This was an interesting and eclectic collection. I enjoyed several stories, others were just okay. I am glad it was a shorter book because I am not suThis was an interesting and eclectic collection. I enjoyed several stories, others were just okay. I am glad it was a shorter book because I am not sure it would have kept my interest much longer....more
This was better than the first book. Much more suspenseful and mysterious. There are about 50,000 unanswered questions and I have no idea who is on whThis was better than the first book. Much more suspenseful and mysterious. There are about 50,000 unanswered questions and I have no idea who is on which side, who is telling the truth, etc. This very much made me want to read book 3, so its goal was accomplished!...more
The day-lengthening concept and all that the author described with it - coping, survival, etc. - were interesting. I think the (view spoiler)[real timThe day-lengthening concept and all that the author described with it - coping, survival, etc. - were interesting. I think the (view spoiler)[real timers vs Clock timers (hide spoiler)]was a bit overdone, but still interesting. The main storyline with Julia, her family, and her friends was never all that interesting to me, though - just okay - kind of felt forced in to the Slowing instead of feeling like a smooth and integral part of everything....more
After averaging out my ratings, this book came out at almost exactly 4 stars. Check out my story by story reviews below.
Mile 81 - 4 stars - I read thAfter averaging out my ratings, this book came out at almost exactly 4 stars. Check out my story by story reviews below.
Mile 81 - 4 stars - I read this when it first came out by itself. Unique and creepy - I like when King writes about monster cars. I didn't care for the resolution - too quick and convenient. But, still a good Story
Premium Harmony - 2.5 Stars - Just a couple of hours in Ray's life with some seriously unfortunate developments - nothing too exciting. Not really a beginning, or a climax, or an end.
Batman and Robin Have an Altercation - 5 Stars -Fantastic little story - we get to know the characters fast and there is an unexpectedly touching (and gruesome) twist. And, I found the twist satisfying!
The Dune - 4.5 Stars - Dark, twisted, mysterious - just when you think you know where the story is headed, King gives you a bit of a shock and a wink.
Bad Little Kid - 4 Stars - Another creepy revenge story. In places, almost silly - but it wouldn't be silly if it was happening to you!"
A Death - 3 Stars I enjoyed the Western theme, the writing, and the majority of the story. Only three stars because the Western stuff was so cool, but it just kind of ended blah and I wanted more
The Bone Church - 3 Stars - A poem - some cool imagery and a dark, gruesome story. Very quick read.
Morality - 4 Stars - Partway through, I realized I had read this before. It is interesting to ponder what sort of darkness we have in side of us, what would it take to unleash it, and how far would we be willing to go?
Afterlife - 5 Stars - I really enjoyed this interpretation of what might be waiting for us when we die. I also like that it is another tough "what would you do?" situation (King likes to do those).
Ur - 5 Stars - This was a re-read for me. Great story with a unique concept. I am reading this on a Kindle - which seems appropriate. Which author would you look for if you had the parallel universe Kindle?
Herman Wouk Is Still Alive - 3 Stars - Interesting idea for a story, but the narrative felt forced. It was like King knew what he wanted to say, but not quite how to say it.
Under the Weather - 4 Stars - King mentions in the intro that you can kind of see where this one is headed the whole time, and that's true - but, it doesn't ruin the dark goodness of the story.
Blockade Billy - 5 Stars - This was the second time I read this - I will have to go back and check what I gave it last time I read it, but it was 5 stars this time. I love a good baseball story and I love King's dark twist. Also, the historical fiction aspect of it is nice.
Mister Yummy - 4 Stars - King touches on the boundary between life and afterlife again. This one is very unique.
Tommy - 4.5 Stars - I thought this was a really cool little poem. Makes you think about the fact that who we are when we die is who we are to the rest of the world forever.
The Little Green God of Agony - 4 Stars - Bizarre and dark. Lots left for the reader to conjecture. What is pain?
That Bus Is Another World - 4 Stars - A little existential journey about our encounters with others and how involved we would willing to be in other people's worlds. King is really hitting the "What would you do?" with this story collection.
Obits - 5 Stars - unique and creepy idea! Also, King mentions the town I grew up in and the place where I learned to downhill ski - so bonus points!
Drunken Fireworks - 4.5 Stars - A comedy, and I did LOL a few times. It reminded me of my last two 4th of Julys on a lake in rural Indiana.
Summer Thunder – 3.5 Stars – Melancholy, hopeless, and nostalgic; a pretty decent (but certainly not uplifting) way to end the collection ...more
Maybe 4.5 stars - some pretty good historical fiction here. This wasn't just a run of the mill story about growing up in the 50s. There was a lot of lMaybe 4.5 stars - some pretty good historical fiction here. This wasn't just a run of the mill story about growing up in the 50s. There was a lot of love, tragedy, insanity, heartache, infidelity, intolerance, etc. Blume kept me guessing and I was frequently shocked/surprised throughout.
This was a cute little story with some neat fantasy sequences. Nothing too exciting and it didn't blow me away, but I did enjoy escaping to the circusThis was a cute little story with some neat fantasy sequences. Nothing too exciting and it didn't blow me away, but I did enjoy escaping to the circus for awhile....more
"Carry on, carry on - 'cuz nothing really matters" - Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
As I read this book, many songs with the words "carry on" ran through m"Carry on, carry on - 'cuz nothing really matters" - Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
As I read this book, many songs with the words "carry on" ran through my head, but this seems to be the one Rowell wanted me to be singing.
The book was, as it should be, fun filled fan fiction making light of pop culture icons, young adult fantasy fiction, and teen romance. It was silly and quite enjoyable.
If you read Fangirl, of course you must read this....more
When I read books like these, my age is definitely starting to show. I know the point is to feel for the teenagers in love, but I spend a lot of time When I read books like these, my age is definitely starting to show. I know the point is to feel for the teenagers in love, but I spend a lot of time thinking "Oh, that's a bad idea - this probably isn't going to end well".
However, I am usually able to get around that and end up enjoying books in the young adult genre. It is kind of fun to try and imagine how a teenager reading the same book would react compared to me.
This one definitely has a unique story. The author's approach to communication and observation when the main character is confined to her house is interesting. Also, (view spoiler)[ the major twist at the end blew my mind (hide spoiler)] and added a star to my rating.
This book was fantastic! The Pendergast series has been awesome so far. Well researched. Twists and turns. Suspense. Gore. Diabolical bad guys. PeriloThis book was fantastic! The Pendergast series has been awesome so far. Well researched. Twists and turns. Suspense. Gore. Diabolical bad guys. Perilous situations. Last minute salvation. I am so glad this series has a lot more books because I don't want it to end!...more
This was not the book for me. I know a lot of people give it praise and it is considered a classic, but I never got into it.
It rambled . . . it was reThis was not the book for me. I know a lot of people give it praise and it is considered a classic, but I never got into it.
It rambled . . . it was repetitive . . . I got bored.
What was supposed to be a story about love seemed to be more about twisted obsession and I never found it endearing. None of the characters were all that great and I pretty much found myself feeling sorry for everyone.
Interesting idea, but I don't think this story was for me.
While the "what if" scenarios of reincarnation were cool to analyze and watch play out, I fInteresting idea, but I don't think this story was for me.
While the "what if" scenarios of reincarnation were cool to analyze and watch play out, I found that it would drag on from time to time. Because it was dragging, I would lose interest and focus and find myself wondering what was going on. Luckily, since she was living her life over and over again, I usually found a point of reference to get myself back on track.
Also, I don't really find there to be much of a resolution in the end. Life just keeps going on . . . over and over and over and over and over...more
I was expecting more. Not as suspenseful as I hoped and the story was a little forced and predictable throughout. I did enjoy the ending, but, for me,I was expecting more. Not as suspenseful as I hoped and the story was a little forced and predictable throughout. I did enjoy the ending, but, for me, the road to get there was just okay....more
Several times Fey hints that this book is directed at a female audience. A lot of the subject matter is specific to, and I figure would 3.5 to 4 stars
Several times Fey hints that this book is directed at a female audience. A lot of the subject matter is specific to, and I figure would generally be more appreciated by, women. At one point she even expresses surprise gratitude if the reader happens to be male. However, I still enjoyed this book and the humor.
As a weekly watcher of SNL, I appreciated those stories the most. I especially liked her stories surrounding the 2008 presidential election and her Sarah Palin character.
There was a lot about 30 Rock, which I haven't watched yet, so I didn't necessarily understand some of the specifics she discussed.
I wish she had talked more about Mean Girls! I love that movie!
A decent humor book, maybe not for everyone, but I think lots of people will enjoy the anecdotes and tongue-in-cheek, cynical humor found here....more
This was a great book for looking at life and reflecting on how you live it. As someone who deals with a lot of stress and frustration, it was refreshThis was a great book for looking at life and reflecting on how you live it. As someone who deals with a lot of stress and frustration, it was refreshing for me to hear Morrie's outlook on things. Hearing such a positive and down to earth view of life and how it should be lived coming from a man with a terminal illness made me realize I spend too much time sweating the small stuff.
I think this quick read can be enjoyed by anyone and has at least a little something in it for everyone....more
An interesting take on the sin of vanity. Dorian Gray wishes to never grow old and keep his good looks. But when a portrait of him starts to age with An interesting take on the sin of vanity. Dorian Gray wishes to never grow old and keep his good looks. But when a portrait of him starts to age with each sin, he finds out the good looks do not atone for a life of excess and debauchery.
Throughout the book it seems that Wilde inserted little discussions between the characters that didn't necessarily advance the plot, but allowed him to share some of his viewpoints with the reader.
In the end, I basically blame Lord Henry for everything - this is how I picture his character thorough the entire book:
Hey, Thomas Pynchon - could you write us a book where a woman goes to oversee the estate of a real estate mMaybe 3.5 stars
It was weird! It was unique!
Hey, Thomas Pynchon - could you write us a book where a woman goes to oversee the estate of a real estate mogul and along the way deals with her DJ husband on LSD, an adulterous pedophilic lover, a Nazi psychiatrist on a shooting spree - all in search of information about a secret society who's only anti-government movement is to run their own postal system (which she becomes intrigued about because of a play she sees with one word that seems out of place).
Thomas Pynchon: Sure - no problem! As long as I can make it jump haphazardly to a different part of the story every few paragraphs and leave everyone hanging in the end . . ....more
This book was a chore! While I liked the story, the writing style was not enjoyable at all for me. Also, I am not really sure why everything happened,This book was a chore! While I liked the story, the writing style was not enjoyable at all for me. Also, I am not really sure why everything happened, what exactly happened, and why it took so many words and pages to tell this story.
It started at 5 stars and, as I trudged through the book, there was a slow leak of stars as my interest started to wane. That leak stopped at 2 stars....more
A nice, quick, humorous little murder mystery. Only my second Bolitar book, but I can already say I am looking forward to reading more of the adventurA nice, quick, humorous little murder mystery. Only my second Bolitar book, but I can already say I am looking forward to reading more of the adventures of Myron and Win....more
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