Have you ever wanted to read a book about a boring board game nerd who isn't funny and not sociable? Then this book may be for you!
A lot of thrilling Have you ever wanted to read a book about a boring board game nerd who isn't funny and not sociable? Then this book may be for you!
A lot of thrilling and interesting action happens within this book, but the blandness of the main character almost made me put it down. (And also the excessive amount of non-existent contractions.) Fortunately, the author made things interesting before my 100 page cut-off since I did eventually become invested in the story. Why, though, would you make your main character such a dry stick-in-the-mud?
I remember Ian Fleming said something along the line of James Bond is an uninteresting person who has interesting situations happen to him. But Bond was interesting, wasn't he? He was an emotionally damaged orphan who had cool gadgets, nice cars, nice clothes, a penchant for poker and a way with women. The protagonist here is boring, obsessed with game theory, and collects board games. Bluh.
Edge was good popcorn fiction, or beach read, or however you want to put it, with short chapters that were just interesting enough for you to tell yourself "okay, maybe another chapter", even though it was past bedtime. If Deaver made a sequel, though, I would not Pass Go....more
Depressing, would be the first word that comes to mind.
Harry Harrison had me interested in his characters within the first two chapters of this book. Depressing, would be the first word that comes to mind.
Harry Harrison had me interested in his characters within the first two chapters of this book. Sounds like a good start. But then he deviated a bit from what I thought was the main plot to explain how a relationship might work and be strained in the future world of 1999.
It's crazy to think that we have surpassed Harry's population numbers and don't quite live in the dystopic world he depicted. We are, however, a population running on fumes. There's nothing in the tank, but we still huff on those sweet gases we call credit. We build up, we build out, we level nature for more farmland to feed the masses, we even have billionaires trying to escape to Mars. How can it be solved? Can it be solved? Culling might be frowned upon--depending on who you ask.
The birthcontrol pill was a recent invention when this book came out. Harry Harrison had his characters delve into monologues about the importance of birthcontrol, which was probably quite popular with the youth at the time thanks to the sexual revolution, and he even went into criticisms of the Catholic church and its stance on the topic. Again, probably not popular, but this was a cautionary tale of the future's plight. You don't always get a solution tabled by a sci-fi author.
When the book was over, I found myself wondering, 'What was the point of this book?' I usually do that anyway, but only after I find a book particularly engaging, but with Make Room! Make Room! my thoughts were of frustration. Until I started thinking about the static nature of the character. This guy was shown avenues of change, but he refused to tread. Or he did tread, but then circled back around to his old route. By the end of the book, he was back at the starting line. Was Andy an allegory for the whole human race?
There was a lot happening in the '60s and this book is as culturally relevant as a song made about the Vietnam War. I enjoyed the read, but by the end I couldn't help but wonder: 'Is that all there is?'...more
I wanted to learn more about H.H. Holmes and his madness, which is why I picked up this book. The book, although titled such, is not about the Devil iI wanted to learn more about H.H. Holmes and his madness, which is why I picked up this book. The book, although titled such, is not about the Devil in the White City so much as it is about the White City itself: the Chicago Fair of 1893.
I spent most of the early chapters waiting for death. How the fair was won and designed weren't what I was interested in reading. However, the author's enthusiasm for the minutia of the fair percolated through the pages to create an interest I didn't realize I had: one of the World's Fair. No one really talks about the legacy of the fair due to the shadow of the Devil.
The author does a wonderful job of sticking to the facts and not embellishing theories of H.H. Holmes murders. The result is one of innuendo, crafting a lurking menace of evil during a transition into a new age of humanity. Holmes's murders were heinous, but that wasn't the only aspect of his persona that made him truly detestable.
The novel was a very interesting read about the dichotomy of a city. In one chapter you read about the optimism and gumption of men in competition with the past, in the next you read of negativity and cheats to achieve a future. In one chapter you read of awe and wonder, in the next you read of destruction and deception. And it all took place across the street from one another.
A very entertaining read, just be sure you know it's not just about the Devil in the White City--it's about the loss of a city's innocence. Perhaps the loss of the world's innocence....more
The main character is tough as nails, but also clever in the way he manoeuvres the others around him. He will ocA daring book about greed and justice.
The main character is tough as nails, but also clever in the way he manoeuvres the others around him. He will occasionally exaggerate the truth, or give false truths, to gauge reactions, which adds to the verisimilitude of a cop-like investigator. The author must be a close copy to the personality of his character, as Hammett never allows us inside Sam Spade's head. As a reader, you must remember the situation and assume Spade is up to something. Just the facts.
The book is tightly plotted, and reads like a novel that was written yesterday, making it the timeless classic it is accused of being. "Horse feathers" notwithstanding. Although, I could see this phrase coming back into style, for what is horse feathers but a polite man's bullshit?
Crime-noir excellence! Taking four stars from me whether I like it or not....more
I started reading this thinking it would be my Halloween read in October. A book that won a Stoker Award should be scary, right? While this one wasn'tI started reading this thinking it would be my Halloween read in October. A book that won a Stoker Award should be scary, right? While this one wasn't horrific, it sure was terrific.
The book's title is quite appropriate. It starts out tempting you with a mystery, but soon becomes a collection of fascinating and nostalgic adventures told through the recollections of an adult author. These adventures dip their toes in and out of many different genres, making it accessible to most reading audiences. It felt as if McCammon made a checklist of every subject he was interested in as a boy and made subplots for each to weave through the main plot.
McCammon has a wonderful collection of characters passing through the pages with vivid descriptions of their quirks and faces to accompany the vivid descriptions of small town life. The author seems to know every writing trick in the book and applies them all to this novel.
Boy's Life is a story that belongs on the reading list of anyone who enjoyed the adventures of Tom Sawyer, or Huckleberry Finn, or Scout Finch, or Gordie Lachance, or Mikey Walsh. It's a story that can be thoroughly enjoyed at any time of the year....more
The author explains in his afterword that this novel is a love letter to Agatha Christie. He also explains that it's a bit of a deviation from his harThe author explains in his afterword that this novel is a love letter to Agatha Christie. He also explains that it's a bit of a deviation from his hardboiled crime novels. I happen to enjoy hardboiled crime, so I probably shouldn't have chosen this as a jumping in point for Max Allan Collins. No offense to Agatha Christie, of course.
It was a short read that had interesting moments in it, and cleverly tied together snippets from history, but it just wasn't what I was hoping. I think the author became too distracted with the fact that his protagonist was The Great Agatha Christie and lost a little of the promise of the title. That being said, he was able to create a convincing portrayal of London living under, and becoming accustomed to, the constant threat of annihilation from above.
The writing was good enough that I kept reading, so that's something, and I wouldn't hesitate to try another of Collins's work, but this one was just okay. 2.5, I guess?...more
The Postman Always Rings Twice is a book written for the current modern era, albeit with a 30's twang. It's a story that has been told a hundred timesThe Postman Always Rings Twice is a book written for the current modern era, albeit with a 30's twang. It's a story that has been told a hundred times since--boy meets girl, boy knocks off girl's husband, but the prose has bones not seen at the time. It was a crime noir, but vividly violent and with a sexual nature that surely got it cancelled by the squares of the day.
It read like a true crime journal, giving any detail you want--as long as you can stomach it. The protagonist is lust, the antagonist monogamy. Then, just when you figure it's all fixed up to perfection, doubt and betrayal move the story in different directions.
A terrific and absorbing tale for anyone who fancies himself a noir-nut. The only aspect that may turn some off was the dialogue sometimes sounded like it was straight out of a black-and-white moving picture--a 'talkie' they call 'em, see?...more
Stephanie Plum? That's the name? Are you sure? You can choose any name you want, this isn't non-fiction, you know. No? You are sticking with StephanieStephanie Plum? That's the name? Are you sure? You can choose any name you want, this isn't non-fiction, you know. No? You are sticking with Stephanie Plum? Ok then.
Stephanie Plum is a hot mess. When she comes upon hard times, an unlikely sequence of events draws her into the world of bounty hunting. She has no idea what she's doing, but that's a part of her charm. Charming, though, is not how one would describe Miss Plum. She is quirky, and a bit of a pill.
I really like quirky characters--in fiction and in real life. Some might even consider me to be a little quirky. And to them I say: shut up. I think this book might fall into the category of one of those stories in which the character herself is more memorable than the story. There was a movie producer who once said: "No one remembers what the story for Lethal Weapon was, people just remember Riggs and Murtaugh." Fair enough. But that name . . . Stephanie Plum. Why?
One thing I noticed (aside from the barfy character name) was something that might agitate a few feminists. I'm not a feminist myself, in fact, if I know you are a feminist I will probably make a tasteless joke about voting rights to see your face go sour. It's the little things that make my day. But in this book, I couldn't help but notice that not only is Stephanie infatuated with a man who sexually assaulted her in her youth, but every time she gets in trouble she needs to phone a man to rescue her. Or she needs a man to stay with her to provide protection. There are women like this, sure, but if this had been written by a man I feel like there would be a lot of people crying foul.
Last thing I will mention is that one reviewer compared Evanovich to Elmore Leonard. Now . . . the name Stephanie Plum didn't immediately make me vomit, but that review sure got me bent over a bowl.
Enjoyable, but for a certain audience. 3.2347 stars....more
After reading this, I am now fully convinced that 'Die Hard' . . . is a Christmas movie. There are a lot of movies that take place on Christmas, but oAfter reading this, I am now fully convinced that 'Die Hard' . . . is a Christmas movie. There are a lot of movies that take place on Christmas, but only certain ones feel Christmas-y. Right?
Nothing Lasts Forever is the inspiration for the movie 'Die Hard', which is the only reason I picked it up. I don't usually like to start with Book #2, but I've seen the movie based on 'The Detective', and it bored me to tears. The book The Detective is also around six hundred pages long, and has a lot of GR reviewers calling it one of the worst reads of their lives. So, . . . nope. Not for me.
There was a part of me that wanted the book to be better than the movie, which is so often the case. Granted, there is a heavy dose of nostalgia with which Roderick Thorp had to compete, but I still had high hopes that he would come out on top--much like his hero. There are still familiar scenes in the book that echo the movie, but the movie added a little something to each of these scenes to make them iconic. How? With a great sense of humour. The book has no sense of humour until about the half-way point, making it seem out of place.
Also out of place is the multi-page breaks in the action to discuss terrorism. The '70s had brought the idea of terrorism into the mainstream with events like the Munich Massacre and the constant skyjackings of passenger planes, so Thorp naturally had some thoughts to get off his chest. This, however, hurt the pacing of the story.
In the movie 'Die Hard', John McClane is just a regular guy--with police training--who is trying to survive an untenable situation. The fights between him and the bad guys are messy street scuffles that he barely wins. His goal is simple: the woman he loves needs to be rescued from certain death at the hands of a madman. But in Nothing Lasts Forever, Joe Leland (protagonist) is cold and calculating as he murders the terrorists in the building as if he were a high-end assassin. He seems to be more interested in securing a new love interest--who lives a few cities away--than his own daughter who is being held hostage below. And Joe Leland just so happens to be an expert on terrorism and terrorists, so he has an almost superhero status as the guy who is at the right place at the right time. Not like poor old John McClane, who is always at the wrong place, at the wrong time.
'Die Hard' is a movie about a separated family coming together for the holidays; it's about conquering greed, reviewing your priorities, and redeeming yourself; it's about good versus evil. (It's the adult Home Alone) And it gives each of the main characters a satisfying arc that leaves the audience with hope for the future by the roll of the credits.
Nothing Lasts Forever has some fun, recognizable scenes and an oddly surprising ending, but it has none of the elements I listed above. So that must mean that the 'Die Hard' production team inserted those endearing qualities to make a movie that would last forever....more
Have you ever met someone whose sense of humour is funny, but also deserving of a punch in the face? Then you've met Fletch! His off-colour comments aHave you ever met someone whose sense of humour is funny, but also deserving of a punch in the face? Then you've met Fletch! His off-colour comments and sarcastic wit make for an amusing read. I personally enjoy people who are like Fletch. George Carlin might have squirmed hearing some of the verbally offensive jousting I do with my friends.
The book begins in full throttle, driving you right into the plot, and engaging you in the mystery of Fletch's situation. There are two stories chugging down the tracks at the same time, both expertly colliding together for the ending.
The prose . . . well there isn't much prose to speak of, actually, as the book reads more like a screenplay without camera angles. This could easily be a turn-off if not for McDonald's flair for dialogue. Every character's voice is so distinct that you don't really need to know who has blond hair until the end. And reading something that sounds like it has been transcribed from a tape recorder adds to the verisimilitude of this particular tale.
I've said before that I will generously round up my stars for a book if I had a blast reading it. This is one of those reads. 5 stars....more
I don't like the term 'dated' when describing a piece of fiction. Since I've been scouring GR looking for good pulp crime reads, I've noticed that terI don't like the term 'dated' when describing a piece of fiction. Since I've been scouring GR looking for good pulp crime reads, I've noticed that term bandied about for this book and that. Here's the thing: books are a time capsule, a view into another time through words and documentation of history. If you unburied a fifty-year-old time capsule, would you scoff at the items within it, accusing the assembler of stocking it with irrelevant, meaningless garbage, or would you be interested in and curious about what each item meant? To me, when an author comments on events that happened before I was born I don't find it irrelevant, but interesting. Or if an author has a way of writing that seems antiquated, even offensive, I should already know what I'm getting into because, yes, it is dated--literally. You can find the date on the copyright page at the beginning of the book.
So what did I think of The Neon Jungle? Well, it's dated. Oh, I already went over that.
I started comparing the book to Raymond Chandler in the first few chapters, so was quite enjoying the ride, but the constant shifts in POVs seemed excessive for such a small book. The tension presented by John D. MacDonald in the final act between characters is great, and the climax is intense, if inconsistent with a few character motivations.
Would I recommend this book? Hm, I suppose it would interest a few noir nuts, but I don't think I'd read it again. I would, however, try another of John D. MacDonald's books. I own a few of the Travis McGee series, so I'm excited to explore those....more
Pornography? What is that? The author kept mentioning that word. I must Google it. . . .
So why am I giving this novel four stars when I've been so spaPornography? What is that? The author kept mentioning that word. I must Google it. . . .
So why am I giving this novel four stars when I've been so sparing with my stars of late? Did it blow me away? Did it tug on my heartstrings? Did it give me a happy ending? Nah. I think it was mostly due to very low expectations coming into it.
I've become enamored with the Hard Case Crime print series because the covers are gorgeous and they reprint a lot of pulp crime novels that are very hard to come by. But this was one of their newer titles, which takes place in a modern world. Why the hell would I want to read about cell phones, the internet and 9/11, when I could pick up another of their titles and read about telegrams, typewriters, and dirty Commies? And if you read the back, it sounds like another wan attempt at creating a female Rambo. I mostly just picked it up to make room on the shelf.
But then I became quite pleasantly surprised by it. The prose reads like it's straight out of the '70's or earlier. The female heroine is believable, tough in her own non-Rambo way, and goes through a version of the Hero's Journey to get to a level where she becomes a believable badass. One thing I wondered about as I neared the end was if the whole story was imagination, or if the author was cathartically creating a revenge fantasy against someone who sexually abused her. It would be an interesting question to have answered, but not necessary, obviously, to enjoy the book.
Bonus points to the author for a perfect title.
One last note on the book: it pulls no punches on its portrayal of the porn industry, so if graphic descriptions of sex acts make you squeamish, you might want to avoid this one....more
What kind of an animal dog-ears book pages? Too lazy to find a bookmark? Don't understand that literally anything can be used as a bookmark? Every booWhat kind of an animal dog-ears book pages? Too lazy to find a bookmark? Don't understand that literally anything can be used as a bookmark? Every bookstore has a stack of free bookmarks on the front counter, not to mention the receipt they give you can also be used as one. Or maybe your bookstore is 'going green' (ironic if you are buying a paperback) and doesn't give you these options. What to do then? Buy a stick of gum at a Pharmacy. They will give you a four-foot long piece of paper with which to mark the spot you left off. And all these chapters are like two pages long . . . are you folding pages every time you have to stir your mac and cheese?
*Deep Breath*
So about this book. . . . If you haven't caught on, I read a 'previously enjoyed' copy. I enjoyed the premise, but couldn't help but notice numerous plot holes and some glaring spelling mistakes that should have been caught by somebody along the line. The constant, and sometimes irrelevant, use of italics made my brain swoon as if on a rollercoaster ride of emphasis. (I'm sure my eyebrows were up and down constantly while I was reading it.) Some of the relationships between characters were disingenuous, some were even inappropriate. (A doctor/cop doesn't realize that dating a victim of a crime he's investigating is frowned upon?) It did seem a little bit like a male fantasy book, which isn't a bad thing, but I was expecting a little more realism to suspend my disbelief. Especially from such a big name mainstream author. For some strange reason it reminded me of watching a Hollywood popcorn flick. . . . Oh right, it was a movie. Sure was.
This seems like another of those reviews I write that makes the book sound bad, but in reality I was up late at night reading multiple chapters at a time and finished it in a week. The chimp who read it before me certainly enjoyed it, too, as he left his mark on every second page all the way to the end....more
It's not a book that would be taught at a normal school. A film school, however...
The Philip Marlowe character was Hollywood'sThe Big Sleep: 3.5 Stars
It's not a book that would be taught at a normal school. A film school, however...
The Philip Marlowe character was Hollywood's obsession in the 30's and 40's. When a film buff thinks of Crime Noir, the first character name he will unload is: Philip Marlowe. And with good reason, too, as I couldn't help but picture the scenes in the book with a black and white filter. It has a lot of great dark imagery of an area of California that somehow never sees the sun.
The Big Sleep is a quick and fun read, but with a mostly forgettable plotline. That being said, the whole time I was reading I was thinking to myself, 'Why don't I read more Crime Noir?' It was a good Crime Noir, but not the best. I thought of it as an ambiance read--that is, it would be best digested with a bourbon and a pipe....more
This was my first Dean Koontz, and won't be my last.
When you read a book called 'Intensity' you are expecting one main thing: intensity. Dean Koontz dThis was my first Dean Koontz, and won't be my last.
When you read a book called 'Intensity' you are expecting one main thing: intensity. Dean Koontz delivers on that promise.
There is a brief period of time at the start of the book when the main character is laughing and happy and not in danger as Koontz does some character work, but after that, the rest of the book is an edge-of-your-seat, white-knuckler....more
Hollywood sure likes Dennis Lehane. Probably more than I do, though. Don't get me wrong, this was only my first Dennis Lehane, and it won't be my lastHollywood sure likes Dennis Lehane. Probably more than I do, though. Don't get me wrong, this was only my first Dennis Lehane, and it won't be my last.
I wasn't a big fan of the male protagonist, Kenzie. The writing, being as mechanical as it was, kind of hurt the first-person narration. Or maybe Kenzie just wasn't my cup of tea. I liked Gennaro just fine, and all the other characters felt pretty real. They did seem to leap off the page to ask Hollywood for an adaptation.
The plot was great, and ended the only way it could end, which was great because it was one of those endings that made you look deep into the mirror to ask yourself if you could do the same thing.
I do recommend it, and I will be on the lookout for another Dennis Lehane....more
Well, I finally got around to reading one of the biggest books on the planet. Not impressed.
While I found the namesake character kind of interesting, Well, I finally got around to reading one of the biggest books on the planet. Not impressed.
While I found the namesake character kind of interesting, I found the narrative itself bloated and unfocused. It barely kept my interest enough to keep me going past page 100 (which is my poor-writing-cut-off). There is a dual plot, one of which serves only as bookends, that might have been better off as a fourth book in the series.
Maybe I'm not seeing the complete picture. I haven't read the other two novels, so there might be some more intrigue scattered about, or maybe the author is hoping you latch onto the characters enough to want to read another chapter in their lives. Whatever the case may be, I didn't get hooked.
If I do decide I want to know more about the series, I will watch the movies, but I can't say I'd suggest this novel to anyone....more
This was probably one of my favourite Russian reads. I haven't read many, and this does have its failings, but I would recommend it.
The weakness is thThis was probably one of my favourite Russian reads. I haven't read many, and this does have its failings, but I would recommend it.
The weakness is the second third of the book. According to some teachers of writing, the second third tends to be the hardest area to keep the reader's attention. (The Count of Monte Cristo comes to mind as another good example of this.)
The first third paints a very interesting portrait of a troubled character who commits a crime. You don't really find out why he committed it until about the last third, which makes the journey a little confusing. I found myself flipping back through pages to see if I missed why he did it.
I did find the book's ideology very fascinating, and that's pretty much what made the book worth reading....more