Michael Noe's Blog, page 2
July 19, 2020
And We Return To Book Reviews
One Of Us Is Lying - Karen M. McManus 5 stars
Once in a while you'll find yourself buying a new tablet and setting up all your stuff including your Moonreader app. All I intended to do was get the settings adjusted and well I discovered this among a lot of other books I intended to read but never got around to. If you read the blurb it mentions something about The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars but I aside from the initial detention there's nothing here that comes close to the film at all. One Of Us Is Lying is a great piece of fiction that may be intended for a young adult audience but it's engaging enough for readers of all types. A great novel has the abiiity to cross over into areas effortlessly and engage a reader to the point where they forget that this isn't a novel for adults. There are of course moments where it does become apparent, but it doesn't take away from how good this book really is. Once it gets going it pulls you in and you become absorbed in the story. Who killed Simon? It seems as if there are a lot of people who hated the guy and there's also a few clues to lead you to who you think could have done it. Each of these characters had strong motivation, but did one of them actually kill him?
The plot here moves swittly and each secret that's revealed casts more doubt on the four people involved. Were these sectets worth killing for? While One Of Us Is Lying may not be original it is a compelling read that does keep you guessing. A book doesn't have to be groundbreaking or even original to be good. All you need are characters who are able to push the plot along but most importantly you need a decent plot. McManus does a great job at keeping you guessing. A decent thriller has to keep the reader engaged or else the novel will quickly fall apart. On their own, none of these characters could carry the book, but together you're able to see the story from a variety of different viewpoints. It's that view that allows the story to grow. The only way we get to know SImon is from the posts he puts on his app, but then we begin to see more of him and what kind of person he really was. He's an unlikable character and he's the kind of person you're not sorry to see dead, but the chaos his death leaves behind send shockwaves throughout the lives of those who with him on his last day.
If you're looking for a book that keeps you guessing and is written well this is one those books you should pick up. Forger the blurb about The Breakfast Club and Pretty Little Liars and just read a book that could be one hell of a show on Netflix. This would be bingworthy stuff and in this new climate of social distancing and staying home we need books like this. We need to forget our problems for a bit so why not read a decent book?
Once in a while you'll find yourself buying a new tablet and setting up all your stuff including your Moonreader app. All I intended to do was get the settings adjusted and well I discovered this among a lot of other books I intended to read but never got around to. If you read the blurb it mentions something about The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars but I aside from the initial detention there's nothing here that comes close to the film at all. One Of Us Is Lying is a great piece of fiction that may be intended for a young adult audience but it's engaging enough for readers of all types. A great novel has the abiiity to cross over into areas effortlessly and engage a reader to the point where they forget that this isn't a novel for adults. There are of course moments where it does become apparent, but it doesn't take away from how good this book really is. Once it gets going it pulls you in and you become absorbed in the story. Who killed Simon? It seems as if there are a lot of people who hated the guy and there's also a few clues to lead you to who you think could have done it. Each of these characters had strong motivation, but did one of them actually kill him?
The plot here moves swittly and each secret that's revealed casts more doubt on the four people involved. Were these sectets worth killing for? While One Of Us Is Lying may not be original it is a compelling read that does keep you guessing. A book doesn't have to be groundbreaking or even original to be good. All you need are characters who are able to push the plot along but most importantly you need a decent plot. McManus does a great job at keeping you guessing. A decent thriller has to keep the reader engaged or else the novel will quickly fall apart. On their own, none of these characters could carry the book, but together you're able to see the story from a variety of different viewpoints. It's that view that allows the story to grow. The only way we get to know SImon is from the posts he puts on his app, but then we begin to see more of him and what kind of person he really was. He's an unlikable character and he's the kind of person you're not sorry to see dead, but the chaos his death leaves behind send shockwaves throughout the lives of those who with him on his last day.
If you're looking for a book that keeps you guessing and is written well this is one those books you should pick up. Forger the blurb about The Breakfast Club and Pretty Little Liars and just read a book that could be one hell of a show on Netflix. This would be bingworthy stuff and in this new climate of social distancing and staying home we need books like this. We need to forget our problems for a bit so why not read a decent book?
November 16, 2019
Adventures In The Bargain Bin
Peacemaker #1 3 out of 5 stars
I had been doing some comic reviews on another blog I used to use but it seemed to make more sense to move them here. This one is used for book reviews and stuff so why not do comic reviews? They're still books, right? Why not include comic reviews and other comic book related stuff. I read a lot of books and I also read a lot of comics so why can't I do both? You may have a few book snobs who will no doubt frown upon comics being listed among real books, but if you've seen the stuff I read you're probably thinking I'm insane anyway and besides, we could all use a day without our cellphones and just relax on a rainy day with a big ass stack of comics.
Let's get this big old ball rolling with my first comic review on this here blog. Why Peacemaker? Why the hell not? As a fan and collector of comics, I spend a lot of time looking through the bargain bins. I like to think of it as the island of misfit toys because among the crap no one wants are some really good books that just didn't take off due to a variety of reasons. Then, of course, you have the real shit sandwiches, I'm looking at you X-Force #1 and they deserve to languish in obscurity. I found Peacemaker 1-3 and I have to admit that I had no idea who this character was. As a kid, I couldn't afford comics so when I bought them I stuck to the stuff I knew. A lot of Indiana Jones, She Hulk as well as a lot of other groovy eighties titles. The cover looked interesting so I grabbed them.
Originally, Peacemaker was created by a comic company called Charlton and then they died. DC acquired them and then this comic was born. I honestly wasn't expecting much but I was also pleasantly surprised by how much story this first issue crams in, Peacemaker is a guy named Christopher Smith who has quite the back story and oh yeah, his father was a Nazi who eventually killed himself. There are a lot of characters including a maid who happens to be a psychiatrist because let's be clear here and admit that Smith could be batshit insane. The guy thinks he's being haunted by his dead father and he's quite focused on his mission which is to eliminate terrorists. It's a bit clunky, but I think it's just because it's the first issue.
Sometimes first issues throw a lot at you just to get you onboard, get you situated before all the fun stuff starts. As an origin story, it's pretty decent and I like that Peacemaker is a bit flawed and being batshit insane makes this an interesting premise. As a first issue it does keep you engaged, and you either like Peacemaker or you don't. There's no middle ground. He's the kind of hero we don't really think we'd be into until you read the opening pages and see that he's late to a terrorist attack and a lot of people die because of it. It was pretty ballsy of the creators to use that to introduce us to the character. Add to that that he's having a conversation with someone who may or may not actually be there. The artwork here is pretty decent and the scenes where Smith is talking to his maid/psychiatrist is pretty damn funny. How does he not know this isn't just a maid? He really must be crazy.
Is this required reading? Yes, and no. Sure, it's fun to read but if you can't find it you won't be really missing a lot. Now that Peacemaker is now slated to be featured in Suicide Squad 2 these books will go up in value even if they're just okay books. Peacemaker is a bit of nostalgia for those who grew up in the eighties. At times it does feel a bit dated and just overwhelming, but it's still worth checking out if you can find it cheap. I got mine for a buck so I know they're out there, you just have to find them.
I had been doing some comic reviews on another blog I used to use but it seemed to make more sense to move them here. This one is used for book reviews and stuff so why not do comic reviews? They're still books, right? Why not include comic reviews and other comic book related stuff. I read a lot of books and I also read a lot of comics so why can't I do both? You may have a few book snobs who will no doubt frown upon comics being listed among real books, but if you've seen the stuff I read you're probably thinking I'm insane anyway and besides, we could all use a day without our cellphones and just relax on a rainy day with a big ass stack of comics.
Let's get this big old ball rolling with my first comic review on this here blog. Why Peacemaker? Why the hell not? As a fan and collector of comics, I spend a lot of time looking through the bargain bins. I like to think of it as the island of misfit toys because among the crap no one wants are some really good books that just didn't take off due to a variety of reasons. Then, of course, you have the real shit sandwiches, I'm looking at you X-Force #1 and they deserve to languish in obscurity. I found Peacemaker 1-3 and I have to admit that I had no idea who this character was. As a kid, I couldn't afford comics so when I bought them I stuck to the stuff I knew. A lot of Indiana Jones, She Hulk as well as a lot of other groovy eighties titles. The cover looked interesting so I grabbed them.
Originally, Peacemaker was created by a comic company called Charlton and then they died. DC acquired them and then this comic was born. I honestly wasn't expecting much but I was also pleasantly surprised by how much story this first issue crams in, Peacemaker is a guy named Christopher Smith who has quite the back story and oh yeah, his father was a Nazi who eventually killed himself. There are a lot of characters including a maid who happens to be a psychiatrist because let's be clear here and admit that Smith could be batshit insane. The guy thinks he's being haunted by his dead father and he's quite focused on his mission which is to eliminate terrorists. It's a bit clunky, but I think it's just because it's the first issue.
Sometimes first issues throw a lot at you just to get you onboard, get you situated before all the fun stuff starts. As an origin story, it's pretty decent and I like that Peacemaker is a bit flawed and being batshit insane makes this an interesting premise. As a first issue it does keep you engaged, and you either like Peacemaker or you don't. There's no middle ground. He's the kind of hero we don't really think we'd be into until you read the opening pages and see that he's late to a terrorist attack and a lot of people die because of it. It was pretty ballsy of the creators to use that to introduce us to the character. Add to that that he's having a conversation with someone who may or may not actually be there. The artwork here is pretty decent and the scenes where Smith is talking to his maid/psychiatrist is pretty damn funny. How does he not know this isn't just a maid? He really must be crazy.
Is this required reading? Yes, and no. Sure, it's fun to read but if you can't find it you won't be really missing a lot. Now that Peacemaker is now slated to be featured in Suicide Squad 2 these books will go up in value even if they're just okay books. Peacemaker is a bit of nostalgia for those who grew up in the eighties. At times it does feel a bit dated and just overwhelming, but it's still worth checking out if you can find it cheap. I got mine for a buck so I know they're out there, you just have to find them.
October 14, 2019
Ghost Time!
The Haunting at Foxwood Village - Kasey Hill 3/5 stars
Ghost stories aren't new to fiction and it's hard to keep the genre moving forward when your subject could be a simple mental condition disguised as something paranormal. I'm not saying that's the case here, but it does follow the usual tropes of paranormal fiction to attract readers while giving you something to think about as you read it. A great ghost story will have you questioning everything you're reading and feel a connection to the persons or persons dealing with the haunting. Kasey's book is interesting and downright creepy at times. It's a typical ghot story with a series hook that has a decent twist at the end. It's a twist you don't see coming, and when you finally get to the big reveal it's jarring because you should have seen it yet you don't.
Foxwood has creepy moments but as I read it, I wanted to get to know these characters more, I wanted to feel for them but they all feel as if they're here to serve a purpose in plot development not as characters you connect too. Izzie is the story teller who tells you her story but you don't really get to know her at all. When I read a story like this I want to be immersed in what they're feeling, what they're thinking. It makes the story far more terrifying when you know that these are people who are scared out of their mind and facing something that isn't alive. There's a great back story here woven throughout and that's what makes this so interesting. It's the why these things are happening that make this so good.
While it's a good book, I was more interested in Unk and Lizzie. The tragedy this family endures is what propells this. While the creepy bits add to it, the reason these people are still haunting this house is the glue that holds this all together. Kasey has presented us with something interesting and she's clearly aimed to add something new to a genre that's been overdone. There's way more hits than misses which is important when writing a book like this. While it may not be a classic, it's still a good book and the start of what could be an interesting series.
Ghost stories aren't new to fiction and it's hard to keep the genre moving forward when your subject could be a simple mental condition disguised as something paranormal. I'm not saying that's the case here, but it does follow the usual tropes of paranormal fiction to attract readers while giving you something to think about as you read it. A great ghost story will have you questioning everything you're reading and feel a connection to the persons or persons dealing with the haunting. Kasey's book is interesting and downright creepy at times. It's a typical ghot story with a series hook that has a decent twist at the end. It's a twist you don't see coming, and when you finally get to the big reveal it's jarring because you should have seen it yet you don't.
Foxwood has creepy moments but as I read it, I wanted to get to know these characters more, I wanted to feel for them but they all feel as if they're here to serve a purpose in plot development not as characters you connect too. Izzie is the story teller who tells you her story but you don't really get to know her at all. When I read a story like this I want to be immersed in what they're feeling, what they're thinking. It makes the story far more terrifying when you know that these are people who are scared out of their mind and facing something that isn't alive. There's a great back story here woven throughout and that's what makes this so interesting. It's the why these things are happening that make this so good.
While it's a good book, I was more interested in Unk and Lizzie. The tragedy this family endures is what propells this. While the creepy bits add to it, the reason these people are still haunting this house is the glue that holds this all together. Kasey has presented us with something interesting and she's clearly aimed to add something new to a genre that's been overdone. There's way more hits than misses which is important when writing a book like this. While it may not be a classic, it's still a good book and the start of what could be an interesting series.
October 1, 2019
Along Came A Spider - James Patterson 3-5 stars ...
Along Came A Spider - James Patterson 3-5 stars
It's interesting how you return to a book you've already read and your opinion changes after a long absence. For a long time I was an Alex Cross junkie and devoured the series any chance I could. When I began to read Along Came A Spider I was ready for greatness, ready for that James Patterson rush I used to get everytime I cracked open one of his books. Is it as good as I remember? Yes, and no. Patterson's first Cross novel is an intro of sorts. You get to meet Alex and even meet an sinister guy who's kidnapped a couple of famous kids. Patterson's style is easy to read and focuses more on action than storytelling. Cross is likeable enough but it's Soneji who steals the first half of the book. You can't help but either like or hate this guy but then as the novel wears on, there's a few more layers added to the novel. What seems like a simple kidnapping becomes something else entirely. The second half slumps a bit as we detail the relationship between Cross andJezzie which sets up a series plot twist you don't see coming. That's where Patterson's strengths lie. He's an author who keeps things simple even when they aren't plausible, but it's fiction so it's perfectly fine. He's a writer who is out to entertain the reader while keeping things moving as swiftly as possible. Everything happens for a reason, or does it? In the end, Along Came A Spider is more fluff than substance and that's why his books sell so well. The chapters blend from Cross' to Soneji's seamlessly. It allows us to see things from two different perspectives. It's a tactic that works well when you're trying to build a novel that's different from everything else.
The problems begin later with Cross refusing to give up the case. The book goes from suspensful to downright slow paced as we see Jezzie and Alex grow closer together. What isn't implied is that the novel takes place over the course of two years. Had no idea and it's not mentioned until halfway through the novel. It's doesn't take away from the novel's strengths which are excellent, but it feels like Patterson is trying to find his groove with this first book. Theres nothing wrong with that, but that seond half could have been eradicated and the book would have been far better. Still, it's not terrible and it's a decent start to what would soon become Patterson's bread and butter. Cross is an interesting character who you can't help but like and while the villian in this one is a bit lackluster towards the end, he at least keeps you interested. When you read Along Came A Spider it's important to understand that you aren't reading something enlightening. This is reading for fun and we all need that. Patterson made a lot of money writing simple yet thrilling novels that are designed to be read while on a bus or on the beach. We need Alex Cross because he's a guy we can believe in. He has a backstory we can all get behind and the pacing and plot of the novel do tend to slow a bit, it's still not a terrible book. Even as I sit writing this I know I'll read the rest of the books knowing there's some great entries to the series. Spider is the beginning of Cross' journey and it shows.
It's interesting how you return to a book you've already read and your opinion changes after a long absence. For a long time I was an Alex Cross junkie and devoured the series any chance I could. When I began to read Along Came A Spider I was ready for greatness, ready for that James Patterson rush I used to get everytime I cracked open one of his books. Is it as good as I remember? Yes, and no. Patterson's first Cross novel is an intro of sorts. You get to meet Alex and even meet an sinister guy who's kidnapped a couple of famous kids. Patterson's style is easy to read and focuses more on action than storytelling. Cross is likeable enough but it's Soneji who steals the first half of the book. You can't help but either like or hate this guy but then as the novel wears on, there's a few more layers added to the novel. What seems like a simple kidnapping becomes something else entirely. The second half slumps a bit as we detail the relationship between Cross andJezzie which sets up a series plot twist you don't see coming. That's where Patterson's strengths lie. He's an author who keeps things simple even when they aren't plausible, but it's fiction so it's perfectly fine. He's a writer who is out to entertain the reader while keeping things moving as swiftly as possible. Everything happens for a reason, or does it? In the end, Along Came A Spider is more fluff than substance and that's why his books sell so well. The chapters blend from Cross' to Soneji's seamlessly. It allows us to see things from two different perspectives. It's a tactic that works well when you're trying to build a novel that's different from everything else.
The problems begin later with Cross refusing to give up the case. The book goes from suspensful to downright slow paced as we see Jezzie and Alex grow closer together. What isn't implied is that the novel takes place over the course of two years. Had no idea and it's not mentioned until halfway through the novel. It's doesn't take away from the novel's strengths which are excellent, but it feels like Patterson is trying to find his groove with this first book. Theres nothing wrong with that, but that seond half could have been eradicated and the book would have been far better. Still, it's not terrible and it's a decent start to what would soon become Patterson's bread and butter. Cross is an interesting character who you can't help but like and while the villian in this one is a bit lackluster towards the end, he at least keeps you interested. When you read Along Came A Spider it's important to understand that you aren't reading something enlightening. This is reading for fun and we all need that. Patterson made a lot of money writing simple yet thrilling novels that are designed to be read while on a bus or on the beach. We need Alex Cross because he's a guy we can believe in. He has a backstory we can all get behind and the pacing and plot of the novel do tend to slow a bit, it's still not a terrible book. Even as I sit writing this I know I'll read the rest of the books knowing there's some great entries to the series. Spider is the beginning of Cross' journey and it shows.
Along Came A Spider - James Patterson 3-5 stars &nb...
Along Came A Spider - James Patterson 3-5 stars
It's interesting how you return to a book you've already read and your opinion changes after a long absence. For a long time I was an Alex Cross junkie and devoured the series any chance I could. When I began to read Along Came A Spider I was ready for greatness, ready for that James Patterson rush I used to get everytime I cracked open one of his books. Is it as good as I remember? Yes, and no. Patterson's first Cross novel is an intro of sorts. You get to meet Alex and even meet an sinister guy who's kidnapped a couple of famous kids. Patterson's style is easy to read and focuses more on action than storytelling. Cross is likeable enough but it's Soneji who steals the first half of the book. You can't help but either like or hate this guy but then as the novel wears on, there's a few more layers added to the novel. What seems like a simple kidnapping becomes something else entirely. The second half slumps a bit as we detail the relationship between Cross andJezzie which sets up a series plot twist you don't see coming. That's where Patterson's strengths lie. He's an author who keeps things simple even when they aren't plausible, but it's fiction so it's perfectly fine. He's a writer who is out to entertain the reader while keeping things moving as swiftly as possible. Everything happens for a reason, or does it? In the end, Along Came A Spider is more fluff than substance and that's why his books sell so well. The chapters blend from Cross' to Soneji's seamlessly. It allows us to see things from two different perspectives. It's a tactic that works well when you're trying to build a novel that's different from everything else.
The problems begin later with Cross refusing to give up the case. The book goes from suspensful to downright slow paced as we see Jezzie and Alex grow closer together. What isn't implied is that the novel takes place over the course of two years. Had no idea and it's not mentioned until halfway through the novel. It's doesn't take away from the novel's strengths which are excellent, but it feels like Patterson is trying to find his groove with this first book. Theres nothing wrong with that, but that seond half could have been eradicated and the book would have been far better. Still, it's not terrible and it's a decent start to what would soon become Patterson's bread and butter. Cross is an interesting character who you can't help but like and while the villian in this one is a bit lackluster towards the end, he at least keeps you interested. When you read Along Came A Spider it's important to understand that you aren't reading something enlightening. This is reading for fun and we all need that. Patterson made a lot of money writing simple yet thrilling novels that are designed to be read while on a bus or on the beach. We need Alex Cross because he's a guy we can believe in. He has a backstory we can all get behind and the pacing and plot of the novel do tend to slow a bit, it's still not a terrible book. Even as I sit writing this I know I'll read the rest of the books knowing there's some great entries to the series. Spider is the beginning of Cross' journey and it shows.
It's interesting how you return to a book you've already read and your opinion changes after a long absence. For a long time I was an Alex Cross junkie and devoured the series any chance I could. When I began to read Along Came A Spider I was ready for greatness, ready for that James Patterson rush I used to get everytime I cracked open one of his books. Is it as good as I remember? Yes, and no. Patterson's first Cross novel is an intro of sorts. You get to meet Alex and even meet an sinister guy who's kidnapped a couple of famous kids. Patterson's style is easy to read and focuses more on action than storytelling. Cross is likeable enough but it's Soneji who steals the first half of the book. You can't help but either like or hate this guy but then as the novel wears on, there's a few more layers added to the novel. What seems like a simple kidnapping becomes something else entirely. The second half slumps a bit as we detail the relationship between Cross andJezzie which sets up a series plot twist you don't see coming. That's where Patterson's strengths lie. He's an author who keeps things simple even when they aren't plausible, but it's fiction so it's perfectly fine. He's a writer who is out to entertain the reader while keeping things moving as swiftly as possible. Everything happens for a reason, or does it? In the end, Along Came A Spider is more fluff than substance and that's why his books sell so well. The chapters blend from Cross' to Soneji's seamlessly. It allows us to see things from two different perspectives. It's a tactic that works well when you're trying to build a novel that's different from everything else.
The problems begin later with Cross refusing to give up the case. The book goes from suspensful to downright slow paced as we see Jezzie and Alex grow closer together. What isn't implied is that the novel takes place over the course of two years. Had no idea and it's not mentioned until halfway through the novel. It's doesn't take away from the novel's strengths which are excellent, but it feels like Patterson is trying to find his groove with this first book. Theres nothing wrong with that, but that seond half could have been eradicated and the book would have been far better. Still, it's not terrible and it's a decent start to what would soon become Patterson's bread and butter. Cross is an interesting character who you can't help but like and while the villian in this one is a bit lackluster towards the end, he at least keeps you interested. When you read Along Came A Spider it's important to understand that you aren't reading something enlightening. This is reading for fun and we all need that. Patterson made a lot of money writing simple yet thrilling novels that are designed to be read while on a bus or on the beach. We need Alex Cross because he's a guy we can believe in. He has a backstory we can all get behind and the pacing and plot of the novel do tend to slow a bit, it's still not a terrible book. Even as I sit writing this I know I'll read the rest of the books knowing there's some great entries to the series. Spider is the beginning of Cross' journey and it shows.
September 26, 2019
The Alex Cross Adventure
When it comes to suspense thrillers there are a lot of names that come up but no one had the appeal that James Patterson had. For a while he was a machine pumping out books that were compelling pieces of fiction. At the time, no one wrote like Patterson which allowed him to carve out his own place on the best seller lists. What I loved the most was just how easy the books were to read, and on top of that Patterson had a knack for keeping the plots simple and easy to follow. To make the experience even more interesting there were two viewpoints that allowed you to see the story from a variety of angles.You had Cross' narrative and then throughout the story there were others that were far darker and got you into the mind of the villain. For me, it was the style I gravitated toward. Sure, Patterson kept the chapter short and he didn't use overdrawn flowery language, but that was the point. The Cross novels were designed to be read by everyone, and they were. When I read Kiss The Girls I was hooked and kept up on the series but there were so many books I just lost interest. Between him and Patricia Cornwell I was running out of time to read the damn things. My first steps toward suspense thrillers only happened because of him and Cornwell.Would I have moved away from a straight horror diet if my ex-wife hadn't gotten me into Patterson? Maybe, but it would have taken me a bit longer. Patterson books are fluff, you read these books on vacation, or when you just want something exciting to read. Patterson could write some decent fiction but then as he grew older, he stopped writing his own stuff and I grew to find his books lacking . Maybe it was the people he had writng this stuff. He gives the author an outline and its their job to do the writing.
Of course over the years I've checked in on Patterson and the guy is good, real good. His books have always had the same formula while being decent, even simplistic in their delivery. The guy is a writing factory so of course not every book is going to be good. You're bound to have a few that aren't on the same level as others. Part of problem is what he calls co-writers, but we all know what they really do. On the cover they look like Patterson books, but they aren't and it's unfortunate given the success he's had over the years. Before Alex Cross, I had never heard of Patterson but those books aren't very good anyway. I tried to read them, but they just lacked the same style and overall addictive qualities of his later work. Could this guy even write something other than Alex Cross books? the answer was a resounding yes and as a fan I went along willingly until it just got too much. When you look at the guys bibliography it's overwhelming. There's other series. the standalones and it's exhausting. I quickly lost interest. As a writer, it's dissapointing to see that Patterson doesn't even write his own books anymore but I get it. He's older now and it's time to start looking for a way out. Still, if you're not going to write your own books why the hell would you allow your work to be tainted by outside writers? Some of them aren't even that good. They do more harm than good and show readers that you're simply here for the paycheck. Sure, the outline may look good, but what about the story, what happens when the writer can't tap into your style or voice? that's become problem with a lot of Patterson's later work. It just doesn't feel like a Patterson novel.
Here we are far removed from the Alex Cross series. I haven't read a Cross novel in years so I got this great, or terrible idea. I decided to read the entire Alex Cross series. Yeah, from the beginning up until the last book. Am I crazy? You could say that, but I thought it would be interesting just to see how well the series progresses. There's bound to be some clunkers among the classics right? What I failed to notice was just how many books were involved. If I had done my research a little I would have seen that there are twenty-eight Alex Cross novels. Twenty-eight! Reading them all in order is going to drive me insane but I feel the time is right. I'm looking at a lot of different things here and not just how good they are. How well have they stood up over the years, were they really as good as I remember? When I first began reading these I was never a big fan of mysteries nor did I ever think of these books as such. To me, they were suspense thrillers that were done perfectly. Hell, he was a huge influence on me as a writer. My books Legacy and Legacy 2 exist because of this guy. When I wanted to get inside my killers head I immediately thought of Patterson's novels. He was able to get inside the head of his villians so perfectly you felt as if you knew them. I wanted to achieve that in my own writing and I think I did.
What I plan on doing is marking my progress through reviews and a variety of different blogs tracking my progress. I don't know if this has even been done before and if it's fun, why not do the Kay Scarpetta series? I devoured Patricia Cornwell books with the same speed I devoured Patterson. There's so many places to go after this, but first, I have to get through the Cross novels. I thought there were only twenty-four, but no, I missed some somehow. Well, let's go ahead and get this over with and begin at the beginning. The first book Along Came A Spider. This is where we first meet Alex Cross. It's the only place the journey can begin. Until next time, wish me luck.
July 17, 2019
Wait, Seriously!?
Vox - Christina Dalcher 2/5 stars
Sometimes you hear about a book and you instantly think, yeah I need to read that. When I heard about Vox there were a lot of comparisons to The Handmaid's Tale, 1984, but the sad part is that Vox isn't in the same ballpark as any of those books. It wants to be, and it tries really hard, but all it has going for it is the theme of government gone amok and it could in a way happen anywhere. There is that small percentage of people who will tell you that the book is controversial, but when you read a book like this you kind of expect that. These are women are allowed to speak only one hundred words a day which sounds insane, and it is, but this is what happens when you want to change in politics and vote the wrong way. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? 1984 was a frightening book that changed the way we looked at our government, changed the way we viewed the world and the language of the novel itself has crept into our culture. Vox won't do that because it's not as scary nor is it as controversial as people would have you believe. The only people who would be offended by this are the extreme Christians who really do think this way. To them, this is their Utopia, a place where women know their place and damn it, America is better off.
At first, I liked the novel, but then halfway through it, the novelty wore off. This isn't a novel that makes you think, it doesn't really do anything. There's nothing to scare you because, in this current political climate, there's nothing that would surprise me at this point. Vox doesn't serve as a warning at all, and it doesn't really serve as a book that bashes men either. The reasoning for the decision is solely on the far right and their idea that women should be silenced. That seems interesting, it truly does, but you need decent characters to make you want to see how wrong this is. Jean as a narrator comes off as boring and her husband is just too weak to care about. By the end of this, I was a bit miffed at how it all ended. It doesn't have the impact I would have expected and it should have had a huge impact. All this novel really has going for it is the controversial and sad comparisons to far better novels that do in fact make you think about the world around you. This is a weak effort that fails to incite anything other than irritation and shouldn't get all the praise that's heaped upon it. Want to read a better novel than Vox? Read 1984, The Handmaid's Tale, or When She Awoke and then you'll see just how bad Vox really is.
Sometimes you hear about a book and you instantly think, yeah I need to read that. When I heard about Vox there were a lot of comparisons to The Handmaid's Tale, 1984, but the sad part is that Vox isn't in the same ballpark as any of those books. It wants to be, and it tries really hard, but all it has going for it is the theme of government gone amok and it could in a way happen anywhere. There is that small percentage of people who will tell you that the book is controversial, but when you read a book like this you kind of expect that. These are women are allowed to speak only one hundred words a day which sounds insane, and it is, but this is what happens when you want to change in politics and vote the wrong way. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? 1984 was a frightening book that changed the way we looked at our government, changed the way we viewed the world and the language of the novel itself has crept into our culture. Vox won't do that because it's not as scary nor is it as controversial as people would have you believe. The only people who would be offended by this are the extreme Christians who really do think this way. To them, this is their Utopia, a place where women know their place and damn it, America is better off.
At first, I liked the novel, but then halfway through it, the novelty wore off. This isn't a novel that makes you think, it doesn't really do anything. There's nothing to scare you because, in this current political climate, there's nothing that would surprise me at this point. Vox doesn't serve as a warning at all, and it doesn't really serve as a book that bashes men either. The reasoning for the decision is solely on the far right and their idea that women should be silenced. That seems interesting, it truly does, but you need decent characters to make you want to see how wrong this is. Jean as a narrator comes off as boring and her husband is just too weak to care about. By the end of this, I was a bit miffed at how it all ended. It doesn't have the impact I would have expected and it should have had a huge impact. All this novel really has going for it is the controversial and sad comparisons to far better novels that do in fact make you think about the world around you. This is a weak effort that fails to incite anything other than irritation and shouldn't get all the praise that's heaped upon it. Want to read a better novel than Vox? Read 1984, The Handmaid's Tale, or When She Awoke and then you'll see just how bad Vox really is.
July 11, 2019
Trip At The Brain
When The Lights Go Out - Mary Kubica 5/5 stars
When Jessie's mother suddenly dies of cancer strange things begin to happen and then insomnia settles in and odd things begin to happen. A simple act sets off a chain reaction of events that force Jessie to question not only who she is, but everything she knows. Kubica has a knack for writing books that hurl a lot at you. While Jessie's story in itself is compelling you have her mother's journal adding other layers to the story and there comes a point where you really think you have it all figured out, but then you suddenly realize you were wrong. There are clues sprinkled throughout the story but they don't all fall into place until the end. It's a novel that keeps you guessing until the very last page. When The Lights Go Out seems like your normal, average suspense thriller, but Kubica is not the type of writer who seems content to be just average. While some may find the book frustrating, and a little pissed off at the end, I found it well written and layered in so much mystery I needed to finish it just to see if I was right. Once in a while, you read a book that unwinds slowly while adding other layers to the story to keep you invested. It's the type of suspense novel that shows that you can try something new and if done correctly it pays off well.
You begin to see the world through Jessie's sleep deprived eyes. Because she fell asleep, she missed saying goodbye to her mother. The body begins to break down, the brain though still functions. Is Jessie suffering from the effects of her insomnia or is there something else going on? The idea that a mother would hide something from a child is only half the story. Where did Jessie come from? Who is her father? This is the glue that holds Kubica's book together. She has a knack for keeping the reader guessing, of allowing the book to slowly evolve until you find yourself unable to stop reading. Sure, the ending here ties everything together, but getting there is the fun part. What parts are the most important? I enjoyed the journal just as much as I enjoyed Jessie's story. This is someone who is suffering from grief and slowly losing their mind and there's nothing anyone can do to stop it. The simple reality here is that the lack of sleep is affecting her mind, it's causing her to see things that aren't there. to hear things that aren't there. The interesting thing is that once you reach the end you see again that these are clues to how things will end and even why things are progressing the way they are.
Yeah, there are a lot of people who hate this book, but I'm not one of them. I like stories like this. It's an engrossing read that instantly became a favorite. Kubica is a writer I like a lot because she doesn't write simple books. There's always some deeper meaning, some odd plot twist that so many other writers fail at. Is the hate justified? It all depends on what you read and what you expect from a book. Is this a plausible story? It is. Elements of it could happen, and the thing that infuriates people is the way it all ends. There's a disappointment there that makes sense, but it's a great story and one that I instantly loved. As a fan, I like that she's still churning out great fiction, and I look forward to reading more of her work
When Jessie's mother suddenly dies of cancer strange things begin to happen and then insomnia settles in and odd things begin to happen. A simple act sets off a chain reaction of events that force Jessie to question not only who she is, but everything she knows. Kubica has a knack for writing books that hurl a lot at you. While Jessie's story in itself is compelling you have her mother's journal adding other layers to the story and there comes a point where you really think you have it all figured out, but then you suddenly realize you were wrong. There are clues sprinkled throughout the story but they don't all fall into place until the end. It's a novel that keeps you guessing until the very last page. When The Lights Go Out seems like your normal, average suspense thriller, but Kubica is not the type of writer who seems content to be just average. While some may find the book frustrating, and a little pissed off at the end, I found it well written and layered in so much mystery I needed to finish it just to see if I was right. Once in a while, you read a book that unwinds slowly while adding other layers to the story to keep you invested. It's the type of suspense novel that shows that you can try something new and if done correctly it pays off well.
You begin to see the world through Jessie's sleep deprived eyes. Because she fell asleep, she missed saying goodbye to her mother. The body begins to break down, the brain though still functions. Is Jessie suffering from the effects of her insomnia or is there something else going on? The idea that a mother would hide something from a child is only half the story. Where did Jessie come from? Who is her father? This is the glue that holds Kubica's book together. She has a knack for keeping the reader guessing, of allowing the book to slowly evolve until you find yourself unable to stop reading. Sure, the ending here ties everything together, but getting there is the fun part. What parts are the most important? I enjoyed the journal just as much as I enjoyed Jessie's story. This is someone who is suffering from grief and slowly losing their mind and there's nothing anyone can do to stop it. The simple reality here is that the lack of sleep is affecting her mind, it's causing her to see things that aren't there. to hear things that aren't there. The interesting thing is that once you reach the end you see again that these are clues to how things will end and even why things are progressing the way they are.
Yeah, there are a lot of people who hate this book, but I'm not one of them. I like stories like this. It's an engrossing read that instantly became a favorite. Kubica is a writer I like a lot because she doesn't write simple books. There's always some deeper meaning, some odd plot twist that so many other writers fail at. Is the hate justified? It all depends on what you read and what you expect from a book. Is this a plausible story? It is. Elements of it could happen, and the thing that infuriates people is the way it all ends. There's a disappointment there that makes sense, but it's a great story and one that I instantly loved. As a fan, I like that she's still churning out great fiction, and I look forward to reading more of her work
June 17, 2019
The Luckiest Girl Alive - Jessica Knoll 2/5 &...
The Luckiest Girl Alive - Jessica Knoll 2/5
Once you begin reading Jessica Knoll's novel the title begins to make sense. It's not an easy read and the things that Ani go through are horrible, and will no doubt make some readers uncomfortable. That's the intent, and Knoll is a decent writer, and the story itself is full of enough twists and turns to keep you reading, but it's the characters that keep this from being a must-read novel. Ani as an adult isn't all that interesting and is the kind of person you loathe on sight and while she's suffered more as a kid than anyone should, it's still not enough to make her likable. I kept reading this for the surprise twist at the end and well, the past and present cause you to feel bad for the fourteen-year-old Ani, but the perfection she strives for as an adult coupled with the shallow adult she is, drag the novel down. There's that twist that every modern suspense novel seems to contain, but there's so much mundane stuff to wade through in order to get there. While some may compare this to a Gillian Flynn novel they'd be wrong. Flynn's novels are full of plot twists that work in conjunction with decent characters while Luckiest is a book full of characters that are shallow and a tad annoying.
When the third twist happens, you actually root for the wrong person. Seriously, when you get there you'll see what I mean. Arthur is a character we end up liking which I know isn't the intention, but out of all of the characters we encounter here, he's one of the few with any real depth or substance. What he does is horrifying, but when you look at the novel from his perspective, it makes sense, and almost seems justifiable. In a book like this, you have all of these escalating events that lead to one huge ending. The huge payoff for sticking around long enough, and believe me, it was hard to read this. but I stuck through it. It wasn't because of the violence, and the other events that happened here. It was the characters themselves that make it so hard to get through. I promised myself I would read a good book when this was all over. I just needed to get through this and see what the big reveal was. It really wasn't really all that climactic. Sure, there are some who will love then ending and probably like the story which is fine, but I was just a little disappointed by it and hoped for something better.
It's an okay thriller that makes a lot of claims on the cover yet it fails to deliver. Is it something you should buy? It depends I guess on what you like in a thriller. There will be some who find the story shocking, and it is, but once it wears off you're left with a shallow thriller that doesn't live up to the hype. At best, it's an attempt to try something different and it could have worked with better characters. Borrow this from your local library and be glad you didn't pay for it. I am curious to see how her other books are in comparison to this one, but I'm not holding my breath.
Once you begin reading Jessica Knoll's novel the title begins to make sense. It's not an easy read and the things that Ani go through are horrible, and will no doubt make some readers uncomfortable. That's the intent, and Knoll is a decent writer, and the story itself is full of enough twists and turns to keep you reading, but it's the characters that keep this from being a must-read novel. Ani as an adult isn't all that interesting and is the kind of person you loathe on sight and while she's suffered more as a kid than anyone should, it's still not enough to make her likable. I kept reading this for the surprise twist at the end and well, the past and present cause you to feel bad for the fourteen-year-old Ani, but the perfection she strives for as an adult coupled with the shallow adult she is, drag the novel down. There's that twist that every modern suspense novel seems to contain, but there's so much mundane stuff to wade through in order to get there. While some may compare this to a Gillian Flynn novel they'd be wrong. Flynn's novels are full of plot twists that work in conjunction with decent characters while Luckiest is a book full of characters that are shallow and a tad annoying.
When the third twist happens, you actually root for the wrong person. Seriously, when you get there you'll see what I mean. Arthur is a character we end up liking which I know isn't the intention, but out of all of the characters we encounter here, he's one of the few with any real depth or substance. What he does is horrifying, but when you look at the novel from his perspective, it makes sense, and almost seems justifiable. In a book like this, you have all of these escalating events that lead to one huge ending. The huge payoff for sticking around long enough, and believe me, it was hard to read this. but I stuck through it. It wasn't because of the violence, and the other events that happened here. It was the characters themselves that make it so hard to get through. I promised myself I would read a good book when this was all over. I just needed to get through this and see what the big reveal was. It really wasn't really all that climactic. Sure, there are some who will love then ending and probably like the story which is fine, but I was just a little disappointed by it and hoped for something better.
It's an okay thriller that makes a lot of claims on the cover yet it fails to deliver. Is it something you should buy? It depends I guess on what you like in a thriller. There will be some who find the story shocking, and it is, but once it wears off you're left with a shallow thriller that doesn't live up to the hype. At best, it's an attempt to try something different and it could have worked with better characters. Borrow this from your local library and be glad you didn't pay for it. I am curious to see how her other books are in comparison to this one, but I'm not holding my breath.
March 23, 2019
The Woman In Our House
The Woman In Our House - Andrew Hart 3/5 stars
I’ve often said that books like these are a bit like junk food and there’s nothing wrong with that. Junk food is what we all need from time to time and no matter what people say, we all love junk food. The more the better. A Woman In Our House is exactly what I love in a good thriller. It ticks off all the boxes that make a book like this a good, but predictable read and I swear the writers of these must have a checklist tacked up somewhere so they hit all the right spots. The important thing here is the characters. They are the glue that holds these books together, and the plot may be predictable, but it has to connect with the reader somehow. Without the connection, and the characters it’s not going to work. That connection makes or breaks the book and that is the key to a good thriller.
Hart had written a book that follows the blueprints of other suspense thrillers which sounds bad because you know how it’s all going to turn out. What we have is a novel that taps into the fear all parents have and that’s leaving our children alone with someone you don’t know. Anna’s fears towards the last half of the book are of course warranted but there’s a bit of a twist, and a weird one, but this time I didn’t see it coming. Hart does a bit of misdirecting here which saves the book a little. Is it still predictable? Yep, it is, but the overall pace of it all and the characters are the driving force of the novel. We almost see what's coming, we know that in the end, things are going to end badly, but the getting there is what makes it all worthwhile The story has been done before, and Hart knows this so he throws us a curveball. Is Oaklynn as bad as we think? For the answers, you have to read the novel. Yes, there’s a lot here you’ve seen before on the Lifetime network. Decent suspense thrillers love to make us fear something we usually trust and this one is no different. The genre is good because it’s predictable, and gosh darned it, the authors keep pulling us in because they know we love the stuff they churn out. We can’t help it and the genre thrives because it’s like junk food and we eat it knowing it’s not good for us. Despite all of its flaws, there’s a bit of a twist thrown in that make this worth reading. Is it a masterpiece? No, but it’s still something you could read on a warm summer day, or on a bitterly cold winter day when you feel like crashing on the sofa with some munchies and a decent book. It ticks off the right boxes that keep the suspense novel alive, and that's not a bad thing at all.
I’ve often said that books like these are a bit like junk food and there’s nothing wrong with that. Junk food is what we all need from time to time and no matter what people say, we all love junk food. The more the better. A Woman In Our House is exactly what I love in a good thriller. It ticks off all the boxes that make a book like this a good, but predictable read and I swear the writers of these must have a checklist tacked up somewhere so they hit all the right spots. The important thing here is the characters. They are the glue that holds these books together, and the plot may be predictable, but it has to connect with the reader somehow. Without the connection, and the characters it’s not going to work. That connection makes or breaks the book and that is the key to a good thriller.
Hart had written a book that follows the blueprints of other suspense thrillers which sounds bad because you know how it’s all going to turn out. What we have is a novel that taps into the fear all parents have and that’s leaving our children alone with someone you don’t know. Anna’s fears towards the last half of the book are of course warranted but there’s a bit of a twist, and a weird one, but this time I didn’t see it coming. Hart does a bit of misdirecting here which saves the book a little. Is it still predictable? Yep, it is, but the overall pace of it all and the characters are the driving force of the novel. We almost see what's coming, we know that in the end, things are going to end badly, but the getting there is what makes it all worthwhile The story has been done before, and Hart knows this so he throws us a curveball. Is Oaklynn as bad as we think? For the answers, you have to read the novel. Yes, there’s a lot here you’ve seen before on the Lifetime network. Decent suspense thrillers love to make us fear something we usually trust and this one is no different. The genre is good because it’s predictable, and gosh darned it, the authors keep pulling us in because they know we love the stuff they churn out. We can’t help it and the genre thrives because it’s like junk food and we eat it knowing it’s not good for us. Despite all of its flaws, there’s a bit of a twist thrown in that make this worth reading. Is it a masterpiece? No, but it’s still something you could read on a warm summer day, or on a bitterly cold winter day when you feel like crashing on the sofa with some munchies and a decent book. It ticks off the right boxes that keep the suspense novel alive, and that's not a bad thing at all.
