All the Books.

"The final book in the Dune Chronicles, (at least the last book written by Frank Herbert), is just as rambling, nonsensical, annoying and unnecessary as the last four novels. Getting through the last 200 pages was a chore. Dune was so amazing but the rest of the series is a waste of time. " 1 Star Pros:  The open-endedness of the ending. It lets the reader decide whether or not they want to find out what happens to the characters and sadly, this reader doesn't.   Cons:  600 pages of circular, non-sensical, unnecessary rambling about God only knows what. Yes, there was a plot but it was so overwhelmed by the obnoxious pretention of Herbert that the last 200 pages were a chore.  Full Review:  The characters from Heretics of Dune have made it to Chapterhouse, the planet that houses the main force of the Bene Gesserit. The Honored Matres have made it their personal mission to hunt down the Bene Gesserit and destroy them and Darwi Odrade, the Supreme Reverend M...

"Part mystery, part adventure, and all parts heartfelt, this was a moving novel about love, life, death and time and how precious all of it is. And how everyone we meet in our lives makes impressions and leaves memories and that is what we must cherish. " 3 Stars Pros:  Poignant, deep, sad. It makes you realize how truly important life is and to cherish every single moment you're given because you don't know when it will be your last. The mystery of the key in the vase was a good hook to give the novel momentum and get it going.  Cons:  At first the narrative is scattered and rambling and I was tempted to put it down. But after awhile it started to make more sense/Oskar is definitely on the spectrum, so sometimes his observations seem a little from left field and it takes some getting used to. Full Review:  It's been about two years since, Oskar Schell's Father, Thomas Schell, died in the collapse of the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. It's a day that m...

"A new (sort of) cast of characters is revealed but it's the same, familiar "plots within plots, schemes within schemes" line that Herbert loves. There's always a group of people out for personal gain and power. This novel at least had a semblance of a plot with twists and turns and wasn't a 600 page diatribe on prescience." 3 Stars Pros:  A new cast of characters (for the most part) and a storyline that actually has action/intrigue/twists instead of endless drivel about prescience.  Cons:  With the changes after the death of Leto II, the Bene Gesserit has more or less become the absolute power and as always, they're up to their "breeding" games/The goals and such for the younger Ghola version of Duncan Idaho were just...unsettling at points. Lots of odd sexual things going on, unnerving.   Full Review:  Arrakis, now Rakis, has been reclaimed by the desert. A girl is there who sees a sandworm devour her entire town and in her anger she clim...

"The whirlwind adventure of Sal Paradise and his friend, Dean Moriarty, who often just drop everything they have, their families, wives, children, and travel across country to experience life. The idea is fun but the book itself was a painful struggle of run on sentences, cringeworthy "beat" slang and just an overall dislike for the characters and their flagrant lack of responsibility and selfishness." 1 Star Pros:  It's an interesting notion, to give into the lull of wanderlust and just travel across the country, the idea is intriguing but the reality of the situation just doesn't work for me.   Cons:  All of these men, all they did was drink, smoke weed, hook up with girls, marry girls, have babies, hook up with other girls, get them pregnant, divorce the first girl they married. It was a never ending cycle of selfishness, indulgence and irresponsibility. Full Review:  Sal Paradise, the protagonist, lives with his Aunt in Paterson, New Jersey. He's wor...

"600 pages of talk, of why Leto II is the greatest and best. And even if you're supposed to feel something, sympathy, pity, etc, Herbert ruins it all by making all of the characters flat, emotionless and mindlessly devout. This book was such a disappointment I can't even properly express it." 1 Star Pros: The book started off good, full of danger and excitement/I had hopes for Siona and her rebellion but as always, Leto's prescience and omniscience took all the suspense and surprise out of everything.  Cons:  Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, all Leto ever does is talk. And what little action there actually is is few and far between.  Full Review:  Leto II has become more than a man. He is now a living God. The God Emperor of Dune, to be precise. And though there is "peace" on every planet in the Galaxy, it is a forced peace. He is told by his numerous ambassadors that people are unhappy, that they feel as if they're pigs, wallowing in their own filth. B...