This book was AMAZING! I can see how some may be intimidated by its size, but it was worth every single word. Michener is quite a story teller; he doeThis book was AMAZING! I can see how some may be intimidated by its size, but it was worth every single word. Michener is quite a story teller; he does it with fantastic narrative and great descriptive prose. You would think that with a book this size he would spend a lot of extra time describing things, but he doesn't - it is the perfect amount, no filler!
Also, even though this book was written in the 70s, I think the parts toward then end dealing with "modern day" Colorado translate well to 2015.
If you like a great story, with detailed history, wonderful characters, etc. etc. etc. give this one a try - I do not think you will be disappointed....more
Another great Joe Pickett novel! Western justice, creepy and despicable bad guys, corrupt government officials, good guys crossing to the wrong side oAnother great Joe Pickett novel! Western justice, creepy and despicable bad guys, corrupt government officials, good guys crossing to the wrong side of the law in pursuit of what is right, revenge - basically, so much awesomeness! I sped through the last 50 pages or so holding my breath as the suspense was great.
I cannot recommend this series enough – if you like mysteries, you really should check it out.
Now, please don’t start with this book. There is so much back story in this series that, while you may enjoy Endangered without any points of reference, you would miss SOOOOO much based on the history of all the characters. What you should do is go back to Open Season and work through the series. Some of the books are better and more memorable than others, but all of them are great and the series as a whole is a home run! ...more
This book was great! Suspenseful, witty, humorous, well researched (at least I assume it was, I cannot say for sure that all the science and math was This book was great! Suspenseful, witty, humorous, well researched (at least I assume it was, I cannot say for sure that all the science and math was correct, but it was very detailed). I am not sure this book is for everyone, but for me it lived up to the hype!...more
Great story - felt so very real. Also, I thought I knew what to expect after the first 50 pages or so, but it definitely moved in a variety of differeGreat story - felt so very real. Also, I thought I knew what to expect after the first 50 pages or so, but it definitely moved in a variety of different directions throughout. Highly recommend to just about anyone....more
Another great Joe Pickett novel - I think that C.J. Box just keeping better!
This book had just the right amount of references to previous novels to keAnother great Joe Pickett novel - I think that C.J. Box just keeping better!
This book had just the right amount of references to previous novels to keep a long time reader like myself entertained along with enough new for it to not seem stale. While I do think readers would get more from this book if they read the series in order, I think a reader new to Box could pick this up and be satisfied!
If you want some good mysteries - and you want things to get western - check out C.J. Box!...more
Took me some time to read, but not because it wasn't good, but just because there is so much to this story. A supremely well written book! If you likeTook me some time to read, but not because it wasn't good, but just because there is so much to this story. A supremely well written book! If you like historical fiction - the type focused on people living in certain historical eras, not necessarily specific historical events - you will enjoy this story. I now feel like I have a good feel for WWII era South Africa. Also, if you like interesting characters and good character development, this is a good story for you, too....more
One of my bookclubs (Click to check out Reading List Completists) is reading this for September 2018. I figure it was a good time for a reread since it was one of my favorites and it has been over 20 years since I read it.
I did enjoy it again this time and it stands up to the 5 star review and designation of classic. There were a few slow parts - mainly when Dr. Frankenstein would stop the narrative to wax poetical about something - but, not enough t take a way from my overall enjoyment.
I still recommend this for everyone and be sure to check out my full original review below.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
This is definitely one of my favorite books I was required to read in High School. Also, it is my favorite of the classic horror novels. It is perfectly written, suspenseful, and is a bit more thought provoking than scary. One of the best ways I can compare it to other classic horror novels is to Dracula - which I read recently. Dracula has so much repetitive filler that you do not find in Frankenstein, which is the main reason I find Frankenstein to be a more enjoyable book.
Also, I would say that this is more a novel of the human condition than an actual horror novel. Some terrifying things happen, but it is the monster within all of us that may end up being more terrifying!
Funny side story: when I read this in High School, it was around the same time that the Kenneth Branaugh adaptation came out at the theaters. We were all encouraged to go see it and found it pretty close to the source material. What was amusing was that Time Magazine had a review of the movie bashing it as untrue to the source material and how disappointed Shelley would be that the Boris Karlovian depiction of a lurching, flattop monster with bolts in its neck was ignored for a more serious drama movie. WHAT!? Time Magazine, for goodness sakes, published an article that claims to know the content of the book but is completely wrong and does it while bashing a movie that did a pretty good job with it!? I mean, it it is okay if you prefer the old time movie version of Frankenstein - and it is a classic - but to make definitive statements that are completely wrong in what is supposed to be a well thought of publication (not your typical tabloid supermarket checkout fodder), that is just too much!
This is an excellent and VERY scary bio-terrorism thriller. I have read many of Richard Preston's books that relate to potential biological hazards anThis is an excellent and VERY scary bio-terrorism thriller. I have read many of Richard Preston's books that relate to potential biological hazards and he never fails to bring the suspense. In fact, this book has one of the top 5 most suspenseful scenes I have EVER read in a book. I cannot talk about it too much further (spoilers, you know . . .), but lets just say a character has to make a split second decision that will have you hanging on the edge of your seat!
If you are a thriller fan, you owe it to yourself to read this book!
Side note of interesting trivia: Richard Preston is the brother of Douglas Preston - who writes the Pendergast series with Lincoln Child. This family has some great writers!...more
This is one of those rare situations where I read an entire book in one sitting. This book is absolutely captivating and terrifying. It has been over This is one of those rare situations where I read an entire book in one sitting. This book is absolutely captivating and terrifying. It has been over 20 years since I read it and parts of it still stick with me.
This book and any of the others by Preston about viruses, pandemics, etc. are well worth your time!
Fun fact: Richard Preston is the brother of Douglas Preston of Preston & Child/Pendergast fame...more
This is hands down the best James Bond book and it was turned into the best James Bond movie. I have yet to read all the books, but I have read a fairThis is hands down the best James Bond book and it was turned into the best James Bond movie. I have yet to read all the books, but I have read a fair amount so I think it is okay for me to have the opinion that this is the best!
I read this twice and loved it both times. The second time I read it was on a train in Switzerland between Bern and Brig. This just so happens to be part of the route of the train included in the climactic scene in the book. This was not an intentional coincidence, but very cool!
If you have wanted to try James Bond, this is a good place to start. You might say “but Matthew, it says right here this is book 5 in the series!” I will say for the person who wants to do the hardcore Bond route, start at the beginning with Casino Royale. But, if you are just feeling casual and not sure you want to commit to the whole series, you can start here. I personally don’t feel like there is enough carry over from book to book for you to miss out by starting in the middle. ...more
Why does King start the book with an apology/warning? This book is now definitely in my top 10 favorite King books (if noWow! This book was fantastic!
Why does King start the book with an apology/warning? This book is now definitely in my top 10 favorite King books (if not the top 5)
Seems like this one is even frequently skipped by King fans - please, stop skipping and read!
This book has a great story and great characters. It is quick and easy to read and kept me interested every page.
Blaze is a flawed but easy to sympathize tragic hero who doesn't really know what he is doing, but thinks he is doing it for the best. The course of his life is driven by unfortunate events and I am left wondering how much different it would have been if the cards hadn't been stacked against him.
This book has so much going for it - and I think almost anyone would enjoy it....more
Another King reread – this time for the third time.
I was excited to get back to The Drawing of the Three as it is my favorite book of the Dark Tower sAnother King reread – this time for the third time.
I was excited to get back to The Drawing of the Three as it is my favorite book of the Dark Tower series. I feel like this book came right when King was hitting the sweet spot for both the quest for the tower but as well as his other novels; around this same time he was releasing/working on Skeleton Crew, It, and Misery. Also, this is a reread as part of my working back through the King books in chronological order, so it is interesting to take them in as they were released.
The Drawing of the Three is the perfect combination of fantasy, mysticism, psychological thriller, and horror. It may be the most integrated King ever went with all the genres he has ever explored. I know I am gushing over this like a King fanboy, but it really is that good!
You may be asking yourself – I am a King fan, so should I read this? Well . . . if you read The Gunslinger and want to try more – definitely. And it is a much better book than The Gunslinger so I think you will find yourself much more invested in this one. If you read The Gunslinger and didn’t like it, it might be worth a try since it is a better and more fleshed out book but proceed with caution. If you don’t really have interest in the Dark Tower series or just like King when he is writing in a very specific genre, this may not be the book for you.
January 2020 Re-Read update - original review still below
I have finished the next book in my chronological re-read of King's novels. I knew I was in fJanuary 2020 Re-Read update - original review still below
I have finished the next book in my chronological re-read of King's novels. I knew I was in for a treat because I have always fondly remembered this book as one of his best. It did not fail to disappoint the second time around.
In the afterward, King makes the point that this book was his first release to try and show that he was more than just a horror writer. I will say that this is true, but it does still have some horrific elements. So, don't go in thinking it is all cute bunnies and cuddles!
This book is raw and real. The human condition, temptation, coming-of-age, salvation, etc. are all on display in an amazing showcase of storytelling. While it may not represent King's horror as well as others, there is a definite case to be made for this being the finiest writing he has ever done.
One observation in the re-read (and I kind of remember this from the first time around): there is a short story within The Body unrelated to the main story, Stud City, and it doesn't really feel necessary. It is not a bad part or make the overall experience any less enjoyable, it is just the only tangent in the whole book that feels like it doesn't need to be there. If removed, it wouldn't change the book at all.
In conclusion - the re-read confirms for me - a 5+ star book all the way!
ORIGINAL REVIEW
This book is PERFECT King! Each story is interesting and special in its own right. At least two of them ("Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption" and "The Body") are must read classics that were turned into equally great movies. Apt Pupil might be a little less accessible to some, but is one of King's best character studies. The Breathing Method is one of his shortest novellas, but wildly creative and is guaranteed to leave you saying, "WOAH!"
Every King fan should have read this already. Looking to get into King for the first time? This is a great place to start!...more
Have you ever been watching a movie in the middle of summer that takes place in the middle of a very cold winter? EveUpdated Review - Re-read May 2019
Have you ever been watching a movie in the middle of summer that takes place in the middle of a very cold winter? Even though it is 90 degrees outside you start to feel like you need to bundle up under a blanket. That happened to me with the movie The Day After Tomorrow. I had a similar response to The Long Walk. As I read, I could feel the exhaustion and I was waiting for my legs to cramp. When you can truly feel a book deep in your muscles and bones, you know it is a good one!
My audio re-read of The Long Walk in May of 2019 marks the 3rd or 4th time I have read it. It has always been one of my favorite dystopian novels and I have enjoyed it every single time. Long before the dystopian government in America (Panem) made Katniss battle it out in the Hunger Games, Ray Garraty was dragging his feet across the hot macadam of the backroads and turnpikes of Maine. All for what you ask? The honor of participating the the oppressive government's premier event, the entertainment of the people, and the always elusive fulfilment of all your heart's desires.
A few people that I recommended this to before didn't care for it, but it is definitely one of my top five favorite of King's - and my favorite of his Bachman books. Such great storytelling, character building, suspense, and dark narrative. I have just always been so awed by this book and how much it has pulled me in over and over again and won't let go!
Read this! But, you may want to avoid it if you are getting ready for a marathon or a big hike!
ORIGINAL REVIEW
This is one of my favorite King books; Suspenseful, unique, and all too possible. It is one of the few books that I have read more than once. Highly recommended for someone looking for a good place to start with King....more
This was my second time in The Dead Zone. I remember the first time fondly as this is only one of two Stephen King books I read in one sitting (the otThis was my second time in The Dead Zone. I remember the first time fondly as this is only one of two Stephen King books I read in one sitting (the other being Pet Sematary). The first time was in the late 1990s at an all-night coffee shop in Cincinnati. I read until the sun came up fueled on caffeine and the enthralling words of the Master of Horror himself.
I suppose knowing that I read it in one sitting says a lot about what I thought about it – I LOVED IT! It blew me away. It was creepy, heart-wrenching, introspective, speculative, terrifying, thought-provoking – and on and on and on. I just knew I had to read it again now to see if I still felt the same. And, I do! I definitely do!
I think many people recommend Carrie or The Shining to people just starting King. I rarely hear The Dead Zone. But, to me, this would be a fantastic place to start. It is not too long to be daunting (like It or The Stand). It does not involve the potential commitment of a series (like The Dark Tower or Hodges Trilogy). I think the story is fairly straight forward and would be easily accessible to many. Also, hoping that I am not saying too much, I think this story is particularly terrifying in the world’s current political climate.
This time around I did the audio. I was skeptical at first because it was James Franco and he usually seems kind of silly to me (most of my memories of him are Seth Rogan stoner movies). I am guessing he may have been invited to do this audio version because of his involvement in King’s 11/22/63 mini-series – which I still need to watch (Update 1/8/2020 - Just noticed I said I still need to watch this, but I did in 2019. It was great!)! I think he did a great job narrating this book and I will gladly do other books in the future narrated by him.
You ask me what King book I recommend – this is it! You haven’t read it yet? Why not!?...more
This book will always be 5 stars for me. I believe this is the 5th or 6th time I have read it. It is without a doubt the book I have read more than anThis book will always be 5 stars for me. I believe this is the 5th or 6th time I have read it. It is without a doubt the book I have read more than any other book.
I read it for the first time in the mid 90s because caving was a hobby of mine in high school. I went at least once a week during the summer to southern Kentucky to cave with a group of my friends from the museum in Cincinnati. It was a great time.
I am not sure that everyone will enjoy this book. Certainly an interest in caving helps. However, I think that if you like books about people pushing themselves to the extreme to accomplish the amazing, you will enjoy this book. It contains stories of people driven to their ultimate limit. People freezing, jammed in passages smaller than their body, hours and hours away from the nearest cave entrance, all with the goal of exploring and connecting the Flint Ridge Cave System to Mammoth Cave.
If you are okay with the caving subject matter and like stories of people pushing to the extreme, give it a go and I can almost guarantee you will enjoy it!...more
Updating this review in June 2016. I was just discussing this series with a friend I recommended this to and we were both sayFANTASY FANS PLEASE READ!
Updating this review in June 2016. I was just discussing this series with a friend I recommended this to and we were both saying how shocked we are how few people have read it because it is so good. It can be hard to find Feist's books in stores or at the library - but it shouldn't be!
I am not saying that everyone will end up liking this, but I think there are a lot of people missing out. To give you a statistical analysis of how many people are missing out - I currently have 627 friends on Goodreads. 135 of them have read A Game of Thrones. Only 8 of them have read the first book in this series.
You might look at my book list and say, "Matthew, you hypocrite! You may be reading this series, but you have yet to read Game of Thrones! How can you compare the two?" This is true. Maybe Game of Thrones is superior. I look forward to reading it eventually and finding out, but my point is that I think Feist's series is great and I want to spread the news (also, it is 30 books long - with two to four book story arcs within it. The first arc is just 4 books. But, the series is complete. No waiting years for the next one!)
So, here is challenge to fantasy fans (friends on here or otherwise). As soon as 30 more people give this series a try because of this review, I will immediately begin reading Game of Thrones. I know that isn't much of an incentive for you, but I hope the joy you find in reading this series is enough. If this review leads you to read this, please let me know in the comments. Or, I will just keep an eye on how many of my friends have rated it and as soon as it gets to 38, Game of Thrones is a go!
(Update: I have now read the first two GoT books and watched the series)
Note: In this series, I am up to book 11 and it is still going great!
Warning to readers! Book 1 and 2 really are "book one" of a trilogy. Frequently they are combined into one volume (Magician) If you only read the first book, this is not a case where you get the complete first part of the story. You really need to read a least the first two before you will be able to tell if this story is for you or not!...more
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