Michael Noe's Blog, page 4
June 23, 2018
The Outlandish And The Ego - O. Ryan Hussain 5/5 st...
The Outlandish And The Ego - O. Ryan Hussain 5/5 stars
As a fan of weird fiction I loved Ego a lot. It takes political scandal and mixes it together with one characters who is clearly suffering from schizoprehnia and there's Roger who thinks he can turn himself invisible, but clearly can't. This to me is the glue that holds the novel together. They embark on a journey, but have no idea how that journey will end. Then you have the other side of the story which involves a weak president who is being controlled, and is too weak, and even too stupid to stop it. It's the greed here that keeps the momentum growing and shows us a darkside to the political process that doesn't seem all that farfetched given our current political climate.
For those who have never read Vonnegut. or even like their fiction told in a linnear fashion won't like this novel all that much which is a shame because Hussain is a talented writer who has not only written a great novel but has given us the characters that shouldn't work at all, but do. They keep the story moving. You have two men who are desperate to keep running the country and two men who are trying to free themselves from the gnomes that are controlling their minds. It sounds totally insane, and it is. The amazing thing is, it works. The book is at times laugh out loud funny, but the goal here is to merge these two random plots together, and it does so effortlessly.
Sometimes great novels go against everything we're taught about fiction. The weird novels that are brilliant, and defy traditional story telling slip through the cracks. A novel like the Outlandish And The Ego is a great piece of storytelling because it shouldn't work, but Hussain has the talent to pull it off. It's an engrossing debut that reminds us that great novels can be weird, and they can take us places we never knew we could go. It's funny, and most of all it's brilliant.
As a fan of weird fiction I loved Ego a lot. It takes political scandal and mixes it together with one characters who is clearly suffering from schizoprehnia and there's Roger who thinks he can turn himself invisible, but clearly can't. This to me is the glue that holds the novel together. They embark on a journey, but have no idea how that journey will end. Then you have the other side of the story which involves a weak president who is being controlled, and is too weak, and even too stupid to stop it. It's the greed here that keeps the momentum growing and shows us a darkside to the political process that doesn't seem all that farfetched given our current political climate.
For those who have never read Vonnegut. or even like their fiction told in a linnear fashion won't like this novel all that much which is a shame because Hussain is a talented writer who has not only written a great novel but has given us the characters that shouldn't work at all, but do. They keep the story moving. You have two men who are desperate to keep running the country and two men who are trying to free themselves from the gnomes that are controlling their minds. It sounds totally insane, and it is. The amazing thing is, it works. The book is at times laugh out loud funny, but the goal here is to merge these two random plots together, and it does so effortlessly.
Sometimes great novels go against everything we're taught about fiction. The weird novels that are brilliant, and defy traditional story telling slip through the cracks. A novel like the Outlandish And The Ego is a great piece of storytelling because it shouldn't work, but Hussain has the talent to pull it off. It's an engrossing debut that reminds us that great novels can be weird, and they can take us places we never knew we could go. It's funny, and most of all it's brilliant.
May 29, 2018
The Outsider Stephen King 5/5 stars &nbs...
The Outsider Stephen King 5/5 stars
To be fair I should point out that I am no longer one of Stephen King's constant readers. I consider King to be an old friend I check in on from time to time to see how he's doing. Sometimes he's doing well, and others not so much. The Outsider is a monumental release. This is King's 60th book which makes me feel a bit old. What this means is that there are fans of his that started reading his books from the beginning, and there are newer fans who discovered him from his recent output which has been hit or miss. Sixty books is no small feat especially when you factor in just how fickle the business is. King has evolved with the times, and has proven to be a writer that deserves the success that has come his way.
The Outsider is a book that feels like a standard thriller, but the crime here is so heinous, sensitive readers will no doubt feel outraged by it. The crime itself isn't really the important thing. It's the fact that its perpetrator is a man who claims he's innocent and there's proof of this, but of course this is a King novel so nothing is what it seems. For fans of the Bill Hodges trilogy Holly Gibney makes a return here which isn't surprising given the oddness of the story. The story does get weird which is a King trademark. It's a fine story even when the supernatural element begin to take shape and really give the story its curve ball. Who or what is an Outsider, and how can a man be at two places at once?
When King is good, he's damn good, and The Outsider is a novel that fans of the old King will love. There are pieces of other novels woven throughout the plot making you feel a bit of deja vu. It should make you pissed off that he's recycling, but it works. This is a compulsive page turner that gets its hook in you and refuses to let go. Each character here is likeable even when they do bad things. King has the ability to make his characters human even when you know they aren't, and the crime here of course is the catalyst. You feel the outrage, even the shock of the crime just like they do and you want to believe that Terry is guilty, but the evidence is hard to ignore.
The Outsider is a decent King novel that we know he's capable of writing. Sure there's been a few stinkers here and there, but this isn't one of them. This is the King book that will accompany everyone on vacation this summer and will rule the best sellers list for quite some time. It's a damn good novel full of the creepiness that King excels at while giving us a story that we can't stop reading. Is it the best novel King's ever written? Depends on who you ask, but for me, it's a decent book. Almost a King classic and reminds me why I became a fan of his in the first place.
To be fair I should point out that I am no longer one of Stephen King's constant readers. I consider King to be an old friend I check in on from time to time to see how he's doing. Sometimes he's doing well, and others not so much. The Outsider is a monumental release. This is King's 60th book which makes me feel a bit old. What this means is that there are fans of his that started reading his books from the beginning, and there are newer fans who discovered him from his recent output which has been hit or miss. Sixty books is no small feat especially when you factor in just how fickle the business is. King has evolved with the times, and has proven to be a writer that deserves the success that has come his way.
The Outsider is a book that feels like a standard thriller, but the crime here is so heinous, sensitive readers will no doubt feel outraged by it. The crime itself isn't really the important thing. It's the fact that its perpetrator is a man who claims he's innocent and there's proof of this, but of course this is a King novel so nothing is what it seems. For fans of the Bill Hodges trilogy Holly Gibney makes a return here which isn't surprising given the oddness of the story. The story does get weird which is a King trademark. It's a fine story even when the supernatural element begin to take shape and really give the story its curve ball. Who or what is an Outsider, and how can a man be at two places at once?
When King is good, he's damn good, and The Outsider is a novel that fans of the old King will love. There are pieces of other novels woven throughout the plot making you feel a bit of deja vu. It should make you pissed off that he's recycling, but it works. This is a compulsive page turner that gets its hook in you and refuses to let go. Each character here is likeable even when they do bad things. King has the ability to make his characters human even when you know they aren't, and the crime here of course is the catalyst. You feel the outrage, even the shock of the crime just like they do and you want to believe that Terry is guilty, but the evidence is hard to ignore.
The Outsider is a decent King novel that we know he's capable of writing. Sure there's been a few stinkers here and there, but this isn't one of them. This is the King book that will accompany everyone on vacation this summer and will rule the best sellers list for quite some time. It's a damn good novel full of the creepiness that King excels at while giving us a story that we can't stop reading. Is it the best novel King's ever written? Depends on who you ask, but for me, it's a decent book. Almost a King classic and reminds me why I became a fan of his in the first place.
May 18, 2018
Richard Laymon - Quake 5/5 stars &...
Richard Laymon - Quake 5/5 stars
In an interview Richard Laymon said his books are about bad people doing bad things and in Quake you see that in a large scale as an earthquake hits Los Angeles. The core of the novel is survival and simply trying to make their way home. Of course in a Laymon novel it's not that simple. he allows us to glimpse at a world in which laws no longer apply, the carnal side of human nature runs rampant. He also knows how to pile on layers of tension while allowing us to peer at the ugly side of humanity. We never imagine people at their worst in a time of crisis, but that's what's so good about his work. He knows deep down that not everyone is good, deep down they're vile.
At the core of Quake is Stanley who is by far the greatest villain Laymon has ever created. He sees the Quake as an opportunity to take advantage of his trapped neighbor, and as the novel wears on, we see his sanity slowly begin to slide away. He has filled his novel with characters you want to see survive, and when certain characters die, you cheer because they were terrible people to begin with. The heroes here don't have an easy time of it. This is a violent novel that holds no punches. As a writer, he's written a novel that will offend half of the people who read it, but underneath all of the blood, is a decent story. Some of the dialogue comes off as cheesy and there's always the fascination with sex. Women here are portrayed as objects, and the men are often overcome with their desire to have their way with them.
While Quake may not be for everyone, it's still a great horror novel that presents us with something new. It would have been easy to fill out the novel with the same tropes we always see, but here in Laymon's world there's beauty in chaos. It's not for those who are easily offended, or have a problem with violence. It's strengths lie in the characters, and how they react to the world around them. The violence is a byproduct of the quake itself. Quake gives Richard Laymon fans another reason to like him, and for those who've never heard of him, it's a good place to start.
In an interview Richard Laymon said his books are about bad people doing bad things and in Quake you see that in a large scale as an earthquake hits Los Angeles. The core of the novel is survival and simply trying to make their way home. Of course in a Laymon novel it's not that simple. he allows us to glimpse at a world in which laws no longer apply, the carnal side of human nature runs rampant. He also knows how to pile on layers of tension while allowing us to peer at the ugly side of humanity. We never imagine people at their worst in a time of crisis, but that's what's so good about his work. He knows deep down that not everyone is good, deep down they're vile.
At the core of Quake is Stanley who is by far the greatest villain Laymon has ever created. He sees the Quake as an opportunity to take advantage of his trapped neighbor, and as the novel wears on, we see his sanity slowly begin to slide away. He has filled his novel with characters you want to see survive, and when certain characters die, you cheer because they were terrible people to begin with. The heroes here don't have an easy time of it. This is a violent novel that holds no punches. As a writer, he's written a novel that will offend half of the people who read it, but underneath all of the blood, is a decent story. Some of the dialogue comes off as cheesy and there's always the fascination with sex. Women here are portrayed as objects, and the men are often overcome with their desire to have their way with them.
While Quake may not be for everyone, it's still a great horror novel that presents us with something new. It would have been easy to fill out the novel with the same tropes we always see, but here in Laymon's world there's beauty in chaos. It's not for those who are easily offended, or have a problem with violence. It's strengths lie in the characters, and how they react to the world around them. The violence is a byproduct of the quake itself. Quake gives Richard Laymon fans another reason to like him, and for those who've never heard of him, it's a good place to start.
May 7, 2018
The Secrets We Keep - Mia Hayes 3/5 stars &nb...
The Secrets We Keep - Mia Hayes 3/5 stars
I received a copy of Secrets from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Once in awhile I stumble across something that starts out mediocre, and then begins good. Not great mind you, but good. The Secrets We Keep is one of those novels you read when you don't want something light to read. I found the journal to be the most fascinating aspect here, and it shows us just how shallow all of these women are. No one here is likeable, and that's the point. At it's core, it's a book with a dark theme running throughout, but the problem is, it begins to run out of steam halfway through. The only saving grace here is the death of Sarah, and who exactly is the woman writing this journal. To me, this is the best character of the novel, but just like everyone else, she has her own secrets and I spent the entire book trying to figure out who this person was.
While I wanted to give this novel a couple of stars I began to really enjoy this book. There were quite a few curve balls thrown to keep it interesting, and by the end, I was impressed by Hayes' writing style. What she's crafted may seem predictable, and sure, maybe it is, but it's interesting and keeps you reading even when you begin to lose interest. Elizabeth is the draw here and not because of her illness. We're meant to believe that she's crazy, that because she has bipolar disorder we're supposed to believe she's an unfit mother, or that she should be treated differently. We know her marriage isn't perfect, and the cause of her illness is in fact her husband who Hayes clearly wants us to hate, and even question his motives.
It's not a literary masterpiece, but it works as a decent thriller that keeps you guessing even when you get tired of how shallow these women are. As a guy, I probably wasn't the ideal audience for this book, but what can I say? I read the blurb and thought it looked interesting. It was, even when it became tedious and preachy. The writing and plot really saved this from being a dull, lack luster read. If you like Desperate Housewives, you'll probably dig this one a lot.
I received a copy of Secrets from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Once in awhile I stumble across something that starts out mediocre, and then begins good. Not great mind you, but good. The Secrets We Keep is one of those novels you read when you don't want something light to read. I found the journal to be the most fascinating aspect here, and it shows us just how shallow all of these women are. No one here is likeable, and that's the point. At it's core, it's a book with a dark theme running throughout, but the problem is, it begins to run out of steam halfway through. The only saving grace here is the death of Sarah, and who exactly is the woman writing this journal. To me, this is the best character of the novel, but just like everyone else, she has her own secrets and I spent the entire book trying to figure out who this person was.
While I wanted to give this novel a couple of stars I began to really enjoy this book. There were quite a few curve balls thrown to keep it interesting, and by the end, I was impressed by Hayes' writing style. What she's crafted may seem predictable, and sure, maybe it is, but it's interesting and keeps you reading even when you begin to lose interest. Elizabeth is the draw here and not because of her illness. We're meant to believe that she's crazy, that because she has bipolar disorder we're supposed to believe she's an unfit mother, or that she should be treated differently. We know her marriage isn't perfect, and the cause of her illness is in fact her husband who Hayes clearly wants us to hate, and even question his motives.
It's not a literary masterpiece, but it works as a decent thriller that keeps you guessing even when you get tired of how shallow these women are. As a guy, I probably wasn't the ideal audience for this book, but what can I say? I read the blurb and thought it looked interesting. It was, even when it became tedious and preachy. The writing and plot really saved this from being a dull, lack luster read. If you like Desperate Housewives, you'll probably dig this one a lot.
May 4, 2018
Diablo Snuff - Carver Pike 5/5...
Diablo Snuff - Carver Pike 5/5 stars
I've never erotic horror before, but there's always a first time for everything right? I was given a copy of Carver's novella not knowing what to expect. Take the normal rules of horror and add a smidge of sex and presto. This is not a book for those who are weak and squeamish. Carver writes like a man possessed, a man who wants to shock his readers and has no trouble reaching into the dark recesses of his mind to do it.
At the core of this is what exactly is Diablo Snuff. While theit comes novella itself is short, it's a compulsive read that drags you along toward its violent shocking conclusion. Carver blends the eroticism with extreme horror, but here, it's not just for shock value. There's a genuine story here that's unique enough to please even the most jaded reader. While I may not like erotica, I do like horror and there's plenty of that to keep me hooked. Carver does a great job of balancing the two so they blend in together leaving the reader just as confused as Michael the lead character.
As I finished the book, I became a fan. This is a guy who writes well, and knows how to craft a story. It'll be interesting to see how well the next books in the series play out, and just how big of a part Michael plays in it going forward. This is a book written for people who want something different, something way out of their comfort zone.
I've never erotic horror before, but there's always a first time for everything right? I was given a copy of Carver's novella not knowing what to expect. Take the normal rules of horror and add a smidge of sex and presto. This is not a book for those who are weak and squeamish. Carver writes like a man possessed, a man who wants to shock his readers and has no trouble reaching into the dark recesses of his mind to do it.
At the core of this is what exactly is Diablo Snuff. While theit comes novella itself is short, it's a compulsive read that drags you along toward its violent shocking conclusion. Carver blends the eroticism with extreme horror, but here, it's not just for shock value. There's a genuine story here that's unique enough to please even the most jaded reader. While I may not like erotica, I do like horror and there's plenty of that to keep me hooked. Carver does a great job of balancing the two so they blend in together leaving the reader just as confused as Michael the lead character.
As I finished the book, I became a fan. This is a guy who writes well, and knows how to craft a story. It'll be interesting to see how well the next books in the series play out, and just how big of a part Michael plays in it going forward. This is a book written for people who want something different, something way out of their comfort zone.
March 11, 2018
What She Doesn't Know Andrew E. Kaufman 2/2 stars
I've read a lot of thrillers before. but this one frustrated me to no end. There's no doubt that Kaufman is a talented writer, but the novel feels like a bunch of ideas thrown together without any real thought to how it's going to turn out. The plot seems pretty straight forward, but the thing is by the middle of the book you begin to wonder why this is all happening. Sure, we all like plot twists, but this just left me scratching my head wondering how no one saw any of this coming. Let's be honest here and admit that it's kind of clever, but it couldn't really happen. How in the hell didn't anyone see any of this happening? Riley's sister is pretty much useless here, and Riley is pretty sketchy as a lead character which shouldn't really surprise us. It's not the story that frustrated me. it's the ending that left me practically throwing my Kindle across the room.
The truth is, I really liked this book, I did, but Kaufman's story slowly begins to unravel with the addition of Samantha. A lot of these books do have a few twists and turns which is why we keep reading them, but none of these characters seemed to have anything likable about them. You should at least have a lead character you like, and root for, but Riley is just boring, and not enough is told about her daughter's death to make us feel anything remotely like sympathy. Of course Samantha is a main part of the second half and she's an interesting character, but I would have liked to see more of her. When it's all explained it doesn't seem to have any weight. There is so much potential here, but I just couldn't get into this at all. I'm sure there are readers who will call me insane because I felt that the book was lacking something. There are pieces of other stories here in better books that have had a way bigger impact than this one did.
After reading it there was a bit of shock as it all began to settle in. The ending is built to surprise you, but to me it didn't make a whole lot of sense because you kind of expected it to end the way it did. Given what Riley has gone through and the subtle clues throughout the novel, it's not much of a surprise ending. As I guessed in the first few pages what would happen, and I was sort of right. In terms of pacing, Kaufman does a pretty good job of moving the story along even when the novel slowly goes off the rails. There's a lot of potential here for a great novel, yet to me it just felt okay. If anything, it's a pretty decent B, or C level thriller. You read it. and promptly forget about it.
February 24, 2018
Butt Stuff (The Book) - Jeff O'Brien 5/5 stars  ...
Butt Stuff (The Book) - Jeff O'Brien 5/5 stars
So, clearly the title of the book should be an indicator of what you're dealing with before you even read it. If you're easily triggered, or lack a sense of humor, you're going to hate this book. Before we even begin I should tell you that Jeff is the kind of writer who writes what he wants, and he doesn't really care about rules, and crosses over into the land of bad taste quite often. That's why he's such a good writer. He taps into that inner twelve year old in us that loves cheesy horror films, and juvenile comedy. The point is, Butt Stuff is a great introduction to his work. These are stories that are often laugh out loud funny while bordering on offensive to people who have no sense of humor. I would say to start here to get what O'Brien's work is about and then go into his other releases.
Butt Stuff is a collection of short fiction that gives us exactly what we expect. It's chock full of the kind stuff other writers usually don't write about. His characters resonate well because they're just like us. Jeff pokes fun at the world around us. Nothing is safe and thank Bob for a guy who writes fiction that you can't help but envision as a B-movie directed by Roger Corman. There's nothing serious about Butt Stuff, and I have to be honest and tell you even the introduction was bad ass. You'll find stories about talking Glory Holes, aliens, and yes, even butt stuff because isn't life all about the pursuit of life, liberty and butt stuff? If you lack a soul, you'll probably hate this, but this is exactly why Jeff is one of my favorite writers. I like books about boobs, and aliens, and yes, even butt stuff. If you've never read this guy's work, start here, and then move onto his other stuff, you won't be disappointed.
So, clearly the title of the book should be an indicator of what you're dealing with before you even read it. If you're easily triggered, or lack a sense of humor, you're going to hate this book. Before we even begin I should tell you that Jeff is the kind of writer who writes what he wants, and he doesn't really care about rules, and crosses over into the land of bad taste quite often. That's why he's such a good writer. He taps into that inner twelve year old in us that loves cheesy horror films, and juvenile comedy. The point is, Butt Stuff is a great introduction to his work. These are stories that are often laugh out loud funny while bordering on offensive to people who have no sense of humor. I would say to start here to get what O'Brien's work is about and then go into his other releases.
Butt Stuff is a collection of short fiction that gives us exactly what we expect. It's chock full of the kind stuff other writers usually don't write about. His characters resonate well because they're just like us. Jeff pokes fun at the world around us. Nothing is safe and thank Bob for a guy who writes fiction that you can't help but envision as a B-movie directed by Roger Corman. There's nothing serious about Butt Stuff, and I have to be honest and tell you even the introduction was bad ass. You'll find stories about talking Glory Holes, aliens, and yes, even butt stuff because isn't life all about the pursuit of life, liberty and butt stuff? If you lack a soul, you'll probably hate this, but this is exactly why Jeff is one of my favorite writers. I like books about boobs, and aliens, and yes, even butt stuff. If you've never read this guy's work, start here, and then move onto his other stuff, you won't be disappointed.
February 18, 2018
Cannibal Cheerleader - Tiffany Drake 5/5 stars  ...
Cannibal Cheerleader - Tiffany Drake 5/5 stars
When you see a book with the title Cannibal Cheerleader you have to read it because you know what to expect right out of the gate. This isn't going to break the sound barrier of decent, well written literature, but it's to be expected. If you had to describe this book it's pretty much exactly what you would expect. You're typical fish out of water story except the fish is a cannibal who is being hunted by the police. It's a mixture of Encino Man, and My Fair Lady, but it's actual a decent read. It's the perfect B-movie except it's in book form, and all of the typical cliches are there front and center.
Drake knows how to pace to pace the novel with enough laughs and cheese to keep it from growing stale. You know Chase is never going to fully reform, or even resemble a decent human and I expected that. I laughed out loud several times while reading this and she presents the cheerleaders exactly the way we imagine them to be. You'd have to be pretty stupid to bring a cannibal home and then try and turn her into a cheerleader. Chase is a great character, and one you can't help but like. Despite the fact that she's a cannibal. There's enough gore here to keep even the most jaded horror fan happy. If this were a movie, you'd cheer as Chase tries to blend into her new surroundings.
Cannibal Cheerleader is a blast to read because it combines horror with cheesy B-movie elements. A lot of the dialogue is eye roll inducing, but that's the whole point. As a horror fan, Drake manages to inject a great deal of comedy to create something unique. Reading this book is all about having fun, and not taking everything so seriously. The fact that it sometimes is so laughable is kind of the point. This is an author who's clearly having a blast, and the novel succeeds because of it. You can't help but root for Chase as she gnaws on the arm of a mannequin, or kills a jogger for breakfast. Is it for everyone? Of course not, but once you begin reading it, you can't stop until the gore soaked finale.
When you see a book with the title Cannibal Cheerleader you have to read it because you know what to expect right out of the gate. This isn't going to break the sound barrier of decent, well written literature, but it's to be expected. If you had to describe this book it's pretty much exactly what you would expect. You're typical fish out of water story except the fish is a cannibal who is being hunted by the police. It's a mixture of Encino Man, and My Fair Lady, but it's actual a decent read. It's the perfect B-movie except it's in book form, and all of the typical cliches are there front and center.
Drake knows how to pace to pace the novel with enough laughs and cheese to keep it from growing stale. You know Chase is never going to fully reform, or even resemble a decent human and I expected that. I laughed out loud several times while reading this and she presents the cheerleaders exactly the way we imagine them to be. You'd have to be pretty stupid to bring a cannibal home and then try and turn her into a cheerleader. Chase is a great character, and one you can't help but like. Despite the fact that she's a cannibal. There's enough gore here to keep even the most jaded horror fan happy. If this were a movie, you'd cheer as Chase tries to blend into her new surroundings.
Cannibal Cheerleader is a blast to read because it combines horror with cheesy B-movie elements. A lot of the dialogue is eye roll inducing, but that's the whole point. As a horror fan, Drake manages to inject a great deal of comedy to create something unique. Reading this book is all about having fun, and not taking everything so seriously. The fact that it sometimes is so laughable is kind of the point. This is an author who's clearly having a blast, and the novel succeeds because of it. You can't help but root for Chase as she gnaws on the arm of a mannequin, or kills a jogger for breakfast. Is it for everyone? Of course not, but once you begin reading it, you can't stop until the gore soaked finale.
February 14, 2018
The Daughter - Lucy Dawson 5/5 stars &nb...
The Daughter - Lucy Dawson 5/5 stars
The Daughter is an interesting book with an interesting premise, but I don't think you can call it straight up a straight up suspense thriller despite there being moments where it does follow the pattern. It's a novel filled with emotion, and decisions that no one should be forced to make especially after losing a child. When you have a book like this it's easy to latch onto a specific theme to hook your readers, and toward the last half of the book we find Dawson switching gears a bit and hit us with an interesting twist. Of course at the forefront the drive, and motivating force is all about the emotional impact key decisions cause.
While I did enjoy The Daughter, there are certain things that really made me roll my eyes. The thing is, I get the why, but it just doesn't come off as believable. Case in point the scene in the restaurant in which Jess tells Simon good-bye. While it shows the anguish Simon's wife is going through, it just isn't realistic or even possible. When you get to the scene, you'll know what I mean, and time wise? There's no way it could ever happen. Despite that, and a few other minor issues, it's still a great book. Dawson knows exactly how to pace the novel so you read it not knowing what's going to happen. From the premise we know something's about to happen and when it does, it's really shocking because it's unexpected and adds to the tension of the story.
Jess shouldn't be a character we like, but you can't help it given the fact that she just lost her daughter. We know she's made some mistakes, but Dawson gives her a vulnerability that makes you almost forget what's she's done. It's Simon's wife who is the villain in all of this. Sure, she has a reason for being angry, but she comes off as totally insane, which would make a lot of sense given the circumstances. These are all great characters that really propel the story along. No one sits in the background, not once. They all add something to the arc of the story and as the novel concludes, these are more than just characters. These are people you've come to know, and can't help but wonder how the story ends.
It's an excellent book full of twists and turns. It has just about everything you could want in a thriller without being totally predictable. It has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing which is exactly what a suspense thriller is supposed to do, and there's that whole emotional aspect which some people will become attached to. The thing is, it feels like a story that could really happen even with the moments that cause you to roll your eyes.
The Daughter is an interesting book with an interesting premise, but I don't think you can call it straight up a straight up suspense thriller despite there being moments where it does follow the pattern. It's a novel filled with emotion, and decisions that no one should be forced to make especially after losing a child. When you have a book like this it's easy to latch onto a specific theme to hook your readers, and toward the last half of the book we find Dawson switching gears a bit and hit us with an interesting twist. Of course at the forefront the drive, and motivating force is all about the emotional impact key decisions cause.
While I did enjoy The Daughter, there are certain things that really made me roll my eyes. The thing is, I get the why, but it just doesn't come off as believable. Case in point the scene in the restaurant in which Jess tells Simon good-bye. While it shows the anguish Simon's wife is going through, it just isn't realistic or even possible. When you get to the scene, you'll know what I mean, and time wise? There's no way it could ever happen. Despite that, and a few other minor issues, it's still a great book. Dawson knows exactly how to pace the novel so you read it not knowing what's going to happen. From the premise we know something's about to happen and when it does, it's really shocking because it's unexpected and adds to the tension of the story.
Jess shouldn't be a character we like, but you can't help it given the fact that she just lost her daughter. We know she's made some mistakes, but Dawson gives her a vulnerability that makes you almost forget what's she's done. It's Simon's wife who is the villain in all of this. Sure, she has a reason for being angry, but she comes off as totally insane, which would make a lot of sense given the circumstances. These are all great characters that really propel the story along. No one sits in the background, not once. They all add something to the arc of the story and as the novel concludes, these are more than just characters. These are people you've come to know, and can't help but wonder how the story ends.
It's an excellent book full of twists and turns. It has just about everything you could want in a thriller without being totally predictable. It has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing which is exactly what a suspense thriller is supposed to do, and there's that whole emotional aspect which some people will become attached to. The thing is, it feels like a story that could really happen even with the moments that cause you to roll your eyes.
January 23, 2018
The Night Manager - Jeff O'Brien 5/5 stars &n...
The Night Manager - Jeff O'Brien 5/5 stars
Once again Jeff has finally released another book, and I say it's about dang time. The Night Manager is a blast to read because it features all the stuff that Jeff enjoys. Aliens, and meat. It seems as if the book is about himself and his desire to be a hero. Makes sense when you think about it. Who doesn't want to save the world from an alien invasion? Doyle is the kind of hero we can relate to. He lives in a trailer park, he's fat, and he's stuck in a job where he makes very little money. Of course when he finally gets promoted the world goes to hell, and he finds himself thrust into a role he never imagined he'd be in. Of course it also throws in the comedic elements that have become an O'Brien staple.
When it comes to comedic horror, Jeff has really found his groove. The Night Manager is great B-rate comedy/horror with cheesy dialogue, and a plot that contains elements of the The Evil Dead, and Stephen King's The Mist. This is a guy who writes well and knows how to keep a plot moving. No matter what he writes, it's always a lot of fun to read. As the world falls apart it's Doyle who keeps everything moving, and you can't help but like the guy. He's all of us, and we need a character like this, and yeah, we all know that Doyle is really the author, but so what.. It's still a great read, and that's really all that matters. We need cheesy books like this. We need to laugh and forget about our troubles for a while.
While The Night Manager may not be sophisticated fiction it's the kind of stuff that Jeff O'Brien is known for. There's still a bit of sex in here, and a bit of gore, but it's not going to offend anyone. Of course it probably will, but this review serves as a warning to those straight laced folks who are looking for something a little less juvenile. This book is for the fans of B-films. The ones who laugh at fart jokes, and want to see a hero that fits their body type. This one is for the slackers, and the ones who want to be a hero, but just can't be bothered to get off the couch.
Once again Jeff has finally released another book, and I say it's about dang time. The Night Manager is a blast to read because it features all the stuff that Jeff enjoys. Aliens, and meat. It seems as if the book is about himself and his desire to be a hero. Makes sense when you think about it. Who doesn't want to save the world from an alien invasion? Doyle is the kind of hero we can relate to. He lives in a trailer park, he's fat, and he's stuck in a job where he makes very little money. Of course when he finally gets promoted the world goes to hell, and he finds himself thrust into a role he never imagined he'd be in. Of course it also throws in the comedic elements that have become an O'Brien staple.
When it comes to comedic horror, Jeff has really found his groove. The Night Manager is great B-rate comedy/horror with cheesy dialogue, and a plot that contains elements of the The Evil Dead, and Stephen King's The Mist. This is a guy who writes well and knows how to keep a plot moving. No matter what he writes, it's always a lot of fun to read. As the world falls apart it's Doyle who keeps everything moving, and you can't help but like the guy. He's all of us, and we need a character like this, and yeah, we all know that Doyle is really the author, but so what.. It's still a great read, and that's really all that matters. We need cheesy books like this. We need to laugh and forget about our troubles for a while.
While The Night Manager may not be sophisticated fiction it's the kind of stuff that Jeff O'Brien is known for. There's still a bit of sex in here, and a bit of gore, but it's not going to offend anyone. Of course it probably will, but this review serves as a warning to those straight laced folks who are looking for something a little less juvenile. This book is for the fans of B-films. The ones who laugh at fart jokes, and want to see a hero that fits their body type. This one is for the slackers, and the ones who want to be a hero, but just can't be bothered to get off the couch.
