Michael Noe's Blog, page 5
January 21, 2018
Keep Her Safe - Richard Jay Parker 5/5 stars &...
Keep Her Safe - Richard Jay Parker 5/5 stars
Here's another book I received from Netgalley and I should point out right away that nothing in this book could really happen. None of it, but Keep Her Safe isn't the type of book you gain anything from, and you don't read it to look like an intellectual. I know it sounds like I'm about to tear this book apart, but no, it's just a warning to those who want a book that does something more than entertain you. The plot is simple enough. Woman comes into kill another woman and things escalate pretty quickly. What would you do to protect your child? Turns out these women would do quite a bit because after all, we love our kids and would do anything to protect them.
So, as soon as things pick up you're going to need to suspend your disbelief for the remainder of the novel. Just strap your self in and enjoy the ride because that's what this is. It's a fast moving thriller that takes you on a thrilling ride
. The characters thankfully are women that you can really get behind. That's important because they're the keys to making this thing work. While Babysitter leads them on a wild goose chase it's important that you like them. They are interesting women who have a bond, and now must work together to get Holly's daughter back. It's a simple plot that moves at a break neck speed. The mystery of course is who is Babysitter, what's his end game? This is the thread that we as readers follow. Parker knows how to write a story filled with action and suspense and while totally implausible, it doesn't really matter because you become invested in the story and want to see how it all turns out.
This is the kind of thriller you just relax and read. The problem is, once you start, you can't stop, so whatever you do, don't read this before going to bed. You won't get much sleep. It's the type of thriller that reminds me a lot of James Patterson in terms of style and how you're just grabbed by the neck and lead along until the end of the book. Solid read and one I highly recommend.
Here's another book I received from Netgalley and I should point out right away that nothing in this book could really happen. None of it, but Keep Her Safe isn't the type of book you gain anything from, and you don't read it to look like an intellectual. I know it sounds like I'm about to tear this book apart, but no, it's just a warning to those who want a book that does something more than entertain you. The plot is simple enough. Woman comes into kill another woman and things escalate pretty quickly. What would you do to protect your child? Turns out these women would do quite a bit because after all, we love our kids and would do anything to protect them.
So, as soon as things pick up you're going to need to suspend your disbelief for the remainder of the novel. Just strap your self in and enjoy the ride because that's what this is. It's a fast moving thriller that takes you on a thrilling ride
. The characters thankfully are women that you can really get behind. That's important because they're the keys to making this thing work. While Babysitter leads them on a wild goose chase it's important that you like them. They are interesting women who have a bond, and now must work together to get Holly's daughter back. It's a simple plot that moves at a break neck speed. The mystery of course is who is Babysitter, what's his end game? This is the thread that we as readers follow. Parker knows how to write a story filled with action and suspense and while totally implausible, it doesn't really matter because you become invested in the story and want to see how it all turns out.
This is the kind of thriller you just relax and read. The problem is, once you start, you can't stop, so whatever you do, don't read this before going to bed. You won't get much sleep. It's the type of thriller that reminds me a lot of James Patterson in terms of style and how you're just grabbed by the neck and lead along until the end of the book. Solid read and one I highly recommend.
January 7, 2018
The Last Days Of Jack Sparks - Jason Arnopp 5/5 sta...
The Last Days Of Jack Sparks - Jason Arnopp 5/5 stars
Once in while you come across a novel that totally messes with your head in such a way you become absorbed in it to the point where you almost become obsessed. The Last Days Of Jack Sparks is one such novel. You can't call this a horror novel despite the horror elements, and you can't really call it a black comedy either. So what exactly is it? It's a seamless blending of genres that takes you on a trip. It's not always a pleasant trip, but it's a trip nonetheless. The thing is, we already know that Jack Sparks is going to die, but the how and the why are up to us to find out. It all starts at an exorcism, and all goes downhill from there. Sounds pretty simple right? No, actually it's not.
Jack Sparks isn't a nice man at all, and Arnopp makes it pretty easy to dislike Jack. At the core is one man's journey, and also his decline into madness. The novel takes a lot of twists and turns along the way but doesn't lose it's focus on Jack and there are even some parts of the novel that go against Jack's story so we get the truth. Jack is a bit of a jerk, and it's easy to dislike him until he begins to slowly unravel. We see just how vulnerable he is, and it's easy to question whether we would go to the same extremes as he does to prove that ghosts truly exist.
This is one of those novels that you have to read to fully experience what's going on. A review doesn't do it any justice. Arnopp is a great story teller that has created something unique. There's a dark comedy element running throughout, but it's the attention to detail that really grabs your attention. Simply put, once you start reading there's just no stopping. You become engrossed in Jack's story that you have to find out how it all ends. Then we can also add tragedy to the list of sub genres that are no doubt affiliated this book. No matter how much I say, the end is the same. The Last Days Of Jack Sparks is the kind of book you have to read to believe. All the reviews in the world can only tell you how great it is, but the experience of reading it is a personal one.
Once in while you come across a novel that totally messes with your head in such a way you become absorbed in it to the point where you almost become obsessed. The Last Days Of Jack Sparks is one such novel. You can't call this a horror novel despite the horror elements, and you can't really call it a black comedy either. So what exactly is it? It's a seamless blending of genres that takes you on a trip. It's not always a pleasant trip, but it's a trip nonetheless. The thing is, we already know that Jack Sparks is going to die, but the how and the why are up to us to find out. It all starts at an exorcism, and all goes downhill from there. Sounds pretty simple right? No, actually it's not.
Jack Sparks isn't a nice man at all, and Arnopp makes it pretty easy to dislike Jack. At the core is one man's journey, and also his decline into madness. The novel takes a lot of twists and turns along the way but doesn't lose it's focus on Jack and there are even some parts of the novel that go against Jack's story so we get the truth. Jack is a bit of a jerk, and it's easy to dislike him until he begins to slowly unravel. We see just how vulnerable he is, and it's easy to question whether we would go to the same extremes as he does to prove that ghosts truly exist.
This is one of those novels that you have to read to fully experience what's going on. A review doesn't do it any justice. Arnopp is a great story teller that has created something unique. There's a dark comedy element running throughout, but it's the attention to detail that really grabs your attention. Simply put, once you start reading there's just no stopping. You become engrossed in Jack's story that you have to find out how it all ends. Then we can also add tragedy to the list of sub genres that are no doubt affiliated this book. No matter how much I say, the end is the same. The Last Days Of Jack Sparks is the kind of book you have to read to believe. All the reviews in the world can only tell you how great it is, but the experience of reading it is a personal one.
January 4, 2018
The Long Deception - Mary McCluskey 5/5 stars ...
The Long Deception - Mary McCluskey 5/5 stars
The Long Deception is an interesting novel. When I got this from Netgalley I was under the impression it was a thriller, but it's not. I'm not disappointed by this at all because the novel works as literary fiction, or women's fiction which just sounds like a weird genre. I'm a guy and I loved this book, so why would you alienate men from reading this? That puzzles me a little and I hope men see this review and read the book. This a novel where the focus is on characters more than action. McCluskey is a talented author who tells a story with a huge twist at the end. Sophie's death changes things for Alison and you get to see her evolve and finally realize that the life she has isn't the life she wanted. We can all relate to that, and sometimes we have to make a choice that's terrible for others, but exactly what we need.
Matt seems to be the catalyst for all of this. It's a chance to reconnect and rekindle something she felt as a girl, but here's where everything goes a bit left. Nothing is how we see it, and Deception lives up to its title. I like the writing style, and the characters though older, never seem to lose sight of who they were. While a lot of novels would become stale without action, it's a novel that relishes in discovery. There's a bit of mystery here, but I don't think it would be enough to hold the attention span of a fan of white knuckled suspense which is unfortunate. It's easily one of my favorite novels and I couldn't put it down. There should be a warning here telling you that once you begin reading this there's no way to stop. I would close my Kindle app only to open it two seconds later. Highly addicting and the perfect novel to read when you want something that grabs you from the opening pages, and holds on until the final page is read.
The Long Deception is an interesting novel. When I got this from Netgalley I was under the impression it was a thriller, but it's not. I'm not disappointed by this at all because the novel works as literary fiction, or women's fiction which just sounds like a weird genre. I'm a guy and I loved this book, so why would you alienate men from reading this? That puzzles me a little and I hope men see this review and read the book. This a novel where the focus is on characters more than action. McCluskey is a talented author who tells a story with a huge twist at the end. Sophie's death changes things for Alison and you get to see her evolve and finally realize that the life she has isn't the life she wanted. We can all relate to that, and sometimes we have to make a choice that's terrible for others, but exactly what we need.
Matt seems to be the catalyst for all of this. It's a chance to reconnect and rekindle something she felt as a girl, but here's where everything goes a bit left. Nothing is how we see it, and Deception lives up to its title. I like the writing style, and the characters though older, never seem to lose sight of who they were. While a lot of novels would become stale without action, it's a novel that relishes in discovery. There's a bit of mystery here, but I don't think it would be enough to hold the attention span of a fan of white knuckled suspense which is unfortunate. It's easily one of my favorite novels and I couldn't put it down. There should be a warning here telling you that once you begin reading this there's no way to stop. I would close my Kindle app only to open it two seconds later. Highly addicting and the perfect novel to read when you want something that grabs you from the opening pages, and holds on until the final page is read.
December 16, 2017
Beneath The Scars - A.M. Carroll 1/5 stars &...
Beneath The Scars - A.M. Carroll 1/5 stars
I received a copy of Beneath The Scars from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
So what I thought would be a pretty decent suspense thriller turned out to be less about suspense, and more about romance, and annoying characters that almost induce vomiting. When you read a blurb you can almost guarantee that you know what you're getting into. Not the case here at all. If anything, the suspense is almost nonexistent, and the focus is mostly on Jay and Lacey, and it could work if they weren't so annoying, and well, let's just say they're boring. Nothing about this novel is suspenseful, and shouldn't even be classified as such. Even women who like this kind of stuff would be disappointed in Carroll's novel. It promises a great deal, but falls flat almost immediately,
Part of the problem are the characters. In any novel you want characters you can like, or even identify with, but here, these aren't people you like at all. Lacey is annoying and spends half the book pining for Jason who happens to be a jerk, and a womanizer. Even cheesy romance novels will give you characters to cheer for. It's painfully obvious here that these two will end up together, and that should be the blurb. The stalker or whatever is just an afterthought. It's not powerful enough to move the novel at all, and the resolution is just meh at best. Carroll isn't a bad writer, but the blurb is very misleading. If you're a fan of suspense well, you'll be swearing halfway through Beneath The Scars. There's no suspense here, and the only joy comes when you finally finish it. You may not even be able to do that. I skimmed through half of it just so I could be done with it. Maybe there is an audience here for this type of deception, but I can't say I liked it because I didn't. Not at all.
With every novel I read and review, I try and focus on something redeemable about the novel. Some plot, or character that stood out, but here? It was just boring, and pretty predictable. I may be in the minority here in trashing this novel, and I feel bad because there is a lot of potential here, but it's wasted on a weak plot and characters who act like characters in a cheesy novel. Why is the blurb so misleading?? Why was I swearing halfway through this novel? Do people really act like this? So, if you want a cheesy romance with very little suspense this is right up your alley, but for those looking for a serious good suspense thriller you should look elsewhere.
I received a copy of Beneath The Scars from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
So what I thought would be a pretty decent suspense thriller turned out to be less about suspense, and more about romance, and annoying characters that almost induce vomiting. When you read a blurb you can almost guarantee that you know what you're getting into. Not the case here at all. If anything, the suspense is almost nonexistent, and the focus is mostly on Jay and Lacey, and it could work if they weren't so annoying, and well, let's just say they're boring. Nothing about this novel is suspenseful, and shouldn't even be classified as such. Even women who like this kind of stuff would be disappointed in Carroll's novel. It promises a great deal, but falls flat almost immediately,
Part of the problem are the characters. In any novel you want characters you can like, or even identify with, but here, these aren't people you like at all. Lacey is annoying and spends half the book pining for Jason who happens to be a jerk, and a womanizer. Even cheesy romance novels will give you characters to cheer for. It's painfully obvious here that these two will end up together, and that should be the blurb. The stalker or whatever is just an afterthought. It's not powerful enough to move the novel at all, and the resolution is just meh at best. Carroll isn't a bad writer, but the blurb is very misleading. If you're a fan of suspense well, you'll be swearing halfway through Beneath The Scars. There's no suspense here, and the only joy comes when you finally finish it. You may not even be able to do that. I skimmed through half of it just so I could be done with it. Maybe there is an audience here for this type of deception, but I can't say I liked it because I didn't. Not at all.
With every novel I read and review, I try and focus on something redeemable about the novel. Some plot, or character that stood out, but here? It was just boring, and pretty predictable. I may be in the minority here in trashing this novel, and I feel bad because there is a lot of potential here, but it's wasted on a weak plot and characters who act like characters in a cheesy novel. Why is the blurb so misleading?? Why was I swearing halfway through this novel? Do people really act like this? So, if you want a cheesy romance with very little suspense this is right up your alley, but for those looking for a serious good suspense thriller you should look elsewhere.
November 30, 2017
Fast Times At Cine Mega Plex High 5/5 stars ...
Fast Times At Cine Mega Plex High 5/5 stars
This has been on my to be read list since it first came out, but then I got a bit sidetracked which happens more than I care to admit. As I looked through my Kindle app I rediscovered this and I began to read. Vaughn is a talented guy. He knows how to create these weird, sick stories, but they're well written, and laced with the right amount of black humor that you can't help but laugh at. It's a short story collection where all the stories are linked together, and influenced by various film genres. Thing is, Vaughn has put his own little spin on each genre so it becomes something a bit darker and far more twisted.
While it may offend some readers, if you're a fan of weird fiction, this is a classic that spoofs some iconic films, but I won't tell you which ones. It's your job to read the book and find out what they are. All I will tell you is each story is sure to make you either chuckle, or close the book in disgust. I've been a fan of this guys for awhile and it's nice to see him growing as a writer. He's not treading water and churning out the same type of book. With each release there's a natural progression which is essential when you're writing this type of fiction. The only issue is the length of the book. Way too short, and I read it in just over an hour. Still, it's a decent collection that you need to read if you're a fan of this kind of fiction.
So, as with any short story collection, I never review each story individually. I grade it as a whole and this one flows nicely. You have the same recurring characters to link all the stories together. This makes it feel more like a book instead of just a collection of stories. The glue that holds it all together is the high school and the characters who are named after a genre of film. It makes the book unique and while it seems like an insane idea, it works. Each character invokes a different reaction from the reader, and the pure insanity of it all is what makes it so good. Mega Plex isn't weird just to be weird, but even if it was so what. It's a lot of fun to read and sometimes that's enough. Having the talent to pull it off is just an added bonus.
This has been on my to be read list since it first came out, but then I got a bit sidetracked which happens more than I care to admit. As I looked through my Kindle app I rediscovered this and I began to read. Vaughn is a talented guy. He knows how to create these weird, sick stories, but they're well written, and laced with the right amount of black humor that you can't help but laugh at. It's a short story collection where all the stories are linked together, and influenced by various film genres. Thing is, Vaughn has put his own little spin on each genre so it becomes something a bit darker and far more twisted.
While it may offend some readers, if you're a fan of weird fiction, this is a classic that spoofs some iconic films, but I won't tell you which ones. It's your job to read the book and find out what they are. All I will tell you is each story is sure to make you either chuckle, or close the book in disgust. I've been a fan of this guys for awhile and it's nice to see him growing as a writer. He's not treading water and churning out the same type of book. With each release there's a natural progression which is essential when you're writing this type of fiction. The only issue is the length of the book. Way too short, and I read it in just over an hour. Still, it's a decent collection that you need to read if you're a fan of this kind of fiction.
So, as with any short story collection, I never review each story individually. I grade it as a whole and this one flows nicely. You have the same recurring characters to link all the stories together. This makes it feel more like a book instead of just a collection of stories. The glue that holds it all together is the high school and the characters who are named after a genre of film. It makes the book unique and while it seems like an insane idea, it works. Each character invokes a different reaction from the reader, and the pure insanity of it all is what makes it so good. Mega Plex isn't weird just to be weird, but even if it was so what. It's a lot of fun to read and sometimes that's enough. Having the talent to pull it off is just an added bonus.
November 26, 2017
Foxy Knoxy
Waiting To Be Heard - Amanda Knox 3/5 stars
Books like these are expected to change the way people see you, and offer some sort of insight into who you are as a person. If you're Amanda Knox, odds are you're still going to hate you simply because she was the most hated woman in Italy, and who knows, maybe she still is. When you're paid 4 million bucks to write a book it better be good, or at the least try and convince people you're not a sadistic, heartless bitch. Amanda's book does that. It shows that she isn't just a pretty face for a penchant for casual sex, or a burning hate in her heart for Meredith Kirchner. Amanda spent four years of her life in an Italian prison for a crime she didn't commit, and the police were convinced that she and her boyfriend did it. Even when the facts failed to add up, or even point to Amanda and her boyfriend. If you hate Amanda, you will probably still hate her, but hey, at least we tried to get you to like her.
So, this is Amanda's story, in her own words. There are some things that make no sense like the way she reported the crime, and a lot of times, we could really use some explanations. Is it just her ignorance at play, or is there something else going on? The fact is, the book presents a fair argument in regards to her innocence, but I would have liked to have learned more about her friendship with Meredith. The odd part here is that it's merely glossed over, and there's not enough here to show just how close these two were. Amanda was on trial for killing this woman, and there's not a whole lot here about her. We get front row seats with her interrogators, and her fear, and shock over being wrongly accused. The bulk of the book is in fact her mistreatment by the police. What she endured was shocking and sad, and there are numerous reasons for this. Even the press, and tabloids were convinced that she was guilty even though there was nothing to place her, or Rafael at the crime scene.
Waiting To Be Heard is a convincing novel that shows that Amanda is innocent, and the Italian police were on a witch hunt to prosecute her because of their own personal agenda. She goes into great detail to show how her actions were misconstrued in the media, and to show that deep down, she's just a victim like Meredith with the exception that Amanda's still alive. It's an interesting read that tries hard to set the record straight. She's a decent writer, but like all books like this they lack a little something. Amanda's story isn't terrible, and does what it sets out to do, but it's up to the reader to figure out of it's the truth. Of course, even then, there are books out there that swear Amanda is guilty, but who knows. Maybe she is, and maybe those people are full of shit.
Books like these are expected to change the way people see you, and offer some sort of insight into who you are as a person. If you're Amanda Knox, odds are you're still going to hate you simply because she was the most hated woman in Italy, and who knows, maybe she still is. When you're paid 4 million bucks to write a book it better be good, or at the least try and convince people you're not a sadistic, heartless bitch. Amanda's book does that. It shows that she isn't just a pretty face for a penchant for casual sex, or a burning hate in her heart for Meredith Kirchner. Amanda spent four years of her life in an Italian prison for a crime she didn't commit, and the police were convinced that she and her boyfriend did it. Even when the facts failed to add up, or even point to Amanda and her boyfriend. If you hate Amanda, you will probably still hate her, but hey, at least we tried to get you to like her.
So, this is Amanda's story, in her own words. There are some things that make no sense like the way she reported the crime, and a lot of times, we could really use some explanations. Is it just her ignorance at play, or is there something else going on? The fact is, the book presents a fair argument in regards to her innocence, but I would have liked to have learned more about her friendship with Meredith. The odd part here is that it's merely glossed over, and there's not enough here to show just how close these two were. Amanda was on trial for killing this woman, and there's not a whole lot here about her. We get front row seats with her interrogators, and her fear, and shock over being wrongly accused. The bulk of the book is in fact her mistreatment by the police. What she endured was shocking and sad, and there are numerous reasons for this. Even the press, and tabloids were convinced that she was guilty even though there was nothing to place her, or Rafael at the crime scene.
Waiting To Be Heard is a convincing novel that shows that Amanda is innocent, and the Italian police were on a witch hunt to prosecute her because of their own personal agenda. She goes into great detail to show how her actions were misconstrued in the media, and to show that deep down, she's just a victim like Meredith with the exception that Amanda's still alive. It's an interesting read that tries hard to set the record straight. She's a decent writer, but like all books like this they lack a little something. Amanda's story isn't terrible, and does what it sets out to do, but it's up to the reader to figure out of it's the truth. Of course, even then, there are books out there that swear Amanda is guilty, but who knows. Maybe she is, and maybe those people are full of shit.
November 16, 2017
Youth Gone Wild?
Sebastian Bach - 18 And Life On Skid Row 3/5
First off, I want to say how disappointed I am in the poster that came with the book. I was expecting the bloated, puffy, Sebastian Back circa 2017, but what I got was Sebastian Bach circa 1991. Isn't that false advertising? Why even include a poster on the back of a slip cover anyway? Secondly, did we even need this book? Skid Row's first two albums were perfect hard rock and metal, and then they just disappeared because they started to suck. Of course we may have the answer we've all wanted for twenty years. Why did they fire this guy? Wasn't he after all the voice of Skid Row? I dunno, but when I saw the price of the hardcover vs the cost of the paperback I figured I should check it out. I was once a fan of Skid Row, and then there was that whole Vh1 show called Supergroups.
So, the first mistake here is allowing Bach to write his own biography. The guy is all over the place and guess what? For a life story, it's quite lacking. We hear about his first wife Maria, and then we see that she's pregnant, and guess what? Nothing else is mentioned until he hooks up with Christina Applegate and he declares how much he loves his wife. A wife he have yet to meet, or even hear about. What we do get is the wild crazy Bachinator. A guy who parties hard, and we get to read about it a lot. I mean, the entire book is really about his drinking and taking drugs. The facts of his life are very few and far between. Back comes off immature, and not very likable. We don't get to know him a whole lot which is kind of the point of these damn books.
I learned exactly why a ghost writer is important, and if Bach had one, this would have been a far better book. We would have had his entire history instead of just snippets that Bach throws in randomly. Let's also face the fact that Bach loves to drop names. It's almost as if he wants us to think he's a lot cooler than he really is. So, if you're not a fan, or even if you are a fan, you can skip this book, or wait until it hit it hits your local bargain bin. You won't learn anything here unless it's how to consume blow, and alcohol and pretty much be a douche. That's the extent of the book. Bach wrote about his parties, not his life. Yeah, seriously.
Okay, so I did give it three stars because it was a bit entertaining in an odd sort of way. Bach is immature and clearly has a hard time focusing, but that's what makes the book less of a train wreck than it appears. I may not have learned a lot about Back as a person, but man does he have some funny stories, and oddly, the book comes alive when he talks about his time on Broadway, and the loss of his father. That's near the end of the book folks. Until that point you have stories, but nothing about Bach's personal life, or the woman he married twenty years ago. The facts don't matter, but man, the guy can really tell a good story.
First off, I want to say how disappointed I am in the poster that came with the book. I was expecting the bloated, puffy, Sebastian Back circa 2017, but what I got was Sebastian Bach circa 1991. Isn't that false advertising? Why even include a poster on the back of a slip cover anyway? Secondly, did we even need this book? Skid Row's first two albums were perfect hard rock and metal, and then they just disappeared because they started to suck. Of course we may have the answer we've all wanted for twenty years. Why did they fire this guy? Wasn't he after all the voice of Skid Row? I dunno, but when I saw the price of the hardcover vs the cost of the paperback I figured I should check it out. I was once a fan of Skid Row, and then there was that whole Vh1 show called Supergroups.
So, the first mistake here is allowing Bach to write his own biography. The guy is all over the place and guess what? For a life story, it's quite lacking. We hear about his first wife Maria, and then we see that she's pregnant, and guess what? Nothing else is mentioned until he hooks up with Christina Applegate and he declares how much he loves his wife. A wife he have yet to meet, or even hear about. What we do get is the wild crazy Bachinator. A guy who parties hard, and we get to read about it a lot. I mean, the entire book is really about his drinking and taking drugs. The facts of his life are very few and far between. Back comes off immature, and not very likable. We don't get to know him a whole lot which is kind of the point of these damn books.
I learned exactly why a ghost writer is important, and if Bach had one, this would have been a far better book. We would have had his entire history instead of just snippets that Bach throws in randomly. Let's also face the fact that Bach loves to drop names. It's almost as if he wants us to think he's a lot cooler than he really is. So, if you're not a fan, or even if you are a fan, you can skip this book, or wait until it hit it hits your local bargain bin. You won't learn anything here unless it's how to consume blow, and alcohol and pretty much be a douche. That's the extent of the book. Bach wrote about his parties, not his life. Yeah, seriously.
Okay, so I did give it three stars because it was a bit entertaining in an odd sort of way. Bach is immature and clearly has a hard time focusing, but that's what makes the book less of a train wreck than it appears. I may not have learned a lot about Back as a person, but man does he have some funny stories, and oddly, the book comes alive when he talks about his time on Broadway, and the loss of his father. That's near the end of the book folks. Until that point you have stories, but nothing about Bach's personal life, or the woman he married twenty years ago. The facts don't matter, but man, the guy can really tell a good story.
November 15, 2017
Psycho Circus: A Collection Of Horror - T.S. Woolar...
Psycho Circus: A Collection Of Horror - T.S. Woolard 5/5 stars
I received a copy of Psycho Circus in exchange for an honest review
When you call a book Psycho Circus, you better deliver something unique, or at least a little weird. I've read a lot of weird books, and I've read a lot of extreme books as well. To describe this one would be a mixture of the two. While it's not a straight up horror collection, it's still pretty damn good. The problem I find with a lot of extreme horror is that it lacks a clear plot, and only wants to beat the reader into submission with its brutality. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I crave a little more from my books.
Woolard is a decent writer that explores the dark side of human nature and these tales aren't for everyone. Quite a few of them are pretty disturbing, but there's a reason for this. It's just the way the stories evolve, and you drift from story to story wondering what's next. The guy has talent, and a way of presenting his stories. As I read Psycho Circus I couldn't help but wonder what inspired these stories, and adding to the darkness is poetry that is clearly influenced by Poe. This is a collection for those that like their fiction dark. There's no other way to describe it, and sure, there's a bit of violence, but there's a reason behind it all. As a collection, it flows well, and the poetry gives it a bit more depth. Woolard is the kind of writer that pulls his influences from a variety of places to create something unique. Horror fiction can be pretty stale so it's good to have a book like this to lure us into the darkness.
If you like your fiction dark, and a little disturbing, this one's for you. He writes like a man possessed either by real, or personal demons, but thankfully, he's writing, and what a writer he is. To review each story would take way way too long, and I like to review these as a whole. How well does it flow? Are there any clunkers? It flows well, and as far as clunkers go, there isn't a bad story in the bunch. This is a decent collection, and shows a writer with immense talent trying to find a fan base. Psycho Circus is a nod to darker fiction which I miss. We don't see a lot of dark fiction anymore, but I have a feeling Woolard is about to change that.
I received a copy of Psycho Circus in exchange for an honest review
When you call a book Psycho Circus, you better deliver something unique, or at least a little weird. I've read a lot of weird books, and I've read a lot of extreme books as well. To describe this one would be a mixture of the two. While it's not a straight up horror collection, it's still pretty damn good. The problem I find with a lot of extreme horror is that it lacks a clear plot, and only wants to beat the reader into submission with its brutality. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I crave a little more from my books.
Woolard is a decent writer that explores the dark side of human nature and these tales aren't for everyone. Quite a few of them are pretty disturbing, but there's a reason for this. It's just the way the stories evolve, and you drift from story to story wondering what's next. The guy has talent, and a way of presenting his stories. As I read Psycho Circus I couldn't help but wonder what inspired these stories, and adding to the darkness is poetry that is clearly influenced by Poe. This is a collection for those that like their fiction dark. There's no other way to describe it, and sure, there's a bit of violence, but there's a reason behind it all. As a collection, it flows well, and the poetry gives it a bit more depth. Woolard is the kind of writer that pulls his influences from a variety of places to create something unique. Horror fiction can be pretty stale so it's good to have a book like this to lure us into the darkness.
If you like your fiction dark, and a little disturbing, this one's for you. He writes like a man possessed either by real, or personal demons, but thankfully, he's writing, and what a writer he is. To review each story would take way way too long, and I like to review these as a whole. How well does it flow? Are there any clunkers? It flows well, and as far as clunkers go, there isn't a bad story in the bunch. This is a decent collection, and shows a writer with immense talent trying to find a fan base. Psycho Circus is a nod to darker fiction which I miss. We don't see a lot of dark fiction anymore, but I have a feeling Woolard is about to change that.
November 13, 2017
The Rise And Fall Of WCW
Controversy Creates Cash - Eric Bischoff
Here's the interesting thing about Bischoff's biography. It's not your typical bio, and for some it's exactly what you expect it to be. Not a story of a man's life, but a story about a company called WCW. That's why most of us picked up this book. Hell, it's why I paid 2.99 for it on Kindle. I'm sure Bischoff has lead an interesting life, but Eric himself knows why we're all gathered here to read his book. There are a few interesting notes about his personal life, but the focus here is on his career as the guy who killed WCW. He was the most hated man in professional wrestling and for good reason. I want some dirt, and I want to see pics of Eric hoisting that dirt onto the bodies of his enemies.
Anyway, Controversy is an inside look at what exactly happened with WCW, and how he became the man in charge. From the way he talks, everything just fell into his lap, he never pursued anything. He doesn't dish a lot of dirt which is surprising given how much people have talked about him over the years. His most hated enemies are the dirt sheets, and there's even a bit about Paul Heyman and the legendary ECW. For the most part he details his struggles with management, and how they squashed his vision. This is a guy who made a company great, and then watched it all fall apart before his eyes. If you believe Eric, none of this is his fault. His hands were tied.
If you're a wrestling fan, this is a must read because it gives you the story from Eric's point of view. There's not much here in the way of his life after he begins working for the AWA, but it's exactly what he set out to do and that was simply set the record straight once and for all. Unlike other biographies this isn't the story of a man, but a man and a company. A company he helped make great and then lost. It is a little dry in places, and the swipes you expect toward people he's worked with never happen. He keeps things as honest as he can, and keeps the story about his struggles with others, but never the wrestlers themselves. He's too smart for that and needs to keep that door to wrestling open.
If this wasn't a book sanctioned by the WWE I think it could have been a lot less friendly, and more honest, but as a fan of wrestling, I'll take what I can get. For what it is, it's a great book that focuses less on a man's life and more on a man's journey through a company that ultimately let him down. Finally, the truth about the rise and fall of WCW from the man himself. Interesting and hopefully now Eric can finally get some relief from the fans who thought he killed their favorite wrestling promotion.
Here's the interesting thing about Bischoff's biography. It's not your typical bio, and for some it's exactly what you expect it to be. Not a story of a man's life, but a story about a company called WCW. That's why most of us picked up this book. Hell, it's why I paid 2.99 for it on Kindle. I'm sure Bischoff has lead an interesting life, but Eric himself knows why we're all gathered here to read his book. There are a few interesting notes about his personal life, but the focus here is on his career as the guy who killed WCW. He was the most hated man in professional wrestling and for good reason. I want some dirt, and I want to see pics of Eric hoisting that dirt onto the bodies of his enemies.
Anyway, Controversy is an inside look at what exactly happened with WCW, and how he became the man in charge. From the way he talks, everything just fell into his lap, he never pursued anything. He doesn't dish a lot of dirt which is surprising given how much people have talked about him over the years. His most hated enemies are the dirt sheets, and there's even a bit about Paul Heyman and the legendary ECW. For the most part he details his struggles with management, and how they squashed his vision. This is a guy who made a company great, and then watched it all fall apart before his eyes. If you believe Eric, none of this is his fault. His hands were tied.
If you're a wrestling fan, this is a must read because it gives you the story from Eric's point of view. There's not much here in the way of his life after he begins working for the AWA, but it's exactly what he set out to do and that was simply set the record straight once and for all. Unlike other biographies this isn't the story of a man, but a man and a company. A company he helped make great and then lost. It is a little dry in places, and the swipes you expect toward people he's worked with never happen. He keeps things as honest as he can, and keeps the story about his struggles with others, but never the wrestlers themselves. He's too smart for that and needs to keep that door to wrestling open.
If this wasn't a book sanctioned by the WWE I think it could have been a lot less friendly, and more honest, but as a fan of wrestling, I'll take what I can get. For what it is, it's a great book that focuses less on a man's life and more on a man's journey through a company that ultimately let him down. Finally, the truth about the rise and fall of WCW from the man himself. Interesting and hopefully now Eric can finally get some relief from the fans who thought he killed their favorite wrestling promotion.
November 9, 2017
Halloween Carnival Vol 4 Various Authors 5/5 stars&...
Halloween Carnival Vol 4 Various Authors 5/5 stars
I received a copy of Halloween Carnival Volume 4 from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
So far the series has been pretty decent, and I like that the series has remained strong throughout. These have all been great and each volume has kept the gore and violence down to a minimum. This is really a series for all fans of horror. Each volume has a little something for everyone which is what makes it so great. After reading volume 4 it's clear that if you want to start this series out of order, you should start here. This one is the one you must read, and the sad thing is I haven't even made it to the last volume yet, and I'm already declaring this one the clear cut winner.
What makes this one so good? The novella Where The Leaves Fall is a head scratcher of a tale, but it's written so well, and is just creepy enough to make you keep reading to find out what's wrong with this town, and then of course you have Ray Garton who never fails to disappoint, and the Mannequin Challenge is just creepy and odd. The stories here are simply amazing and are perfect for those chilly October nights, or if you're like me, anytime at all really. When you have a great collection like this why save it for Halloween? Read it anytime at all. Volume 4 is a horror fan's dream because all of these stories work well, and it elevates the series.
The greatest thing about this series is that you have newer writers mixed in with people you're already familiar with. It breathes new life into the genre and introduces these new faces to a wider audience. This has been a great series full of great stories that should become a Halloween tradition Each volume contains just five stories so it doesn't take a lot of time to read through them. I read the first four volumes in under a day, and now as I prepare for volume 5 I feel a little sad because it's slowly winding down. How will volume 5 stack up? I guess we'll find out soon enough.
I received a copy of Halloween Carnival Volume 4 from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
So far the series has been pretty decent, and I like that the series has remained strong throughout. These have all been great and each volume has kept the gore and violence down to a minimum. This is really a series for all fans of horror. Each volume has a little something for everyone which is what makes it so great. After reading volume 4 it's clear that if you want to start this series out of order, you should start here. This one is the one you must read, and the sad thing is I haven't even made it to the last volume yet, and I'm already declaring this one the clear cut winner.
What makes this one so good? The novella Where The Leaves Fall is a head scratcher of a tale, but it's written so well, and is just creepy enough to make you keep reading to find out what's wrong with this town, and then of course you have Ray Garton who never fails to disappoint, and the Mannequin Challenge is just creepy and odd. The stories here are simply amazing and are perfect for those chilly October nights, or if you're like me, anytime at all really. When you have a great collection like this why save it for Halloween? Read it anytime at all. Volume 4 is a horror fan's dream because all of these stories work well, and it elevates the series.
The greatest thing about this series is that you have newer writers mixed in with people you're already familiar with. It breathes new life into the genre and introduces these new faces to a wider audience. This has been a great series full of great stories that should become a Halloween tradition Each volume contains just five stories so it doesn't take a lot of time to read through them. I read the first four volumes in under a day, and now as I prepare for volume 5 I feel a little sad because it's slowly winding down. How will volume 5 stack up? I guess we'll find out soon enough.
