June 2015 Group Read #2: Stained by Lee Thomas

[Ms. Nikki]

Be sure to use spoiler tags when needed.

Have a great read!

[11811 (Eleven)]

I'm glad this one is Prime lendable. It's a bit pricey. So yeah, I'm in.

[Tiffany]

I'm in.

[Brian]

I'm in, it's also on unlimited (and it's normal price is the price of a month of unlimited). Just finished part one. It's been interesting so far. (view spoiler)[I actually had to put the book down when Leo was torturing Nicky, I've read a lot of torture scenes but for whatever reason the glee that Leo had and the minimalistic but effective details sent a shudder down my spine. (hide spoiler)]

[Maxine Marsh]

I'm in for this one too.

[Missy]

This one is not available at my library. So I'm going to have to buy it.

[Ms. Nikki]

Missy wrote: "This one is not available at my library. So I'm going to have to buy it."

Do you have a kindle or reading device? It would be cheaper to get Kindle Unlimited AND you'd have a month worth of books to read.

[Missy]

I do. Let me research how much Kindle Unlimited is because I can't find a cheap used version :(

[Ms. Nikki]

Missy wrote: "I do. Let me research how much Kindle Unlimited is because I can't find a cheap used version :("

It's $9.99 a month. Great deal! I have it.

[Missy]

oh. that might not be so bad.


Thank you!

[Ms. Nikki]

Missy wrote: "oh. that might not be so bad.


Thank you!"

Glad I could help. You're welcome :)

[Jon Recluse]

I picked it up on sale in January.

It was $.99.

[Kasia]

Ms. Nikki wrote: "Missy wrote: "I do. Let me research how much Kindle Unlimited is because I can't find a cheap used version :("

It's $9.99 a month. Great deal! I have it."

Kindle Unlimited is wonderful, gets me to try things I might be hesitant about, and if you read fast enough it's a bargain :)

Im starting the book, yay.

[Maxine Marsh]

I just started this one and it is pretty creepy already!

[Brian]

50% in and really enjoying it (view spoiler)[Thomas does crazy really well, and watching Ted lose his mind with the Jack is just as entertaining as I thought it'd be. His minimalistic description of violent acts is continuing to be quite effective. I can't believe Drew got hit in the back by a dead dog wrapped up in a jack, some things are just out there pretty well. (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole]

Missy wrote: "I do. Let me research how much Kindle Unlimited is because I can't find a cheap used version :("

I love Kindle Unlimited. It is definitely worth the $10 price tag.

[Kasia]

I'm 15% in .. I finally have an hour or two to sit and read ( before seeing a movie later) and it's awesome. I miss the crazy psycho killer type stories, and I feel like it's even beyond that as it goes on. Glad I picked it up, okie back to the book...

[Jon Recluse]

I finished.....a couple of days ago.

Fun read.

[Kasia]

Jon Recluse wrote: "I finished.....a couple of days ago.

Fun read."

Nice! I find it interesting how my brain thinks about the book after I read it, even at a mere glance at the title in a thread or a notification, my feelings shift slightly. Can't wait to finish this one.

[Jon Recluse]

Kasia wrote: "Jon Recluse wrote: "I finished.....a couple of days ago.

Fun read."

Nice! I find it interesting how my brain thinks about the book after I read it, even at a mere glance at the title in a thread ..."

I'm the same way, particularly when I'm working on my review.

[Ms. Nikki]

Well, I finished reading this last night and I have to say that the idea of being "stained" is great, but the execution and characters were lacking.

[Jeremy]

I finished this month's main selection, so I'm starting this one tonight.

[Nate]

FYI, this is now on a kindle countdown sale - it's 99 cents.

[Jeremy]

I have the 10th anniversary edition print copy, and it is riddled with typos, which is pretty distracting, especially since I'm not loving it yet.

[Brian]

It's losing me, but I'm up to part 6 so I might as well finish it. The last couple parts have been disappointing.

[Deborah]

I have to agree with Ms. Nikki, Jeremy, and Brian. And I know we were warned in the author's note to the 10th anniversary edition, but was anyone else disappointed (view spoiler)[by how much this book resembles the Denzel Washington movie Fallen? (hide spoiler)]

[Jon Recluse]

Deborah wrote: "I have to agree with Ms. Nikki, Jeremy, and Brian. And I know we were warned in the author's note to the 10th anniversary edition, but was anyone else disappointed [spoilers removed]"

Actually (view spoiler)[ The Fallen is a rip-off of the Star Trek episode "Wolf in the Fold".....which was a script based on the classic short story "Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper" by Robert "Psycho" Bloch. Stained, being a debut novel, expanding on the original idea put forth by Bloch, works for me. The Fallen, and Denzel, are best forgotten. (hide spoiler)]

[Deborah]

Jon Recluse wrote: "Deborah wrote: "I have to agree with Ms. Nikki, Jeremy, and Brian. And I know we were warned in the author's note to the 10th anniversary edition, but was anyone else disappointed [spoilers remove..."

Thanks for the background, Jon!

[Jon Recluse]

Deborah wrote: "Jon Recluse wrote: "Deborah wrote: "I have to agree with Ms. Nikki, Jeremy, and Brian. And I know we were warned in the author's note to the 10th anniversary edition, but was anyone else disappoin..."

You're welcome!

[Jeremy]

All done! I thought Thomas salvaged a train wreck with the back 100 pages of this book, mainly due to (view spoiler)[the high and bloody body count (hide spoiler)], but up until then, it was a struggle. Everything happened a bit too fast (and some dodgy mise en scene, especially when (view spoiler)[Drew shut Ted in the meat locker (hide spoiler)]), but it was an enjoyable ride.

Overall, I thought it was a pretty good concept, weighed down by stock, unrealized characters, pacing, and some very patchy writing in places.

[Kasia]

I liked the first third of the story then it started to drag, a rare dislike from me.

[Ms. Nikki]

Kasia wrote: "I liked the first third of the story then it started to drag, a rare dislike from me."

Indeed, it did drag as the plot unravels and the actions of the characters become implausible.

[Kasia]

Ms. Nikki wrote: "Kasia wrote: "I liked the first third of the story then it started to drag, a rare dislike from me."

Indeed, it did drag as the plot unravels and the actions of the characters become implausible."

It was going well then it lost me, good thing I still have time to do the other read, always so much good stuff going on here :)

[Jon Recluse]

Sorry it didn't work for you.

I read the book in two sittings, so...

[Kasia]

Jon Recluse wrote: "Sorry it didn't work for you."

I was bummed, I knew you liked it, that was the worst part. I still <3 your suggestions.

[Jon Recluse]

Kasia wrote: "Jon Recluse wrote: "Sorry it didn't work for you."

I was bummed, I knew you liked it, that was the worst part. I still <3 your suggestions."

Thanks, that means a lot.

I know Fevre Dream rocks....

[Kasia]

Jon Recluse wrote: "Kasia wrote: "Jon Recluse wrote: "Sorry it didn't work for you."

I was bummed, I knew you liked it, that was the worst part. I still

Thanks, that means a lot.

I know Fevre Dream rocks...."

You know you're my sensei.

[Jon Recluse]

Kasia wrote: "Jon Recluse wrote: "Kasia wrote: "Jon Recluse wrote: "Sorry it didn't work for you."

I was bummed, I knew you liked it, that was the worst part. I still

Thanks, that means a lot.

I know Fevre D..."

Grasshopper! ;)

[Ms. Nikki]

LOL You guys are too cute ;)

[Kasia]

I love this group, words are beyond what I feel :P

[David]

I was very late getting to the party with this one. I didn't start until Saturday afternoon, and finished at lunch today.
Which is quite swift by my normal standard of reading pace.
I thought it started well and then slowed as the plot began to unravel. Yes it was implausible, but that's the beauty of reading fiction (suspending belief and rationale).
I especially liked the back end of the book. Overall it was an entertaining four star read, and I'm glad I found the time to enjoy it.

[Ms. Nikki]

David wrote: "I was very late getting to the party with this one. I didn't start until Saturday afternoon, and finished at lunch today.
Which is quite swift by my normal standard of reading pace.
I thought it st..."

Glad you liked it, David!