When it comes to spinning a tale, Joe Hill definitely takes after his father, Stephen King, NOS4A2 is a loooong book. I want to say it is because Joe Hill has Stephen for a father, that his writing is really unique. But, I can't. Only because it is not really unique, well not this novel at least. I feel like I am reading a Stephen King novel. The writing is mirror in humor, and affectation. I really enjoyed the book, I just didn't enjoy it as much as I did Joe's other works.
NOS4A2 follows the formula of good versus evil. The evil in this story is one of a child abducting Vampire like creature who uses the essence of children's innocence to live forever. The supernatural side of the story begins when young Victoria realizes that she can transport herself from place to place using a bicycle (as a child) and a motorcycle (as an adult), and a magical "bridge." It is not until she is an adult that she realizes that there are others out there who also have similar powers. There is one man in particular who uses his powers for evil. This man, Charlie Manx, drives a possessed car, and abducts children from all over the U.S.
When Victoria is an adult she realizes that she is the only one who can help her son, who has become the latest victim of Manx and his car. Using her own powers she takes the reader on twisting and turning rides to find and rescue her son.
In the end everyone, of course lives happily ever after, but I found it, as a reader hard to follow at times. My disbelief was interrupted more than once when I had to reread passages in order to try and follow the path that Hill was trying to take his readers on. It was not always straightforward, and yet an interesting read. If you think you can get through it, maybe give it a try. if not...it really wouldn't be a big loss if you decided to skip it. I've read better.... ***
I was pleasantly surprised with this novel. The Pale Indian is a great outlook at what could be described as a common story, of identity and love and tragedy for Native Americans.
Robert Alexie writes about a Native named John Daniel, who was adopted off of his home Indian Territory in Canada. He and his sister went to live with a white couple. Here lies the new challenges for these young native children. They are thrown into white, or more accurate, "dominant" society. This was awkward for John as he was trying to keep his/her cultural identity in an atmosphere that made him feel alien, an outsider.
John was taken from his mother at age 11, so he had the memories of life as an Indian in Canada. He was able to live a life of somewhat calm after his adoption. He still had his sister, and always vowed never return to his Native home. Yet, as an adult, John found himself drawn back to his ancestral home looking for work.
John eventually became more comfortable, and made connections with family and formed new friendships, especially with one young lady named Tina. Tina would become a love that John was convinced would last a lifetime. Fate and Circumstance would have other plans for the couple. These two star crossed lovers found that the ending to their romance was final. There would be no chance for reconciliation, nor rekindling. The twist and turn that this book leads the reader down is heartbreaking, and all too common, for many natives who find themselves wrenched away from home. Family is lost, and in this case found, in the most heartbreaking of tales. This book had me captivated from beginning to end. Highly recommend ****
I picked up Someone Not Really Her Mother in the bargain bin at a book store, and to be honest, I was not ready for the subject, which is about 3 generations of females in a family and how they are dealing with the Matriarch of the family and her dementia.
This book to be really well written, and forces one to have their tissues handy. The Matriarch, Hannah is a survivor of World War II and the Nazi invasion of her home Country of France. She is the only one in her family who survived the Nazi invasion. Her father puts her on a boat to America to live with family friends. Hannah had her daughter on the boat to America and as it turns out her beau, and father of the child died before the baby was born.
All of this accumulates in Hannah's memories which appear to flood her mind as she sways back and forth between the present and the past. Her dementia affects her and her family, especially her daughter, Miranda, who learns more about her mother than she realizes she ever knew. Miranda is often the one who becomes involved in conversations with Hannah, who thinks Miranda is either a helpful stranger or a long dead family member.
I like this book because it gives a sympathetic eye into the mind of an elderly person with Dementia. The reader has the ability to see into the unknown. In a way it made me a bit uncomfortable, because no one really knows what goes on in the mind of someone with Dementia. This novel gave me that opportunity. I applaud the author in taking on this issue, and hope that those who read the book get as much out of thinking about their own aging, morality and family, as I did.
At forty years of age it is more often that I find myself reminiscing
about being twenty one than thinking about growing old(er). To be
honest it is because I really want to avoid the idea of dementia and
physically becoming incompetent and needing to rely on family for all my
needs. This book put all those issues in front of me and made me come
into contact with a story of what families have to deal with. I highly recommend. ****
On the big screen I have been seeing many movies adapted from novels, and this summer I went to see The Maze Runner, which is based on James Dashner's novel by the same name. I was really impressed with the characters and the plot, so I decided I wanted to read the series.
The Kill Order, was written after the whole series was finished. It is a prequel. I decided I wanted to read this one first. I am glad I did. There's always been the notions and theories of how humans on Earth will parish...Alien invasion? Asteroid headed for Earth? Zombies? Dashner's version has to do with the Sun and its effects on the Earth.
After millions of people perish from the sudden scorching from the Sun, the government begins to realize that there is no way that even those who have escaped death, can survive. The government come up with a plan of how to eradicate humans, and only to spare the chosen. The main character, Mark and his friends have to try and elude those who are hunting people.
In their adventures they encounter, the evilness of human nature (what will people do to each other to survive), the effects of the government inflicted "virus", and how to trust, even each other. I really enjoyed the feeling of immediacy and urgency in these characters. The need for survival is portrayed in wonderful prose, storytelling, and dialogue. This is a great read for lovers in reality based disaster fiction. I cannot wait to read the next three novels, let the adventure continue. ****
On Writing, a Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King.....one word, GENIUS!! Stephen King has written the best book about writing ever! I heard that this was a great book, but I was really surprised when I read it. It is straightforward and to the point about writing.
This book is not a technical book about writing, focusing on grammar and "tools" of the trade; this book is from one author who has been successful in writing trying to convey to his readers his past experiences with writing. At the end of the book he does cover some mechanics of writing, but not to the point as to be too in depth and boring. He keeps it interesting, and down to earth. I found myself nodding my head may times and thinking....oh my, it really doesn't have to be as hard as one may think it is.
He made a large point of always saying, to not be afraid of writing, and to just do it, Those are not his words exactly as he is a much more eloquent writer than I am, but you get the point.
I think that every college writing course should make this a main part of their reading list. I am definitely going to be putting this on my reread list....actually I am going to be reading it over and over....such a great book for writers. I highly recommend!! *****
My daughter actually brought me Breathing Room by Marsha Hayles. She read this book and found that she actually really enjoyed historical fiction. She knows I am a fan also and thought I would enjoy it. Breathing Room is considered a young adult book, but it really is a fantastic read.
In 1940 young 13 year old Evelyn falls ill with Tuburculosis. At this time in history, TB is still considered a dangerous illness and many Sanitariums, such as the one featured in this book, Loon Lake Sanitarium, existed just for TB patients. It was also a fact that not all patient who entered these places survived. TB was a very deadly respiratory illness with no cure.
Evvy was dropped off at the Sanitarium and left for what would be the time period from May 2, 1940 to July 9, 1941. During her time at the Sanitarium Evvy would encounter other children who also were as ill as she was, and some who were even more so. Evvy would make new friends, and lose old ones back home (this particular part saddened me, how parents can sometimes be cruel). She would encounter death, and need to exhibit a large amount of maturity in the face of such loss.
The author takes the reader through these emotional ups and downs with effortless writing and accompanies words with pictures appearing to capture the social stigma and going on in the world of the 1940's. It is interesting that all the while the rest of the world outside the Sanitarium is experiencing World War 2, it really hardly touches those who are ill and encased in their own little world at Loon Lake. I believe that the author kept the world of WW2 at arms length. The focus was to be on the Hardships of the ill children, and how they survived their own war together, not by choice, but circumstance.
I recommend this read for children and adults alike. Be forewarned, it is a heart string puller, BUT, well worth the ride. I think it will be on my RE READ list. *****
The Book of Tomorrow written by Cecelia Ahern is a young adult novel about a teenager named Tamara. Following her father's sudden and tragic death Tamara and her mother move from the city to the country to live with relatives, and to try and recover.
Ahern does a wonderful job of digging deep inside the emotional and at times irrational reactions that teenagers often have as their coping mechanisms to life's harsher realities. Tamara finds herself alone in her struggle to recover from her incredible loss, as her mother withdraws into a depressive state. Tamara comes across a diary, that appears blank, but finds it actually writes on its own, about her....about every new day to come...the future. She uses this diary to answer many question, to change the days to come, and how to actually solve a mystery about her life.
I loved the moxie that this young girl had. She had the ability to be fearless, and to stand up against people who may not have her best interests at heart but act as though they do.
I know this novel wasn't something I had to really ponder too much, it was a fun and easy read...a beach novel. I enjoyed!! ****
I picked up R.L. Stine's Red Rain because I have long been a fan of his "Goosebumps" series. I figured that if Stine could do such good work scaring the kids, then imagine what he could do for adults?
I should have kept imagining. The theme is not overall a bad idea. I think how he told the story became a bit ridiculous at times.
Ok, so ... backing up, the story is about a travel blogger, Lea, who while visiting a remote island gets caught in a devastating storm. She adopts twin boys from the island who claim to have lost their family in the storm. The boys appear perfect, yet, deep down they aren't. The whole story surrounds how these boys totally destroy a small town and people.
OK, now with that out of the way, I need to continue to let you know how utterly disappointed I was with this novel. The manner in which these twin boys act and speak, are a bit on the weird side. While reading, I felt as though Stine could have done better to make these boys appear a bit more on the Psycho side. They walked around spouting, "Boyo, Don't you know, and Bruuver" over and over again...After awhile it became quite annoying.
The main characters who were at the mercy of the twins in the novel, Lea and Mark made me want to scream at the book over and over again, It was exactly the same way that I feel when watching a scary movie and the stupid kids running and screaming through the movie never knowing they shouldn't "go in there" etc. Lea and Mark struck me as fairly shallow and frustrating.
In the end this book was a quick read, and it wasn't really hard to get through, but I am not sure it would be one I would pick up again. Read at your own willingness as to how much time you want to waste. *
Have you ever said the phrase...."I wish I could be a fly on the wall." Well, what if you could be in any room, at anytime and observe. Observe people, and what they do, who they are....?? Would it be fun? Maybe forever? Only for a day? In the novel The Visible Man therapist Victoria Vick had a strange fellow walk into her office and tell her that he had the ability to do just that. She listened as he told stories of his voyeurism.
Chuck Klosterman takes a story of "what if" and tells a tale of humor, and at times I think the main character, the "visible" man is actually everyone..(subjectively) within the novel he is only known as "Y". He wants to keep his anonymity because he claims what makes him invisible is his the product of research he did for the government.
Most people may find the idea of someone sitting in the office of a therapist boring, but in my minds eye, it showed more about the therapist and how she becomes so involved in "Y". It made me wonder how far into the lives a therapist really falls.
The tale begins innocently enough but eventually turns into a Psychological horror tale. Mr. "Y" controls the situation, and eventually he knows it. The ending is unexciting, but it closes the novel nicely. If you like a Hitchcock type novel, give this a try. ***
I know that they say one should never judge a book by its cover, but when I saw this novel, something about the cover intrigued me. I didnt understand it, it repulsed me at the same time. I had to read this novel.
Larten Crepsley lived in a small town, before the time of child labor laws. Larten and his cousin Vur worked for a silk weaving factory with other children every day so their family would not starve. The foreman was an evil man who enjoyed causing any type of pain, physical and emotional. One fateful day death enters Larten's life. He flees his home, and finds a new life with a mysterious man - Seba.
This is only where the story begins. I really enjoyed reading this book. It is the first in the series that proceeds Darren Shan's "Vampire Assistant" series. This is the first of four in the series. I fully intend to read all the novels. I may even read his other two series.
Darren Shan knows how to weave tales that make the imagination work. His writing is dark, yet pulls the reader in. I think that this book is a Young Adult novel, but it reads with the storytelling of Stephen King. I cant wait to read the rest, and if you read it I guarantee you will enjoy it.
My summary of plot: Mark Watney is on a mission to Mars, and in the wake of a storm, he was left for dead by the rest of the crew. This would have been the end of his story, but Mark, was not dead. How does he get off Mars?? Is it even possible??
Sounds pretty awesome right? I ordered the book and started reading it as soon as it arrived in the mail. By Chapter three I was about to do a Silver Linings Playbook move....I was not happy with what I was reading so far. It read like a technical how to manual from a NASA handbook. MAV EVA..There was prose peppered here and there tying the whole thing together as a story. I began to wonder if maybe this is just not the type of book that I usually read. I am sure there are those science people out there who may get a kick out of this read.
I did make it through the book and it did get better. I will admit that the humor in the book is pretty funny, and sarcastic. There were quite a few times I was on my chair with baited breath waiting to see what would happen next. The last 40 or so pages were the best of the book...lets just say this novel, for me, went in like a lamb, a very sickly lamb, and out like a lion..well, lion cub at least. I kept thinking to myself over and over, this would probably make a kick ass movie though.....lo and behold....http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3659388/ with Matt Damon as Mark Watney. I will be seeing the movie..but I think for me this may be a case, a rare one, of the movie being better than the book. Not my cup of tea, but may be for others.. **
This Young adult novel, Asylum intrigued me. The main location of the story takes place in a college dorm, a former Psychiatric Asylum. In my opinion, this building is the main character of this novel. The photographs in the novel include many from actual Asylums. I believe this to be a very creative idea on the part of the author. The pictures add to the realism and help with the visual thinking of the reader. I believe them necessary for this thrilling ghost story.
Besides the Asylum, the novel focuses on Dan, who is entering a summer program at the college. What Dan soon finds out is he and the Asylum hold a 'psychic', supernatural connection. Dan becomes close with two Dorm mates, Abby and Jordan. All three of the students explore the prohibited basement of the building and find historical evidence (pictures/writings) of the head Doctor who was mistreating many of the patients.
This story follows the students as they try and uncover the truth of the Asylum. As one reads, the twists and turns throughout the book contain more and more Supernatural elements. As a historian, I found the idea of photographs within the book intriguing and made the height of the story intense and frightening. I actually really enjoyed the novel, as an adult I am very picky about the young adult novels I read. Roux did well in her subject matter, and weaved a good tale. Highly recommend. ****
