Stephen King Fans discussion
Other Books (Non-King)
>
What Are You Reading Now? Pt 2.
Finished The Big Nowhere
by James Ellroy. This book is as bleak as they come with some of the most morbid accounts of death I have ever read. The characters are intensely interesting but barely likeable, the plot has got so many threads that a lesser writer would have taken at least a trilogy to explore them. However for a book with two main plots, I feel it failed to do justice to one of them while the other was handled as brilliantly as I had ever seen. So not perfect but still an easy4/5 stars.
Aditya wrote: "Finished The Big Nowhere by James Ellroy. This book is as bleak as they come with some of the most morbid accounts of death I have ever r..."Are you continuing with LA Confidential now Aditya, or something different?
Finished my first Graham Masterton read, The Doorkeepers
, and was impressed. The ending was a bit rushed, but Masterton can really write.If you're interested, you can read my review here:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
Ron wrote: "Are you continuing with LA Confidential now Aditya, or something different? "I am currently reading Bloody Bess and the Doomsday Games by Nick Iuppa who is one of the most frequent posters of this group. After I am done with it I will start with L.A. Confidential. I usually alternate writers rather than reading them back to back. I was oscillating between Michael Connelly and James Ellroy when Nick gave me a chance to read his book for free.
Aditya wrote: "Ron wrote: "Are you continuing with LA Confidential now Aditya, or something different? "I am currently reading Bloody Bess and the Doomsday Games by Nick Iuppa ..."
I saw Nick's work on his page. Looking forward to your thoughts! Like you, I rarely read a series, or the same author back-to-back.
I'm reading
now. I like it but... It just feels too much like a poor copy of The Stand. I feel like it's gonna be a 3* rating, unless something really good happens at the end.
Enjoying Christine more than I expected I would
Andrew wrote: "Today, I've finished The Exorcist, a great story. And after that, I started The Hunger Games."I think what the medical community does to Reagan is every bit as terrifying as what the others do. Funny, but this came up in another group recently.
Kandice wrote: "Andrew wrote: "Today, I've finished The Exorcist, a great story. And after that, I started The Hunger Games."I think what the medical community does to Reagan is ever..."
I read it for a group, here. The true horror, for me is grows page after page, and not only for the supernatural possibility. It's the situation of a child with an unknown disease and the anxiety and helplessness of parents and friends. There are more reading keys.
Aditya wrote: "Ron wrote: "Are you continuing with LA Confidential now Aditya, or something different? "I am currently reading Bloody Bess and the Doomsday Games by Nick Iuppa ..."
Yes, I often do offer free paperback or e-book copies of my books to members of this group because they have to put up with my opinionated reviews an snide remarks. Aditya promises me a totally unbiased review, and since we disagree so violently on the difference between Cricket and Baseball, and The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon... frankly, I'm a little scared.
Nick wrote: "Yes, I often do offer free paperback or e-book copies of my books to members of this group because they have to put up with my opinionated reviews an snide remarks..."Well it was not my intention to scare you, that I believe is your specialty, after all you are the horror novelist. And your remarks aren't snide.
Aditya wrote: "Nick wrote: "Yes, I often do offer free paperback or e-book copies of my books to members of this group because they have to put up with my opinionated reviews an snide remarks..."Well it was not..."
If you only knew.
Heard Nicholas Sparks speak at a Notre Dame fundraiser and felt an almost religions calling to read one of his books. After all, he’s a successful novelist, a fellow “Domer,” and a track star. I’m half way through The Notebook right now, and frankly I’m having a hard time with it. The whole thing reminds me of something someone said about a certain kind of elevator music: It’s like “maple syrup poured over a slowly rotating pizza.” Sorry Nick.
Nick, I remember reading something by Sparks (it was about fireman, I can't remember the title) just out of curiousity. The fact that I can't think of the name of the book speaks for itself... It was a very tought ride. Complitely put me off his other work.Reading Lisey's Story now.
I'm going to stay with him though. I'll finish the book and write a review. Right now looks like the reviews are either 5 stars or 1 star. BTW: Lisey's Story is pretty great.
Finished the excellent Boom Town
by Glenn Rolfe. My first exposure to Rolfe and I was impressed. Great characterization and dialogue with the children protagonists. So many authors screw this up. Glad to see when someone does it right and weaves into a fun story to boot. If you're interested, you can read my review here:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
Erin wrote: "
"How is it? I am about to finish with Connelly's Harry Bosch series (4 or 5 books left) and searching for a new mystery author. So, any feedback would be appreciated.
The Singer's Gun by Emily St. John Mandel
Just finished The Notebook, a real disappointment. My review should be up here soon. Currently reading Tar Baby by Tony Morrison. It's a much, much better love story.
Finished Bloody Bess and the Doomsday Games by Nick Iuppa a Goodreads friend who offered me a free copy of the book for an honest review. Afraid to say after this review I won't be getting free copies from any other budding author any time soon.It is one of the worst books I have ever read, I hardly read any authors other than international bestsellers and the quality drops is sharp and noticeable. A far-fetched plot, cliched dialogue, and the awful (every woman in the book is a nymphomaniac and the male lead is a sixty year old perv who talks in double entendres to every young woman he meets) and stupid (think 'there is a serial killer running around picking off people 1 by 1..so let's split up and get killed' levels of intelligence) characters make this book a chore to complete. It reads like a B-Horror movie where a sex scene is dropped after every two pages hoping it would distract the audience from noticing the corny dialogue, the cheesy premise and the stupid characters. Rating - 1/5 stars.
Sorry Nick, nothing personal and I do agree with your posts on the threads but this read was just not for me. I have send a more detailed analysis of my thoughts in a message.
Aditya wrote: "Erin wrote: ""How is it? I am about to finish with Connelly's Harry Bosch series (4 or 5 books left) and searching for a new mystery author. So, any feedback wo..."
R.J. Ellory (especially The Anniversary Man), Ian Rankin, Ian Banks, Denise Mina, Stuart MacBride, Peter May, Elizabeth George. I hope you find something you like.
Marjo wrote: "R.J. Ellory (especially The Anniversary Man), Ian Rankin, Ian Banks, Denise Mina, Stuart MacBride, Peter May, Elizabeth George. I hope you find something you like."Thanks for the reply Marjo. I basically search for believable characters and good writing rather than over the top action shootouts and chase scenes. Liked Dennis Lehane, Connelly while hated Robert Crais and Lee Child. So which one of your suggestions would be a good first pick? I had previously heard about Ian Rankin so might check out one of his books.
Aditya wrote: "Marjo wrote: "R.J. Ellory (especially The Anniversary Man), Ian Rankin, Ian Banks, Denise Mina, Stuart MacBride, Peter May, Elizabeth George. I hope you find something you like."Thanks for the re..."
With Ian Rankin, you can't go wrong, but my favorite is The Anniversary Man by R.J. Ellory. I promise: no shoootouts :). I hate these too.Stuart MacBride, Peter May, Elizabeth George, I like them all. They all have believable characters. Elizabeth George is very Brittish, though. Denise Mina is my favorite. I really like her Paddy Meehan books. #1 is Field of Blood. I hope I make some sense, my English is a bit rusty.
Marjo wrote: "With Ian Rankin, you can't go wrong, but my favorite is The Anniversary Man by R.J. Ellory. I promise: no shoootouts :). I hate these to. Stuart MacBride, Peter May, Elizabeth George..."Your English is fine, I will check out Ian Rankin and The Anniversary Man once I am done with the Harry Bosch series. I don't mind shootouts as long as they are in the realm of believability, what I hate are the ones where the hero takes on a whole goon squad in a gun battle and comes out unscathed. And thanks again for your suggestions.
Finished The Overlook the thirteenth book in the long running Harry Bosch series and it had started to show signs of fatigue. Connelly was never an eloquent writer but his plots sold me on his books. Harry Bosch himself was very human and flawed, I had a grudging respect for him rather than adoration (he is way too righteous for my liking) but in this one the plot is wafer thin and generic (it was written as a serialized novel and it shows) and Harry's righteousness makes him look stubborn and he starts to grate. For the second time in three books I solved the mystery before Bosch, still not completely bad just mundanely average. Rating - 3/5 stars.
Just started Duma Key. Still working on Vineland by Pynchon, The Recognitions by Gaddis, and The Royal Family by Vollmann. Dunno what's next....but knowing me it will be something long lol
I've recently finished The Girl on the Train and Every Fifteen Minutes. Both were good suspense books.Now I'm reading Dark Star: An Oral Biography of Jerry Garcia.
I'm reading Paranoia by Joseph Finder.
Currently reading "I Am Pilgrim" by Terry Hayes, off to a good start.
Finishing up on “Tar Baby” by Toni Morrison… a really beautiful love story written by a genius… incredible description and dialogue. I’ll have a review shortly. I’m also starting on “A Discovery of Witches” in preparation for the publication of my new novel “Taken By Witches” scheduled for release on Halloween.
Scott wrote: "I've recently finished The Girl on the Train and Every Fifteen Minutes. Both were good suspense books.Now I'm reading [book:Dark Star: An Oral Biography of Jerry ..."
I've been waiting to pick up The Girl on the Train, but the list is long at my library. So, you enjoyed that one?
Ron wrote: "Scott wrote: "I've recently finished The Girl on the Train and Every Fifteen Minutes. Both were good suspense books.Now I'm reading [book:Dark Star: An Oral Biogr..."
Had to add an opinion here. I liked The Girl On The Train, gave it four stars but have some reservations. Here's the link to my review.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
I've just finished reading Devil's Knot, by Mara Leveritt (which was utterly compelling), and I'm just about to start The Devil in the White City, by Erik Larson, which has been collecting dust on my shelf for ages!I'm in recovery from an illness which left me unable to read for about 6 months, and now that I can, I want to devour every book I see, haha.
I loved The Girl on the Train, but the ending was contrived. Until those last 20 or so pages, it was 5 stars for me.
Bummer about the ending of The Girl on the Train. Nick liked most of the book too. I'll check the book out soon.
I loved The Girl on the Train too. Lots of unexpected plots in the book. Ron you should definitely read it :).
Nick wrote: "Finishing up on “Tar Baby” by Toni Morrison… a really beautiful love story written by a genius… incredible description and dialogue. I’ll have a review shortly. I’m also starting on “A Discovery of..."If your new novel is going to be anything like your last one, it would have the horniest witches to ever exist in the print form. Good to see you back, I was starting to wonder whether the vitriol I directed at your book - Bloody Bess (IMO it was completely crap, the only way for me to say anything good about it would have been to lie) had sent you packing from the forums because you had not posted for a couple of days.
Yeah. It was pretty good. It was a suspense/who done it type of book that is told from multiple perspectives.
About to give up on Go Set a Watchman. It hasn't grabbed me within the first 100 pages. I can see why the editors all those years ago rejected it. And it's been so long since I read To Kill a Mockingbird and I have no real attachment to it that I'm just not vested in its sequel.
Susan wrote: "I loved The Girl on the Train too. Lots of unexpected plots in the book. Ron you should definitely read it :)."I will for certain.
I finished Consider the Lobster and Other Essays by David Foster Wallace and I loved every single page of it. Stunning writing.now I'm gonna get back to the Roth's novel I paused a while ago
Stephen King Fans
Books mentioned in this topic
Hit Man (other topics)The Spider and the Fly (other topics)
Pandemic (other topics)
The Last Star (other topics)
Grave Peril (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Scott Sigler (other topics)Rick Yancey (other topics)
Peter Straub (other topics)
Anne Rice (other topics)
Scott Sigler (other topics)
More...
It does contain major spoilers in the summary.