More like 1.5 stars. One-dimensional characters, no depth to their decision making or personalities; what they are in the first few pages, they continMore like 1.5 stars. One-dimensional characters, no depth to their decision making or personalities; what they are in the first few pages, they continue to be to the end. Several moments of deus ex machina which aren't even veiled enough. The actual basis for the story is interesting and merits attention. The dialogue is simply stupendous - no one talks like that. There was no need for romance; the love story between two of the main characters had no impact whatsoever on the story... except to offer an easy way out at the end. I've read a few lower rated reviews which take issue with the discussions on religion. Personally, I found it interesting because such discussion tends to be completely absent from SF books. However, even that was unsatisfactory in its exploration....more
It's more like 1.5. As I always say in reviews of longer series, the world-building is usually not the problem. I enjoy dReview for the whole series.
It's more like 1.5. As I always say in reviews of longer series, the world-building is usually not the problem. I enjoy delving into a new world and discovering whatever it has to give the reader. It's most likely you will find fault with the dialogue, the characters or the plot. The dialogue in this series is absolutely horrendous. It feels like the product of incest between B-rated action movie lines and those self-indulging thoughts you have when you think you're the greatest thing to be born on Earth since sliced bread. The characters are not particularly well developed and having to constantly be served narrator interjections on behalf of the character - to explain to me, the reader, what the character is/believes/feels/wants - instead of letting the character subtly give off these things, is very tiring. In any case, if you need a fast, unproblematic read to fill in time, this serves well enough. ...more
For what amounts to basically the entire time I read this book, I was convinced that it was going to strike a two star rating from me. The writing is For what amounts to basically the entire time I read this book, I was convinced that it was going to strike a two star rating from me. The writing is bombastic and there are more ways of referring to a serial killer using the word family of "monster" that I can count. The only reason I would recommend this book is if you want to read the words and statements which the criminals made to the author - that would be maybe 30 pages of the entire book. The rest, although giving factual information of the murders and the sentences that the killers got, is pretty bland and in no way a special or worthwhile read, even more so if you've read other, much better accounts from professionals. Or... like... the serial killers' Wikipedia pages.
I take issue with consistently referring to serial killers as monsters, the worst of the worst, the lowest of the low and others as such. While I do believe that they are severely mentally ill human beings who have done almost unspeakable things to their own kind, and that they deserve every second of prison time they get, persistently using language of this type ends up sounding monotonous, empty and devoid of any weight. I will say this again - for anyone who thinks I'm excusing them - once an individual progresses to the level described in this book, they have completely forfeited their right to freedom, in my mind. But if "monster" is thrown around every five pages, you lose sight of what the person you're reading about is: a human being, not a monster, not an other-worldly thing, but a person like you and me. Detaching yourself and your "kind" from them serves only one purpose: to make you believe they are are not like you, that they could never be your son, your husband, your wife or your mom. But they can. And they sometimes are. And the books and news stories and documentaries and films which dramatize and blow out their deeds forget that they represent a flaw of humanity - on of which you should be aware every single day. The title of the book boasts "The Most Evil People In The World Tell Their Own Stories" - the killers he's included in the book are, by no means, the most evil people in the world. That is a claim made in order to market the book and make sales. And quantifying evil in terms of how violently they've killed a human being or how nonplussed they look when they speak about eating human flesh implies that evil is something which is confined to the spectrum of violent crime, sadism and mental disorders. A thing which - in case you haven't noticed - I absolutely reject.
A Google search of the author's name tells me he was a Royal Marine intelligence officer turned criminologist, and that he's interviewed over 30 serial killers, including Peter Sutcliffe (let's ignore that I can't find an official page of his, a Wikipedia page or any other professional information, just third party book sites or popular blogs). He claims he can get into their minds and make them confide things they've never confided before. OK, all's good so far. In my years of reading about and researching serial killers, I have countless times seen authors who indulge in more than a little arrogance if they happen to be of the few who have had access to the criminals. But this guy is the cherry, the cream and the first layer of chocolate on the cake and tops it all off with unbelievably self-indulging comments. I will not - and dare not - deny the work he has put into interviews and research, the time devoted to trying to get close to murderers who can spin and twist an interrogator's mind into fifteen different directions - but come on, have some modesty! Please, just once, recognize you might be wrong! Limit your own pride and be cognizant that you are not an all-knowing, brave and brilliant investigator! If others want to and do say that about you, that's great. But when you imply it in your own words, it makes me severely doubt it. And that's the last straw. Don't bother with this book....more
If you love Kevin Smith, you'll love this book. If you just moderately like Kevin Smith, this will simply be a good way of getting a few laughs. BasedIf you love Kevin Smith, you'll love this book. If you just moderately like Kevin Smith, this will simply be a good way of getting a few laughs. Based on his and his friend's podcast, each story is transcribed from one of their conversations. Unfortunately, that sometimes does not translate well on paper, given that you would need to hear tone of voice in order to understand the jokes. I have to admit I much prefer Kevin Smith in his video presence (whether on Youtube or in his TV series Comic Book Men, which I really like), but for hardcore fans this would be another medium of experiencing their favorite permanently stoned, kinda awkward but super chilled film director. ...more
Apart from some very few psychological concepts which are indeed used today in therapies such as CBT and ACT, this book is a load of nonsense on the cApart from some very few psychological concepts which are indeed used today in therapies such as CBT and ACT, this book is a load of nonsense on the clinical psychological side. I'm not even going to discuss the writing - it was too plain to achieve its goal. There are some good ideas in here, but the presentation is severely lacking in all areas. ...more
Just your standard, off-the-shelf thriller. Nothing special here, unfortunately. I don't mean to bash this book, the technicalities are all bolt-lockeJust your standard, off-the-shelf thriller. Nothing special here, unfortunately. I don't mean to bash this book, the technicalities are all bolt-locked in place: the dialogue is well paced, there's not a dull moment, the rhythm is kept. Unfortunately, there's not much substance to it. As well paced as it is, the dialogue is rather vapid. There aren't many dull moments, but that's because the plot is pushed forward with deus ex machina moments that make you want to slap yourself with the book. And the rhythm is there, but there's plot holes in this work that make it look like Swiss cheese. The main character is not that bad (surprising for this kind of literature): he is a walking, living, breathing cliche, but a well-constructed one. However anything past him is pretty much predictable. His relationships, his mishaps, his thoughts - there's not much you can't see through. All in all, if this is your literary cup of tea, it's pretty difficult for me to understand why. But hey, who am I to judge? ...more
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