All the Books.

"A tender, honest study of aging, family and what people will do to insure the ones they care about are safe and secure." 4 Stars.  Pros:  All the characters are different, relatable and the relationships they form with one another are heartwarming and true.  Cons:  The ending wasn't exactly what I was expecting but at the same time, it worked, just in a more melancholy way than I had hoped.  Full Review:  Edith is a widow, her husband Declan having died of a sudden heart attack decades earlier. She's estranged from her children bus does her best to take care of the tenants in her building, that she and Declan bought together when they were first married. It's a motley crew, to be sure but they're all kind and genuine in their own way.  There's Edward, a washed up comedian, Paulie, a thirty something year old with a developmental disability but whose heart is innocent and pure, Thomas, an artist who suffered a stroke and Adeleine, a reclusive, Agoraphobe w

"Dark and disturbing, in true Dilouie fashion, he deals with death, pain, guilt and survival in a gritty and horrifying way. He has a great gift for blending the paranormal with the normal, so much so that everything seems plausible when you're immersed in the story. This one will stick with me for awhile. " 3 Stars Pros:  It was definitely an interesting idea and Dilouie did a great job at making all the MCs frail and broken by what happened to them and completely human as to how some deal with the trauma and others don't. Everyone has a different coping mechanism.  Cons:  At the same time that the ending didn't really give anything away, it also didn't really answer. or solve anything, though, in a way did it did. It's all a matter of perspective. I think Dilouie did the best he could with what he was working with. Which when you're dealing with a religious cult and mass suicide, the answers at the end of that riddle might not be ones you actually wa

"Fit to bursting with Geeky references but also full of genuine, deep, emotions, this was a great coming of age story told in a fun and honest way."  4 Stars Pros:  Darius is a kind, likable, relatable character and I got most of his Geeky references.  Cons:  Though I loved all the Geeky references, they were a a tad overused at times.  Full Review:  Darius Kellner is a fractional Persian living in Portland, Oregon and just trying to fit in. He's awkward, uncertain and feels like he's always letting everyone down. He was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder when he was 12 and has been attempting to figure out his life since starting to take medication to help.  His father, Stephen Kellner, also struggles with depression and always seems to be disappointed and frustrated with Darius. He wants him to try harder, to not make himself a target, to stand up for himself. And even when Darius does as his Father suggests, it never works. They just don't understand each

"King's take on Vampires was unique but also traditional which created a fun and interesting read. Though some of the characters were a bit melodramatic and some of the dialogue was cringe-worthy, overall this was a good, classic King work." Pros: The transition into a Vampire is a bit different with some unique qualities. It was interesting that some people weren't necessarily bitten but still turned.  Cons: There were far too many people to keep track of. The main four were easy enough to follow but all the people of Salem's Lot got mixed up and melded together in my head/Also Susan's fate just had me sighing and shaking my head.   Full Review: There's a small town called Jerusalem's (Salem's) Lot in southern Maine, population just a bit over 300. It's like any small town you'll find in New England, with its quaint stores, small restaurants and filled for the most part with average people going about their average lives.  That all changes

"With at least, three mysteries going on simultaneously, Sookie Stackhouse's whirlwind life of Vampires, Shapeshifters, telepathy and other supernatural creatures just felt contrived, forced and cringeworthy." Pros: I'm mainly reading the series to see how Harris handles Vampires being legal citizens. So far, the waters are very murky, and I don't know if I can force myself to read more, for the sake of research.  Cons: For someone who can read minds, Sookie can be a real idiot. Also, her volatile mood swings and petulance are just obnoxious. And the fact that EVERYONE is in love with her, like, everyone and their mother.  Full Review: Sookie's happy. She's still dating Vampire Bill, still waiting tables at Merlotte's, still able to read minds but she's alright with all that. Until, that is, Andy Bellefleur, the Sheriff, has a bad night, leaves his car in Merlotte's parking lot overnight and then the dead body of Lafayette is found in it the ne

"The Slow Zone and the Rings have opened up new worlds, literally, allowing human, Martian and Belter to lay claim to the vastness at their fingertips. Holden and the Roci ,acting as the eternal sun to Corey's Expanse "Earth", are thrown into a conflict between two fleets and the fate of a planet hangs in the balance. As usual, it's a little, "they're the only ones who can save them", cliche, but hey, Corey makes it work. This one was dark and gritty and I loved it."   Pros:  I do love Miller and Amos, Hell, even Holden, though annoying, is still lovable/The crew of the Rocinante is a terribly flawed but terribly lovable family.   Cons: Some serious science going on with terra forming a new world but as Corey does, they eventually dumbs it down enough for this reader to understand what's going on.  Full Review: The ring and the station are now controlled and monitored by the OPA. People are coming and going, exploring all the new worlds tha