My first encounter with Mira Grant was with her book Parasite. While I didn’t love the idea of parasites residing in human bodies, Grant had one hellMy first encounter with Mira Grant was with her book Parasite. While I didn’t love the idea of parasites residing in human bodies, Grant had one hell of a story to tell. When I started this one, I was excited AF to find out it was about killer mermaids.
Grant has a way of turning a weird concept into a highly believable reality. She tells her stories in the not so far off future. She layers scientific studies and reports throughout the story and adds excerpts from science articles and books to make it seem as though every detail in her stories is actual fact. Of course, these studies/reports/books are all completely fabricated and fictional, but they don’t read that way. They create a layer of depth to her storytelling that makes it hard to question anything she is telling you.
She uses the same writing style to tell us this story. I feel that everything she did right in Parasite was somehow done wrong in this one. The concept was great. A research team sent out by a billion-dollar multimedia company to find out the truth about the existence of mermaids goes terribly wrong. So what do they do but send out yet another team? Of course! Add to that a girl seeking to avenge her sister’s death?
The names of the forgettable characters don’t matter. They’re all pretty lame. Their conversations are forced, pretentious and eye-roll worthy. There are two safari hunters added to this mission because plot, and all I could think of was that jackass from the Pet Detective movie! Just overdone and ridiculous.
There was a lot I enjoyed about this book. The concept of mermaids being these savage beasts that feast on the humans who enter their world was awesome. The idea that all the myths of their existence from the dark ages all being true. Sailors lost at sea were actually just the prey of these creatures. I loved it. I loved the idea of a team of scientists going out to research them. This book had everything I wanted. Horror meets fantasy meets science fiction with just enough believability.
So why the 3-star rating? The characters fell short. The conversations were so pathetic it was almost insulting. The motives for the characters made no sense. Their behaviors made no sense. Their decision making made no sense. I think a little more character development on a few characters would have been a huge improvement. Instead you get little thrown-together background stories on way too many characters. It took the impact out of the story because you don’t feel any sort of attachment to any of the characters. They’re all just kind of flitting in and out of the story rather than leaving a lasting impression on you.
I will continue the series to see where it goes, but it was pretty disappointing. Especially when I know what this author is capable of. ...more
It’s trivia night at the local elementary. There’s a lot of alcohol and the food truck has been delayed. The night ends in murder. But who is murderedIt’s trivia night at the local elementary. There’s a lot of alcohol and the food truck has been delayed. The night ends in murder. But who is murdered? Who committed the murder? Good luck figuring it out.
The story is told in reverse- meaning that you’re told of a murder and then the story backtracks to a few months before until it catches up with the murder. You get interviews with the police of varying parents. And then you get the perspective of our three main characters: Madeline, Celeste and Jane.
Celeste is a beauty who makes everyone stop and stare whenever she approaches. Add to that a deliciously sexy husband who is so rich it’s almost unfathomable. She has twin boys that are wild but sweet. She lives the perfect life in this rich Austrailan beach town. Or so one would think. But Celeste is hiding a dark secret, one she isn’t proud of.
Madeline is an absolute riot. She’s loud and obnoxious. She speaks her mind with a carelessness I can’t help but envy. Her “I don’t give a shit” attitude is what made me love her. Nothing anyone did or said ever phased her or slowed her down. She’s a fierce and loyal friend. A mother of two, her ex-husband and his new wife move to the area. This is probably the one thing that gets under her skin throughout the whole book- her ex and his new found love of the family life.
Then there is Jane. Jane is a young single mom who moves into the area for a fresh start. Her son, Ziggy, is a sweet young boy. Or so she thinks. But on the morning of orientation at his new school, he is accused of trying to choke a little girl. He swears it wasn’t him and of course, Jane believes him. But why would this little girl lie? Soon the parents are divided on sides and it spirals on from there as someone keeps hurting this little girl at school. Jane has her own dark secrets and reasons for wondering whether Ziggy is telling the truth or not. But Ziggy is such a kind boy….isn’t he?
I was surprised with this book. It isn’t a book I would normally pick up. I don’t normally fall into Chick Lit too often, but had heard good things from people I trust. It also was apart of a BOGO sale on Audible and I said what the hell. An excellent choice on my part, if I do say so myself. I found it suspensful and very intriuging. I liked how real all of their scenarios felt. We each know what happens in our own little worlds behind closed doors. We all have our own little secrets to keep. It was a very good listen on audible. I will most likely check out a few more of this author’s books. ...more
I may be wrong, but I feel like Pet Semetary is one of King’s more underrated books. When people talk about the “best” King books all you hear is- theI may be wrong, but I feel like Pet Semetary is one of King’s more underrated books. When people talk about the “best” King books all you hear is- the Stand, Salem’s Lot, the Shining, It. Now don’t get me wrong, those are all worth reading and all wonderful in their own way, but man… there is something too real about Pet Semetary. A book that makes you question all that you thought you knew is a rare find. Pet Semetary makes you question yourself and how you would react.
When Louis Creed moves his family to the country, he thinks it’ll be the best thing for them. A nice quiet old farmhouse and friendly neighbors to boot. Sure the truckers drive a little too fast up their road, but it’s a small price to pay to have such a lovely lot of land to share with his family. The Crandells come over to introduce themselves and Louis can’t help but feel love for Jud. He’s the father Louis always wanted.
Louis’ wife takes the kids to visit her family and while they’re gone, the family cat, Church, is struck and killed by a car. Maybe even a truck, who can be sure? Louis’ daughter, Ellie calls frantic with panic she can’t explain. She’s had a dream you see, and in that dream Church was dead. Tell me he’s not dead, Daddy. No, dearheart, Church is fine, say thankya. Louis doesn’t wantto upset his daughter while she’s away. He’ll wait and explain things to her when she gets home.
But according to Jud, he may not have to. There’s an old indian burial ground up behind the house. The kids like to take their pets up there to the Pet Semetary. Just follow me, and I’ll show you the way, Louis. Just follow me, and mayhap you won’t need to tell Ellie anything at all.When Ellie returns home, she finds Church home and safe. A little smelly, sure, but he’s alive.
One day while flying a kite, Gage, their 2 year old son, goes running after the kite. 2 year olds fall, everytime they run. (trust me, I have one.). But Gage doesn’t fall this time and what waits for him is a fate so dark, I hate to think of it.
So ask yourself this- in the midst of your grief, what wouldn’t you do to have your child back. The child that was so sweet and innoncent. If given the chance, would you take him up to that old burial ground and see if you could get him back?
I read this back when I was 14 or 15 working a summer job at the beach. I spent my break with my nose stuck between its pages loving every word of it. Going back to it now as an adult, an adult with a 2 year old nonetheless, resulted in a much different reading experience. Even the thought of losing my son is enough to reduce me to tears. I used to think to myself that there’s no way in hell I would try something like that, but I am not even half as sure about that as I was. Now, I think there is nothing I wouldn’t do to get him back to me. No matter the cost.
I think this book contains some of King’s most profound insights into human nature. It plays so deeply on our emotions that I can’t really question any of what happens in it. It made a lot more sense to me now than it did the first time around. And for that it scared the everliving fuck out of me, say thankya.
I strongly recommend snagging a copy of this on audio. It's narrated by Michael C. Hall- aka Dexter Morgan. UGH! I would listen to that man read a grocery list. ...more
This book caused a lot of strong emotions to happen all at once inside me. Most of them were angry feelings. I did not like this book at all. Not one This book caused a lot of strong emotions to happen all at once inside me. Most of them were angry feelings. I did not like this book at all. Not one bit. Which was such a disappointment because I loved her other book, Rooms. The idea behind this one is a good one, but I don’t like the messages being sent in this book at all.
Little Miss Perfect goes to school dressed like a tramp for Valentine’s Day. It’s the Friday before VD and she has the most studly boyfriend ever. Her and her stuck up BFF’s roll into the school parking lot a little late, cut a classmate off causing said classmate to be late for class, and go strolling into school like they own the place. Because in most senses, they do. They’re the “it girls” of Thomas Jefferson High.
They get all their flowers an valentines. Flirt with the creepy teacher. Sneak out during class and smoke cigarettes. Then they go to the “big party” that night where of course, they’re gonna dress like dirty street-whores, drink their faces off, smoke some pot and then bang their boyfriends.
Instead they help to humiliate a girl in front of everyone at the party. They leave amid the laughter and encouragement of their peers. Because being a rude, selfish twat is all the rage these days. FUCK I hate high school.
When they leave, they get into a car accident where they’re killed. Or are they?
Little Miss Perfect keeps reliving the day. Over and over and over again. No one else seems aware of what is happening to her. She can do things exactly the same or drastically different and none of it seems to matter…except it does. The outcome of that fateful night is different. Can she figure out the secret code? Can she figure out what to do in order to save them all?
DUNDUNDUN.
Oh my god. I hate this book. She never learns anything. There’s no growth. There’s not an ounce of regret for her behavior. There’s an attitude of “well, we’re all assholes in high school so it’s ok”. Well, guess what? Not all of us are. Some of us are the victims of the ones who were. Some of us are the ones plagued with self-doubt and low self-esteem from deeply rooted memories of being humilated and tortured on a regular basis by our classmates. And not all of us have what it takes to rise above it. Some of us don’t make it out alive.
This book bothered me on so many levels. I could go on about this for a while, but I won’t. I’ll just say that anything that justifies shitty human behavior is complete garbage. It is not difficult to be kind. It is not difficult to live and let live. It kills me that people can so actively go out of their way to make other people’s lives miserable.
I am not saying that I never had a go at anyone else, or that I didn’t laugh at someone else’s misfortune. But these girls go out of their way to make sure that certain people suffer and that is a big fucking problem with me. And nothing these girls could have done would have excused or made up for it with me. Hence the 1 star rating....more
With Origin, Dan Brown went back to his roots and it is a beautiful thing. His last two in the Robert Langdon series were mediocre at best. They left With Origin, Dan Brown went back to his roots and it is a beautiful thing. His last two in the Robert Langdon series were mediocre at best. They left most of his readers with a bitter taste in their mouths knowing he could do better. Now, I know I do not speak on behalf of all fans of the series, but I am merely speaking from my own encounters.
Robert Langdon has been asked to attend an event at the bequest of billionaire scientist Edmond Kirsch. Kirsch is a former student of Langdon’s who as gone on to do truly remarkable things. He is a futurist and an atheist. He claims to have found the origin of life. This is a pretty bold proclamation. And one that will have some pretty big repercussions.
Where do we come from? Where are we going?
This is the recurring theme throughout this book. It is during the presentation that a shot rings out ending the life of the brilliant scientist. The promised discovery of life’s true meaning is left unsaid. As chaos ensues, Langdon of course makes his way out.
And on we go. You guys know the deal. Langdon and a beautiful woman. This time her name is Ambra. She is the fiancé of Spain’s royal family and a good friend of Edmond Kirsch. She also was the curator for the museum in which the event took place and was the sole organizer for this event. They go on a wild goose chase to find Edmond’s discovery so that they can share his legacy with the world.
There’s bad guys with guns. There’s a shootout or two. There’s an international story being broadcast on every television screen pointing fingers at Robert Langdon. There’s science talk. There’s the good old debate of science vs religion. And there is a damn fine and satisfying ending, I must say.
I did figure it out. I kind of said it in my head jokingly and then was right which kind of sucked. But shit happens. And it didn’t ruin my enjoyment of the book at all. And while I was right about the who I was wrong about the how. It was nice to see Dan Brown get back to writing books that are satisfying. They are fun and exciting even if the details aren’t 100% accurate. ...more
The Nest was one of several audio books I picked up through Overdrive while waiting for more credits on audible. I’m a poor reader, and free is alwaysThe Nest was one of several audio books I picked up through Overdrive while waiting for more credits on audible. I’m a poor reader, and free is always nice.
I am so glad that I picked this one out of the pages and pages of options. As my original review stated, this book is delightfully fucked. It combines a few of my favorite things into one nice little book: Young Adult, Horror and mind-fuckery.
Let me introduce you to Steve. He’s a kid. 12? 13? Somewhere in that general age range. Steve is a worrier. He worries about his parents, their finances, his sweet little baby brother who is very ill. Steve worries that he’ll get stung. You see, Steve, like thousands of other kids, is deathly allergic to bees.
When he spots a nest being built on the side of the house, he all but loses his mind. His father offers to remove it. But the damage is done before he can…Steve gets stung. It’s a fairly big and dramatic event.
Shortly after being stung, Steve starts having dreams. These aren’t normal dreams. Or are they? Steve is being visited by the Queen Bee in these dreams and she is making bold promises. She tells Steve that she can “fix” his baby brother who is so sickly, and is facing a surgery he stands a very small chance of surviving.
I have to say this book is waaaaaaaaaaaaay different than what I was expecting. It was creepy as fuck, twisted and original. I really loved this. It was somewhat reminiscint of Coraline, if only for the creep-out factor in the setting of a children’s story. If you’re into some weird shit, don’t hesitate. Even if you’re not, I still think you’d like it. It’s well-written and surprisingly believable.
(The narration was really well done if you're into audio!! )...more
When I first saw the previews for The Shape of Water I remember thinking that it not only looked different, but it looked weird. Weird is my thing. I When I first saw the previews for The Shape of Water I remember thinking that it not only looked different, but it looked weird. Weird is my thing. I love weird. I embrace it. Well, when the book showed up on my GR Newsfeed I about shat myself out of pure excitement. Not only is it a book, but it is written by Guillermo del Toro himself. We all know the man can make movies, but a writer too? Surely this was going to be a perfect storm of creative genius that I would fall hopelessly in love with.
WRONG.
It’s 1962 and Elisa Esposita works as a janitor for a research center. She was orphaned as a child and has horribly scarring across her throat where her vocal chords were removed as a child. She’s been mute her whole life. And she loves wearing fancy shoes. Seems legit. Because as a janitor wearing glittery pumps makes all the sense in the world. Right? Right.
Anyway, one night she stumbles across something she wasn’t supposed to. Or rather, she goes willingly into a room she has been expressly forbidden from entering. What does she find? The company is hoarding a man-beast. It is some sort of reptile meets human who radiates colors and farts rainbows or something. Who the fuck actually knows? Either way, Elisa and her ruby slippers get this things motors running. And they eat eggs together and he/it watches her dance the tango by herself in her glittery pumps.
Of course it’s the beauty meeting the beast and falling hopelessly in love. Because no one could ever love Elisa. She’s mute. She’s a janitor. But you know something? EVERYONE fucking loves Elisa. Not only does she have glittery shoes, but she is of the Bejeweled Vagaina Variety. Everyone who meets her, walks by her, hears mention of her name is immeidiately smitten and must do everything in their power to bend over backwards for her.
FUCK ME.
As if this wasn’t enough, del Toro decides the story needs more. We need to have an obsessed ex-military type who wants to exterminate this mythical creature he doesn’t understand. We have closet homosexuals being mistreated. We have the Civil Rights Movement. We have the Russians coming. I mean it literally never ends. I am not saying that those things shouldn’t be written about. I am not even remotely trying to be insensitive to any of those issues. What I AM saying is that authors try to cram waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much shit into one book. And some of them do it with a grace that makes it almost unnoticable…Others, like del Toro, lack such grace and throw elements in with seemingly no rhyme or reason. It makes my head hurt.
There were so many things that were beautiful about this book. It had such potential but instead was bogged down with useless storylines and political elements that didn’t belong. Some of the writing in here was straight poetry. I was intrigued but found myself losing more and more intersest as the story continued. It was such a disappointment. I went into this so enthusiastically and had the rug pulled out from under my feet.
I’d like to thank Kelly for joining me on what was supposed to be a fun adventure. I wish we could say it was worth the wait, but it proved to be a shit show. Without Kelly, I may have lost my mind....more
The Long Walk is a short story by Richard Bachman, aka a much younger and much more cynical Stephen King. It centers around Ray Garraty, one of the 10
The Long Walk is a short story by Richard Bachman, aka a much younger and much more cynical Stephen King. It centers around Ray Garraty, one of the 100 boys selected to participate in this year’s Long Walk. What is the Long Walk you ask? Exactly what it sounds like: a long fucking walk.
The Rules: Keep walking. Keep up the pace. If you don’t, there are armed guards there to put a bullet in your head. Get too tired? Get shot. Stop to chat? Get shot. Run off and try to get free? Get shot. Slow down? Get shot. Catch pneumonia and struggle to keep up? Get shot.
What happens if you are the last man standing walking? Well, you get whatever you want for the rest of your life, or so the story goes. You get all the riches. You get comforts unimaginable. But will it matter if your mind is gone?
This book is just one giant mindfuck from start to finish. We are inside the mind of Garraty and we get the firsthand experience of what it’s like to walk nonstop day and night through the elements. He’s supplied water and a lovely food supplement that’s squeezed through a tube along with some crackers for good measure.
Garraty is interested in learning about the other boys who willingly volunteered to partake in this walk, the biggest sporting event of the year. He’s still not sure why he volunteered, but it’s buried somewhere deep in his mind. Will he find the answers he is looking for? Will he come out on top or will his be one of the 99 bodies scattered along the side of the road?
I loved this book the first time I read it many years ago, and I loved it even more the second time around on audio. For a book where the premise seems simple and boring, it is an enthralling read. No matter what format you choose, you will not be disappointed.
The Tale of the Body Thief is the 4th book in the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice. And it is by far the best one.
Lestat is being followed. EverywhereThe Tale of the Body Thief is the 4th book in the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice. And it is by far the best one.
Lestat is being followed. Everywhere he goes he senses that someone is watching him. He can’t shake it. Finally, his mysterious follower leaves him instructions to meet. Is it a trap? Is he being lured in under false pretenses? Of course, every single person that Lestat talks to instructs him NOT to go.
So, being Lestat he goes.
The man who Lestat meets offers him a once in a lifetime opportunity- to be mortal again. After centuries of immortality, Lestat could walk in daylight, taste wine and foods, and once again experience life through mortal eyes.
Once again everyone tells Lestat not to even entertain the notion.
Once again, Lestat does what he wants and goes full-bore into the endeavor. I’ll give it to him, he had a contract, rules, agreements and an arrangement that made sense to both parties. But a man who physically steals bodies? Can he truly be tusted?
Of course not. Lestat is forced to be mortal for much longer than he intended. His body has been taken from him and he is now susceptible to the elements.
What ensues is nothing short of exciting. The whole book I was on the edge of my seat. I didn’t know whether Lestat would be able to track down the man who had taken possession of his body. Being mortal he no longer has his preternatural abilities. He’s an average human being. Would the other vampires trust that he was in fact Lestat? Would they even help him given the almost nonstop trouble he had caused as a vampire?
This book was so revolutionary to me. The idea of an immortal being once again becoming mortal and the manner in which it was done was just so fucking cool. I absolutely loved it. If you want to read one book out of the entire series, this should be the one you check out. ...more
Undivided is the last book of the UnWind series. By the time all was said and done I was completely uninvested in these characters. What started out s
Undivided is the last book of the UnWind series. By the time all was said and done I was completely uninvested in these characters. What started out so strongly ended so poorly.
Our cast of characters have lost sight of who they are. And, like the previous installment, they are indecisive and spread out all over the place. We get an additional 14 side story lines that seemingly came out of nowhere to add plenty of confusion to the storyline.
Lev’s whole storyline just drove me nuts. It was great in the beginning to see someone who was brainwashed into believing that being unwound is a holy experience. But where his story went from there was just….UGH. I can’t even come up with a word that explains it well enough! Lame? Overdone? Desperate? Pathetic? I think, honestly, given where the story goes, Lev should have just been killed off in book 2. I just did not fucking care about anything he had going on past the first book.
Risa and Connor are supposed to be madly in love with one another. We are told this repeatedly throughout the book. But I just didn't feel it. Some authors are WONDERFUL at creating relationships that feel real. You read these couples and know that they belong together. You are reminded of your hormonal teenage years where LOVE was everything and there was nothing in the world that could stop it. This romance was forced and just did NOT work.
All the side characters seemed to be distracting to the whole storyline. I feel like the author meant to use them as a way to tell a broader story, but it just didn't work. They were either underdeveloped, thrown in last minute or so overdone you weren't sure what the REAL storyline was.
The ending of the series did very little for me. I just thought there were aspects that could have been done better, and a LOT of things that could have been left out completely. It felt like things were thrown in as an afterthought and it just did NOT work for me. It makes me sad because as you all know, I just love YA Dystopians. (I also feel bad because my dear friend Ashley recommended these to me and I always hate when I don’t jive with a book a friend recommends.) Overall the series would get a 3 star rating from me. I really enjoyed the first two but the last two were HUGE disappointments.
While this is not my favorite in the series, it is yet another gem by my queen, JK Rowling. Robin is now partners with Strike at the agency, no lon4.5
While this is not my favorite in the series, it is yet another gem by my queen, JK Rowling. Robin is now partners with Strike at the agency, no longer his employee. And when trouble begins to brew with Robin and her husband, Strike is left wondering how to act.
A young man shows up at Strike’s office one day, clearly upset and paranoid. He claims he witnessed a little girl being murdered and buried when he was a child. But the details are foggy at best. When he realizes one of Strike’s employees has called the police, he runs out, panicked. Whether any of what he has just said is true or not, Strike feels compelled to help this young man, Billy.
There is a lot going on in this story. There’s government stuff, people doing shady shit, lies, manipulations, back stabbing. There’s a little bit of everything thrown in. I was a little overwhelmed with the amount of names and characters and subplots at times. Once a few things get revealed the story opens up and I started to get a better grasp on all of what was going on here.
But just enough to keep me wondering.
I am probably in the minority here, but I do not ship Robin and Strike. I don’t think that every male and female in a book need to be paired up. I love their friendship but don’t at all see or get the romance vibe. I think it’s just as important for literature to show that it is ok for two people to work together without falling madly in love with one another. Don’t get me wrong, she does not belong with Matthew-undeserving little prick that he is- but I don’t think she needs to get with Strike either.
This one is very heavily littered with details from Strike and Robin’s personal lives. I know for a lot of people that’s what they want, but for me, I like the mysteries of the cases. I like seeing them figure out the whodunit. That’s why this was not my favorite in the series. I wanted less of a love story and more focus on the crimes and investigation.
I do look forward to the next one. The audio is excellent. I have done the whole series through Audible and highly recommend you do the same! ...more
Unwholly is the second book in the Unwind Dystology. Everyone should know by now that my favorite thing in the world (other than HP) is YA Dystopian. Unwholly is the second book in the Unwind Dystology. Everyone should know by now that my favorite thing in the world (other than HP) is YA Dystopian. So when these books got brought up in a group of pantsless friends, I nearly wet my pants.
I was hooked from book 1; a unique storyline and a haunting one as well. Just a quick recap: in this world unruly children are sent to be “unwound”. This means that their body parts are harvested against their will and used for transplants….but they’re not really dead. Their body parts are conscious of the fact that they have been placed on another body. Very haunting concept indeed!
When we get into book 2 we pick up just about where we left off. However, we are now being introduced to a new charcter….an abomination. His name is Cam. But is he human? Can a person really exist if they have never truly been born? You see, Cam has been created by using ONLY harvested parts from other unwinds. Each piece has been chosen for different reasons creating a “perfect” person. From head to toe he has been sewn together like Frankenstein’s monster. But is Cam a monster?
One thing we learn very early on is that Cam is in love with a girl. Throughout his training and education he comes across a picture of a girl and is instantly taken with her beauty. But she isn’t just any girl…. No, she is Risa Ward.
Connor, Lev and Risa are on the run….from more enemies than they can keep track of.
This book is action-packed and really sent the storyline in a new direction. It brought on questions of morality and makes you question what you think you know. So far, my favorite of the series. ...more
There were several things that I loved about this book, and a few things I didn’t love.
I loved how creepy the dolls are. My god! Dolls! IS there anythThere were several things that I loved about this book, and a few things I didn’t love.
I loved how creepy the dolls are. My god! Dolls! IS there anything worse?! Anything more terrifying than the idea of life-size porcelain dolls coming to life and killing you after torturing you for days?
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No. The answer is no. Dolls are fucking creepy. ‘Nough said.
I also enjoyed the writing. It felt natural. It felt as if the characters actually existed and I never had to question something they said or did. It made sense. Everything fit together nicely and the dialogue had a flow that didn't feel forced in any way.
The brutality was literally off the charts though. There were times I was gagging. I love horror and gore, so it really was up my alley. But MAN! It was rough at times!
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One of my biggest “complaints” about this book was the split narration. Normally I don’t mind it at all. However, I did find that it made it difficult for me to align with one character or the other. There was just something missing that I couldn't put my finger on. I think had this been narrowed down to only a couple different points of view it would have given me a better chance at connecting with someone in the story.
Overall, it didn't hinder my reading/listening experience.
I wasn't a huge fan of the narrator but he wasn't the worst I have ever heard either. HORNS! YOU RUINED HORNS YOU FUCKER!!!
I have to say, for this being my first Edward Lorn book, I was quite impressed. The story was as creepy as I could have hoped for! It had a one-of-a-kind storyline that was easy to follow and a very satisfying ending.
3.5 stars for Cruelty. I look forward to reading more of your work, Edward! Thank you again for gifting me a copy of Cruelty!! ...more
This book really pissed me off…for lots of reasons at various times throughout my encounters with it. I will try my best to be nice, but most likely I
This book really pissed me off…for lots of reasons at various times throughout my encounters with it. I will try my best to be nice, but most likely I will not be.
Let’s start with the title, shall we? The dying girl…really? REALLY? One of the hardest parts about watching my father battle cancer was watching his “friends” disappear. He was no longer Al. He was a cancer patient. He was treated like he had the Plague and anyone seen near him was sure to be next. Do you have ANY idea how offensive this title is to me? Probably not. No one desereves to be referred to in such a manner and having watched someone I love be referred to as such makes me feel all sorts of stabby.,.
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Now, maybe some of you will nod your heads in agreement while others are putting me in the category of Generation ButtHurt. Either way, I don’t care. I feel very strongly that an individual with a terminal illness should be recognized as a human being and NOT by the nature of their disease.
The next thing to irritate me right off the bat was the letter to the readers in the beginning. Now, I did this on audio so I am not completely sure if it is from the author of the book or the narrator who is being portrayed as the author of the book, but either way it’s pretentious as fuck and shouldn’t have been in there. Don’t ever fucking tell a reader how to read your book.
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Now, I was reassured by everyone’s favorite taxidermy-enthusiast, Kelly, that this book was quite funny and that I should continue. I did. And it WAS funny. Parts of it anyway. Any part containing Earl that is. Earl was a fantastic character. He was a tell-it-like-it-is kind of guy but not in the Donald Trump way. He was always there to put our MC in his place. His life and its many difficulties led him to be smarter and much more empathetic than that useless pile of shit, Greg. Earl is the guy that everyone wants to hang out with in real life. He’s Joe Cool and the ONLY redeemable quality of this book.
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Greg is the WORST. I have so much hostility toward this MC. He is awful. Horrible. I know, I know…he’s just a teenager. He doesn’t know what he’s doing… or NOT doing. BULL shit. I don’t buy it. He knows he is a fucking sociopath who has no emotions and thinks it is the absolute best way to go through life. Don’t make friends; don’t date anyone, value girls on the size of their breasts…yes. This is a great way to go coasting through life.
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Yes, Greg. I hate you SO much I was willing to use a gif of someone I hate even more. See what you’ve made me do?!
The worst part of this book is that our MC learns absolutely nothing. There is no redemption. He just continues to be a heartless, soulless, pretentious little fucktard.
Fuck this book. Writing the review made me realize just how much I hated it. Earl gets a star and RACHEL gets a star. HER FUCKING NAME IS RACHEL.
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