Michael Noe's Blog, page 9
May 17, 2017
When She Woke - Hillary Jordan 5/5 &nb...
When She Woke - Hillary Jordan 5/5
I saw this in the library and was pretty much sold when it said it was a modern retelling of The Scarlett Letter, but it also channels The Handmaid's Tale. It could even be a companion piece. If you've never read Tale, you really should. This book could even be your gateway to all things Margaret Atwood who happens to be an amazing writer. What I don't recommend is picking this for a reading group, or any group that matter. If you want the night to end in fist fights by all means pick this one and have yourself a ball. The basic thing is that abortion is now illegal, and the Christians have taken over America. Instead of sending people to prison they're now rehabilitated and genetically altered. Red of course being the color of murder. There's also other colors, like yellow, and blue. Think of the world as a giant bowl of M&M's and you have the general idea. So, Hannah not only has an abortion which is considered murder, but she has an affair with a Joel Osteen type.
The story itself is well written, and easy to follow. It's a novel designed to make you think and if you're one of those right wing, dangerous folks, you'll cheer your head off at how Hanna's world is exactly how you think it should be, but towards the end, you'll be fuming at how it all ends. It's a powerful, gripping novel that shows us exactly where we could be heading as a society if we don't wake up and do something. There's a lot of things going on in Jordan's novel, but she doesn't waste any time in keeping things moving. This is after all Hanna's story, and what I loved most is she doesn't play her as a victim. She suffers so much, yet instead of getting weaker, it only makes her stronger. The evolution of Hannah is really what drives the novel. In a book like this, you're given a what if scenario, a scenario that could really happen. It's a precautionary tale, as well as a story of strength in times of adversity.
Needless to say, this is easily one of my favorite novels, and one that you simply don't read, you let it roll around in your head a bit, you find yourself thinking about it days later. Jordan is a great story teller that knows how to keep a story moving, and evolving. The religious characters are well written and far more dangerous than the chromes. The relgion that Jordan weaves in is one we've all encountered before. God is not a God of love here. He's an angry God, filling the world with poison that seeps into your lungs, and takes away all rational thought. Hanna's world is one of sadness, and fear. Simply put, if you're easily offended, this is one you should skip. The evolution of Hanna, and her eventual rejection of her faith follows the context of the novel. It's religion that ultimately betrays her, and leads her to make the decisions that she does. Good stuff, and one you should definately check out.
I saw this in the library and was pretty much sold when it said it was a modern retelling of The Scarlett Letter, but it also channels The Handmaid's Tale. It could even be a companion piece. If you've never read Tale, you really should. This book could even be your gateway to all things Margaret Atwood who happens to be an amazing writer. What I don't recommend is picking this for a reading group, or any group that matter. If you want the night to end in fist fights by all means pick this one and have yourself a ball. The basic thing is that abortion is now illegal, and the Christians have taken over America. Instead of sending people to prison they're now rehabilitated and genetically altered. Red of course being the color of murder. There's also other colors, like yellow, and blue. Think of the world as a giant bowl of M&M's and you have the general idea. So, Hannah not only has an abortion which is considered murder, but she has an affair with a Joel Osteen type.
The story itself is well written, and easy to follow. It's a novel designed to make you think and if you're one of those right wing, dangerous folks, you'll cheer your head off at how Hanna's world is exactly how you think it should be, but towards the end, you'll be fuming at how it all ends. It's a powerful, gripping novel that shows us exactly where we could be heading as a society if we don't wake up and do something. There's a lot of things going on in Jordan's novel, but she doesn't waste any time in keeping things moving. This is after all Hanna's story, and what I loved most is she doesn't play her as a victim. She suffers so much, yet instead of getting weaker, it only makes her stronger. The evolution of Hannah is really what drives the novel. In a book like this, you're given a what if scenario, a scenario that could really happen. It's a precautionary tale, as well as a story of strength in times of adversity.
Needless to say, this is easily one of my favorite novels, and one that you simply don't read, you let it roll around in your head a bit, you find yourself thinking about it days later. Jordan is a great story teller that knows how to keep a story moving, and evolving. The religious characters are well written and far more dangerous than the chromes. The relgion that Jordan weaves in is one we've all encountered before. God is not a God of love here. He's an angry God, filling the world with poison that seeps into your lungs, and takes away all rational thought. Hanna's world is one of sadness, and fear. Simply put, if you're easily offended, this is one you should skip. The evolution of Hanna, and her eventual rejection of her faith follows the context of the novel. It's religion that ultimately betrays her, and leads her to make the decisions that she does. Good stuff, and one you should definately check out.
April 28, 2017
The Cuckoo's Calling - Robert Galbraith 3/5 stars &...
The Cuckoo's Calling - Robert Galbraith 3/5 stars
It has to suck being J.K. Rowling. Sure, the money's pretty decent, but after writing the Potter series where do you go? The fans are expecting another kid series, and the non Potter fans want to see her fall on her face in a big steaming pile of failure. I've read one Potter book, and have yet to read Casual Vacancy so, I can be pretty fair and balanced when it comes to this book. There are some fans I'm sure who were pretty upset when they realized that the first Cormoran Strike novel was their beloved Rowling writing under a pen name, and came out in droves to protest her second adult novel. With the pen name, she got a little breathing room, and less pressure. If it doesn't sell well, at least it's not going to be a big deal, but fail under her own name, and all hell would break loose. Angry fans are just going to hate on the novel because it's not Potter, and it's an adult novel so they're going to feel betrayed, while non Potter fans are just checking out to see what the big deal is.
The Cuckoo's calling is an interesting premise and brings back the crime novel, or at least attempts too. We have Strike who is your typical P.I. hired to investigate the death of Lulu Landry to see if it was an actual suicide. There's not a whole lot of new ground tread here, and fans of crime novels will no doubt love this. Strike is a big guy with problems of his own, and the case comes at a time when his life seems to be falling apart. Galbraith (Rowling) is a talented writer who allows you to get to know Strike as well as all the other characters in the novel and he (she) has a great eye for detail so you don't just feel as if you're reading a novel, you're right there throughout the investigation. As a first book in a series he (she) allows you to get to know Strike just enough so you'll either like him, or hate him. There's no middle ground.
In crime novels like these, they're pretty predictable, but this one has a bit of originality. Problem is it moves so slow, and doesn't really pick up steam until the second half. At times it does become a bit tedious as Strike tries to solve the case, and the glimpses we get of his personal life do break up the monotony, but it still drags quite a bit. If this'd been a shorter read it would have worked, but there's quite a bit of filler here. Galbraith (Rowling) has talent, but at times it just feels as if he's (she's) just trying too hard. Now that we know this is Rowling you can almost see she's just trying to show people she's capable of writing a book that doesn't include wizards, or magic. For the most part it works. I'm not a fan of crime novels, but this one isn't bad. A little too long, but not terrible. As the book wound toward its conclusion I knew I'd check out the 2nd Strike novel and hope it's a better read than this was.
It has to suck being J.K. Rowling. Sure, the money's pretty decent, but after writing the Potter series where do you go? The fans are expecting another kid series, and the non Potter fans want to see her fall on her face in a big steaming pile of failure. I've read one Potter book, and have yet to read Casual Vacancy so, I can be pretty fair and balanced when it comes to this book. There are some fans I'm sure who were pretty upset when they realized that the first Cormoran Strike novel was their beloved Rowling writing under a pen name, and came out in droves to protest her second adult novel. With the pen name, she got a little breathing room, and less pressure. If it doesn't sell well, at least it's not going to be a big deal, but fail under her own name, and all hell would break loose. Angry fans are just going to hate on the novel because it's not Potter, and it's an adult novel so they're going to feel betrayed, while non Potter fans are just checking out to see what the big deal is.
The Cuckoo's calling is an interesting premise and brings back the crime novel, or at least attempts too. We have Strike who is your typical P.I. hired to investigate the death of Lulu Landry to see if it was an actual suicide. There's not a whole lot of new ground tread here, and fans of crime novels will no doubt love this. Strike is a big guy with problems of his own, and the case comes at a time when his life seems to be falling apart. Galbraith (Rowling) is a talented writer who allows you to get to know Strike as well as all the other characters in the novel and he (she) has a great eye for detail so you don't just feel as if you're reading a novel, you're right there throughout the investigation. As a first book in a series he (she) allows you to get to know Strike just enough so you'll either like him, or hate him. There's no middle ground.
In crime novels like these, they're pretty predictable, but this one has a bit of originality. Problem is it moves so slow, and doesn't really pick up steam until the second half. At times it does become a bit tedious as Strike tries to solve the case, and the glimpses we get of his personal life do break up the monotony, but it still drags quite a bit. If this'd been a shorter read it would have worked, but there's quite a bit of filler here. Galbraith (Rowling) has talent, but at times it just feels as if he's (she's) just trying too hard. Now that we know this is Rowling you can almost see she's just trying to show people she's capable of writing a book that doesn't include wizards, or magic. For the most part it works. I'm not a fan of crime novels, but this one isn't bad. A little too long, but not terrible. As the book wound toward its conclusion I knew I'd check out the 2nd Strike novel and hope it's a better read than this was.
April 16, 2017
Presto!: How I Made Over 100 Pounds Disappear and Other M...
Presto!: How I Made Over 100 Pounds Disappear and Other Magical Tales - Penn Jillette 5/5 stars
I received a copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Problem was, I had some tablet issues, but once they were resolved I couldn't find the book anywhere. I did manage to find it and here is my review of Presto!
If you're looking for a how to book on dieting you're going to be disappointed by Jillette's book. What we have is the story of a fat fuck (his words not mine) suddenly losing over a hundred pounds, and not a book telling you how to do it because the way in which he did it is batshit insane! I wasn't looking to lose weight anyway, so that part doesn't bother me, but I wanted to see how he lost the weight, so I got what I wanted out of the book. The book is an amusing, vulgar journey so if you're aren't familiar with Penn's style he sometimes comes off crude, but it's funny. Who knew dieting could be so much fun? There are times I felt as if I was reading the ramblings of a lunatic who would have renounced the majority of this on his own show called Bullshit, but it's all real. The new Penn is lean, mean, and could have an unhealthy addiction to Tobasco sauce.
Penn tells you not to follow any diet, including this one without consulting a doctor first and there's a reason for that. This was a fat man losing a great amount of weight in a pretty short time which means that all the medication he was once on to keep him alive were now killing him. He also began to get lightheaded and he started losing his hair, and let's go ahead and talk about the two weeks he only ate potatoes because it seems insane, but Penn lost the weight, so we know for him it worked. As you read it you feel as if he's sitting in the same room talking to you. He's honest and tries to scientifically explain how this all works but he ends up fucking it up.
As a book about one man's journey from fat fuck to skinny it was a great book. I wasn't looking for dieting tips, or a book on dieting so I wasn't pissed off, nor was I offended by Penn's vulgarity or atheism. He doesn't treat you like an idiot. He wants you to read his story, but it's his story so he's presented the only way he knows how. Will I read more books written by Jillete? Hell yeah, he's entertaining as hell even if he eats weird food.
April 8, 2017
The Grave Tender - Eliza Maxwell 5/5 ...
The Grave Tender - Eliza Maxwell 5/5
I received a copy of The Grave Tender from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review and I have to tell you it's not at all what I expected. The story is about lies, secrets, and the lengths one man will go to protect the people he loves. It's a powerful debut that's well written, and packs one hell of a punch at its conclusion. Eliza is a decent writer that pulls us along slowly until the secrets of the Dixon family come pouring out. It all starts with one missing child, and then the story picks up and we're thrust into Hadley's nightmare. This is a family who knows tragedy, and at times it almost seemed like it was too much. Could this really happen? In the end, it didn't really matter, what mattered was the story, and what a story it was.
For a debut, it's nice to see an author take risks. A story like this is dark, yet compelling because it's so unexpected. You see Eli as this dark shadowy figure and you come to see the story is really about him, and his love for his family. The secrets of a crazy mother, her grandmother, and even her father Walker. It's not an easy book to read, and the subject matter certainly will no doubt make people uncomfortable. It's not an easy book to categorize, or place in a nice tidy box. Walker pulls no punches and as the novel reaches its conclusion there's a moment where you can't believe what you're reading. This isn't what I expected at all, but that's what makes her such a good writer. These are characters you feel a connection with, you feel for Eli and your heart breaks for Alva. The Grave Tender is a book that pulls you in and holds you captive. It's a short read, but one you should definitely check out.
I received a copy of The Grave Tender from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review and I have to tell you it's not at all what I expected. The story is about lies, secrets, and the lengths one man will go to protect the people he loves. It's a powerful debut that's well written, and packs one hell of a punch at its conclusion. Eliza is a decent writer that pulls us along slowly until the secrets of the Dixon family come pouring out. It all starts with one missing child, and then the story picks up and we're thrust into Hadley's nightmare. This is a family who knows tragedy, and at times it almost seemed like it was too much. Could this really happen? In the end, it didn't really matter, what mattered was the story, and what a story it was.
For a debut, it's nice to see an author take risks. A story like this is dark, yet compelling because it's so unexpected. You see Eli as this dark shadowy figure and you come to see the story is really about him, and his love for his family. The secrets of a crazy mother, her grandmother, and even her father Walker. It's not an easy book to read, and the subject matter certainly will no doubt make people uncomfortable. It's not an easy book to categorize, or place in a nice tidy box. Walker pulls no punches and as the novel reaches its conclusion there's a moment where you can't believe what you're reading. This isn't what I expected at all, but that's what makes her such a good writer. These are characters you feel a connection with, you feel for Eli and your heart breaks for Alva. The Grave Tender is a book that pulls you in and holds you captive. It's a short read, but one you should definitely check out.
March 26, 2017
A Perfect Circle Of Contrary Things - Maynard James...
A Perfect Circle Of Contrary Things - Maynard James Keenan & Sarah Jensen 4/5
When I first heard about this book I was skeptical. For years Tool was a band that kept their private lives strictly that. You didn't see them on magazine covers, or even giving interviews. The fact that Maynard had agreed to tell his life story was mind blowing as well as intriguing. The downside is that the book itself is only written with Keenan which gives it a unique style. It's an interesting glimpse into Keenan, not Tool, so if you're reading the book to gain lyrical insight you're going to walk away very upset. Tool isn't mentioned until halfway through the book, but we do get a great deal of insight into his formative years. If you're not a fan, this book is of little or no use to you.
The fact is, Maynard is allowing us to hear his life story his way. Everything you'd expect from your usual bio is stripped away, and in its place is something deep and yes, even meaningful. What you don't get are the inspirations behind the lyrics due to how personal they are, but you do get an insight into A Perfect Circle, Puscifer, and yes even the wine. It's almost as if the bands and the wine are mere afterthoughts, and the real story is the creative force driving the man isn't even musically related. Each reader can hone in on any aspect of the biography and find something in Maynard's story to apply to their own lives. It does drag a bit, but all bios have this problem.
For the fan's it's an interesting look into Maynard's head. It still leaves a bit of mystery to who Maynard is, and t's a guarded bio about a reluctant rock star that's still coming to grips with what he's become. Non fans won't see what all the fuss is about, or even get why it's such a big deal that the book even exists. You aren't getting your usual fluff piece which is a welcome relief because most bios have some kind of moment where life spins out of control and the book is an attempt to pick up the shattered pieces. It's not a way for the fan to connect to the artist either. It's his story, and one he's created on his terms.
When I first heard about this book I was skeptical. For years Tool was a band that kept their private lives strictly that. You didn't see them on magazine covers, or even giving interviews. The fact that Maynard had agreed to tell his life story was mind blowing as well as intriguing. The downside is that the book itself is only written with Keenan which gives it a unique style. It's an interesting glimpse into Keenan, not Tool, so if you're reading the book to gain lyrical insight you're going to walk away very upset. Tool isn't mentioned until halfway through the book, but we do get a great deal of insight into his formative years. If you're not a fan, this book is of little or no use to you.
The fact is, Maynard is allowing us to hear his life story his way. Everything you'd expect from your usual bio is stripped away, and in its place is something deep and yes, even meaningful. What you don't get are the inspirations behind the lyrics due to how personal they are, but you do get an insight into A Perfect Circle, Puscifer, and yes even the wine. It's almost as if the bands and the wine are mere afterthoughts, and the real story is the creative force driving the man isn't even musically related. Each reader can hone in on any aspect of the biography and find something in Maynard's story to apply to their own lives. It does drag a bit, but all bios have this problem.
For the fan's it's an interesting look into Maynard's head. It still leaves a bit of mystery to who Maynard is, and t's a guarded bio about a reluctant rock star that's still coming to grips with what he's become. Non fans won't see what all the fuss is about, or even get why it's such a big deal that the book even exists. You aren't getting your usual fluff piece which is a welcome relief because most bios have some kind of moment where life spins out of control and the book is an attempt to pick up the shattered pieces. It's not a way for the fan to connect to the artist either. It's his story, and one he's created on his terms.
March 19, 2017
Big Little Lies - Liane Moriarty 5/5 ...
Big Little Lies - Liane Moriarty 5/5
At the core of Lies is a mystery. We know something bad happened at Trivia Night, but what? As I read this I knew I was in for something special, a book that you simply don't read, you become absorbed in it. There's a lot of detail, and thought placed in the plot which moves at a steady clip. What makes the novel so interesting are the characters. These women are larger than life and you begin to feel an attachment to them. They each have their own crisis, their own secrets which becomes the glue that holds everything together. There's an explosion coming, you can feel it, but what causes it? Adding to the plot are witness accounts of the events, and how it all happened. Instead of becoming distracting, it adds to the plot.
Lies is a well written novel, written by someone who knows how to keep her readers engaged. It's complex, yet it still has a great deal of humor. It's not the mindless fluff you usually get in popular fiction, and that's a relief. You want to read a good novel that you can also take seriously while being reminded that it's not real. Could any of this happen? Not at this level, but the amount of conceit, judgment, and all around cattiness of these women makes entertaining. It makes the darker subject matter easier to tolerate. When I started reading Big Little Lies I was glued to the page, and determined that I would finish it no matter what happened. It's that engrossing. Is it the perfect beach or snow day novel? Yeah, I guess it could be, but it's far more than that, and now the task I have is hunting down more of her books to see if they measure up.
At the core of Lies is a mystery. We know something bad happened at Trivia Night, but what? As I read this I knew I was in for something special, a book that you simply don't read, you become absorbed in it. There's a lot of detail, and thought placed in the plot which moves at a steady clip. What makes the novel so interesting are the characters. These women are larger than life and you begin to feel an attachment to them. They each have their own crisis, their own secrets which becomes the glue that holds everything together. There's an explosion coming, you can feel it, but what causes it? Adding to the plot are witness accounts of the events, and how it all happened. Instead of becoming distracting, it adds to the plot.
Lies is a well written novel, written by someone who knows how to keep her readers engaged. It's complex, yet it still has a great deal of humor. It's not the mindless fluff you usually get in popular fiction, and that's a relief. You want to read a good novel that you can also take seriously while being reminded that it's not real. Could any of this happen? Not at this level, but the amount of conceit, judgment, and all around cattiness of these women makes entertaining. It makes the darker subject matter easier to tolerate. When I started reading Big Little Lies I was glued to the page, and determined that I would finish it no matter what happened. It's that engrossing. Is it the perfect beach or snow day novel? Yeah, I guess it could be, but it's far more than that, and now the task I have is hunting down more of her books to see if they measure up.
February 6, 2017
The Memory Box - Eva Lasko Natiello 2...
The Memory Box - Eva Lasko Natiello 2/5 stars
There are a lot of books on my tablet. Way, way too many and the Memory Box was a book I had stumbled upon, but just never read. It seemed promising, so I began to read it, and then I began to question my judgment. Caroline is sucked into Googling herself, and finds that there are only three hits, but then she Googles her maiden name and that's where the fun begins. Things quickly unravel, and she finds out that she's forgotten some very important parts of her life. These are things no one should forget. I instantly wanted to stop reading because I didn't like Caroline all that much. As a character, she's weak, and boring. It's the way she reacts to things that annoyed the hell out of me. She volunteers at her children's school and is faced with questions, so instead of just excusing herself she trips, and pulls the fire alarm and makes her escape. It's shit like this that irritated me, and I knew that I should just stop reading, but now I was invested. Why in the hell can't this woman remember key events in her life. Was she hit in the head? Given her grace, she could have fallen and hit her head. Caroline does that a lot.
It's a highly implausible novel that begins strong but eventually you begin to shake your head, and wonder why this woman is still hitting Google for information. There's a dark undercurrent flowing here, and we begin to wonder who Caroline really is. If Eva wants us to like Caroline, she's failed. If she wants to grab our attention by giving us a tightly paced thriller, she's kind of succeeded. The Memory Box is full of holes though, I mean a lot of holes. It's the why that kept me reading. I may not have liked Caroline, but I wanted to find out why this is happening. There are moments that pull you in, but as the story progresses Caroline's behavior becomes more erratic and she becomes a cunt. If you're an author, you want readers to sympathize with your main character, but in The Memory Box, that's not even possible.
No one notices that Caroline is slowly losing her shit either. You would think that when someone you care about is sleeping more, chopping off her hair, and acting really odd, someone would notice. It doesn't happen, and don’t even get me started on Andy. Jesus, this guy is an idiot. So the book is a mess that makes you wonder what the fuck is going on. It has so much potential, but when you're main character is a cunt, the story begins to lose its momentum. Seeing Caroline morph is really what the novel's about, and as the books winds down we need to give this woman a cape and name her Super Cunt because the end of the book is really where Eva shines. We finally get the answers we seek, and that my friends is what you call a plot twist. If the entire novel had been like those last few pages I wouldn't have been so pissed off, but it wasn't, and I can't get any of the moments back that I spent reading this novel.
It's not terrible, but it could have been better. It may have just been my dislike of Caroline that kept me from enjoying this. As a thriller, it's just okay but not something you want to buy. Get a copy from the library, or borrow it from a friend. If you want mindless entertainment, you’ve come to the right place. This is a book that will frustrate you to no end. I wonder if Eva will write another book, and if she does will it be better than the Memory Box? She's not a bad writer, and she had a lot of great ideas here, but they just didn't pan out. I give her at least two stars for effort. Just don't turn your main character into a cunt.
There are a lot of books on my tablet. Way, way too many and the Memory Box was a book I had stumbled upon, but just never read. It seemed promising, so I began to read it, and then I began to question my judgment. Caroline is sucked into Googling herself, and finds that there are only three hits, but then she Googles her maiden name and that's where the fun begins. Things quickly unravel, and she finds out that she's forgotten some very important parts of her life. These are things no one should forget. I instantly wanted to stop reading because I didn't like Caroline all that much. As a character, she's weak, and boring. It's the way she reacts to things that annoyed the hell out of me. She volunteers at her children's school and is faced with questions, so instead of just excusing herself she trips, and pulls the fire alarm and makes her escape. It's shit like this that irritated me, and I knew that I should just stop reading, but now I was invested. Why in the hell can't this woman remember key events in her life. Was she hit in the head? Given her grace, she could have fallen and hit her head. Caroline does that a lot.
It's a highly implausible novel that begins strong but eventually you begin to shake your head, and wonder why this woman is still hitting Google for information. There's a dark undercurrent flowing here, and we begin to wonder who Caroline really is. If Eva wants us to like Caroline, she's failed. If she wants to grab our attention by giving us a tightly paced thriller, she's kind of succeeded. The Memory Box is full of holes though, I mean a lot of holes. It's the why that kept me reading. I may not have liked Caroline, but I wanted to find out why this is happening. There are moments that pull you in, but as the story progresses Caroline's behavior becomes more erratic and she becomes a cunt. If you're an author, you want readers to sympathize with your main character, but in The Memory Box, that's not even possible.
No one notices that Caroline is slowly losing her shit either. You would think that when someone you care about is sleeping more, chopping off her hair, and acting really odd, someone would notice. It doesn't happen, and don’t even get me started on Andy. Jesus, this guy is an idiot. So the book is a mess that makes you wonder what the fuck is going on. It has so much potential, but when you're main character is a cunt, the story begins to lose its momentum. Seeing Caroline morph is really what the novel's about, and as the books winds down we need to give this woman a cape and name her Super Cunt because the end of the book is really where Eva shines. We finally get the answers we seek, and that my friends is what you call a plot twist. If the entire novel had been like those last few pages I wouldn't have been so pissed off, but it wasn't, and I can't get any of the moments back that I spent reading this novel.
It's not terrible, but it could have been better. It may have just been my dislike of Caroline that kept me from enjoying this. As a thriller, it's just okay but not something you want to buy. Get a copy from the library, or borrow it from a friend. If you want mindless entertainment, you’ve come to the right place. This is a book that will frustrate you to no end. I wonder if Eva will write another book, and if she does will it be better than the Memory Box? She's not a bad writer, and she had a lot of great ideas here, but they just didn't pan out. I give her at least two stars for effort. Just don't turn your main character into a cunt.
February 4, 2017
Let's Go Play At The Adams' - Mendel W. Johnson 4/5...
Let's Go Play At The Adams' - Mendel W. Johnson 4/5 stars
This is one of those books that always end up on someone's top ten list of great horror novels, but I could never get my hands on a copy. One look at the going price for a battered uses copy is insane. Is this book really that good? I was on my library app and saw that one of the libraries my local branch partners with had one so I put a hold on it and waited for it too arrive. I would soon find out if all the hype was truly deserved.
As soon as it arrived, I ran to the library and with shaking hands, I opened up the cover. This was the moment I had waited so long for but what if it didn't live up to its reputation? Books do that sometime, and it's always frustrating when expectations don't meet reality. It happens all the time. You meet a girl, and you think this could be the one, but she turns into a raving psycho a week into the relationship. Sometimes, books gain a reputation just because of the content or a readers experience with the subject matter. Happens all the time.
I can tell you that Let's Go Play At The Adams' is a brutal shocking book that drags in places, but Mendal never allows you to get comfortable. It's not a book you enjoy, it's unsettling and gets under your skin. Even after you read it, you can't stop thinking about it. How did this happen? Even the why of it all is unsettling. This was a bold book for 1974. These are kids who kidnap, and torture their babysitter for three days. The planning that goes into it is mind numbingly brilliant, and shows us just how vulnerable we really are. Once you read this you won't look at children the same way again, and that's exactly the goal of this book.
It's not a book for the squeamish, and as it went on the personalities of the children began to come out. Each child begins to unravel and that’s what the book is really about. We go through a roller coaster of emotions as the days unfold, soon the personalities of the kids emerge. It's a book that in unflinching in its development. Barbara herself begins to change as well, which isn't surprising given the circumstances. Let's Go Play At The Adams' isn't a horror novel, it's darker and deeper than that. It's about the destruction of human emotions, and the eradication of all sense of right and wrong.
By saying I enjoyed this book what does say about me as a person? I liked that it made me think, and that it's not a novel you can simply read and walk away from. Yes, I liked it, and I wish I could own a copy so I can read it again just to pick up on things I may have missed. I did like this book, and not everyone will which is to be expected. It's not an easy book to read, and it's even harder if you have kids of your own. You may want to sleep with the doors locked after reading this one. If you're able to get your hands on a copy by all means read it, but understand that this is a dark, disturbing novel, but also important. It takes you to places you never thought you could go mentally. A great book does that, so yes, all the hype and all the accolades this book gets are truly well deserved.
This is one of those books that always end up on someone's top ten list of great horror novels, but I could never get my hands on a copy. One look at the going price for a battered uses copy is insane. Is this book really that good? I was on my library app and saw that one of the libraries my local branch partners with had one so I put a hold on it and waited for it too arrive. I would soon find out if all the hype was truly deserved.
As soon as it arrived, I ran to the library and with shaking hands, I opened up the cover. This was the moment I had waited so long for but what if it didn't live up to its reputation? Books do that sometime, and it's always frustrating when expectations don't meet reality. It happens all the time. You meet a girl, and you think this could be the one, but she turns into a raving psycho a week into the relationship. Sometimes, books gain a reputation just because of the content or a readers experience with the subject matter. Happens all the time.
I can tell you that Let's Go Play At The Adams' is a brutal shocking book that drags in places, but Mendal never allows you to get comfortable. It's not a book you enjoy, it's unsettling and gets under your skin. Even after you read it, you can't stop thinking about it. How did this happen? Even the why of it all is unsettling. This was a bold book for 1974. These are kids who kidnap, and torture their babysitter for three days. The planning that goes into it is mind numbingly brilliant, and shows us just how vulnerable we really are. Once you read this you won't look at children the same way again, and that's exactly the goal of this book.
It's not a book for the squeamish, and as it went on the personalities of the children began to come out. Each child begins to unravel and that’s what the book is really about. We go through a roller coaster of emotions as the days unfold, soon the personalities of the kids emerge. It's a book that in unflinching in its development. Barbara herself begins to change as well, which isn't surprising given the circumstances. Let's Go Play At The Adams' isn't a horror novel, it's darker and deeper than that. It's about the destruction of human emotions, and the eradication of all sense of right and wrong.
By saying I enjoyed this book what does say about me as a person? I liked that it made me think, and that it's not a novel you can simply read and walk away from. Yes, I liked it, and I wish I could own a copy so I can read it again just to pick up on things I may have missed. I did like this book, and not everyone will which is to be expected. It's not an easy book to read, and it's even harder if you have kids of your own. You may want to sleep with the doors locked after reading this one. If you're able to get your hands on a copy by all means read it, but understand that this is a dark, disturbing novel, but also important. It takes you to places you never thought you could go mentally. A great book does that, so yes, all the hype and all the accolades this book gets are truly well deserved.
February 2, 2017
The Sleep - Jim Goforth 5/5 stars &nb...
The Sleep - Jim Goforth 5/5 stars
I was given a sneak peek of The Sleep and should've reviewed this already, but I'm a bit of a slacker when it comes to prompt reviews. I did enjoy this one a lot, and feel that as a writer, Jim is finally hitting his stride. Each novel is better than the one before it, but you can still see who his influences are, yet it doesn't come off as a rip off at all. This is dark, classic horror, with a simple plot, and enough violence to keep fans happy. The Sleeper is the sort of novel that makes you look at thunderstorms in a different way. We know how powerful they are, but then Jim comes along and gives you something new to fear. This is the mark of a great writer. Instead of latching onto the latest trend, or retreading ideas that already exist, Jim creates something unique, and yes quite terrifying.
The Sleep feels like a movie in book form, and it moves at a steady clip. You are pulled into the story and like the characters, you're a part of the action. It seems like a simple tale dealing with urban legends, but it's far more devious than that. Each character has their own reasons for embarking on this trip, and of course those reasons are totally selfish. Once the Beaststorms begin, you can almost hear Jim giggling as he literally unleashes hell. If you like you're horror dark, you've come to the right place. If you're at all squeamish, well you should just read something else. What's in these storms will give you nightmares.
Goforth layers his novel with violence, and gore, but there's a compelling story here. That's what makes The Sleep so good. It's a dark, gritty novel that reminds us that it's the things we can't see that are the most terrifying. When it comes to horror no one writes like Goforth. This is a guy that takes the genre back to it's early days of true terror, and suspense, and writes like a man possessed. This is the future of horror and each novel gets him one step closer to mainstream success.
I was given a sneak peek of The Sleep and should've reviewed this already, but I'm a bit of a slacker when it comes to prompt reviews. I did enjoy this one a lot, and feel that as a writer, Jim is finally hitting his stride. Each novel is better than the one before it, but you can still see who his influences are, yet it doesn't come off as a rip off at all. This is dark, classic horror, with a simple plot, and enough violence to keep fans happy. The Sleeper is the sort of novel that makes you look at thunderstorms in a different way. We know how powerful they are, but then Jim comes along and gives you something new to fear. This is the mark of a great writer. Instead of latching onto the latest trend, or retreading ideas that already exist, Jim creates something unique, and yes quite terrifying.
The Sleep feels like a movie in book form, and it moves at a steady clip. You are pulled into the story and like the characters, you're a part of the action. It seems like a simple tale dealing with urban legends, but it's far more devious than that. Each character has their own reasons for embarking on this trip, and of course those reasons are totally selfish. Once the Beaststorms begin, you can almost hear Jim giggling as he literally unleashes hell. If you like you're horror dark, you've come to the right place. If you're at all squeamish, well you should just read something else. What's in these storms will give you nightmares.
Goforth layers his novel with violence, and gore, but there's a compelling story here. That's what makes The Sleep so good. It's a dark, gritty novel that reminds us that it's the things we can't see that are the most terrifying. When it comes to horror no one writes like Goforth. This is a guy that takes the genre back to it's early days of true terror, and suspense, and writes like a man possessed. This is the future of horror and each novel gets him one step closer to mainstream success.
January 23, 2017
Chaotic Oddities - John Ledger 5/5 s...
Chaotic Oddities - John Ledger 5/5 stars
If you're easily offended you should stop reading this review now. Find something else to read because there isn't anything in this book for you to enjoy. If you have an open mind and enjoy a collection of short stories that are both bizarro, and horror, then you're going to be fine. After reading Oddities I can't help but wonder if Ledger has escaped from a mental institution, or should be locked up in one. This is a writer that clearly has a couple of screws loose, and whatever fuels his imagination should be stopped immediately. Actually, on second thought they should be allowed to roam free so we get more collections like this.
I don't like picking apart short story collections because it takes too much time to review each individual piece. As a writer, Ledger knows how to get under your skin. It's almost as if he has ADD or something because there are horror stories as well as whacked out bizarro pieces that ooze sex, and violence. He has a unique style that pulls you into each story, and you want to look away, but you can't, You have to see what he comes up with next, will he be able to top the last story? I like writers that are able to successfully write in any genre and John can do that. It's a weird talent, but it works here. The stories fit well together which is important in a collection like this. You want each story to fit together, and as a reader you want something that is going to hold your attention throughout the entire collection. There's no filler here and that's important. A lot of collections just slap a bunch of stories together to build up word a word or page count, and they begin to slowly fall apart. Chaotic Oddities starts, and ends strong.
When people tell you that bizarro is dead, just hand them this book. Forget about being politically correct for just a second and enjoy a book that is well written and just insane. It's a book that doesn't want to be taken seriously. You have clowns, porn, strip clubs, and a variety of other topics that many will no doubt find offensive, but so what? Not everyone is going to like this book, and that's okay because there others that will. If you like weird fiction and horror this is a must read collection. Ledger is a writer that should be noticed, and read often. Chaotic Oddities is a collection that compiles pieces he wrote for various anthologies so it makes sense that there would be so many different genres that he explores. I couldn't stop reading it and can't believe I haven't read his other collection of shorts, but I will. So, now you should just find a copy of Oddities and read it for yourself. You'll thank me once you've finished.
If you're easily offended you should stop reading this review now. Find something else to read because there isn't anything in this book for you to enjoy. If you have an open mind and enjoy a collection of short stories that are both bizarro, and horror, then you're going to be fine. After reading Oddities I can't help but wonder if Ledger has escaped from a mental institution, or should be locked up in one. This is a writer that clearly has a couple of screws loose, and whatever fuels his imagination should be stopped immediately. Actually, on second thought they should be allowed to roam free so we get more collections like this.
I don't like picking apart short story collections because it takes too much time to review each individual piece. As a writer, Ledger knows how to get under your skin. It's almost as if he has ADD or something because there are horror stories as well as whacked out bizarro pieces that ooze sex, and violence. He has a unique style that pulls you into each story, and you want to look away, but you can't, You have to see what he comes up with next, will he be able to top the last story? I like writers that are able to successfully write in any genre and John can do that. It's a weird talent, but it works here. The stories fit well together which is important in a collection like this. You want each story to fit together, and as a reader you want something that is going to hold your attention throughout the entire collection. There's no filler here and that's important. A lot of collections just slap a bunch of stories together to build up word a word or page count, and they begin to slowly fall apart. Chaotic Oddities starts, and ends strong.
When people tell you that bizarro is dead, just hand them this book. Forget about being politically correct for just a second and enjoy a book that is well written and just insane. It's a book that doesn't want to be taken seriously. You have clowns, porn, strip clubs, and a variety of other topics that many will no doubt find offensive, but so what? Not everyone is going to like this book, and that's okay because there others that will. If you like weird fiction and horror this is a must read collection. Ledger is a writer that should be noticed, and read often. Chaotic Oddities is a collection that compiles pieces he wrote for various anthologies so it makes sense that there would be so many different genres that he explores. I couldn't stop reading it and can't believe I haven't read his other collection of shorts, but I will. So, now you should just find a copy of Oddities and read it for yourself. You'll thank me once you've finished.
