Love Story. I liked this because it takes a stale genre and puts quite a spin on it. You're expecting a love story but what you actually get is far more interesting. I've read James H Longmore before and he's truly growing as a writer.
Other high points here are Necrobeard and One Sunday In Hell. It's a nice break from the circus and gives us something different. These authors clearly took risks with their stories and they paid off in a big way. Standing Ovation is a nice end to a well thought out book. Once again, it flows well and allows you to experience other genres without going overboard. You aren't bogged down by gore or forced to sit through a bunch of clown stories. I don't mind them unless I'm reading story after story about clowns and how psychotic they can be. I've written my own clown story so I get it.
So, should you throw down the 10 bucks and get the entire set? You should because this is a unique volume that delivers on all levels. You not only get a bunch of great stories but you also get to meet a few new authors that you're going to want to seek out. This is a launching pad for quite a few of them and what a way to kick off your writing career. There are a lot of horror anthologies on the market but Jaded has given us something more. A four book box set that reaches almost four hundred pages. There are a couple stories here and there that I didn't care for but it wasn't because they were terrible, they just weren't my style. We all have different tastes so I'm sure that there stories here I love and you don't. At the end of the day I highly recommend this set because of how unique these stories are. They don't offer too much in the way of gore, but they make up for it in story telling. I'm proud to be in this set and can't wait to see what Jaded Books Publishing has up their sleeves.
August 6, 2016
Gore Carnival Book 3
Gore Carnival Book 3: Encore Various Authors 5/5 stars
Now we've made it passed the intermission, and so far this is one hell of a box set. If you like your horror sadistic and dark then you've come to the right place. There's been a wealth of great talent and all of these stories have been really well written. In a volume like this though you can only hold the momentum so long before you start hitting the clunkers. The confusing thing is that this is titled Encore but it differs greatly from the style and pace of intermission Had these titles been swapped it would have made more sense. The stories in volume 3 aren't as in your face or half as disturbing as book 2. This is my type of horror. When it needs to be it's extreme but it doesn't become the focal point. Case in point the lead off story Chuckles. This is by far a high point of the set and one that slowly follows a clown as he slides into insanity. Well thought out and one that has a hook that you feel right in your eyeballs. Tina Pey's clown reminds me a lot of Shakes The Clown but instead of being an alcoholic he slowly loses his mind. Shakes The Clown is by far the most messed up clown movie I have ever seen and if you haven't seen it well you should.
The common theme here is clowns. When you think of horror in a circus it's easy to place clowns in it because it's a fear that a lot of people have, Here you have a tripped out version of an Insane Clown Posse type of nightmare, and it's the one story I didn't really love. It wasn't bad but it just wasn't my style. then you have The Synyster Brothers which shows you that clowns are in fact not fun cuddly types. They will mess you up. Aside from Chuckles is another favorite called Pachyderm PTSD. This was an intriguing story that features a bitter clown, a bitter redneck and an elephant on a bunch of drugs. RD Cervo went in an unexpected direction and it works extremely well and shows that there are more than just clowns at the circus.
This is my 2nd favorite book in the set because the horror here is organic and not written with the express goal of making you want to throw up or shock you. I think if it had kept going in that direction I would have stopped reading not because the stories were bad, I just would have gotten bored. You have a decent range of stories that have different elements to them. I loved Freak Show House because it reminded me a lot of Clive Barker. It's disturbing and dark but there's also great story telling involved. That to me is what makes a great story and volume 3 was a return to that.
While all of these books are good book 3 is truly the home run that 2 could have been. The shock value alone was the driving force behind it but the story telling and overall creepiness that exist in Encore is what makes this so damn good. Once again the editors have put together a wealth of talent that flow well together. It's the kind of anthology that gets a publisher noticed and makes fans of the horror genre happy. So far The Gore Carnival is a must read box set but we do have one more book to go so let's hope that the momentum keeps going.
Now we've made it passed the intermission, and so far this is one hell of a box set. If you like your horror sadistic and dark then you've come to the right place. There's been a wealth of great talent and all of these stories have been really well written. In a volume like this though you can only hold the momentum so long before you start hitting the clunkers. The confusing thing is that this is titled Encore but it differs greatly from the style and pace of intermission Had these titles been swapped it would have made more sense. The stories in volume 3 aren't as in your face or half as disturbing as book 2. This is my type of horror. When it needs to be it's extreme but it doesn't become the focal point. Case in point the lead off story Chuckles. This is by far a high point of the set and one that slowly follows a clown as he slides into insanity. Well thought out and one that has a hook that you feel right in your eyeballs. Tina Pey's clown reminds me a lot of Shakes The Clown but instead of being an alcoholic he slowly loses his mind. Shakes The Clown is by far the most messed up clown movie I have ever seen and if you haven't seen it well you should.
The common theme here is clowns. When you think of horror in a circus it's easy to place clowns in it because it's a fear that a lot of people have, Here you have a tripped out version of an Insane Clown Posse type of nightmare, and it's the one story I didn't really love. It wasn't bad but it just wasn't my style. then you have The Synyster Brothers which shows you that clowns are in fact not fun cuddly types. They will mess you up. Aside from Chuckles is another favorite called Pachyderm PTSD. This was an intriguing story that features a bitter clown, a bitter redneck and an elephant on a bunch of drugs. RD Cervo went in an unexpected direction and it works extremely well and shows that there are more than just clowns at the circus.
This is my 2nd favorite book in the set because the horror here is organic and not written with the express goal of making you want to throw up or shock you. I think if it had kept going in that direction I would have stopped reading not because the stories were bad, I just would have gotten bored. You have a decent range of stories that have different elements to them. I loved Freak Show House because it reminded me a lot of Clive Barker. It's disturbing and dark but there's also great story telling involved. That to me is what makes a great story and volume 3 was a return to that.
While all of these books are good book 3 is truly the home run that 2 could have been. The shock value alone was the driving force behind it but the story telling and overall creepiness that exist in Encore is what makes this so damn good. Once again the editors have put together a wealth of talent that flow well together. It's the kind of anthology that gets a publisher noticed and makes fans of the horror genre happy. So far The Gore Carnival is a must read box set but we do have one more book to go so let's hope that the momentum keeps going.
August 3, 2016
Gore Carnival Part 2
The Intermission Book 2 (Gore Carnival Box Set) - Various Authors 5/5 stars
I have to tell you that when I think of an intermission I'm thinking about a break. A chance to stretch your legs a little, hit the bathroom, and grab the snacks. At the Gore Carnival it's not a break from anything. In fact, book one was really just a taste of what's in store for you in later books. Intermission is truly not for the easily offended and offers only one mild story in the form of Let's Go To The Circus. It's an interesting take on the already tired zombie genre and focuses on clowns. It's stories like these that I enjoy the most because it takes something we have fond memories of and promptly destroys it. This is not for those who have coulrophobia or have tickets to the circus any time soon, It's a great story that sets the pace for the rest of Intermission.
In this volume you have stories that are truly disturbing but just when you think you're safe you have a story called Splatter Cake that will make you think twice about going to your local bakery. I love splatterpunk as well as stories that make you feel a little uncomfortable. That's not a bad thing given the task set up by the publisher. I can only imagine what the rejected stories contained. There were a lot of new faces here and I loved each and every story, but my favorite by far was Stay Most by Rob Glasgow. I'm a huge fan of Full House and reading a story that contains a Full House reference grabs my attention. It was a well written piece that truly threw me for a loop especially when you have clowns armed with dildos. Yeah, just when you think you can face a clown this guy arms them with dildos. Thanks Rob.
Intermission is a wild and insane ride that contains not a clunker in the bunch. I've discovered some new writers and as I read the last story I breathed a sigh of relief but then I groaned again because I still have two books to go? So far this is a solid collection that doesn't just feature a lot of gore and body fluids. These are well written stories that feature both Bizarro and Splatterpunk elements. If you're still on the fence about buying these you should or could wait and see how the rest of the reviews play out. I can tell you I have started on the next volume and holy crap on a cracker.
I have to tell you that when I think of an intermission I'm thinking about a break. A chance to stretch your legs a little, hit the bathroom, and grab the snacks. At the Gore Carnival it's not a break from anything. In fact, book one was really just a taste of what's in store for you in later books. Intermission is truly not for the easily offended and offers only one mild story in the form of Let's Go To The Circus. It's an interesting take on the already tired zombie genre and focuses on clowns. It's stories like these that I enjoy the most because it takes something we have fond memories of and promptly destroys it. This is not for those who have coulrophobia or have tickets to the circus any time soon, It's a great story that sets the pace for the rest of Intermission.
In this volume you have stories that are truly disturbing but just when you think you're safe you have a story called Splatter Cake that will make you think twice about going to your local bakery. I love splatterpunk as well as stories that make you feel a little uncomfortable. That's not a bad thing given the task set up by the publisher. I can only imagine what the rejected stories contained. There were a lot of new faces here and I loved each and every story, but my favorite by far was Stay Most by Rob Glasgow. I'm a huge fan of Full House and reading a story that contains a Full House reference grabs my attention. It was a well written piece that truly threw me for a loop especially when you have clowns armed with dildos. Yeah, just when you think you can face a clown this guy arms them with dildos. Thanks Rob.
Intermission is a wild and insane ride that contains not a clunker in the bunch. I've discovered some new writers and as I read the last story I breathed a sigh of relief but then I groaned again because I still have two books to go? So far this is a solid collection that doesn't just feature a lot of gore and body fluids. These are well written stories that feature both Bizarro and Splatterpunk elements. If you're still on the fence about buying these you should or could wait and see how the rest of the reviews play out. I can tell you I have started on the next volume and holy crap on a cracker.
August 2, 2016
The Gore Carnival Boxset
The Gore Carnival (Book 1) - Various Authors 5/5 stars
This is a massive box set that I thought about reviewing all at once but that would be a massive review so I am reviewing each book as I read them. Makes it easier for all of us. Delving into book one I was really stoked to read this because I'm a fan of quite of a few of these authors. Anytime you have authors of this caliber in an anthology called The Gore Carnival you're in for a treat and no one here disappoints. If you like your fiction filled with body fluids and bizarre sex practices you've picked up the right anthology. This one is not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach.
Kasey Hill has done an amazing job editing this so you get a bit of variety. Not all of the stories are shocking but John Ledger's Three Ring Circle Jerk is a bit of splatterpunk and bizarro mixed together. There's no way to describe it. You have to read it for yourself and fits right into the chaos of the carnival of gore. Jimmy Pudge's Face of Love is another high point of the first volume it's a tribute to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and shows that Pudge can move beyond his comfort zone a bit and write a story that hooks you in from the first paragraph and then takes a turn into a direction you never see coming.
The fact is that all of these stories are well written and make this a 5 star set. It's short and packed tightly with a lot of great talent. People to keep an eye out for are Cory Cline and Sutter Kane who also bring their A game and keep the Gore Carnival entertaining. These two may be newer to the game but they're two writers I can't wait to read more from. Lastly you have Donald Armfield's poem and I love this guy's stuff. This is another writer that I'm a huge fan of and have never read anything of his that I don't like. That's what makes this so hard to review. I'm a fan of all of these guys so going in I knew that I had to read this. It makes the 2nd book that much harder to read. How the hell are they going to keep the momentum going?
So far The Gore Carnival is a hit and Jaded Books has certainly made a statement. As a new publisher it's important to make a statement and I believe that they have. You have to have quality writers in order to succeed and so far they're off to a good start. Book One of The Gore Carnival Series is a book for splatterpunk fans as well as horror fans.There's a lot of great talent here. Now I'm going to wrap this up so I can get into book 2.
This is a massive box set that I thought about reviewing all at once but that would be a massive review so I am reviewing each book as I read them. Makes it easier for all of us. Delving into book one I was really stoked to read this because I'm a fan of quite of a few of these authors. Anytime you have authors of this caliber in an anthology called The Gore Carnival you're in for a treat and no one here disappoints. If you like your fiction filled with body fluids and bizarre sex practices you've picked up the right anthology. This one is not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach.
Kasey Hill has done an amazing job editing this so you get a bit of variety. Not all of the stories are shocking but John Ledger's Three Ring Circle Jerk is a bit of splatterpunk and bizarro mixed together. There's no way to describe it. You have to read it for yourself and fits right into the chaos of the carnival of gore. Jimmy Pudge's Face of Love is another high point of the first volume it's a tribute to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and shows that Pudge can move beyond his comfort zone a bit and write a story that hooks you in from the first paragraph and then takes a turn into a direction you never see coming.
The fact is that all of these stories are well written and make this a 5 star set. It's short and packed tightly with a lot of great talent. People to keep an eye out for are Cory Cline and Sutter Kane who also bring their A game and keep the Gore Carnival entertaining. These two may be newer to the game but they're two writers I can't wait to read more from. Lastly you have Donald Armfield's poem and I love this guy's stuff. This is another writer that I'm a huge fan of and have never read anything of his that I don't like. That's what makes this so hard to review. I'm a fan of all of these guys so going in I knew that I had to read this. It makes the 2nd book that much harder to read. How the hell are they going to keep the momentum going?
So far The Gore Carnival is a hit and Jaded Books has certainly made a statement. As a new publisher it's important to make a statement and I believe that they have. You have to have quality writers in order to succeed and so far they're off to a good start. Book One of The Gore Carnival Series is a book for splatterpunk fans as well as horror fans.There's a lot of great talent here. Now I'm going to wrap this up so I can get into book 2.
