Top marks for voice acting and audio production. The story was fine, but nothing special. It's too short to get all that attached to any of the characTop marks for voice acting and audio production. The story was fine, but nothing special. It's too short to get all that attached to any of the characters. A good listen in the car if you want something you don't have to pay too close attention to....more
A beautifully written and personal feeling novel about what it means to live through climate change on the thin edge of the inexorable wedge.4.5 stars
A beautifully written and personal feeling novel about what it means to live through climate change on the thin edge of the inexorable wedge. Stability and survival is not found in holding on to the life you know, but in embracing the inevitability of change and learning to live with it.
She can find things to love about this place in a night-size window, but the idea of looking ahead, marking the decline, year by year, is too much to bear. There is less and less to love the longer the timeline grows, so she doesn't project. She resides in the length of a thunderstorm, the overhead sweep of a constellation, the time between one sleep and the next....more
Good story, but the writing was a bit basic for my taste. I do like post apocalyptic stories that focus on characters and hopefulness, so I enjoyed reGood story, but the writing was a bit basic for my taste. I do like post apocalyptic stories that focus on characters and hopefulness, so I enjoyed reading it even with the uninspired writing....more
This is a decently paced story with a thoughtfully constructed setting. The characters and dialogue were equally well A surprisingly good debut novel.
This is a decently paced story with a thoughtfully constructed setting. The characters and dialogue were equally well done. The story plays out so neatly in part because of how nicely all these constituent parts work together.
I appreciated how competently written this was. There was a lot going on, but it felt effortless to read, allowing me to just immerse myself and enjoy the story Oyebanji was telling....more
This is situated as book 4.5 in The Dark Tower series. It has a little bit of the main arc as intro and outro, but the central parts are a st4.5 stars
This is situated as book 4.5 in The Dark Tower series. It has a little bit of the main arc as intro and outro, but the central parts are a story relating an event from Roland's distant past, and a story he tells another boy during that time.
I appreciated the story within a story within a story nested format. It is the sort of thing that in the hands of a less skilled writer might feel cumbersome, but King makes it feel as natural as breathing.
My favourite part was the innermost nested story, a tale called "The Wind Through the Keyhole," taken from a book which Roland's mother read to him as a child. Wow. It was just so good. It is the hero's journey, but our hero is only 11. As we always want (or at least hope), he is brave and true, and ultimately compassionate.
The whole book is excellent. I suppose you could skip it and just read the main books in the series, but why would you? Filled with excitement and fear, friendship and forgiveness, The Wind Through the Keyhole reflects the continuing themes woven throughout The Dark Tower books and provides a separate yet still relevant piece of the larger story.
Notes on the audiobook: a great choice for audio! I'm not always a fan of authors doing their own narration, but King is again and always an exception. I love his narration, and this was a great story to listen to....more
A perfect storm of nihilism, existential angst, and ennui. The Pharmacist brilliantly captures the true horror of daily existence in a fallou4.5 stars
A perfect storm of nihilism, existential angst, and ennui. The Pharmacist brilliantly captures the true horror of daily existence in a fallout shelter or bunker.
It's bad enough that the residents of the bunker have no privacy, no way to express their individualism, and live a life of constant scarcity. What makes it worse is the festering paranoia and wastefully decadent lifestyle of the Leader. It's essentially Snowpiercer meets Silo. In other words, darkly depressing, and, as so many other reviewers have pointed out, claustrophobic.
That said, it is a great book. Atalla's writing is terrific. Sharp, on point, capturing emotion and setting effortlessly. It isn't an easy story to read, but told with a rare and impressive competence resulting in a read that is ultimately both thought-provoking and rewarding....more
Rural horror with a great premise: a couple moves to a farm in a remote valley where the land is haunted/cursed by a spirit that manifests di3.5 stars
Rural horror with a great premise: a couple moves to a farm in a remote valley where the land is haunted/cursed by a spirit that manifests differently each season.
While I wouldn't say this book is wildly creative or original, there is still something quite compelling about it. The dialogue was pretty much basic dude-bro speak generously sprinkled with f-bombs. However, despite the lack of sophistication in the writing there was something real and endearing about Harry and Sasha that made me care about what happened to them.
This is one of those books which reads like it is ready to be made into a movie. It delivers the chills in increasing amounts right to the end. As for the "is it or isn't it" ending, maybe it could feel unresolved for some people. I thought it worked.
A low-effort horror read with chills and a super-likeable dog. Sometimes that's all you're looking for....more
A middling ending to a pretty good series. It wasn't bad, it just didn't quite stick the landing the way I hoped for.
This series is all about the feelA middling ending to a pretty good series. It wasn't bad, it just didn't quite stick the landing the way I hoped for.
This series is all about the feels. I love Gal and Ettian as a couple, and that carried on nicely in Vows of Empire. But the rest of the story felt a bit unsupported and slightly unrealistic. There was some excitement towards the end, a nice twist, but its impact was subsequently watered down by the extensive explanations of "the plan" that followed.
On the upside, this continues to be a great choice for audio. The narrators are lively and engaging and I did enjoy that aspect quite thoroughly....more
The story is set following a major solar event that causes severe damage and collapse of much of the world's electricalAnother low-effort summer read.
The story is set following a major solar event that causes severe damage and collapse of much of the world's electrical grid and infrastructure. That said, the post-apocalyptic event setting really plays only a minor role.
This is essentially a family drama, with two adult siblings who live wildly different lives dealing with issues from their shared past. It was actually pretty readable, and I ended up enjoying it well enough, but I probably won't remember much about it.
Koepp is an experienced screenwriter, and his skill with setting scenes and pacing is reflected in his writing here. Aurora isn't a deep book, but it is a decently entertaining one that is perfect when you just want to read and not work too hard at it. It has a hopefulness imbued throughout, which perhaps isn't totally realistic, but definitely allows the reader to ultimately feel hopeful about people and their potential in a crisis situation rather than just depressed....more
If you've made it this far, you know what to expect. This time the tough colonists of Donovan face off with a scummy Board appointed Corporate InspectIf you've made it this far, you know what to expect. This time the tough colonists of Donovan face off with a scummy Board appointed Corporate Inspector and Elite Family reps looking to give Kalico the boot from her position as Board Supervisor.
That goes over about as well as expected.
Another wholly entertaining book in the Donovan series, and I'm still left hoping for more....more
A sharply written satire of current socio-political and class conflict, but set in space. But let's be clear, SF is the clothing this book wears, but A sharply written satire of current socio-political and class conflict, but set in space. But let's be clear, SF is the clothing this book wears, but that element is not what it's all about.
Everything is recognizable and funny but not funny in the way it reflects so many current issues, similar to the way the film "Don't Look Up" frames the ridiculous politicization of climate change.
I really enjoyed reading this. It's such an intelligently written book, the way well-conceived satire should be: slightly over the top in how it portrays the world (but is it, really?), but not so much that critics can shrug and dismiss it as "pure fiction."...more
A fast paced survival story unburdened by anything that doesn't move things forward.
This was my second survival story this month, the first being BlacA fast paced survival story unburdened by anything that doesn't move things forward.
This was my second survival story this month, the first being Black Tide. Like that book, The Island doesn't worry itself overly about non-essential character development, but is focused on moving from action scene to action scene. However, it makes this choice consciously and with obvious thought about how the story should unfold. There is just enough there to make you care about Heather and her family. The result is a gripping read that plays out like a very good movie.
The touches of realism add to the tension. No one just walks off a deadly injury. The family being hunted suffers harm and uses their previously untapped strengths to find solutions. The hunting family has some obvious crazies, but also a few we aren't totally sure about. The peril is simultaneously both defined and surreal.
If you kind of like the sound of a modern day Deliverance set on an isolated island just off the coast of Australia, then definitely give this a go....more
An inventive story populated by interesting characters. It's really well written and executed. Just what one expects from Tchaikovsky.
I liked3.5 stars
An inventive story populated by interesting characters. It's really well written and executed. Just what one expects from Tchaikovsky.
I liked this one, but didn't love it, and that is 100% on me and not the book. While I appreciated everything the story had to offer, it just wasn't to my taste at the moment. Another time I might love it, just not right now....more
This was a weird and twisty story that ultimately provided more questions than answers. It was so compelling to read, though, and I had a hard time puThis was a weird and twisty story that ultimately provided more questions than answers. It was so compelling to read, though, and I had a hard time putting it down.
Don't be put off by the low ratings. I can see why some people would not necessarily find the ending all that satisfying, but for me, it fit pretty perfectly with the rest of the book and the idea that some things can never be fully explained or justified....more
A tense and exciting story about the initial hours after some kind of phenomenon deposits literal monsters on Earth. On the morning after a drunken hoA tense and exciting story about the initial hours after some kind of phenomenon deposits literal monsters on Earth. On the morning after a drunken hookup, Beth and Mike find themselves trapped on a beach and fighting for their lives against deadly creatures that are clearly not from Oregon.
If you like "trapped on the scene" survival tales then you know what to expect. Some questionable decisions, weirdly timed soul searching, and a bit of walking off injuries that one would have thought completely incapacitating. But, I guess if you can believe in invading monsters from another dimension, the apparent invincibility of the main characters isn't too big a stretch. It's basically what you're here for anyway.
While it wasn't my favourite in the survival tale niche, it was still a reasonably entertaining low-demand read....more
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