11/22/63 by Stephen King: A
Books
Category: Science Fiction
Not everything Stephen King writes is great, though I have enjoyed everything that I have read by Stephen King. 11/22/63 is one of those great books. It is the tale of a man who goes back in time to live his life and eventually stop Oswald from killing Kennedy. While the story focuses on Oswald, and the assassination of Kennedy, it is the intervening time between his arrival in the past and the assassination that takes up the bulk of the story. This is for good reason time wise, but also contains some of the best parts of the story. Will he prevent the assassination? What happens when he gets back to his own time? I'll let you find out. Suffice it to say that 11/22/63 is worth buying in hardback.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley: A
Books
Category: Science Fiction/Horror
Until I read this book, I did not know what I was missing. The story of Doctor Frankenstein and The Frankenstien Monster is so much more complex than even the best of movies portrays. Dr. Frankenstein uses human body parts to create life, but that life turns out to be uncontrollable. Intelligent and well written, I recommend that everyone read this book at least once. Worth buying, perhaps in Hardback.
Books
Category: Science Fiction/Horror
Until I read this book, I did not know what I was missing. The story of Doctor Frankenstein and The Frankenstien Monster is so much more complex than even the best of movies portrays. Dr. Frankenstein uses human body parts to create life, but that life turns out to be uncontrollable. Intelligent and well written, I recommend that everyone read this book at least once. Worth buying, perhaps in Hardback.
Boy's Life by Robert R. McCammon: A
Books
Category: Fantasy/Horror
Robert McCammon has written some real clunkers. He has also written some real jewels. Boy's Life is by far the best thing that Robert McCammon has ever written. It follows the adventures of young boy in a small town and the strange creature that haunts it, but is really about a boy and his father. I have always said that if there is one thing that college taught me, it was the ability to read more than one book at a time. Boy's Life is the book I'm referring to. It was so enjoyable to read that I could not put it down, so for the first time I learned to read my assigned books at the same time. Boy's Life is worth buying, in Hardback if possible.
Books
Category: Fantasy/Horror
Robert McCammon has written some real clunkers. He has also written some real jewels. Boy's Life is by far the best thing that Robert McCammon has ever written. It follows the adventures of young boy in a small town and the strange creature that haunts it, but is really about a boy and his father. I have always said that if there is one thing that college taught me, it was the ability to read more than one book at a time. Boy's Life is the book I'm referring to. It was so enjoyable to read that I could not put it down, so for the first time I learned to read my assigned books at the same time. Boy's Life is worth buying, in Hardback if possible.
Monday, August 12, 2013
The Hollowing by Robert Holdstock: A
Books
Category: Fantasy
A fascinating story. It holds you in its arms and pulls you deeper into it, like the woods themselves. When a Father loses his Son to the woods, he goes after him. Only these woods have a dark secret that is made even worse by the presence of the boy. The father must try to get his son out and fight off the danger of the woods. Apparently there are other stories (this is the 4th) written about these woods, but I have not gotten around to reading them yet. When I picked up this book, I was fascinated by the world within the woods that Robert Holdstock invented. The more I learned about them, the more fascinated I became. They hold a direct line to the psyche. If you like these sort of tales, then The Hollowing is definitely worth buying (perhaps in Hardback). You would be remiss at not reading this book.
Books
Category: Fantasy
A fascinating story. It holds you in its arms and pulls you deeper into it, like the woods themselves. When a Father loses his Son to the woods, he goes after him. Only these woods have a dark secret that is made even worse by the presence of the boy. The father must try to get his son out and fight off the danger of the woods. Apparently there are other stories (this is the 4th) written about these woods, but I have not gotten around to reading them yet. When I picked up this book, I was fascinated by the world within the woods that Robert Holdstock invented. The more I learned about them, the more fascinated I became. They hold a direct line to the psyche. If you like these sort of tales, then The Hollowing is definitely worth buying (perhaps in Hardback). You would be remiss at not reading this book.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Bad Haircut: Stories of the Seventies by Tom Perrotta: A-
Books
Category: Literary/Mainstream
I grew up in the '70's and let me tell you, Tom was right on. Perhaps it was my sense of nostalgia, reliving the past and the memories it brought back, but let me tell you that I loved this book. It is a rare thing indeed to find a collection of short stories in which I have enjoyed reading each one. Usually there are one or two stories that stand out to me and the rest or what I call fillers - hardly worth my time or hard earned money. In this book, this was definitely not the case. I have to admit that it has been some time since I read this book, however, I do not think there was one story that I did not enjoy. Worth buying.
Books
Category: Literary/Mainstream
I grew up in the '70's and let me tell you, Tom was right on. Perhaps it was my sense of nostalgia, reliving the past and the memories it brought back, but let me tell you that I loved this book. It is a rare thing indeed to find a collection of short stories in which I have enjoyed reading each one. Usually there are one or two stories that stand out to me and the rest or what I call fillers - hardly worth my time or hard earned money. In this book, this was definitely not the case. I have to admit that it has been some time since I read this book, however, I do not think there was one story that I did not enjoy. Worth buying.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Author and Agent: Eudora Welty and Diarmuid Russell by Michael Kreyling A+
Books
Category: Non-Fiction
I picked this one up on whim from my college bookstore and was pleasantly surprised. This book tells the story of the relationship between Eudora Welty and her agent through correspondence. It was fascinating to me. I could not put it down and it quickly grew into one of my favorite books. Especially good if you are a writer or just fascinated by the time period. Author and Agent is well worth buying. Should be available in Kindle format for those who want to spend a little less because they are unsure. Perhaps one day it will be.
Books
Category: Non-Fiction
I picked this one up on whim from my college bookstore and was pleasantly surprised. This book tells the story of the relationship between Eudora Welty and her agent through correspondence. It was fascinating to me. I could not put it down and it quickly grew into one of my favorite books. Especially good if you are a writer or just fascinated by the time period. Author and Agent is well worth buying. Should be available in Kindle format for those who want to spend a little less because they are unsure. Perhaps one day it will be.
Friday, August 9, 2013
Full Dark, No Stars A+
Books
Category: Horror
I have been a long-time fan of Stephen King. One of his "constant readers," so to speak, I have eagerly devoured nearly everything that he has written. One of the best series' he ever wrote was probably "The Dark Tower" series. He has written many great stand-alone novels. Although he has written greater short stories, such as "N," as far as his short story collections are concerned, one of his best and tightest is "Full Dark, No Stars." Featuring four short stories (1922 A, A Good Marriage A, Big Driver A and Fair Extension B+), it was like watching a massive car wreck. I tried to stop, I tried to look away, but I simply could not. Worth buying.
Books
Category: Horror
I have been a long-time fan of Stephen King. One of his "constant readers," so to speak, I have eagerly devoured nearly everything that he has written. One of the best series' he ever wrote was probably "The Dark Tower" series. He has written many great stand-alone novels. Although he has written greater short stories, such as "N," as far as his short story collections are concerned, one of his best and tightest is "Full Dark, No Stars." Featuring four short stories (1922 A, A Good Marriage A, Big Driver A and Fair Extension B+), it was like watching a massive car wreck. I tried to stop, I tried to look away, but I simply could not. Worth buying.
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