Dead Sea series buddy read

[[deleted user]]

Still trying to justify nearly 6 quid, or almost $10 for an 144 page ebook. I might see if I can get the paperback in the UK. Will let you know at weekend :)

[Jonathan]

I am roughly 50% into Dead Sea....

Sorry guys. Will make time to read every night this week though. For at least a hour....

Loved that podcast Mehmet. It was sweet how close the two of them are.

[Mehmet]

How is everyone doing ? :-)

[Jonathan]

I am loving this book so far! What rating would you give the book Mehmet?

[Natasa]

Jonathan wrote: "I am roughly 50% into Dead Sea....

Sorry guys. Will make time to read every night this week though. For at least a hour....

Loved that podcast Mehmet. It was sweet how close the two of them are."

I'm at almost the same %...I like the book but somehow it's just not 'wow' for me. I keep on expecting something that will differentiate this zombie story from all the others out there.

Though I loved the scene where they stumble upon (view spoiler)[zombies on crosses (hide spoiler)]

I mean it's not bad it's just not grabing my attention...I even had trouble to keep on reading at moments (though since the ship appeared everything goes a bit smoother).

Maybe I'm just having too high expectations after reading The Rising - I find that one much better...but I don't even know if it can be compared to this book since the zombies were so special there...The Rising definitely stands out before all zombie stories, if someone asked me for a rec on a good zombie book it would be The Rising and The Newsflesh trilogy by Mira Grant, books 1, 2 and 3 were Feed , Deadline and Blackout .
Has anyone read this trilogy?

Sorry guys for not saying a word since we started, I am so sick with a stupid allergy, I was hoping this would pass but it still gives me trouble. I look like a bloated zombie that was exposed to weather and time a bit too long :)

I'll check your posts in detail when I de-zombiefy myself a bit...

[Mehmet]

I gave it three stars, Jonathan, I enjoyed it and liked the aspect of being trapped on a boat during a zombie, not that I personal want that to happen :-) what let it down was it felt so similar to The Rising, Earthworm gods and Clickers. So I did not feel the excitement I normally felt during a really great book. Did not get bored at all while reading and felt for the characters very much. That much I can say with out giving spoilers :-)

[Jonathan]

I expected as much my friend. I am not disliking it at all, but it isn't wowing me as much as Clickers and Earthworm Gods. I suppose this one was pushed out because the fans kept demanding another zombie novel after The Rising.

He often mentions his disenchantment with zombies in general. I imagine Dead Sea was something he wasn't passionate about, which is why it seems it is just a rehashing of the same formula.

Am I far off with my assumption?

[Mehmet]

That is spot on how I feel Jonathan my friend. You hit the nail right on the head :-) how far you into the book ?

[Jonathan]

I am 75% into the book. I apologize for taking so long my friend. This past weekend was especially busy for me. I did get to take my girlfriend to see Mad Max Fury Road. I loved it so much. It embodied everything I love about the post apocalyptic sub genre. I totally recommend it to you, I really think you would like it a lot.

What novel are you planning to read after Dead Sea and Entombed? I forget what was next on our buddy read list... Wasn't it another post apocalyptic book? Swan Song right? I heard that one is going to blow our minds. ;-)

Don't feel bad if you guys start Entombed without me. I rather you guys read the book and hear your opinions ,instead of losing interest in the buddy read and starting another one!! :-)

[Mehmet]

It is ok Jonathan, I not going to start another buddy read :-) since you almost finished we could set a start date for entombed. I only ever watch the very first Mad Max and that was ages ago. Would like to see the 4th one but need to see the others first and maybe watch the first one again ! Need to find our email where we list the buddy reads, I get back to you my friend :-)

[Mehmet]

Would everyone be happy with the Starting date of 20th May for entombed. Give everyone time to finish up and prepare :-)

[Jeff]

I remember seeing Jonathan mention Swan Song several times on my Goodreads wall, so that was probably it. I was planning on jumping into that one as well. I loved it when I read it back in high school, and I'm long overdue for a reread.

[Jonathan]

Mad Max Fury Road is a complete standalone film. You don't need to have watched any of the others really. ;-) I do recommend watching Fury Road to everyone regardless of seeing any of the other three films.

The absence of cgi from car stunts and most action scenes makes it breath taking.

The weakest of the Mad Max films is Thunderdome. Road Warrior is probably the second best film in the series. (My favorite being Fury Road.) Road Warrior is also a stand alone film. You could see any of these films out of order really.

The date for the buddy read is good with me. ;-)

[Mehmet]

Ok i be going to go cinema to see the movie then Jonathan :-) we will be reading Swan song but not straight away, I am in process of decorating house so lots of my books are in boxes. If you do not minding waiting a bit and as soon as I get hold of the book maybe August time I let you guys know. If I can find it before I send a message also.

[Jonathan]

Sounds good my friend. I am excited for all of these books we have planned!!

Does anyone want to read Kill Whitey with us?

[Mehmet]

Me too :-) yeah come and join us for Kill Whitey

[Jonathan]

Btw. I hope you enjoy Mad Max as much as I did. Since we both enjoyed Fallout, I think you won't regret seeing Mad Max Fury Road!

[Jeff]

So, Entombed starts tomorrow? Sounds good, I only have 40 pages left of the one I'm reading now, so I should knock that out tonight, no problem. As for Kill Whitey, I guess I'll give a it a go. I wasn't crazy about Keene's other crime novel Terminal, but KW sounds more like the type of crime novel I like, so I'll give it a shot.

Seems like the summer literary blockbuster season is starting up. A new Neal Stephenson novel and Clive Barkers long awaited Harry D'Amour vs. Pinhead book both came out out today. Between audiobooks and the Nook, I'm going to be juggling all sorts of novels in the coming months. lol

[Jonathan]

What is this Pinhead book you are talking about Jeff? I have seen the Hellraiser movies. Are the films just as good as the books?

Who is this guy who is going against Pinhead?

[Mehmet]

Sorry guys I meant to write 25 May start date for entombed, so sorry for the confusion. That gives every time to prepare, sorry Jeff is 25th ok with you ?

[Jonathan]

Interesting. I never heard of Harry D'Amour until now.

Link: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_...

I like that he is a occult detective like Levi Stoltzfus.

[Mehmet]

Ohhh my god !!!! I just went and saw Mad Max fury road, did not expect that at all. Me and my wife were well surprised. It was so weird, very original though and inventive. Really enjoyed myself. Thanks for the recommendation Jonathan :-)

[Jonathan]

I am so happy you enjoyed it as much as I did! Thank you for letting me know!

My girlfriend loved it too. I was worried shouldn't wouldn't since she gave up going to the flea market so she could see the film with me. (I have a great girl.)

There is definitely a sequel in the works.

[Jonathan]

I am so happy you enjoyed it as much as I did! Thank you for letting me know!

My girlfriend loved it too. I was worried shouldn't wouldn't since she gave up going to the flea market so she could see the film with me. (I have a great girl.)

There is definitely a sequel in the works.

[Mehmet]

My wife enjoyed it also :-)

[Mehmet]

She does not tend to watch sci fi movies, but she was impressed with this movie if bit confused to what was happening. To be honest I was for a while, but got the flow of the story eventually. Both our favourite moments were the nomadic woman on Motor bikes that helped them and my wife found the guitar guy hanging of the truck rather amusing :-)

[Mehmet]

Sorry about getting the date wrong but is the 25th ok to start Entombed ? Hope this ok for everyone ?

[Jonathan]

Just finished Dead Sea . Definitely my least favorite Brian Keene novel.

I found the ocean zombies amusing.

Did you notice The Black Lodge reference and Frankie references? (Frankie from The Rising and City of the Dead.)

[Mehmet]

(view spoiler)[the oil rig I think was suppose to be black lodge, yeah I saw quite a few references, Tony and plus the zoo scene<\spoiler>



The story line I thought was cool, the idea of being trapped in the ocean during a zombie apocalypse was cool. Yet have to agree, bit like urban gothic did not blow me a way. (hide spoiler)]

[Jonathan]

(view spoiler)[ Well Mitch's kid was the one who was dating Frankie too. Not sure if you caught that one. So Frankie was referenced twice in this book.

Globe Corporation and The Black Lodge were mentioned in the oil rig at the end. This kind of showed up in Last of The Albatwitches, when Levi encountered the Globe Corporation hunting down the Cryptid from Castaways. Fun little references everywhere.

As for Tony it isn't the same Tony from Clickers. I think they both had different last names. Nice catch though. (hide spoiler)]

Overall I liked Dead Sea but not as much as I liked the other buddy reads we did together. Hoping I liked Entombed more.

[Mehmet]

(view spoiler)[yeah I got the globe cooperation one, missed Mitch though. So I was wrong about Tony. Ahh never mind<\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[Mehmet]

What ever we read we alway have fun on our buddy reads my friend :-)

[Jonathan]

Same here. I feel like I read these books alone, I wouldn't have half as much fun reading them. It's my interactions in these topics that make reading them such a blast! Thanks again for always reading Brian's Labyrinth mythology with me Mehmet!

I'll probably crank out a review for Dead Sea this weekend. Then I'll start one Entombed on the 25th. ;-)

What has been your favorite Brian Keene book so far? Mine has been The Lost Level with Clickers VS. Zombies being a close second.

[Mehmet]

Dark Hollow and Ghost walk for sure so far, second favourite would be the Earth worm gods series :-)

[Jeff]

Jonathan: The book on which Hellraiser was based is called The Hellbound Heart. I haven't read it yet, just know the character from the movies. And if you've seen Lord of Illusions, Scott Bacula plays Harry D'Amour. I'm probably going to go back and reread some of those early Barker books and stories before starting the new book because I read most of those in high school and I don't think I really "Got" them. Barker's books are really complex and weird and while I liked them on one level as a kid, I think I'd get a lot more out of them now.

[Mehmet]

I have read Hellbound heart, Cabal and Coldheart canyon of Clive Barker.

[Jonathan]

Never knew that there was only one Hellraiser novel up until now. I always assumed there was more.

[Mehmet]

The movies continued the Hellraiser series, in which the Cenobites player a bigger part then in the actual book. There was not even a definite character called Pinhead. That was created by fans. Clive Barker is taking control back of his creation by creating a finish in a way. I will read the book also and wish him luck :-)

[Jonathan]

I am hearing the new Pinhead book is brutal which is what I expected. I am tempted to read the reviews.

Maybe I will dig into that lore.... =)

I suspect The Hellbound Heart is the best place to start? ;-)

[Jeff]

Yeah, they say The Scarlet Gospels is a stand alone novel, but it helps to have read The Hellbound Heart (which I think could be classified as a novella) and the short story The Last Illusion for the D'Amour side of things. D'Amour also pops up in some other books, though supposedly you don't need to know any of that stuff. I'm going to reread it all first anyway.

I think I went off on this tangent in another buddy read but I hate the whole "stand alone novel" thing, and I never trust anyone who says it. Authors always claim new novels featuring pre-existing characters are stand alone novels but then they often seem compelled to spoil all the previous books featuring those characters to "bring new readers up to speed." That happened to me when I read A Gathering of Crows without having read Dark Hollow or Ghost Walk first.

[Mehmet]

Very true Jeff !

On a side note, I am running behind deadline as been playing more PS3 last two nights then trying to finish current book. Just wanted to say I may start Entombed a bit later then planned. So I be chatting with you just be bit behind. Sorry guys :-( just been busy at work and I kinda of got into the game Red faction GUERRILLA I been playing.

[Jeff]

I finished my last book and started a couple days early. Only to the first chapter break, though.

[Mehmet]

No problem Jeff :-)

[Mehmet]

The start date is officially here for our buddy read :-) how are all my buddies ?

[Jonathan]

I am liking the book so far. A little more interesting then Dead Sea , maybe because I read Dead Sea recently is the reason why this story is more interesting to me?

Knowing Brian Keene wrote this book on autopilot makes this a fascinating read for me.

[Mehmet]

Sounds promising Jonathan, what do you mean he wrote it on auto pilot ?

[Jonathan]

Well. I think he said he has no memory of what it was like writing Entombed. He was so stressed out with losing his second wife and going through other personal problems that he wrote the book on "auto pilot."

[Mehmet]

Was that not Dead Sea my friend ? Think he had problems then. Entombed I think was a kinda of rehash from his original beginning draft of The Rising or what started as Infinity.

[Jonathan]

Not sure. I would have to recheck the podcast again. ;-)

It could be I got it mixed up! Heh heh.

[Mehmet]

I could be wrong my friend, so do not worry, we both know that one of these books he wrote on auto pilot :-)