Synopsis: So war it is. The situation in the New World has escalated to the point of no return, it seems. Mayor Prentiss has proven himself a tyrant, willing to kill anyone that gets in the way of his desire to rule the world. He does have a soft spot for Todd, though, in his yearning for a perfect son. As in Book Two, it is in Todd's voice that we get a glimpse into Prentiss's murderous tendencies that are masked by his smooth talk and mastery of mind control.
Mistress Coyle and her revolutionaries continue to practice acts of terrorism to make her mark and prevent Prentiss from rising to power. Viola, as well as a couple of newcomers from her homeland, are protected under her wing. It is in Viola's voice we understand that an opposition to a tyrannical leader is not always the better option.
A third voice is introduced in this book...that of a survivor of the Spackle genocide, #1017. The Spackle have their own grievances, including the treatment of their people and the invasion of their home. They will not go down without a fight.
Some tough decisions need to be made, forcing Todd and Viola to grow up overnight and become leaders. Who is the right person to follow - Prentiss or Coyle? Is it even possible that either of them will be an advocate for peace? Which side can really be trusted to keep their word? Is it better to kill thousands to save the one you love?
My thoughts: This journey exhausted and thrilled me. Because each book really just dangles at each conclusion, without a definitive break, it really is just one long story with never-ceasing action, maiming, murdering, double-crossing, and manipulation. There are times when I rolled my eyes at the hyperactivity (a little worried we'd lose our YA audience if we took a breather?), but I still loved this series.
Of all three books, this one was the heaviest in terms of moral issues and intensity. I loved the introduction of the third narrator, and his character development. I also enjoyed seeing both Todd and Viola mature in their leadership roles in the community. Did I think perhaps they were a little too mature for their 13 or 14 years? Realistically yes, but I was willing to suspend my belief because I liked them and believed in them.
Mayor Prentiss is a guy you just love to hate. (I can't wait to see who is cast as this character in the movie.) He is a complete, fully-developed narcissist that wants the world to bow at his feet. For a brief moment, I felt a tiny bit of sympathy for him when he got all man-crushy on Todd, but that didn't last long.
I wouldn't be right with myself if I didn't make a comment about my emotions at the end. First of all, I was ENRAGED (I sent Rhapsody Jill an e-mail with all kinds of bad words) at some really emotionally manipulative chain-yanking in a scene near the end. It cheapened things for me, and I was not happy. I was only sated by the fact that Ness did not take the easy road in his conclusion. No happily-ever-after with white horses and rainbows, and I was OK with that.
A word about the audio production: Brilliant. Our voice for Todd, Nick Podehl, was back again with a performance that held onto Todd's innocence and backwoods charm but had grown stronger and more sure of himself. Angela Dawe was the narrator for Viola, and I loved her work as well. She has a great cadence to her voice that was youthful but assured and natural. I've never listened to her before, but I noticed she narrated "Still Missing" by Chevy Stevens, so I'm going to try to get my hands on that. Rounding out our narrators is MacLeod Andrews as #1017. His voice was a bit stiff and robotic, but was a perfect depiction of a Spackle. This was most definitely a trifecta of narration.
4 out of 5 stars
Series as a whole: 4.5 out of 5 stars
But hark! Two respected bloggers, Swapna and Caite, made a fuss over Amanda Kyle Williams and the first book in her new series, "The Stranger You Seek". What is this? New series? Great protagonist? They were effusive enough to inspire me to order it on audio from my library.
Synopsis: Keye Street is a divorced Southern Belle, an adopted Chinese-American, a recovering alcoholic, and because of the drinking problem, an ex-FBI profiler. She currently works as a private investigator and bond enforcer to make ends meet, loves shoes and Krispy Kremes, and is apt to grab her crotch and offer a rude sentiment (or offer tampons) to any man giving her shit.
Street has been called into help with a particularly disturbing serial murder case by her best friend and Atlanta Police Department lieutenant Aaron Rauser. The killer is not only leaving horribly gruesome crime scenes, he or she is messing with the cops and the press by sending taunting letters and e-mails. It also appears that based on the killer's modus operandi, a number of unsolved murders from years prior may be the same handiwork. In the dense, oppressive Georgia heat, Street must unravel motivations and psychoses to help solve the crime without losing herself in the process.
My thoughts: Holy cow this was a fun ride. This book had the perfect combination of elements to entertain even the most critical murder mystery lover.
The mystery itself was not all that difficult to figure out, if you are adept at these things. The first time I "met" the character that was to be the killer, and I heard the description of the person, I knew who it was. But Williams kept it vague, making the reader even question whether the evil-doer was male or female. It was good fun, and I had a ball following the plot all the way through to the end. There are plenty of red herrings in there just to keep you guessing.
There was a love interest thread, and that was completely satisfying. I know Williams doesn't want her street cred tarnished with me telling you she has a soft side, so I reassure you that it isn't overwhelming. A romantic I am not. But I completely bought into everything going on here in the love department. (And want more. Now.)
Completing the whole multi-dimensional package, we also get to see Street chase down the occasional bail skip (a thinking woman's Stephanie Plum if you will), find a missing cow, and even get a glimpse of a few same sex relationships.
But really, details. The main attraction here is Street. She is so lovable, yet so flawed. She sucks at managing her personal life but is so good at her profession. She is a tiny little Southern Belle that can take down a 250 pound convict. I couldn't get enough of her, and she is the reason that you will not be able to forget this book after you have finished it.
A few words about the audio production: This audio is narrated by Anne Marie Lee, who has also narrated a number of Lisa Gardner and Lisa Unger novels (which I listened to frequently before blogging), as well as "Maine" by Courtney Sullivan. Anne Marie has a very girlish lilt to her voice, and has an excellent southern accent. She initially seemed perhaps a little too girlish for Keye, but she soon showed her mettle by blasting through the most hard core scenes, and she became the essence of Keye. I hope she comes back for future installments!
4.5 out of 5 stars
Synopsis: We find ourselves in a dystopian society, where the earth has been rendered a wasteland without plants or trees, the moon has been developed as a vacation destination, and our primary purpose on earth is consumption. Tiny computer chips have been implanted under the skin that allows controlled "feeds", or commercials to invade your every thought and affect your spending habits (which are analyzed and manipulated). In addition, the chip can be used to have one-on-one or community chats, and Internet-like information can be accessed, all through your mind. Fashion trends change from hour to hour, and self-inflicted weeping skin lesions become de rigueur.
Titus is your typical high school teenager...vapid, inarticulate, often bored, and self-absorbed. On one mission with his friends in search of fun, in a dance club on the moon, he meets a beautiful girl, Violet, with whom he strikes up a conversation. While at the club, though, a hacker taps into their feeds, and they must be hospitalized in order to reboot and remove all traces of the hacker's virus. It is only later that Titus and Violet realize that the attack may have had a more pervasive effect on Violet's system, and the repercussions of their dependence on the feed hit home.
Part dystopian world-building, part teen love story, part cautionary tale, part satire, "Feed" has a virtual banquet of food-for-thought. Is our reliance on media and the cyber world a step in this direction?
My thoughts: Put bluntly, I thought it was brilliant. No wonder this eerie little piece of fiction won too many awards to list. (I've counted 14 but there may be more.)
I was immediately mesmerized by the world that Anderson has built for us, but at the same time, I was repulsed by it. The focus on immediate gratification. The disfiguring one's own body because someone says it is the cool thing to do (sound familiar?). Teenagers that have been completely dumbed down and turned into consumer-centric drones. If I took the time to stop and ponder, I was repulsed because it isn't so far from reality. Are we really that bad?
But while Anderson is sending all kinds of messages, he doesn't take himself too seriously either. When one teen girl convinces another teen girl that her latest lesion, a recent purchase to impress her boyfriend and which is huge and is leaking viscera, sets off her eyes, you have to laugh.
I found myself extremely frustrated with Titus at times. He could be such a freaking teenage boy! He avoids the difficult scenarios and unpleasant conversations, and would prefer to get wasted than face reality. Which I am sure was Anderson's point. I'm wondering if the young adult readers, to whom this book is targeted, are getting it?
A word of warning. There are numerous curse words (if you were thinking about handing this over to your kids) and there are also many many slang terms. While slang can really get on my nerves, it didn't bother me so much here because it didn't seem forced, but a part of their vocabulary. But it is something you must get used to.
A word about the audio production: If you are on the fence in deciding whether or not to read this book, I would highly recommend you try the audio. The narrator, David Aaron Baker (narrator of the Dean Koontz Odd Thomas books) is the perfect voice of a lazy male teenager. What makes this audio production so unique, though, is that you get a taste of a real feed, aka commercials, with singing, lingos, music, the whole bit, that is rattling around in people's heads. Also, when people are having a mental one-on-one chat, there is a slight echo, which is a great effect. This creativity makes listening not just a passive activity, but an experience.
4.5 out of 5 stars
But then I picked up this first installment at the 2010 SIBA convention. So what was my problem? The size of the books (this one is nearly 500 pages long)? The three-book commitment? Laziness? Then I heard it was being made into a movie. Then I found the first and third installment on audio at the library. And I decided to go for it. Praise the Lord, Patrick Ness and talking dogs.
Synopsis: Prentisstown is a farming village occupied only by men, located in the New World. The women all died years ago, killed by a virus contracted from the native species that inhabited the planet before man colonized it. Likewise, this same virus made all men's private thoughts available to each other (called Noise), and have enabled animals to talk.
Todd Hewitt lives in Prentisstown, and will be the last boy in town to turn 13 and officially become a man. He is a simple sheltered boy, fairly uneducated because Mayor Prentiss burned all the books and declared schooling unnecessary. Todd has lived his life believing a number of truths, including the cause of his parents' deaths when he was young, that the natives, called Spackle, were the enemy but are now all gone, and that Prentisstown is the only settlement in the New World.
Until one day, when he meets a human that omits no Noise. Viola. A girl. He is suddenly urged by his adoptive father to run away from Prentisstown with Viola and his loyal dog Manchee, as fast as he can to a safe place, away from the villagers. It is a matter of life and death. And all the truths upon which Todd has always relied, are shattered.
My thoughts: I'm not sure where to begin with this one, except to tell you that all the hype for this book is very warranted. Jesus wept, people, and so did I.
There are so many intricately developed issues buzzing around your head, they overwhelm your senses. Invasion of a native population, hatred between species, communication (open, closed or managed for ill gain), death of all women, the hypocrisy of the religious, the kindness of strangers, the confusion of young love, and *gulp* the unconditional love of a dog.
But don't let all that scare you off. In fact, the world that Ness has built for you will make your mind buzz with possibilities and potential. And Todd and Viola and Manchee are precious and earnest and untainted, and you YEARN for their well-being. The plot is fast-paced and full of terror and anguish. (Unless you are dead, the anguish will level you. I'm telling you so you can plan ahead.)
And right when you get to the precipice of Something Bigger...Ness ends the book. A bit of a cheap trick if you ask me, and manipulative. If I'd have read this when it first published, I would have been pretty upset. I also was slightly irritated at a Michael Meyers-esque character that just WOULD NOT DIE. It was almost laughable. All lesser quibbles than the whole of the thing though.
The good news is that if you are reading these books now, you can plow through them one after the other. I'm warning you, for the sake of your sanity, have "The Ask and the Answer" at the ready, as soon as you finish this one.
A few words about the audio production: The narrator for this audio book (and for the entire series) is Nick Podehl, a new voice for me, but one that has made a positive first impression. He was able to convey Todd's innocence, his frustration and fear, as well as speak for Viola, a few evil guys, and best of all, the animals, especially Manchee. Not everyone can talk like a dog might sound if barking out words, but this guy does a superb Manchee and I love him for it.
4 out of 5 stars
The Redbreast
Nemesis
The Devil's Star
The Redeemer
The Snowman
The Leopard
There are two novels prior to "The Redbreast", but they have not yet been translated (and may never be, so don't hold your breath or wait for this to happen). Each book, in theory, is able to stand on its own, but I wouldn't recommend it. There are consistent characters, there is a history of tragedies that make Harry the man he is. So what is that dashing, damaged man up to this time?
Synopsis: Twelve years ago, in a Salvation Army summer camp in Norway, there was a brutal rape of a 14 year-old girl. We don't know the victim, and we don't know the perpetrator. We also learn about a young Croatian boy who commits acts of treachery and has earned the title "the little redeemer". These two facts simmer over the years and bubble up to give us the latest Harry Hole investigation.
In the present, a Salvation Army soldier is executed in public at close range. Soon after, an attempt is made on the victim's brother's life, closely followed by an increasing body count, all which seem to be related. Harry is assigned to this investigation with his partner Halversen and forensics superstar Beate. Their digging takes them to Croatia, through the upper administration of the Salvation Army, and to that night 12 years ago at the summer camp. As Harry's retired boss advises, "follow the money".
My thoughts: Like all Harry Hole mysteries, there is never one simple plot thread, but many. In fact, if you aren't careful, you will find yourself completely lost in the woods, a mile from civilization, marveling at how Nesbo does this to you again and again. I've probably said this before, but best not even try to figure it out. You will just get confused. Just go with it.
Nesbo seems to enjoy picking inanimate objects and creating new phobias for them. He has demonized elevators, water beds, and snowmen. Now he has caused me to cringe at my vacuum cleaner (well, yeah, that goes without saying, but now even more than ever). Is Nesbo married? I'm thinking that his significant other must have had some input about creating a fear of a vacuum.
And even though in many ways, critical events were spoiled by reading the books out of order, I still very much enjoyed this journey with Harry. He continues to become more and more untethered by his demons, and is an increasingly cocky smartass with authority, but he is also an admirable dog with a bone, and refuses to give up on the most cut and dried cases. He is annoying and lovable and dear, and the perfect protagonist to carry the series.
So. One more book to go, and I believe, for the first time ever, I am reading it in order. I can't wait.
4.5 out of 5 stars
"Emily, Alone" is actually a sequel to "Wish You Were Here", a novel about Emily Maxwell trying to hold her family together after the death of her husband. It is unfortunate that I didn't read that one first, but I was assured by Beth Fish Reads and Lakeside Musing that the novel would still stand on its own.
Synopsis: It has been years since Emily's husband died, and still the 80 year-old widow is struggling to navigate through her life alone. She has her aging dog Rufus and her sister-in-law to keep her company, but she wrestles with loneliness, the friends that keep dying, her progressing frailty, her middle-aged children that have their own life and demons to battle, and settling her affairs before she dies.
Sometimes she is shocked by her independence...like going out and buying a new car with good gas mileage! Or putting her dog on a diet and whipping him back into shape. Or maintaining her garden. At the same time, she is frustrated with her own weakness of pining away for her kids and grandkids calls and thank you letters and visits. Or needing to ask for help from the neighbor when the sidewalks get snowy.
At it's heart, "Emily, Alone" is a character study that focuses on the dignity and indignity of aging, in a tone that is deeply emotional but realistic and unflinching.
My thoughts: I'm not a huge fan of character studies, I'm finding. I need some kind of plot, some climax in which to work towards in a story. This book was perhaps a wee bit too gentle for me to call a favorite, but I did sincerely enjoy it.
I adored Emily. She reminded me of my grandmother. Feisty, no-nonsense, with an attitude of "I'll be damned if I let my age prevent me from doing something". And even though I'm 35 years away from being in her position, I was right there with her in spirit. I became profoundly melancholy observing life pass her by, her kids and grandkids moving through their lives with little regard for her. O' Nan, who is only a handful of years older than I, somehow "got" it, which I consider amazing.
While I would not consider this an uplifting story, it does have moments of hope. Emily is doing her thing, trying to keep her family together, and living her life to its fullest. Or at least as full as she is physically able. O' Nan has also set up the ending to lead into another installment.
A word about the audio production: Our narrator was Andrea Gallo, who was new to me, but has narrated many other books, including ones by Debbie Macomber and Temple Grandin. She portrayed Emily, in her spunk and frustrations, perfectly.
3.5 out of 5 stars
I started this audio with my cynical hat on, and not exactly an open mind. But I was in the hands of Kevin Kenerly (the amazing narrator behind "Crooked Letter Crooked Letter") so I figured I could handle anything with him in my ears.
Synopsis: R is one of thousands of zombies that walk the earth at some point in the future when everything has gone to hell in a handbasket...climate meltdown, financial meltdown, and a strange virus that has turned much of the world's population into blood-thirsty eaters of flesh and brains.
R is cool though. He loves music. He longs for companionship. Even though he can only utter simple grunts and a few words, and remembers nothing about his human life, he longs for more. And he gets it when he eats the brains of a young male victim. Suddenly, he is filled with the victim's memories, including those of his beautiful girlfriend Julie. R finds Julie, whisks her off to his hideout, and befriends her.
Is it possible for the undead and a human to have a relationship? Humans are trained to kill zombies, and zombies instinctively eat humans. In a twisted tale of an apocalyptic Romeo & Juliet, R and Julie are about to find out.
My thoughts: This was one bizarre adventure, let me tell you. It was graphic (brains and dead people smells?), it was creative, it was endearing. Even a little bit funny. It is hard to even describe my emotions really. I liked R...he was kinda sweet and earnest and cool, for a member of the walking dead anyway. But then the visual of he and Julie, like, being a couple? Completely disgusted me.
I laughed out loud. Zombies making derogatory comments about the drudgery of marriage? Or Julie putting makeup on R to smuggle him into a human-occupied area? What the hell! I can't say that the story completely blew my mind, but I was very much entertained.
A few words about the audio production: My biggest thrill with this whole experience was the narration performed by Kevin Kenerly. I believe the man performs in Shakespearean theater, but then turns around and narrates, to perfection, a Southern gothic literary thriller? Then gurgles and grunts zombie-talk? Really? That is one versatile and talented guy. If you like audio books, you need to make a point to track him down.
3.5 out of 5 stars
Synopsis: Louis Zamperini didn't start out his life looking like someone who would eventually be one of America's great heroes. As a youth, he was troubled, leading the life of a petty thief and vandal. But when his older brother encouraged him to join the high school track team, Louis found a positive outlet for all that energy. Truly a talented runner, Louis went on to be one of the youngest long-distance Olympic athletes at the time, and competed in the 1936 Berlin games. He went from miscreant to a hometown star, and his family was proud. This alone would have been a compelling story.
Louis then enlisted in the Air Force in WWII, and was deployed to Hawaii as a bombardier. In May 1943, his plane went down in the Pacific, killing 8 of the 11 crew members. For 47 days, the three survivors lived on a raft, drinking rainwater and eating birds and fish, despite the elements, aggressive, circling sharks, and Japanese planes that attempted to shoot them. One of the men eventually died, and Louis and his pilot were then picked up by Japanese soldiers, and imprisoned in a POW camp.
For two and a half years, the men were held prisoner in conditions barely survivable...they were starved, forced to work 18 hours a day, and dehumanized. Probably the worst aspect of their years in the camp, however, was the camp's leader, named "The Bird", who was one of the war's most unbalanced, sadistic tormentors. After Louis was liberated by the Americans, he suffered extreme PTSD and alcoholism, with The Bird haunting his dreams. It was only when Louis discovered Billy Graham did he embrace Christianity and forgive those who had harmed him. He went on to become an inspirational speaker and an advocate for troubled boys. He is alive today at the age of 94.
My thoughts: I am not normally in the habit of going into such detail on a book's plot. I like to keep it short and to the point. But what part of this man's life do you leave out? Any one facet of Louis's life would be biography-worthy, but in aggregate it is almost beyond comprehension. It made me close my eyes and PRAY that this wasn't another example of embellished bullshittery like "A Million Little Pieces" or "Three Cups of Tea". Based on what I've Googled (and I would encourage you to do this...it is a treasure trove of articles, pictures and videos) it appears to be authentic.
A couple of themes really hit me hard. First, Louis makes a statement that he would have rather gone back to the raft, where he had to deal with sharks, the elements, and reliance on mother nature for food, than to stay in the POW camps. He states that dehumanization will break a person long before starvation and isolation. I'm sure this explains why his soul suffered long after the war because of the atrocities committed by The Bird. But it is a thought-provoking dictum on human nature.
Secondly, Louis's return to Jesus Christ, after his tormented struggles with depression, alcoholism and anger, was devastatingly heart-rending for me. This transformation saved Louis's marriage and his life. Forgiveness is a miraculous healer of souls. Lest you think this story turns into a preachy God lesson, please know that it is subtle and a small part of the overall story. It was just that part that brought me to tears.
I did bristle at a couple of statements made by Hillenbrand, that were brought to my attention in Marie's review. Particularly, statistics are quoted that imply Japanese prison camps were deadlier for Americans than the Fascist camps. Perhaps they were - I am sure she can account for her numbers. But to me it minimized the horrors wrought on humanity by the Nazis and Soviets, and thought it was in poor taste.
Beyond this complaint, however, I would recommend this book to anyone. It is truly a testament to the human spirit.
A word about the audio production: Our narrator for this audio was Edward Herrman, a gentleman who has significant experience in the business but is a new voice for me. While his vocalizations were not all that dramatic, he was pleasant to listen to and soundly delivered the goods.
5 out of 5 stars
Synopsis: With stars and dollar signs in his eyes, Warren Ziller uproots his wife and three kids from Wisconsin to Palos Verdes, California to make his millions in real estate. Unfortunately, Warren's get-rich-quick scheme isn't working out, and has secretly piddled his life savings away.
We also hear from each member of the Ziller family, and get their perspective on life in California. Each have their own issues and hang-ups, each contribute to the overall dysfunction. When tragedy strikes, in a cruel and senseless turn of events, it is the final straw that sends the family over the edge into the abyss.
My thoughts: When Ti described this story as heartbreaking, she picked the right word. My heart just kept sinking with every disc I listened to - could this family ever catch a break? Sprinkled into the general misery were brief moments of familial love and connectedness, but it wasn't enough to act as the glue to hold things together.
Towards the end of the story, I saw small signs of hope that things could possibly improve, but that definitive leap is left to the imagination of the reader. Do I believe that life eventually turned a corner for the Ziller family? Yes, I have to believe that, otherwise this story would have been unbearable.
A word about the audio production: The narrator of this audio book, David Colacci, is a veteran in the business. I don't believe I've ever heard him, but it was only a matter of time because he has many many titles to his credit. He was pleasant to listen to, and handled accents, male and female voices expertly.
3.5 out of 5 stars
But this was not at all what I was expecting. In my fully-realized audio world, I have never listened to a theater production, but that is what this was. I was taken aback at first, but then became invested. Let me tell you a little about what you should expect to hear:
Synopsis: Lucy Prebble is a young (only 30), edgy, British playwright who has constructed a stage production of the Enron scandal that originally debuted in London to sold-out crowds. It came over the pond to Broadway a year later, only to be slammed by the New York Times and quickly shut down. Nevertheless, it went on to earn various awards, and has now been performed by the L.A. Theater Works in front of a live audience and made into an audio book.
From a layman's viewpoint, Prebble has taken all the complicated details of Enron's failings (mark-to-market accounting, market trading and hedging, playing the shell game with debt, and manipulating Wall Street for the best stock ratings), and making it understandable to everyone. And at the same time, making it entertaining and amusing. And shocking. At one point, Prebble uses the analogy of Raptors, hiding in Enron's basement, cared for by the CFO, eating the dollar bills that are the company's debt. They are hungry, they want fed, and eventually they escape because Raptors ultimately cannot be contained.
For an hour and a half, at the hands of a full cast, prepare yourself for a crash course in all things corrupt. Prepare for the ultimate cautionary tale of bad karma (or Raptors) biting you in the ass. Prepare to be entertained.
My thoughts: As I said before, I was taken aback when I first started listening to this production. It was unnerving to be LISTENING to a stage production, but unable to see it. The actors were doing things, and I could only guess by their words what was occurring. (Well, there was one scene where two employees of Enron were getting it on at the office at night...I didn't need to see that!)
But like all things audio, I did get used to it, and I began to enjoy it. I thought Prebble's interpretation of the Enron scandal was clever and nicely boiled down to the pertinent facts. While I did laugh out loud on many occasions, Prebble was able to instill moments of levity, which I thought was only appropriate. Many people lost their life savings because of these pompous, narcissistic goons, and should be appreciated.
A quick word of caution - foul language ahoy. Don't listen when your kids are in the car.
I've read that the L.A. Theater Works produces other audios of the classics like Oscar Wilde, Shakespeare, and Chekov. Since I would consider this experience a success, I'll look forward to experimenting with this format more often.
4 out of 5 stars
And as always with me, the final straw. A narrator for the audio that is hard to resist - Wil Wheaton. Come to mama. I was told by those in the know that the audio was the way to go.
That is nice rhyme.
This puppy rocked my ever-lovin' geeky 1980's mall hair heart.
Synopsis: It is 2044, and the world has gone to hell in a handbasket, as it is wont to do in dystopia. There has been an economic implosion and an energy crisis that has left most Americans struggling, if not for OASIS, a massive online world where people can socialize, attend school, and earn a living, without ever leaving their living room.
OASIS was the brainchild of two eccentric and antisocial entrepreneurs, one of whom has recently died of cancer. An apostle of all things '80's, James Halliday has left his legacy of a gazillion dollars to the one person who can follow a series of clues and challenges within OASIS, testing their knowledge of '80's pop culture, and win the "game".
Enter Wade Watts, an over-weight, acne-pocked, orphaned teenager who prefers to spend all of his time in OASIS, where he is the savvy and buff "Parzival". He has dedicated his life to studying James Halliday and is an adept gamer, so why not give this challenge a go? It sure would be nice to have food to eat and a place to live that didn't involve his abusive aunt and her various boyfriends.
The only trouble is that everyone else wants to win too, and the race is on. Not all the participants are reclusive teenagers. Some are ruthless members of a conglomerate that owns half the world already, and will stop at nothing, even murder, to win.
My thoughts: Ernest Cline, I AM YOUR TARGET READER! I graduated from high school in 1984. I spent weekends with my sister and BFF in the arcades playing Pac Man, Tempest, Dig Dug, Burger Time, Q-Bert, and Gallaga. Hell, my husband and I still have an old Nintendo. I listened to Rush (especially 2112), with my impressionable mind being blown away with this whole story-on-an-album idea. I loved the classic movies like War Games, Back to the Future and Ferris Bueller. Additionally, I am now the mother of a gamer son, who amazes me on a daily basis when he tells me about the things he does in his games...his gates, easter eggs, and missions.
So the fact that all of this '80's culture that I lived through (and the geekdom that occurs upstairs in my household now) is this book's anchor? Almost an out-of-body experience for me. I was giddy.
But you really don't even have to know the '80's intimately, you don't have to be into gaming, or be a teenager, or even LIKE Sci-fi. We have a likable, underdog protagonist, a treasure hunt, lots of action, a mentor that is half Steve Jobs and half Willy Wonka, and a world that is really...not too far from what we have now.
This was an example of a brilliant mind that knows no boundaries, turned loose on the page. Ernest Cline let it rip and we are the beneficiaries. Thank you Ernest Cline, you will be a the top of my love list for 2012.
A word about the audio production: Audio book producers, take note please. This is an example of PERFECTLY CASTING A BOOK. If I looked the whole world over, there would not be a more suitable person to narrate this book than Wil Wheaton. Wheaton embodied Wade - his youthfulness, his enthusiasm, his self-deprecation. I've noticed that he has narrated other books, and I'm going to make it my mission to seek him out.
5 out of 5 stars
Ultimately, I listened to it because it was narrated by my new vocal crush, Robin Sachs. I had just finished listening to "The Snowman" by Jo Nesbo, which was narrated by Sachs as well, and I wasn't done with him. I needed more of that purring, rakish, accented voice in my ear.
Synopsis: Jake has been a werewolf for over 200 years, and it is getting pretty old. He has animalistic urges for food, sex, alcohol and drugs, even when he is "human" (he subscribes to the "f--k, eat, kill" mantra), he has plenty of money, he has all the creature comforts that one needs in life. But he is lonely. There are agencies out there created for the sole purpose of eradicating werewolves from the earth, and rumor is, he is the last. And they are coming for him.
He has seriously considered suicide. I mean, why fight? 200 years can wear on a guy, when he is driven to murder once a month, and when he longs to have an answer to the question of the purpose of his existence. If he isn't running from the groups trying to kill him, then there are the vampires who have their own agenda, and they are annoyingly persistent.
But then Jake is reawakened, and possibly finds a reason to live. The question is...is it too late?
My thoughts: Three discs into this story, I had a talk with myself. I asked, "Self, can you find the strength to get through this audio?". I looked for guidance from friends who had read it. Listening felt like an insurmountable task, like pushing a two ton boulder up a hill. The plot was slow, and I was mildly turned off by all of Jake's incessant "urges". But then there was Robin Sachs in my ear doing his thing, so I continued.
And I'm glad I did. I can't say that I was blown away by this book, but it grew on me. The plot did thicken, and I became a little endeared to Jake. Some humanity started to shine through.
I will warn you that if graphic sex on the page or in your ears bothers you, you might think twice before starting this one. There is alot of sex, and it is not implied. It is described in detail. Jake can't even sit and have a conversation with a woman without doing things with his body parts. He is always doing things. He is a multi-tasker.
The biggest surprise for me, however, was the brilliance of the words. Duncan's eloquence was the last thing I expected to hear in a book about a werewolf, but his words were stunning, taking something potentially trendy and even hokey and making it introspective and philosophical. It was hard for me to find the best quotes since this was a listening experience, but here are a few I found:
"You forgot sex could do this, cast the divine fragment back into the divine whole for a moment, then reel it out again, razed, beatified.”
“Just because life's meaningless doesn't mean we can't experience it meaningfully."
“The collective human unconscious can't stand it, the thought of stuff going on forever, so has decided (collectively, unconsciously) to bring the planet to an end. Eco-apocalypse isn't accident, it's deep species strategy.”
Interestingly, I'm seeing this on the IMDb calendar as a movie in 2014. I can't seem to get Gary Oldman out of my head. I'm not sure he is the right age, and it probably has something to do with him being a phenomenal Dracula but I'll be interested in the casting for this one.
A word about the audio production: You know what is coming now, right? If you like audios in general, please do yourself a favor and find something that Robin Sachs is narrating. You will thank me. If it weren't for his voice, I'm not totally sure I would have persisted past the third disc. He is amazing with his inflections and accents, and exudes an edge that was perfect for Jake's character.
3.5 out of 5 stars
But surely I have read this at one point in my life! Before this listening experience, I would have sworn that I hadn't. Because the entire story was told over only four discs, Heather and I decided it would be a great selection for our drive home from SIBA11 in Charleston.
Then I had an epiphany. Everything seemed way too familiar. I HAD read this in high school...and I blocked it out of my mind. And for good reason. Everything about this story made my stomach turn. Heather and I were screaming at the narrator. As a young impressionable teenager, I'm sure everything about this story traumatized me. But I will get to all that here in a minute.
Synopsis: Again, a bogus effort, similar to my attempt to summarize "East of Eden". So for the three people out there that have not read this book:
Two men, one street-wise and the other mentally challenged, are migrant farm workers wandering about the California countryside looking for a job amidst the depression. They are running from their past because the slower man, Lennie, is strong and hulking but has the mentality of a five year old. He touches pretty things and soft things, like a small animal or a woman's shiny hair, but doesn't understand when it is too rough or inappropriate. Lennie dreams of a day when he and his caretaker, George, can live in their own house, have a garden and raise rabbits. He is joyous at the thought and begs for George to spin the fantasy for him often.
Lennie and George find jobs at a ranch, but immediately one senses trouble. A jealous husband with a trigger temper and something to prove. A pretty young flirtatious wife. Puppies. A black migrant worker and a white migrant worker with a maimed hand, lost souls that don't remember what it is like to have a goal or a dream. Once again Steinbeck goes to visceral, uncomfortable, dark places in the heart where loneliness and powerlessness reside.
My thoughts: So back to my high school self. It is no wonder I refused to remember I'd read this book. As a 45 year-old, I almost couldn't sit through it. I imagine a 16 year-old, who was always disturbed when the weak were picked on, and who loved animals, had to turn her head, close her eyes, cover her ears, and scream "LALALALALA". This story was so torturous, I even think it should count for the RIP Challenge.
I'll admit, yes, Steinbeck's writing is gorgeous. And he so incredibly astute when it comes to verbalizing the emotions that make a person squirm. The issues addressed offer hours of discussable topics. But I did not enjoy the experience. I felt sick to my stomach.
George was Lennie's protector, but he was incredibly mean-spirited with him at times. He preyed on Lennie's insecurities. Everyone preyed on Lennie's weaknesses, even those most downtrodden. Instead of appreciating Lennie for his innocence and loyalty and friendliness, they delighted in scaring him or confusing him. It was heart-breaking.
So many people in the story longed to have a dream. Once they heard about George and Lennie's fantasy farm with the rabbits, they wanted to come along too, offering to wash dishes or help with the gardening. But we know all along, this is never going to happen. This was heart-breaking too.
And don't even get me started on the cruelty to animals. Heather almost made me turn the audio off a couple of times. Let's just face it, my heart had been chewed up and spit out at the end of the four discs. I think it is safe to call the story powerful. But it contained more power than I could handle.
A word about the audio production: Various versions of this audio exist (one narrated by Gary Sinise, which is probably a great listen), but this one was tackled by Mark Hammer, who was perfect. I have experienced Hammer in some of his work with the James Lee Burke series and the Lawrence Block series, and he is memorable. His vocalization had a huge range, his accents were pitch-perfect, and captured the essence of each personality. Steinbeck would have been proud.
4 out of 5 stars
A note about the rating: I struggled with this one. Steinbeck is brilliant in so many ways, so for that reason, this book could have been a 5. The narration was certainly a 5. But the plot itself left me at such loose ends, so sickened, that I had to pull it down a star.
*Minor rant* I thought I had it figured out. The order of the Harry Hole books, that is. The translation process has not been performed in order of the series. I knew this. But I really believed that "The Snowman" came after "The Devil's Star". Apparently not. Apparently "The Redeemer" comes in between the two, however it is not yet available to common folk in the US. So when I started "The Snowman" I quickly learned that people were dead. People weren't mentioned that had once played a key role in things. Through deductive reasoning, I have pieced together 3/4 of "The Redeemer". Thanks guys. I really appreciate that. *end of rant*
Synopsis: Women are turning up missing. Women with husbands and children. Their bodies are never found, so it is possible it is just a case of missing persons. But unexplained snowmen are found at their homes in each and every case, presumably as a calling card.
Because Harry Hole is the only person on the Oslo police force with experience in tracking down serial killers, he is assigned the case with a sharp new young female partner. It is no surprise that, while digging, Hole unearths a laundry list of social and health issues - themes of parenthood, infidelity, genetic diseases, among others. Harry also continues to battle the lure of the bottle and a failing personal relationship, despite having a heart that is pure gold.
My thoughts: Once I got over my shock at "The Redeemer" being completely spoiled for me, I fully embraced and enjoyed this next Harry Hole installment. I got exactly what I've come to expect of Nesbo...a fast pace, complicated characters, and layers upon layers of intrigue.
What is nice about this series is that with each installment, Harry grows and changes, keeping everything fresh. Well, maybe fresh isn't the right word. Harry does throw up alot in this book, and it is very dark. Maybe it keeps it from becoming stagnant. You can get behind the guy because he is human and has multiple frailties, but you know he is trying his best.
Prepare for red herrings galore. There are dozens of them. At this point, I'm wondering if the (fictional) Norwegian public has any faith left in their police officers, because they arrest handfuls of suspects before they capture the right one. I've given up trying to figure it out...I just let it wash over me and enjoy the ride.
Could this book be read as a standalone? I suppose so, but as you can tell from my ranting and raving, you'd be better served to ATTEMPT to start from the beginning (at least the US beginning "The Redbreast") and move forward from there. And know that his books just keep getting better and better.
A word about the audio production: Behold my audiophile friends, the amazing Robin Sachs. I can't seem to track down the first time I heard his voice, but I went into this audio experience knowing I very well may lose my heart to him. (Crazy I guess, but audio addicts are going to know where I'm coming from on this one.) He is everything that Harry Hole should be. He nailed Hole's stoicism and pain, his vocalization is dynamic but as smooth as silk. Could he knock Simon Vance off his rock star pedestal? Mr. Vance assures me that there is room for both of them in my heart. Apparently he has narrated ALL of the Harry Hole books, which caused some anxiety on my part. So my quandary is this. I've got two Nesbo books left to read so far. Do I grab printd copies and read them NOW, or do I wait for the audios? Or do I do a complete and total re-read once all of the audios are available? Decisions. (FYI, Sachs offers his voice to video games as well. My son digs him too.)
5 out of 5 stars
Synopsis: Evil is afoot yet again in Chicago, but this time the implications are much more terrifying than your average maniac with a gun and an agenda. Under the streets of Chicago in the subway tunnels, a pathogen is released that has the potential to kill millions. With symptoms that appear to cover all the bases...bleeding out, flu-like nausea, upper respiratory distress, airborne transmission, 100% mortality rate...it is obvious that this is biological weapon has been invented with a specific goal in mind: annihilation of the human race.
But as with all Michael Harvey novels, this is not a cut-and-dried case of a chemist run amuck. Michael Kelly is pulled into the investigation through political channels, and discovers layers of corruption within the police force, ambitious drug lords, FBI agents with hidden agendas, and at the very bottom of it all, greed.
My thoughts: I have to hand it to Harvey. The man is EFFICIENT. If you want to dip your toe in a complicated crime thriller puzzle with very little time investment, he's your guy. I mean, this book was only 7 discs! No time is wasted, there isn't a glut of words. From the first paragraph, you are thrust into the action, and you don't come up for air until the last word. And the plot is complex. You most likely are not going to figure anything out while you are in the throes of unraveling threads. You are doing good just to keep up.
The downside of his efficiency is that some character development is lost in the process. Over the four books, of course, you have a good sense of Kelly, but from novel to novel he doesn't change his modus operandi. He puts up with the mayor's meddling, he attempts but flounders at relationships, he has a good heart and ultimately makes sound decisions. He is smart and wily. He chases bad guys. I'd look for some evolution of Michael Kelly soon just to keep things fresh and keep us on our toes.
In the past, Harvey's books has been a fun way to discover local Chicago haunts. I delighted in various dives making their cameo appearances. But we didn't get as much of that in this installment. It is hard, after all, to hang out at a bar when you are wearing a hazmat suit.
If you are looking for a quick, gritty, unpredictable noir crime novel, you most definitely should pursue this series. There is no need to start at the beginning, although that always makes the journey more rewarding. I'll be waiting for the next installment, and hoping for a change in scenery for Mr. Kelly!
3.5 out of 5 stars
It seems for books that interest me, but don't compel me to read them, the book club is the only way to force my hand these days. So away I went, with fairly high expectations.
Synopsis: Three generations of Kelleher women descend on the family beach house in Maine one summer, each with distractions and troubled hearts.
Alice, the curmudgeon-ish matriarch, recently widowed, has hard feelings for most of her family. They are ungrateful, they don't get along, they've lost their sense of family, their priorities are skewed, etc. She struggles with issues from her youth that were never resolved, and will forever be attempting to redeem herself in the eyes of God. Kathleen, Alice's daughter, is a recovering alcoholic, and has removed herself from family drama to become a worm feces farmer in California. Anne Marie, Alice's daughter-in-law, is feeling lost now that she is an empty-nester and is questioning her worth as a woman and a wife. Maggie, Kathleen's daughter is young, unmarried and pregnant, with a wayward boyfriend who will never own up to his responsibilities.
In a study of characters, family dynamics of love, hate and jealousy, and heavy doses of repressed guilt, we are thrust into this family of imperfect souls. Personalities explode and clash before our eyes in attempt to resolve decades-old grudges and hurt feelings, alcohol addiction, weight control, body image, and religion.
My thoughts: While I was entertained by these four women, I never felt fully invested in them. I could find both redeeming qualities and annoying qualities in Kathleen, Anne Marie and Maggie. However, I loathed Alice - I thought her very mean-spirited and I felt waves of anger every time she spoke.
I also kept waiting for something to HAPPEN, but after a period of time, I realized this was going to be more of a character-driven tale versus a plot-driven one. I would have been satisfied with that had I cared about these individuals, but I did not.
As far as building the world of the Kelleher women, however, Sullivan was a master. By the end of the novel, you knew these women as well as you know your own friends and family. She also makes the Maine coastline, it's small towns, it's food, and its people, a separate and distinct character. I even found myself pining for my own Maine cottage by the end of the story (just not one I would have to share with Alice!).
My overall opinion of this novel is the exception to the rule. As I said before, Beth Fish and Julie loved this book, as well as countless others. They saw past the flaws in the Kelleher women and related to them. If you like a family drama with flawed characters, an unearthing of secrets, women in a flux of self-discovery, all in a beautiful setting, then I would highly encourage you to give this one a try.
A word about the audio production: Our narrator for this audio book was Anne Marie Lee, which I believe I've listened to on some Lisa Gardner books and a Lisa Unger book. Anne Marie did a respectable job with the New England accents (from the perspective a non-New Englander), but I think because the story is told from each woman's viewpoint, multiple narrators would have kicked it up a notch.
3 out of 5 stars
Synopsis: Most people are well aware that Frank Lloyd Wright is one of America's great architects. They may have even heard of the man's eccentricities and ego, which are assumed frailties of a creative mind. But what do we know of Mamah Cheney, Wright's lover of a half-dozen years, that was castigated for destroying his first marriage? One part love story, one part historical account of the work of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and 5 parts study in turn-of-the-century feminism, we are told the story through the voice of Mamah Cheney herself.
At first blush, this could be the stuff of the modern day tabloids: Famous artist and housewife abandon their spouses and children and become lovers. From Mamah's perspective, however, we are exposed to the loveless marriages, a passion that grips the soul so fervently, and the desperate need for female independence, that it is worth, to her, the highest cost.
And a high cost is paid. Not only is Wright's business and Mamah's reputation tarnished, but the media also hounded their crimeless families as well. Throughout the ordeal, though, Mamah remains steadfast in standing up for what she believes, which ultimately is Horan's tip of the hat to all the untold stories of women of this era.
My thoughts: I find that I always truly enjoy stories that are fictional accounts of historical lives, judging by how much I enjoyed "The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott" or "Clara & Mr. Tiffany". These real personalities come to life for me, and it inspires in me an obsessive need to know more. My downfall is that perhaps I trust too much in the author's imagination - it is easy for me to get sucked into the drama. I always assume that there are enough solid facts peppered in there to make it a fairly legitimate account of what really happened.
So how factual is this story, really? That was the first question I asked at the end (which by the way, totally pulled the rug out from under me...what the hell?). According to articles I have read, it took Horan seven years to write this book because of all the research involved. Horan tediously tracked down correspondence, newspaper clippings, memoirs of friends and neighbors, vigilantly confining her novel within the boundaries of the facts. Therefore, disciples of Wright may go into the book knowing how it all turns out - it is a matter of record. I did not, and it knocked the wind out of me. Use that information how you will.
I was mesmerized by the spirit of Mamah and her need to be her own woman. I was mesmerized by her refusal to kowtow to the great Frank Lloyd Wright when he negligently left his bills unpaid or belittled a friend. I was mesmerized by the setting of the US and Europe in the early 1900's. Horan's words made it all come alive. Equally, I was horrified as a mother that both of these individuals would disregard their children for the sake of an affair. I realize it is what it is, but it doesn't mean I have to like it. You'd think, then, that I would have hated Wright and Mamah, but I didn't. I found them refreshingly human.
Separating the shocking true story (and its devastating effect on me) from the writing, however, I would highly recommend this book. It is a piece of feminist and architectural history that is worthy of your time.
A word about the audio production: With the exception of frustrating uploading issues (the online database did not recognize any of the 100 tracks on any of the 12 CDs), this was an excellent audio. The narrator, Joyce Bean, projected the sophistication and assurance and pain that was Mamah. While I've never listened to Joyce, she and I have been ships passing in the night it seems, because she has narrated works of Lisa Jackson, Kay Hooper, Karin Slaughter, Tami Hoag and Sandra Brown, all authors I have read. She has a smooth, pleasant voice and I'd be thrilled to listen to her again.
4 out of 5 stars
I'd been hearing about this particular title for awhile now, making it's rounds when it first was published in March of this year. I even had the book sitting on my shelves. But what ultimately motivated me to read it was the audio version (shocker, I know). Thanks to Ti, I learned that I could load Overdrive on my iPhone, and just pluck audios at will from my library website, so I went nuts. (I could never figure out how to get Overdrive titles on my iPod Classic.) As always, if I want to get something read quickly, I turn to audio.
Synopsis: Lina is a typical 15 year-old living in Lithuania in 1941. She has friends, she is annoyed with her little brother, she has a crush on a boy, and she loves to draw. All of that is stolen from her one day, however, when her family is torn from their home by Russian soldiers, for crimes which Lina does not understand. Lina, her mother, and little brother are thrown on to a train headed for a Siberian work camp. Her father is sent elsewhere.
While in captivity, Lina is befriended by a young man for whom she begins to have feelings, and who encourages Lina to continue to draw everything she sees - at great risk. This tiny shred of pleasure is not enough to offset the horrors Lina witnesses...disease, starvation, murder, and dwindling hope they will ever experience freedom again.
My thoughts: In some ways, this story is identical to hundreds of stories that were born from WWII...a teenage girl suffering with her family at the hands of a murderous dictator's reign of terror. In other ways, the viewpoint of someone terrorized by the Soviets instead of the Germans, someone from Lithuania, someone sent to Siberia, is something a little new. These twists made the book completely worth reading for me.
The characters are well-drawn, generally likable and heroic in their small ways. Their circumstances are tragic and extremely harsh, considering this is a YA novel. There is no sugar-coating. Babies die, fathers die, mothers die. Soviet soldiers are brutal. But at the same time, the victims also help each other to survive malnutrition, frigid winter conditions, and fight the desire to give up. The rare Soviet soldier shows an act of kindness. There was beauty amidst the horror.
Because Sepetys is the daughter of a Lithuanian refugee, she has used real stories and real details to bring this story into sharp focus. Carrying around a good luck rock. Finding a dead owl and smuggling it home for food. These little touches were a direct reflection, and a tribute, to the experiences of those who lived through this hell.
A word about the audio production: The narrator for this audio production was Emily Kline, a new voice for me. She does not appear to have much experience with fictional narration - most of her experience is with non-fiction. Her vocalization for younger children was very high pitched, and actually made me wince because I felt it was piercing into my brain. This was a distraction for the first half of the book, but I did get used to it.
I did have one issue with the flow of the story, because I was listening to audio. Throughout the story, as Lina is enduring a particular horror, she takes little trips back in her mind to an instance in her earlier life. A conversation with her father, or her cousin, or mother. In the book, these regressions were indicated by italics. But in the audio, there was no pause or other sign that this flashback was occurring. It was highly confusing. Because of these reasons, I would recommend reading the book in print.
Despite my complaints about the audio, however, this is a beautiful book that I would highly recommend.
4.5 out of 5 stars
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