When I was first recommended this book, I had no idea what to expect. For whatever reason, I was mainly going by the cover art and relying on that to When I was first recommended this book, I had no idea what to expect. For whatever reason, I was mainly going by the cover art and relying on that to tell me what this book was mainly about. A contortionist. Wrong. Never judge a book by it's cover folks.
The book is about John Vincent. John is a man who suffers from such severe headaches that he usually ends up overdosing on painkillers and various prescription pills in an effort to stop the torture. When this happens, nine times out of ten, he gets picked up by paramedics and brought to the hospital in an effort to save his life. Once revived, it's mandatory that he meets with a psychiatrist to determine whether or not the OD was accidental or an attempt to end his life. Knowing that this will most certainly happen again (as this is the only way he knows how to deal with the headaches), he's forced to create an entirely new identity so that if he is picked up again by medics, he's not tossed in a mental institution.
The narrative jumps all over the place from the present (a conversation with an evaluator due to his most recent overdose) to the various identities he's stolen in the past. Usually, I can be a little thrown off by this but with the trend I've been taking with authors lately, it seems to be the status quo.
As good as this book was, I had this feeling that Vincent was never really in any sort of danger of being caught. The man is just so good at what he does, he seems like he's leaps and bounds ahead of any potential threat. However, I guess that's not really what the book is about as Clevenger seems to spend more time with his relationship with his father and the women in his life. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, I was pretty much glued to these pages throughout. It's just, I can't really figure out why I was.
Clevenger is an excellent writer, the man really has some talent. I'm genuinely surprised that this hasn't been picked up by someone in Hollywood yet. It seems like the perfect movie for someone like David Fincher. I guess with the ending being some anti-climatic, it may create some problems....more
I'm not really going to go to in depth in this review..so I'll keep it short and sweet.
I understand the massive amount of praise and hype given to thiI'm not really going to go to in depth in this review..so I'll keep it short and sweet.
I understand the massive amount of praise and hype given to this graphic novel. At the time of its publication, I believe that there were not a lot of books created with the subject matter. However, I'm reading this almost 25 years after its release - I've read more than a few graphic novels and it just fell kind of flat on me.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say that I disliked this book. I mean, it was okay, but I guess I just expected to feel blown away when I finished..instead, I mostly felt bored....more
I doubt that Connolly ever had the idea that he would do an entire book dedicated to Louis and Angel. That being said, I had hoped early on that this I doubt that Connolly ever had the idea that he would do an entire book dedicated to Louis and Angel. That being said, I had hoped early on that this book would eventually exist.
In The Reapers, long time associates of Charlie Parker, Louis and Angel, get their own novel. Louis and Angel have recently fallen into the cross hairs of a rival long thought dead. A former colleague of Louis, Bliss, has returned to seek his vengeance against those who brutally disfigured him, leaving him for dead years ago. However, Louis and Angel are unaware of his resurgence, accepting a job from a wealthy criminal recluse who asks them to take out his longtime rival. The pair goes missing during said job and it's up to their friends, led by Parker to find them.
This novel is refreshing in so many ways from the previous Parker installments. Gone is the first person narrative, gone are the supernatural aspects and for the most part, gone is Charlie Parker himself. Having already explored a lot of Angel's history in the earlier books, Connolly dives deep into Louis' upbringing and the circumstances that led him down his path in life. Told through flashbacks, Connolly shapes Louis through his first kill and his subsequent recruitment of a man known as Gabriel. This man becomes Louis' father figure, molding him into a "Reaper"; a hit man.
I really enjoyed the back story on Louis, I felt like it's long overdue and without a doubt, he's grown to become my favorite character in the Parker series. He's written with such passion; Connolly paints him as a consistent professional but with a dry sense of humor that is just awesome. The novel also goes into detail the lengths that Louis and Angel take to maintain their lifestyle. Louis does a lot of his business through shell companies and pre-paid, disposable cell phones, trying not to deal with anyone directly unless absolutely necessary, even paying homeless people to pay bills and acquire new phones with pre-paid calling cards. It's pretty slick.
Parker's role was perfect, leading a rag tag group of allies to aid Louis and Angel upon their disappearance. I'm growing to love Parker's hired goons, the Fulci brothers. Their associate, Jackie Garner (hired by the Fulci brothers to take care of their business affairs), had one of the better moments in the series leaving me laughing out loud.
I'm so glad Connolly decided to give Louis and Angel their own entry in the long running Parker series. I'm hoping that he one day decides to give them another kick at the can. I'll try not to be greedy though - I'll take as many Parker books that Connolly will throw at me.
The Lovers progresses the Charlie Parker character in a way that has not been done since The White Road. In his last two outings, excluding The ReaperThe Lovers progresses the Charlie Parker character in a way that has not been done since The White Road. In his last two outings, excluding The Reapers, we’ve been given small advancements here and there in Parker’s fledgling relationship and his continued haunting by his deceased wife and child – but nothing major.
In the final pages of The Unquiet’s superb ending, Connolly alludes to something being covered up in Charlie’s childhood. One of Parker’s more recent associates (The Collector), who lightly dances on the line of good and evil, hints at Parker’s lineage. The circumstances surrounding his father’s death have never really been explained or investigated in the Parker series until now. The Lovers dives deep into Parker’s history and subsequently throws the entire series upside down establishing the foundation of why Parker is who he is. Forcing the reader to jump back and forth from the present to the past, we come to realize that Parker will be forever surrounded by evil.
It might seem like I’m telling you that Connolly reveals all, but truly he knows better. Why spoil the fun? Clearly he has ambitious hopes for the character as he continues to write more and more novels. He’s careful to leave just enough out to keep us all interested.
I blew through this book rather quickly. Not quite as swiftly as The Reapers but it was pretty enthralling. As with every Parker book, it’s really hard to maintain an opinion that this is fantastic from start to finish as he usually bogs down in character development; which has its advantages but on some occasions can feel tiresome. That being said, on a good note, the flashback scenes and the character histories are a little lighter.
I was a little disappointed in the fact that Louis and Angel are rarely in this one. However, as having just starred in their first stand alone novel, Connolly seemed to feel that he could keep them at bay as this was a case strictly to do with Parker and his family. I was a little wary at first but it all worked out for the best. Parker’s estranged girlfriend and daughter are kept at a minimum, only surfacing once or twice to continue an acknowledgment of their existence. Basically, they seem to be there so Parker can get rid of his dog.
All in all, while not as good as The Reapers, it’s still a solid entry that I enjoyed more than The Black Angel and The Unquiet. I may have had some critical things to say about The Lovers but my Connolly fandom will always shine through. Maybe I’m just analyzing a little closer than I’m used to due to my overwhelming appreciation for the series....more
I can't stress to you fellow "good-readers" how much I loved this book. This is the 6th King book I've read and it is far and away the best. I know thI can't stress to you fellow "good-readers" how much I loved this book. This is the 6th King book I've read and it is far and away the best. I know that it's pretty much the norm to consider this King's finest effort..BUT there's a reason for that. Now, granted, I haven't read anywhere near his full catalogue but I have this feeling that I may not like anything nearly as much - that's a depressing thought considering how big of a fan I'm becoming. So you can see why I'm a little worried.
King basically crafts a scenario where a US biological weapons facility has an accident, unleashing a plague that kills off 99.4% of the world's population. Out of the remaining survivors, two very different societies form. One in Las Vegas led by what is basically evil incarnate and one in Boulder, Colorado led by a 108 year old woman (who lies on the side of all that is good..and God). As the novel progresses, characters change (for the good as well as the bad), both societies have their problems as an inevitable clash is in the works.
I was so nervous about starting this monster. 1,135 pages with such small print had me worried I would be reading this for months OR that something would cause me to hate it halfway through; becoming discouraged and throwing it aside. I initially bought this in May and deciding it was now or never, cracked the book at the beginning of September. After the first few chapters, I felt like an idiot for waiting so long.
I haven't had a novel cause me to invest in characters so fully since I had read "The Road" about 3 years ago. Can you be on the edge of your seat reading a book? I guess so. To steal a phrase, the book was "un-put-downable". I'm not sure if it's in my nature, but I always try to pick out the good stuff in any form of entertainment. I'm not very critical - it's probably why I have a lot of stuff rated between 4-5 stars. That being said, if I could rate this above 5 stars, I would.
Without a doubt, to date, Randall Flagg is by far my favorite literary villain. How could he not be? King crafts him as a man without reason. He wants nothing more than to watch the world burn. Sure, he wants power but he wants death and destruction more. He's the kind of man who would promise you the world for assistance and then throw you away when you've used up your purpose. He was terrifying and I'm happy that King apparently uses him again and again in additional work.
Near the end of the novel, something occurs that had me on the verge of tears. To date, I've never been that emotionally caught up in a novel. I'm not sure how that relates to the stuff I'm reading or my ability to identify with characters but it really did a number on me. Laws, yes, it did!
I read through this review like 10 times before I posted it and it more or less sounds like I'm rambling on and on without structure. That's okay - I feel like I accomplished what I sent out to do. ...more
Baseball is a sport that I have a hard time supporting. A few years ago (approx. 8 to be exact) I had seen a live game between the Boston Red Sox and Baseball is a sport that I have a hard time supporting. A few years ago (approx. 8 to be exact) I had seen a live game between the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays. I actually enjoyed it quite a bit, it's a totally different animal live. It comes across as lively and exciting. However, I cannot sit down and watch it on television - just doesn't do it for me.
That being said, I seem to enjoy fiction about the sport. I'm a big fan (and quite possibly one of the only ones) of 2005's Fever Pitch as well as Rookie of the Year and the Angels in the Outfield movies from my youth. Actually, when I was a youngster going through the sixth grade, we had bi-weekly creative writing assignments and I would always write short stories about baseball or hockey; sports in general really. I can't remember if they were ever any good - truth be told; they were probably terrible - but I loved writing them.
Anyway, this brings me to the subject of this review. I've been on a real Stephen King kick lately. I've read 4 of his books so far this year (The Dark Tower 1 and 2, Under The Dome, ..On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft) and have just finished my 5th, Blockade Billy.
Clocking in at a dismal 81 pages, Blockade Billy certainly doesn't overstay its welcome. King lets the story take the tone of a sit down interview; a casual conversation with someone knowledgeable of the sport. He builds the tension well over the short amount of time he's given himself - the reader is slowly given reason to suspect that Billy might not "be all there".
King lets his love of baseball shine through here, you believe that this is an era of the game that he misses fondly. He seems to take subtle digs at the state of the sport today; taking the opposition to "big money contracts" and the state of baseball's business aspect. Also, King throws in a ton of old baseball lingo but I never really felt lost in the conversation. It may have something to do with the fact that I know just enough about the game to get by - I have no idea how this will translate into the average Joe.
When I had finished, I sort of thought that maybe it had ended just a little too soon (I'm slowly becoming a fan of longer, more detailed fiction). After having a couple of days to sit on it, I think the amount of story is just perfect. This being the first short story I've read from him; it has me excited for this fall's "Full Dark; No Stars" short story collection. I'll be picking that up for sure....more
I take in book related podcasts, spend a lot of time on GoodReads.com and browse the web for upcoming releases that are setting the book industry ON FI take in book related podcasts, spend a lot of time on GoodReads.com and browse the web for upcoming releases that are setting the book industry ON FIRE. Therefore, I'm bound to be sucked into the hype machine that can surround some big releases. This year, I took in the first Stieg Larsson book, The Girl With The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and loved it; the hype was worth it. I thought to myself, "Hey, maybe hype isn't all that bad." I haven't read nearly enough books to consider myself any kind of "book snob" but I wanted to curb those tendencies before they developed.
Therefore, on a recommendation by Stephen King, I decided I should check out Justin Cronin's The Passage.
To sum it up, Cronin jumps on the vampire popularity train that has been chugging along for the last 2-3 years. In what is explained as a ridiculous move by the U.S. government in an attempt to end the war on terror, they attempt to develop a serum of sorts that will enable humans to recover quicker from physical damage and essentially live longer. Like 900 years longer. However, we wouldn't have much of a novel if this experiment was successful now would we?
The first 1/3 of this book follows two government agents as they attempt to round up the final two subjects in the first round of testing. We get some background into who these subjects are; 12 death row inmates and 1 particularly strange little girl, as well as the moral dilemma that follows when one agent develops a soft spot for the girl; the daughter that he never had.
Something goes drastically wrong with the trials and the test subjects develop characteristics similar to vampires. They have an insatiable love for blood as well as the ability to leap, almost fly, long distances. They're also sensitive to light and seem to become almost invincible, aside from a strike to "the sweet spot" - an area somewhere in the center of their chest.
Without spoiling a lot of the events that unfold, know that the book drastically changes about 1/3 of the way in - fast-forwarding 92 years to a post-apocalyptic United States. The book then shifts to follow a small colony of human survivors as they fend off "the virals" - which now outnumber the amount of survivors.
That's pretty much all I'm going to say on the plot; I think it's better if you have a fair bit of ignorance going into it - as with any book.
Let me say that I LOVED the first 1/3 of this book. The origin story that establishes the fall of modern civilization, while not unique, is structured in such a way that it seems possible - which is frightening. I've always been known to be scared of a potential "super-bug" that would wipe out the human race; yes, this is coming from the guy who refused to take the "swine flu" vaccine because he heard it was not fully tested. I was positive the zombie apocalypse was imminent!
However, when the book switches - we're forced to once again invest in a new group of characters which involves a TON of individual back story that really bogs down the progression of the story. Yes, I understand that it's a trilogy in the making and that all of this is needed but I found myself just not caring; I wanted to read more about the characters from the first chunk of the book!
Granted, there were times in the when the action scenes were well paced and edge-of-your-seat intense, which saved the overall score but unfortunately could not bring me to rate it above 3 stars. Some of the dialog was a little hokey - hopefully Cronin works on that just a little before the next book is released.
That being said, the ending left me intrigued enough to seek out the 2nd book when it's released in 2 years. I have faith in Stephen King; with his firm recommendation on the back of this novel, he must see something in the author that I do not. Like most, I'll give Cronin the benefit of the doubt, hopefully he's headed somewhere fantastic....more
Loved this book - so far, I've loved everything from King that I've read. I think he's slowly becoming my favorite author. Well, myself and millions oLoved this book - so far, I've loved everything from King that I've read. I think he's slowly becoming my favorite author. Well, myself and millions of others and why not? He's awesome.
The first half dealt with his life and how he came to be a writer with the second half concentrating on how to get into the career itself, offering lots of advice. It also goes through his horrific car crash and subsequent recovery.
I've been a wrestling fan my entire life. Well, almost as far back as I can remember anyway. I was 6 years old when I saw my first match - it was HulkI've been a wrestling fan my entire life. Well, almost as far back as I can remember anyway. I was 6 years old when I saw my first match - it was Hulk Hogan defending the World Wrestling Federation Championship against The Ultimate Warrior in front of almost 70,000 screaming fans in Toronto's SkyDome. From that moment on, I was hooked. Fast forward 20 years and I recently finished an autobiography of sorts completed by one of the two competitors, the immortal Hulk Hogan.
In "My Life Outside The Ring", Hogan takes you on a very broad journey through his life from his early years to the recent events of his son's jail time and the divorce from his wife, Linda. While there's a lot of information to be found here, Hogan seems to paint his personal life in a way that does not make you envy him, despite the amount of fame and fortune the man has garnered in his 30+ year career. His marriage with Linda is told as if it was a journey through Hell. Hogan admits that he still loves his wife Linda - that there were still some good times to be found if you dug deep enough in their relationship, however, it just doesn't seem to be there.
While I did enjoy some of this book - I just was not prepared for the amount of time he spent on his marriage. With a book titled "My Life Outside The Ring", I should've seen that coming (his WCW career spans a total of 3 pages). I guess I should go back and read his WWE produced book from a few years earlier if that's what I'm looking for (although reviews of that particular edition are far from favorable).
Hogan does end the book in a positive light; as if he turned his life around. How could he not? The events that hit this man in a span of 2 years are just awful. While it comes across as inspiring, sometimes it's hard to take seriously. Hogan has so much mud slung his way over the course of his professional wrestling career; you often wonder which Hogan you're seeing in this book. Is it a fabricated version - or the real man himself? The wrestling industry is one that is notorious for lies, backstabbing and the philosophy of "putting yourself before others" - and you need to do that to stay at the top sometimes. It would not surprise me if some of this book is embellished.
That being said, I think that Hogan is mostly truthful here. What does he have to loose? The divorce is settled, he's no longer a "top dog" in any company and his active wrestling career is pretty much dead. The one thing I did not get an answer to - that I really wanted - is the story of the hatred between the man himself and Randy Savage. Apparently these two dislike each other on a massive scale although nothing has really been said other than the odd internet rumor.
Although I did like it - I'd be hesitant to recommend it to anyone just because of the lack of time spent on his career. By all means, read this if you're interested in his problematic marriage and family life, you'll get a decent story there - but if you're expecting anything substantial regarding is time spent as a professional wrestling, you're out of luck. ...more
In March of 2009, I started reading Charlie’s journey through the criminal underworld with “Every Dead Thing”. While having a little supernatural stufIn March of 2009, I started reading Charlie’s journey through the criminal underworld with “Every Dead Thing”. While having a little supernatural stuff thrown in there, his character reminded me of a “Batman-ish” vigilante. You had the classic story line of a traumatic event happening to an undeserving person which leads into spending their life trying to make amends for what happened. I loved it – I was hooked right away. The first book was full of such anger, he hated the world and wanted justice for the murder of his wife and child.
With Connolly’s “The Unquiet”, we’re six books in and two removed from one of the best Parker novels yet, “The White Road”. In this installment, we find Parker dealing with the separation from the mother of his second child. He picks up a job protecting the daughter of a long since missing child psychologist, Daniel Clay. Daniel’s daughter, Rebecca, is being troubled by a man who believes Daniel is still alive. The man in question, Merrick, desperately wants to find the location of Daniel about some unfinished business. Daniel Clay’s disappearance is linked to a scandal involving a case of alleged child abuse leading to death which had subsequently ruined his career. However, nothing was actually confirmed on whether Mr. Clay had anything to do with the events in question, just that his disappearance seems to indicate his involvement.
Parker’s life is just a huge mess. He can’t seem to make a decision between what he believes is his moral obligation to seek out and help those troubled in life and accepting his role as a father and family man. The novel spends a good chunk of time on the personal life; heavily sinking into Parker’s dilemma. It’s like he’s just sulking around, hoping things will clear themselves up. He seems to have no desire to make any sort of final decision.
Despite my feelings on Parker, his associates Louis and Angel remain excellent. Louis has some of the best lines I’ve read in this series. From his rant on hockey to his explanation of his political views; I just loved him.
I’m a huge fan of Connolly’s wit and sarcastic humor but with a brooding Parker, the novel seems to just fall a little short of what I’m used to. Maybe that’s what Connolly was going for but it’s not something I’m a fan of – at least not this far into the Parker saga. I think the novel also suffered from its length. Finishing at just over 500 pages, I felt it could have been a little tighter. A lot seemed like filler to me.
Despite my overall feelings toward the book, it had a superb ending. Connolly wraps things up well and treats the reader to an epilogue which progresses to the next book nicely. I have to admit, I was intrigued by something hinted at in the final pages – enough to make me pick up the next book right away. Actually, the final 100 pages or so really saved this. If not for some key events occurring before the conclusion, this could’ve been completely forgettable and feel like a less than perfect entry in the Parker series.
So, I'm 5 books into the Charlie Parker saga and so far, so good.
With this book, Connolly seems to have completely abandoned the realistic approach taSo, I'm 5 books into the Charlie Parker saga and so far, so good.
With this book, Connolly seems to have completely abandoned the realistic approach taken with the earlier books and gone full force into supernatural mode. That's not necessarily a bad thing, I mean, if it's done right anyway and Connolly seems to know just what he's doing.
When I read the initial plot and some spoiler free reviews, I was a little worried that Connolly was going to take Parker somewhere that I wasn't interested in reading. I mean, I have enough supernatural in my reading life with Stephen King and I really enjoyed the Parker series having its distinct feel - the career of a witty and sarcastic P.I. with his two buddies, a hit-man and a retired career criminal specializing in B&E. However, Connolly does not go over board. Yes, this novel is supported on the readers ability to grasp the existence of Angels and seemingly immortal individuals but Connolly's back story supports it so well that it honestly does not seem like that much of a stretch.
While he spends a good portion of the book developing his characters (old and new) and their reasons for the acquisition of The Black Angel itself; he spends very little time on action. So little that I think that Connolly is not aware of just how well he writes action. The scenes involving intense shoot outs are far and few between - that being said, I can do without Connolly throwing in that stuff for the sake of it - I'm just craving more of it.
I'm a big fan of where this book went when the initial plot seemed to be taken care of. Connolly never abandons old plots and important events from previous novels - he blends everything in so very well. It's clear that he's not doing it to only seem consistent; he appears to have a long and drawn out vision of where this character is going. Which is reassuring considering I have the next 3 sitting on my bookshelf.
While the ending of this book isn't exactly the most thrilling of his work to date, the events that unfold could not be better for the longevity of the Charlie Parker character. I'm still just as interested to read the 6th book as I was to pick up the 2nd....more
The finest Charlie Parker experience yet. Granted, it took a little bit for the story to develop and pick up but when it did, Connolly did NOT let up.The finest Charlie Parker experience yet. Granted, it took a little bit for the story to develop and pick up but when it did, Connolly did NOT let up. Fantastic storytelling from start to finish....more
I don't really know what to think of this book. I'll try to form some sort of..review.
I really dreaded writing this because I wasn't really sure how tI don't really know what to think of this book. I'll try to form some sort of..review.
I really dreaded writing this because I wasn't really sure how to put my thoughts on this into a review. Whenever I feel negative or just..weird..about a book, the review seems a lot harder to do than when I love something. In this case, it's even harder because I can't really pinpoint exactly what this book did wrong. The structure was pretty similar to that of Kiss Me, Judas. From page one, to the end; almost every main character is on some sort of drug or mood-altering substance. I'm not sure why but after reading Penny Dreadful, it was hard to go back to what KMJ (Kiss Me, Judas - for those not following along) was like in terms of overall narrative. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I had any problems following along Baer's twisted neo-noir fantasy - I just didn't enjoy it as much this time around.
Poe's main antagonist this time, aside from Jude's twisted psyche, is John Ransom Miller, a wealthy lawyer. Miller agrees to provide Jude with Senator MacDonald Cody, one whom she completed a hand amputation on a few years back while living in Mexico. Cody spots Jude somewhere in California and immediately sets out to have her destroyed - it's basically a "you can't get me if I get you first" kind of thing. The only thing that Miller wants in return is her participation (and a few others) in the creation of a snuff film. A snuff film in which the victim’s identity will not be revealed until the murder occurs.
Miller is just too out there. His character is so all over the place that it made me crazy. While I understood Poe's reasons for cooperating, it gets to a certain point where it no longer made sense to me. It gets so complicated, so insanely twisted, that I was just annoyed. I can appreciate some of the moral dilemas..but these characters are all completely out of their minds. By who they are and how they came into this situation, none of them should even be aware of any moral obligation they hold to anyone.
The only character I really felt anything for other than Poe, was Molly. Molly was one of the actresses hired for the snuff film, which may or may not be Miller's present girlfriend. She really didn't have any interests in most of the insanity other than trying to create a memorable performance. The scenes in which she connects with Poe were well done and had me rooting for the two to get together - however, I think it's more so because Jude enraged me 99% of the time.
Baer really missed this one for me. It was necessary for him to continue the story for Jude, with her absence from the 2nd novel but he made me hate her so much that the ending just fell flat.
** On another note, for a book so over-the-top violent and sexually charged, I'm bothered by other trivial things. Kind of says something about what I'm used to reading....more
As much as I really liked Kiss Me, Judas, I loved Penny Dreadful that much more. To steal an overused cliché, this book was a "tour de force" (which IAs much as I really liked Kiss Me, Judas, I loved Penny Dreadful that much more. To steal an overused cliché, this book was a "tour de force" (which I'm not really even sure what that means other than perhaps, tour of force?). Either way, overused descriptions aside, this book is in a word, awesome.
Baer really outdid himself. I enjoyed the first entry but was a little weary about starting this one (despite the fact that I went on and on about how much I enjoyed it). I think it was partly due to the fact that I had so much to read as well as a general feeling it may be a let down. And, truth be told, I did feel that way starting out, I thought the subject matter was a little out there. An ongoing, seemingly never-ending fantasy based game involving the theft of one's tongue? Insanity.
Basically, the way the book breaks down is that you enter the game, usually through an invitation from someone else, and are quickly established into a caste. Either you're a "Fred", which is someone not aware of the game and is being hunted by a Mariner (one who hunts tongues) or a self-aware "Fred", which is someone who knows they're in the game but unsure of where they belong. Along the way, you're given assignments and instructions by a "Glove" a person of supreme importance. You also have the ability to confess to a "Redeemer", someone whose sole job is to comfort those lost within the game. This of course is all fueled by a hallucinogenic drink called "The Pale", made mostly of herbs with a little heroin thrown in for good measure.
As this is the second in the Phineaus Poe trilogy, Poe is our central character. He inadvertently gets drawn into the game while on the hunt for missing cops, most notably a missing cop named Jimmy Sky. While going undercover to gain some information, he encounters Eve, a central character from the first novel. The novel progresses as Poe is drawn deeper and deeper into the game of tongues.
Honestly, it's not quite as screwed up as I initially thought. The way that Baer crafts the game, the structure, the rules; you really believe that this could actually work. It's clear that this is a genre that the author firmly belongs in as he has such conviction with the noir genre. His writing is so exceptional; the book is endlessly quotable.
I'm starting Hell's Half Acre immediately. Jude makes her triumphant return and the series switches back to the sole point of view of Poe - something that had been mixed up a bit in "Penny Dreadful". Hopefully, it's just as good as the first two....more
I'm not going to go into a whole lot of detail as it's kind of hard to justify a really long review of this book considering the subject matter.
Just bI'm not going to go into a whole lot of detail as it's kind of hard to justify a really long review of this book considering the subject matter.
Just because I have given it 2 stars does not mean that I hated the book either. Judging by the GR rating system, I have selected "it was ok" and that's all it really was.
I did take pleasure in a few of the entries such as; "Obtaining the perfect milk to cereal ratio", "sleeping with one leg under the covers and one leg out" and "snow falling on Christmas eve".
About halfway through, I gave up reading Neil's write-ups and just read the subject lines. The write-ups were not really bad per say, they just didn't really add anything to the entry. It kind of felt like a waste of time.
That being said, I still visit the website on occasion. I think it works much better that way....more
Upon a recommendation from Mr. Scott Mosier (not directly, obviously), I decided to embrace the culture of Sweden and pick up Stieg Larsson's blockbusUpon a recommendation from Mr. Scott Mosier (not directly, obviously), I decided to embrace the culture of Sweden and pick up Stieg Larsson's blockbuster, "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo." Before this book, my three biggest exposures to Sweden were Mats Sundin, the Swedish Chef from The Muppets and Drew Barrymore's character from Wayne's World - not exactly a broad spectrum of Swedish culture.
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I loved this book. Loved it. It might have something to do with the incredibly LOW expectations that I had going in. For whatever reason, I refused to buy into the hype - only because the hype was so huge. I haven't exactly had a great track record when it comes to "blockbuster" books but I did my best to keep an open mind. I'm not particularly coming off as a snob - the amount of books I've read will clear that up - I just have been let down in the past.
Most of the praise has been directed towards "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" herself, Lizbeth Salender. I can understand it, she's a very strong female lead and I enjoyed her throughly but to me, she's pretty much on equal footing with Blomkvist. The two make a terrific team, it'd be hard to imagine one without the other.
The fact that it's a trilogy is a little confusing to me - things are wrapped up pretty clearly at the end of this book. There are a few things left unanswered - but nothing major. That being said, I'm pretty happy that I get a chance to read about these characters two more times. There's talk about farming out the characters to another writer once the trilogy is over as Larsson passed away in 2004 - but I don't see the point.*** Not everything needs to go on forever. That being said, that's easy for me to say when I've only read the first book.
***Update: Unless you've been been on Mars, in a cave, with your eyes shut and your fingers in your ears, you'd know that they released a fourth book by another author - The Girl in the Spider's Web
I didn't "get" this book. I know that they tried to capture the mind of a schizophrenic..but..it was just all over the place. I know..I know..I guess I didn't "get" this book. I know that they tried to capture the mind of a schizophrenic..but..it was just all over the place. I know..I know..I guess that's the point but really, I didn't understand what this was going for.
I had the same feeling reading this that I had when I was making my way through "The Catcher in the Rye". I know that both of these books are moreso about "the journey" and not the destination - but I just didn't see the point.
That being said, I do like Wray's style when he was writing outside of the scenes with the novel's main character, William - his descriptions of his surroundings were excellent; some overall great stuff.
I just found that a lot of the characters were annoying - frustrating even.
In Beat The Reaper, Bazell presents us with Peter Brown, a medical resident who years ago, entered into the witness protection program; as he used to In Beat The Reaper, Bazell presents us with Peter Brown, a medical resident who years ago, entered into the witness protection program; as he used to be a contract killer for the mob. In exchange for his cooperation with the police some time ago, Brown was given a new life - that was until one night when he was discovered by a mob associate who had been assigned to him as a patient. There's more to this story then what I have written here but I'd like to keep it short and vague; it's probably best if you know as little as possible.
I liked this book; didn't love it. Bazell has an interesting writing style - there's a lot of humor in this book and while it does work, I never found myself laughing out loud (not like with Paul Neilan's Apathy and Other Small Victories). There's a review contained within that states it's almost a crossover between House & The Bourne Identity - I never quite got that. It does seem like he tries a little hard at times but he does succeed on a level.
There are points where I was really involved in the build up - where I was anticipating the payoff to a lot of the confrontational scenes but I felt that a lot of it fell flat. That being said; I really don't want to give off the vibe that I disliked this book - Bazell shows a lot of promise. I'd like to see what he has planned next....more
Plot: Have you ever loved someone who's mortally wounded you? Phineas Poe, disgraced cop and morphine addict, has just been released from a psych wardPlot: Have you ever loved someone who's mortally wounded you? Phineas Poe, disgraced cop and morphine addict, has just been released from a psych ward when he meets a beautiful woman named Jude in a hotel bar. Red dress, black hair, body like a knife. He takes her back to his room and wakes the next morning in a bathtub full of blood and ice, missing a kidney. Dragging himself from a hospital bed, Phineas discovers he wants to be with Jude like a hunger and he wants to find her and kill her. Falling for her is the start of a twisted love story that takes him from the snowy streets of Denver to the high plains of Texas where the boundaries between torturer and victim, killer and accomplice, become nightmarishly distorted.
Thoughts: Recommended to me both by fellow staff member, Matty as well as the good folks over at The Cult, I had high hopes for the first of Baer's "Poe" trilogy. Written in the style of a good Quentin Tarintino film, Baer jumps around from past to present so fluidly that it forces you to constantly pay attention. His knack for tying the events that shaped the current state of the books protagonist, Phineaus Poe, to his current mindset is impeccable. You really believed that he was slowly unraveling at the seams. Of course, as in a Tarintino film, the dialogue and the violence are all very stylistic - leads to excellent and addictive narration.
Baer's female lead, the reason for Poe's current situation, Jude, is one of the stronger female leads I've had the pleasure of reading. His descriptions of her really play into why Poe is head over heels for this woman - despite her actions. The majority of the supporting characters are integral to the books progression; you really get the feeling that Baer eliminated any and all filler. The novel is tightly structured and you never get the impression that Baer is out to create an epic for the sake of creating an epic.
I'm very excited for the second and third books in the trilogy - be sure to check back over the summer for subsequent reviews as they've been added them to my summer stack of reading. ...more
I've been listening to a lot of podcasts lately; one in particular that has recently been added to my weekly list is "Books on the Nightstand". The tiI've been listening to a lot of podcasts lately; one in particular that has recently been added to my weekly list is "Books on the Nightstand". The title is pretty self explanatory as it involves two people talking about what books they like while making a few recommendations to their listeners. One of the first episodes I listened to gave me a recommendation to Dean Koontz' Velocity. At this point, I've only heard the author's name thrown around - I've heard nothing neither good nor bad about his style or any of his work so I thought I'd give it a shot.
Plot Summary
Billy Wiles is an easygoing, hardworking guy who leads a quiet, ordinary life. But that is about to change. One evening, after his usual eight-hour bartending shift, he finds a typewritten note under the windshield wiper of his car. If you don't take this note to the police and get them involved, I will kill a lovely blond schoolteacher. If you do take this note to the police, I will instead kill an elderly woman active in charity work. You have four hours to decide. The choice is yours.
It seems like a sick joke, and Billy's friend on the police force, Lanny Olson, thinks so too. His advice to Bill is to go home and forget about it. Besides, what could they do even if they took the note seriously? No crime has actually been committed. But less than twenty-four hours later, a young blond schoolteacher is found murdered, and it's Billy's fault: he didn't convince the police to get involved. Now he's got another note, another deadline, another ultimatum - and two new lives hanging in the balance.
Suddenly Billy's average, seemingly innocuous life takes on the dimensions and speed of an accelerating nightmare. Because the notes are coming faster, the deadlines growing tighter, and the killer becoming bolder and crueler with every communication-until Billy is isolated with the terrifying knowledge that he alone has the power of life and death over a psychopath's innocent victims. Until the struggle between good and evil is intensely personal. Until the most chilling words of all are: The choice is yours.
Thoughts
The concept of this book intrigued me. Ash picked this up for me while she was on vacation in Newfoundland and when she brought it to the cashier, the cashier gave it a ringing endorsement - she loved it. I was all excited to get started; I'd only heard good things at this point. As I read on through the book - I was pleased. I even found myself recommending it to others before I finished it. However, as I got closer and closer to the end - I became less and less enthusiastic about finishing it. Around the last 70 pages; I just lost interest.
I'm not going to go out of my way to say that it was predictable - but I didn't understand why Billy held such strong conviction in who he thought the killer was. I didn't quite get that - and when the whole plot came together and you DO find out who the killer is, it's not very satisfying. I felt that Koontz' Billy was not a fully realized character; I had a hard time feeling sorry for him. It's not that I thought he deserved any of the mess that he was given - I just found myself not caring.
There was enough substance to the book that I'm willing to give him another shot - I've been given a recommendation for another book of his (False Memory) and was told that this book was a poor place to start - so I might be picking that up this weekend. Obviously the man is successful, so he knows what he's doing - I just need to find something of his to enjoy. ...more