I obviously read this when I was younger because parts of it were still vivid when I came to them, with several "So that's where that idea came from!"I obviously read this when I was younger because parts of it were still vivid when I came to them, with several "So that's where that idea came from!" moments. Good sci-fi stuff but mainly adventure based after a semi-slow start....more
This is a gross book that deals with some really disturbing stuff. It's also very convoluted, so you might want to jot some notes as you go. PersonallThis is a gross book that deals with some really disturbing stuff. It's also very convoluted, so you might want to jot some notes as you go. Personally, I had it solved from early on, and it was frustrating watching trained homicide cops (especially those with serial killer experience) take everything at face value. The incredible obtuseness of Gurney and the massive amount of characters knocked a star off my rating. ...more
This book is really put together well. I had a hard time putting it down (or on pause, since I was audiobooking it) and I haven't had that problem in This book is really put together well. I had a hard time putting it down (or on pause, since I was audiobooking it) and I haven't had that problem in a while. I think I narrowed it down to three things that made it so smooth to read.
First, the prose itself. It's not overly complicated but it uses a fair-ranging vocabulary, it's modern (without being vulgar) and with just enough pop culture references that keeps it fresh while not being cloying, and it simply flows well.
Secondly, the humor and wry wit of our hero again plays well with the setting and characters without being "try hard." It's not overly snarky or smarmy, it's observant and lightly piquant without making Felix unlikeable by any means.
And finally, the reason for the ghosts and other dead being around is never explained. They just don't know. It's so refreshing to read this cool concept (suddenly everyone can see the dead and they're everywhere) without having a chapter and a half of plodding, cranky political bullshit to wade through to explain their presence. It's not the end of the world (but maybe it is), it's not the current sinful state of affairs (but maybe it is), it's not a disease or an experiment or a coverup or aliens (but maybe it is!). The characters in the book know about as much as we do about the WHY of it, and I just love that. I don't know if later books in the series address this, but I hope they don't.
Because really it doesn't matter why, there doesn't have to be some enormous overarching plot to uncover, it's just a super enjoyable book about strange things happening to a funny guy, who is actually capable of dealing with them without excessive angst (I'm looking at you, AGAIN, Dresden). Highly highly recommend this book!...more
The plot itself is pretty good, but damn were the 1980s that slutty or what?! I wasn't of an age to be aware of it, but it seems really dated and callThe plot itself is pretty good, but damn were the 1980s that slutty or what?! I wasn't of an age to be aware of it, but it seems really dated and callous all these years later.
In fact, I ended up not really liking ANY of the characters because of the sexual politics being played. Lucas sleeps around like it's his job. And the reporter Jennifer, the crap she pulled on him and HE TOOK IT, man what the hell was that shit? I would have asked to WATCH her pee on a half dozen pregnancy tests before I took her word she was even pregnant, let alone that it was HIS. She's crazy and he's sex-crazy. All I can say is that they're saving two other people from having to put up with their shit.
I liked hearing the killer's side of things as often as we did, it broke up the constant sex. From other reviews I understand the series continues for a long time and hopefully gets less dated (quarters for pay phones, I laugh!) and less skanky. ...more
I think this is a unique story with some incredible world-building, but at times it was just so slow. There's also several questions I had about the tI think this is a unique story with some incredible world-building, but at times it was just so slow. There's also several questions I had about the time travel bits, but I always have those questions, so... It's definitely worth a read with some really good nuggets in there....more
Good premise, interesting characters, but the Rodriguez character was so incredibly heavy-handed in his constant criticism that I had to dock it a fulGood premise, interesting characters, but the Rodriguez character was so incredibly heavy-handed in his constant criticism that I had to dock it a full star for that. With the good work put in to other characters I was deeply disappointed that Rodriguez was the guy that got literally nothing in the way of effort on the part of the author....more
Top notch as usual, the scene in the marriage counselor's office was PRICELESS.Top notch as usual, the scene in the marriage counselor's office was PRICELESS....more
Pretty gross (which is good) but a little draggy in some places, and the audiobook narrator was absolutely not right for this book - his "urban youth"Pretty gross (which is good) but a little draggy in some places, and the audiobook narrator was absolutely not right for this book - his "urban youth" characterization was atrocious. ...more
Highly rec' the audiobook so you can hear the wonderful voice acting for The Colonel. Enjoyable book about amusing animal stories. Highly rec' the audiobook so you can hear the wonderful voice acting for The Colonel. Enjoyable book about amusing animal stories. ...more
There's so many unique pieces of this story that it's hard to pinpoint the best of them; the concept of the Well Built City's creation, the sulfur minThere's so many unique pieces of this story that it's hard to pinpoint the best of them; the concept of the Well Built City's creation, the sulfur mines, the physiognomy itself, all of it was interesting and presented in a way that was both simple in its telling but complex in its weaving into the continuous story of Clay. Any way you cut that story you have a nice, complete, intriguing tale, and you can almost forget about the other parts of the whole. Past and present, the mind's eye and nature, reality and fantasy make this a really rich book. ...more
Unfortunately I was unable to find the first book in this series when I came across this one, so I thought I'd give it a shot anyway. Both the series Unfortunately I was unable to find the first book in this series when I came across this one, so I thought I'd give it a shot anyway. Both the series concept and the individual book concept is interesting and I'll definitely be reading more in this series.
The pacing was a bit slow at times, but the addition of the teenagers to the story helped cement this as a current-day novel. Normally I find stories in which the protagonist is tired, broke, hungry and on the run hard to swallow (people need water and sleep, it's just a fact) but the explanation I gleaned that Casey is some sort of martial arts expert alleviated my misgivings. I'd like to go back to Book 1 and read more about this exactly, in fact. Also she quite often admitted that she really wasn't feeling her best and took naps when she could, which was plausible (cough, looking at you Harry Dresden, cough).
Overall it was an entertaining audiobook, the narrator was excellent with her use of voices, and Casey's story kept me interested all the way through. ...more
A little disappointing and predictable in the plot twists, the audiobook would benefit from a new narrator. It's possible the dialogue and dialect wouA little disappointing and predictable in the plot twists, the audiobook would benefit from a new narrator. It's possible the dialogue and dialect would read better via text, but unfortunately the narrator maintains a slightly moist monotone throughout the book, creating a silly hackneyed tone for the protagonist (the comparison to The Dude was unnecessary, as were the other current pop culture references). I believed the narrator was Wil Wheaton, who should never be hired for audiobooks, but I can't find confirmation of that anywhere.
Nevertheless, there were nuggets of sharp pacing and suspense hidden here and there throughout the story, and while most of the turns were expected the telling of them wasn't as stale as anticipated. The book was "just OK" in my opinion, but I'm sure others will find it quite good, especially the text version. ...more
That70sheidi
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Books:
2012
(44)
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