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SOMETIMES GROWING UP
MEANS FACING YOUR DEMONS
The son of a struggling single …
It's good. Not the best thing he's ever written, and not as good as Joyland, but King doesn't ever really disappoint.
It's good. Not the best thing he's ever written, and not as good as Joyland, but King doesn't ever really disappoint.
The scene is Baltimore. Twice every three days another citizen is shot, stabbed or bludgeoned …
This is one of those weird books where it's very, very good, but it's hard to say that I it. It's a rough read, especially when you tell yourself that it's all true, and it's not just a piece of crime fiction. And, he doesn't really sugar coat the relationships between the police and the community, and he doesn't really excuse the incidents of police brutality. He also gives a good glimpse into the political workings of law enforcement and legalities, which definitely can illuminate a lot of the current problems with our legal system.
I think the only real issue I have with it is that there are so many characters that sometimes it can be hard to keep track of them all.
This is one of those weird books where it's very, very good, but it's hard to say that I it. It's a rough read, especially when you tell yourself that it's all true, and it's not just a piece of crime fiction. And, he doesn't really sugar coat the relationships between the police and the community, and he doesn't really excuse the incidents of police brutality. He also gives a good glimpse into the political workings of law enforcement and legalities, which definitely can illuminate a lot of the current problems with our legal system.
I think the only real issue I have with it is that there are so many characters that sometimes it can be hard to keep track of them all.
IT'S A PASSION. IT'S AN ART. IT'S THE ONLY WAY OUT. . .
…
It was decent. I can definitely see why teenage goth chicks of the 90s would devour this like a starving wolf. The story itself isn't terribly engaging, so it's mostly hanging out with ultra 90s twinky dudes who smoke weed a lot. But it has terrifically strong appeal for its target audience, and that's pretty cool.
It was decent. I can definitely see why teenage goth chicks of the 90s would devour this like a starving wolf. The story itself isn't terribly engaging, so it's mostly hanging out with ultra 90s twinky dudes who smoke weed a lot. But it has terrifically strong appeal for its target audience, and that's pretty cool.
Huh. Well, it's certainly a Joe R. Lansdale story. Not much of a Batman one, though. And, actually, the most interesting parts are the ones without him, so take that as you will. Weird. So, if you want to read it, read it as a Lansdale book that occasionally has a Batman-like character show up.
Huh. Well, it's certainly a Joe R. Lansdale story. Not much of a Batman one, though. And, actually, the most interesting parts are the ones without him, so take that as you will. Weird. So, if you want to read it, read it as a Lansdale book that occasionally has a Batman-like character show up.
The Master at his scarifying best! From heart-pounding terror to the eeriest of whimsy--tales from …
Holy jeez, THE MIST is good. It's very oppressive, though, and kind of exhausting, just how bleak and grim it is. By far the best story in the collection, and the most famous. And, I will say, young Stephen King was a much harder writer than old Stephen King. I wouldn't exactly say he's softened, but he seems to write with a little more compassion than he used to.
Holy jeez, THE MIST is good. It's very oppressive, though, and kind of exhausting, just how bleak and grim it is. By far the best story in the collection, and the most famous. And, I will say, young Stephen King was a much harder writer than old Stephen King. I wouldn't exactly say he's softened, but he seems to write with a little more compassion than he used to.
The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and go, leaving memories that become legend. …
Holy jeez, this sucked. Six books and thousands of pages in, and I've decided that I'm done with this series. This one has all the same problems as the previous, and at a similar page count. The only positive is that there is less Nynaeve this time. But it's still loaded with endless MEN ARE WOOLHEADED AND STUBBORN AND NEED TO BE CONTROLLED and WOMEN ARE CRAZY AND CAPRICIOUS AND NOT TO BE UNDERSTOOD and RAND/PERRIN/MAT IS THE ONLY ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS GIRLS and every single character is a relentless shitty bitch.
Just miserable stuff. The women are always sniffing, smoothing skirts, and judging how much titty meat someone has on display, and Rand is always crying that one of the insane bloodthirsty murder maniacs from the desert might somehow die, but only if it's a woman. Basically, the entire book, as well as the previous, is one giant annoying …
Holy jeez, this sucked. Six books and thousands of pages in, and I've decided that I'm done with this series. This one has all the same problems as the previous, and at a similar page count. The only positive is that there is less Nynaeve this time. But it's still loaded with endless MEN ARE WOOLHEADED AND STUBBORN AND NEED TO BE CONTROLLED and WOMEN ARE CRAZY AND CAPRICIOUS AND NOT TO BE UNDERSTOOD and RAND/PERRIN/MAT IS THE ONLY ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS GIRLS and every single character is a relentless shitty bitch.
Just miserable stuff. The women are always sniffing, smoothing skirts, and judging how much titty meat someone has on display, and Rand is always crying that one of the insane bloodthirsty murder maniacs from the desert might somehow die, but only if it's a woman. Basically, the entire book, as well as the previous, is one giant annoying battle of the sexes type thing. I don't know if Robert Jordan had hella issues with chicks or something, but it does make one wonder when there are basically two female characters.
1. Firebrand who does what she wants. Short-tempered and imperious, will not hesitate to put you in your place. Possessive. Somehow hot. Knows everything and sneers at everyone all the time and quivers with rage constantly, possibly while smoothing skirts or sniffing. Obsessed with necklines.
2. Plump
It's really just exhausting, and I realize that I have books I'd much rather spend my time on.
Also, 'stout Two Rivers woolen dress'
Verano de 1973. Carolina del Norte. El joven universitario Devin Jones consigue trabajo en un …
Another excellent offering from Mister King. There isn't a hell of a lot of supernatural stuff in this one, though there is some. Very likeable characters and, just plain an enjoyable read. I wasn't 100% thrilled with the identity of the killer, but at a short 215 pages or so, you can smash through it in a single day.
Another excellent offering from Mister King. There isn't a hell of a lot of supernatural stuff in this one, though there is some. Very likeable characters and, just plain an enjoyable read. I wasn't 100% thrilled with the identity of the killer, but at a short 215 pages or so, you can smash through it in a single day.
Solid stuff. If you've seen the SNL Californian's skit, you might get a chuckle out of how specific the author gets about the various roads and routes the characters take.
Solid stuff. If you've seen the SNL Californian's skit, you might get a chuckle out of how specific the author gets about the various roads and routes the characters take.
A collection of four uniquely wonderful long stories, including a stand-alone sequel to the No. …
Another solid collection. The only one I didn't like was the last story, and I have a few problems with If It Bleeds, but the first two stories are totally top notch.
Another solid collection. The only one I didn't like was the last story, and I have a few problems with If It Bleeds, but the first two stories are totally top notch.
Presents a collection of twenty stories of horror and nightmarish fantasy that transform everyday situations …
It's not my favorite collection of his stories. But, it is cool seeing the origins of a number of famous horror films, like Children of the Corn and the awesome(shut up) Maximum Overdrive.
It's not my favorite collection of his stories. But, it is cool seeing the origins of a number of famous horror films, like Children of the Corn and the awesome(shut up) Maximum Overdrive.
The Empire's master plan is under way. The New Republic is on the verge of civil war and the rumor …
"The lives of the Barretts, a normal suburban New England family, are torn apart when …
Oh, my gosh, I hated the blog interludes so much. Most annoying character ever. Though I will admit that the ending stuck with me all day.
Oh, my gosh, I hated the blog interludes so much. Most annoying character ever. Though I will admit that the ending stuck with me all day.
It's good enough, though I'm not 100% that the author is into metal. There were parts that didn't feel very authentic, but it didn't distract too much. Cool ideas that sometimes didn't gel the way I'd hoped, but no real complaints.
It's good enough, though I'm not 100% that the author is into metal. There were parts that didn't feel very authentic, but it didn't distract too much. Cool ideas that sometimes didn't gel the way I'd hoped, but no real complaints.
It's the twenty-fifth century, and advances in technology have redefined life itself. A person's consciousness …
Really good and punchy.
The bonds and wards that hold the Great Lord of the Dark are slowly failing, …
Oh, man, this one was rough. And by scanning a lot of the other reviews, it seems like I had the same problem a lot of other readers did. Namely, the women. And I don't know if this is a reflection on me, the writer, or the characters themselves, but boy, were they pretty awful in this one.
You spend a lot of time Nynaeve's head, and she is judgmental, spiteful, petty, mean-spirited, and just an all round jerk. I don't know what Elayne's deal was, she seemed to act out of character for most of the book. Egwene goes on and on about Rand's arrogance and big head(totally oblivious to her own galactic ego and superiority), but none of that is supported by the text. Nothing Rand does indicates any outsized ego, at all. In fact, he spends most of the book being pushed around by the women surrounding …
Oh, man, this one was rough. And by scanning a lot of the other reviews, it seems like I had the same problem a lot of other readers did. Namely, the women. And I don't know if this is a reflection on me, the writer, or the characters themselves, but boy, were they pretty awful in this one.
You spend a lot of time Nynaeve's head, and she is judgmental, spiteful, petty, mean-spirited, and just an all round jerk. I don't know what Elayne's deal was, she seemed to act out of character for most of the book. Egwene goes on and on about Rand's arrogance and big head(totally oblivious to her own galactic ego and superiority), but none of that is supported by the text. Nothing Rand does indicates any outsized ego, at all. In fact, he spends most of the book being pushed around by the women surrounding him, in particular Aviendha, who spends the whole book berating him because he isn't familiar with a totally foreign culture.
And Siuan and Leane, along with Min(who doesn't do a hell of lot) just rage around the countryside at each other.
It's a weird book. I really liked the first three, but this one was a tough read. I don't know if I'm just sexist, if Jordan is, or if the women are truly awful people, but they all felt like abusers. And, I'm not sure why it rankled me so much, but Aviendha's constant refrain of 'YOU BELONG TO ELAYNE' really irritated me. On top of that, the Aiel are getting hard to stomach, with their unending judgmentalness and disregard for any other culture, which is kind of a pet peeve of mine. There was lots of talk of oath-breakers, when I'm like, bro, these people are just farmers, they didn't break any oaths, you psychotic, death-loving maniacs!
So, all in all, a tough read for me. I plan on going at least one, maybe two more books, but if they all continue like this one, I'm going to have to give it up.
Two stars only because a lot of plot moved forward.
