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Showing posts from April, 2024

Salem's Lot by Stephen King

"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

Living Dead in Dallas (Sookie Stackhouse , #2)

"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

Cibola Burn (The Expanse #4) by James S.A. Corey

"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

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

"The classic tale of Peter Pan, the boy who never grows up and his adventures with his Lost Boys and the Darling Children, Wendy, John and Michael. At times fun and whimsical and other times surprisingly dark, it was an interesting read as an adult." 3 Stars  Pros:   There is something appealing about flying away to a mysterious island where you can play all day and never have to grow up. The thrall of Neverland is a constant for this dreamer.  Cons: Peter Pan is truly the most arrogant little brat and very much in need of a mother/I was surprised at the bloodshed because I always thought this was a children's book, it was rather dark at times.  Full Review Mr. and Mrs. Darling are the proud yet rather dismissive and negligent parents of three children. Wendy, John and Michael. All three have flights of fancy and dream of an island, with mermaids and pirates. Mrs. Darling dismisses these as the whimsy of childhood but she herself remembers when she too dreamt of the very

A Spark of White Fire (The Celestial Trilogy #1) by Sangu Mandanna

"Similar to "Game of Thrones" only in space, there was a lot going on with a lot of different people and they were all important and connected but my tired, overworked brain had trouble keeping up. " 2 Stars  Pros:  I liked Max as a character, I'm all for the tall, dark, mysterious supposed bad boy with a heart of gold cliche, but the kissing cousins thing just made it weird.   Cons:  It felt like Game of Thrones, only in space, so there was a bit of a kissing cousins vibe going and I wasn't feeling it/The book tried to have these big, shocking moments I was just non-plussed, unaffected./The presence of the Gods irked me as they did in The Illiad, it's all terribly convenient to have divine intervention for your MCs. I feel like it's the cheapest fake-out cheat of all time 👍🤣 Full Review:    My co-worker, who has recommended some amazing reads such as, A Man Called Ove ,   The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse,  and I'll Give You The Sun,  r

Marked (House of Night #1) by P.C. Cast

"It's a whole bottle of After School Special mixed with Vampire Finishing School. The Cast, Mother/Daughter writing team managed to create an interesting concept. Unfortunately, the shallow characters and painfully contrived storyline made for a truly cringe-worthy read."  1 Star Pros:  Casts take on Vampirism is definitely unique, I'll give them that. Equating "the change" of becoming an adult Vampire to basically, puberty or menopause, well, it was definitely one way to rationalize it.   Cons:  Teenage colloquialisms of "OMG, like, no way", "OMG, he's so hot and he so likes you" ad nauseum.    Full Review:  Zoey is your regular, unhappy, moody teenager, dissatisfied with her home and personal life. That all seems trivial though when one morning someone shows up at her locker at school, while her friend is babbling inanely, oblivious. The man looks at Zoey, mutters some canned, cryptic, ritualistic words and bam, Zoey is now a fledgl