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Review Date: 5/2/2015
This book was delightful. Not as good as Bruce Coville's Book of Monsters, but quite a fun read. Most of the stories were general children's anthology fare, but I thought the most notable stories were:
The Cat Came Back by Lawrence Watt-Evans - I have trouble reading about hurt animals, which this one broadcasts with the title, but I felt that the ending softened the blow a bit. In all likelihood that is a somewhat singular opinion, but I suppose that depends on what your favorite animal is.
The Fat Man - by Joe R. Lansdale - You pretty much just have to read this one.
The Babysitter by Jane Yolen - My favorite by far. There were a couple of little details gave it a gruesome air that a very small change in wording would have eradicated.
The Cat Came Back by Lawrence Watt-Evans - I have trouble reading about hurt animals, which this one broadcasts with the title, but I felt that the ending softened the blow a bit. In all likelihood that is a somewhat singular opinion, but I suppose that depends on what your favorite animal is.
The Fat Man - by Joe R. Lansdale - You pretty much just have to read this one.
The Babysitter by Jane Yolen - My favorite by far. There were a couple of little details gave it a gruesome air that a very small change in wording would have eradicated.
Review Date: 5/2/2015
It may have been a mistake to watch the movie first, but I wasn't aware of the book until I had. I found Doon and Linna to be somewhat selfish in the book. They weren't completely unsympathetic, but they weren't terribly endearing. I don't feel like they had enough info to reasonably put the puzzle together, so things felt a little jumbled and rushed at some points to me.
I'm glad that I read it, though, and I'm curious about the next book.
I'm glad that I read it, though, and I'm curious about the next book.
Review Date: 5/2/2015
I'm not generally a fan of war novels, but this definitely held my attention.
It is very cleverly written. Not so much so that it's like "Liar" by Holly Black where I got irritated not knowing if I could trust anything the protagonist said, but that could be partially because, in that one, the protagonist directly mocks the reader and there's obviously a point to everything in "Code Name Verity".
I kept reading mini-reviews that said that there was a twist; I'm not sure if I figured out which part they were talking about, but my guess going in was definitely off!
It is very cleverly written. Not so much so that it's like "Liar" by Holly Black where I got irritated not knowing if I could trust anything the protagonist said, but that could be partially because, in that one, the protagonist directly mocks the reader and there's obviously a point to everything in "Code Name Verity".
I kept reading mini-reviews that said that there was a twist; I'm not sure if I figured out which part they were talking about, but my guess going in was definitely off!
Review Date: 5/2/2015
I feel terrible that I didn't like this more because I really like Allison Janney in her film/tv work, but crime drama in book form is just not my favorite.
I liked that she wasn't monotone, and she was fun as the main character, but the other officers voices sounded too similar to me. I'm not sure what the standard is for audio books, but I've had some that are monotone and some where the narrator uses lots of voices. Apart from the 2 officers, her voices are pretty clear cut though.
I can't imagine actually reading it and enjoying it., but the story was basically interesting, and I think that I would love to watch this as a tv show or movie, but it loses me as a book.
I liked that she wasn't monotone, and she was fun as the main character, but the other officers voices sounded too similar to me. I'm not sure what the standard is for audio books, but I've had some that are monotone and some where the narrator uses lots of voices. Apart from the 2 officers, her voices are pretty clear cut though.
I can't imagine actually reading it and enjoying it., but the story was basically interesting, and I think that I would love to watch this as a tv show or movie, but it loses me as a book.
Review Date: 5/2/2015
Robin Parrish is an inspirational author and it shows in the author's work, but it rarely feels like you're being hit over the head with it.
The Corridor felt a bit more inspirational than the other 2 books of Parrish's that I've read ("Nightmare" and "Off World"), and I enjoyed those more, but "The Corridor" was still a good read.
This might not be for you if allegory isn't your thing.
The Corridor felt a bit more inspirational than the other 2 books of Parrish's that I've read ("Nightmare" and "Off World"), and I enjoyed those more, but "The Corridor" was still a good read.
This might not be for you if allegory isn't your thing.
Review Date: 5/2/2015
This book is good, but really depressing. He makes everything in the book clinical and extremely personal at the same time and I thought it was amazing how much he wanted to be a correspondent. His writing style was very engaging, while it was really hard to read some parts because he was in such terrible circumstances so often, I never wanted to put the book down. I felt terrible about so many of the things he's seen and been through, and even worse for the people that were living in the nightmares he describes and can't leave at the end of the story.
Do NOT read this if you are looking for something light, but it is SO worth reading.
Do NOT read this if you are looking for something light, but it is SO worth reading.
Review Date: 5/2/2015
I got Silo 1-5 and First Shift at around the same time, so I didn't find out that I wasn't a fan of 1-5 until I already had First Shift. That was a mistake.
If you enjoyed 1-5, then you will likely enjoy First Shift as well, but I thought that it was less interesting because there's an even heavier focus on bureaucracy when I thought that the early books were a bit dry to begin with. In addition, I found that I liked the protagonist in the Silo collection better than this one (it's a different person), so there really wasn't much here for me.
If you enjoyed 1-5, then you will likely enjoy First Shift as well, but I thought that it was less interesting because there's an even heavier focus on bureaucracy when I thought that the early books were a bit dry to begin with. In addition, I found that I liked the protagonist in the Silo collection better than this one (it's a different person), so there really wasn't much here for me.
Review Date: 5/2/2015
I think that this is more of a children's book than a YA one. It's very environmentalist, which I liked, but overall it came across as pretty futile and disheartening. Maybe I'm too jaded to get a happy ending out of it, but I found it more depressing than anything else.
I don't want to give away too much since most of my complaints are pretty specific, but it didn't help that I wasn't really a big fan of the main character.
I don't want to give away too much since most of my complaints are pretty specific, but it didn't help that I wasn't really a big fan of the main character.
Review Date: 5/2/2015
I was a bit disappointed with this book. I'm a fan of dystopian YA novels and mutants, so it seemed like a solid choice, but I found too many things distracting to really get into it properly.
For one, it felt like everyone in the book was terrible at sneaking. The main character notes several times that she'll need to be stealthy and then goes running off because she says she can't help it. There's talk of hidden cameras, but most of the time characters seem to prefer to try ignoring them, staring at them, or dashing past them instead of acting normal or trying to bypass them.
I thought that the romance was kind of forced. Emotions are somewhat new to some of the characters, but I hated how each portion of the romance built.
For one, it felt like everyone in the book was terrible at sneaking. The main character notes several times that she'll need to be stealthy and then goes running off because she says she can't help it. There's talk of hidden cameras, but most of the time characters seem to prefer to try ignoring them, staring at them, or dashing past them instead of acting normal or trying to bypass them.
I thought that the romance was kind of forced. Emotions are somewhat new to some of the characters, but I hated how each portion of the romance built.
Review Date: 5/2/2015
I thought that "Oh. My. Gods." was better, but this was a solid sequel. It picks up right where the first one left off. As always, Tera Lynn Childs writes and engaging protagonist.
I always feel like I should say what part I didn't like, even if it was very minor. In this case, it was that Phoebe is dense about what Goddess Boot Camp is. She has so many ways to figure it out but doesn't bother actually doing it. I suppose I could complain that the resolution to the book is a little neat and tidy, but I thought that the race was done well enough that it over-shadowed that.
I always feel like I should say what part I didn't like, even if it was very minor. In this case, it was that Phoebe is dense about what Goddess Boot Camp is. She has so many ways to figure it out but doesn't bother actually doing it. I suppose I could complain that the resolution to the book is a little neat and tidy, but I thought that the race was done well enough that it over-shadowed that.
Review Date: 5/2/2015
I loved this book on tape. I haven't read the actual book yet, but am looking forward to doing so.
It's largely a remix of fairy tales that everyone is familiar with as toured by a couple of children that already have a keen interest in fairy tales.
I was creeped out early on when the class was so unfamiliar with the stories. It's been a while since I've been in a position to observe the workings of a classroom, but I'm hoping that it was creative license and that most students are not actually like that.
One of my favorite things about this CD was that it's one of the first audio books I've ever listened to and the other one was very monotone. Chris Colfer really gets into it and has a notably different voice for pretty much every character.
I can't decide if I hated or loved Little Red Riding Hood. The voice he uses for her is kind of irritating, but it really fits her and I always smiled when she came into a scene. I guess I love to hate her.
It's largely a remix of fairy tales that everyone is familiar with as toured by a couple of children that already have a keen interest in fairy tales.
I was creeped out early on when the class was so unfamiliar with the stories. It's been a while since I've been in a position to observe the workings of a classroom, but I'm hoping that it was creative license and that most students are not actually like that.
One of my favorite things about this CD was that it's one of the first audio books I've ever listened to and the other one was very monotone. Chris Colfer really gets into it and has a notably different voice for pretty much every character.
I can't decide if I hated or loved Little Red Riding Hood. The voice he uses for her is kind of irritating, but it really fits her and I always smiled when she came into a scene. I guess I love to hate her.
Review Date: 5/2/2015
This book on tape picked up pretty much right where the 1st one left off. There's also really not a lot to tell that isn't a spoiler, but if you enjoyed the 1st audio, then this sequel should be a pleasure.
My only complaint is that I'm not really very fond of the voice Chris Colfer uses for Harper and his rhyming killed me a little, but I really enjoyed pretty much every other aspect of it.
I recommend it.
My only complaint is that I'm not really very fond of the voice Chris Colfer uses for Harper and his rhyming killed me a little, but I really enjoyed pretty much every other aspect of it.
I recommend it.
Review Date: 5/2/2015
This book encourages the reader to think outside of themselves. I first heard of Nick Vujicic from his work on the movie "The Butterfly Circus". This book is full of good advice about finding the good in yourself and your circumstances. The books is written from a very inspirational/spiritual perspective, though there is plenty of material for someone that isn't especially religious (me, for instance) as well.
I highly recommend it, though I take exception to 1 sentence in it that negatively mentions people that frequent "bars, nightclubs, and video arcades". I feel like he might as well include movie theaters in there as well since there's nothing wrong with video games, but 1 sentence doesn't invalidate the rest of the book.
I highly recommend it, though I take exception to 1 sentence in it that negatively mentions people that frequent "bars, nightclubs, and video arcades". I feel like he might as well include movie theaters in there as well since there's nothing wrong with video games, but 1 sentence doesn't invalidate the rest of the book.
Review Date: 5/2/2015
This book was long. Lots of books are, but I kept doing a page count on how much I had left. Don't get me wrong, the story was good, but I really disliked Maddie through most of the book. It's established early on that there are time-shenanigans; it comes up multiple times, but it becomes a big, pointless issue when she really gets drawn into it. I'm pretty sure it's meant to be character growth, but it comes across as not thinking things through and getting mad at other people about it.
My copy of the book included photos from the tv series based on the book, which I'm looking forward to checking out.
My copy of the book included photos from the tv series based on the book, which I'm looking forward to checking out.
Review Date: 5/2/2015
I got this audio book primarily for the Sherlock story read by David Warner. I'm happy to say that it didn't disappoint, but I do have something to say about a few of the others as well.
Soft Monkey - Solid story. Not entirely surprising, but Harlan Ellison really seemed like he got into the narration.
The Unique Hamlet - Not the most baffling Sherlock story. David Warner was just the right choice for it. He doesn't voice each character differently, but it was just right.
The New Girl Friend - I really didn't expect the ending, though I feel like I should have. I don't have any special affinity for the narration.
The Infallible Godahl - The 1st 1/3 of this story was like molassas, but it improved later on.
The Leopard Man's Story - I was going to say that I hated this one, but the ending redeemed it a little.
The Hand of Carlos - I hated this one, story and narration.
Soft Monkey - Solid story. Not entirely surprising, but Harlan Ellison really seemed like he got into the narration.
The Unique Hamlet - Not the most baffling Sherlock story. David Warner was just the right choice for it. He doesn't voice each character differently, but it was just right.
The New Girl Friend - I really didn't expect the ending, though I feel like I should have. I don't have any special affinity for the narration.
The Infallible Godahl - The 1st 1/3 of this story was like molassas, but it improved later on.
The Leopard Man's Story - I was going to say that I hated this one, but the ending redeemed it a little.
The Hand of Carlos - I hated this one, story and narration.
Review Date: 5/2/2015
This is a good book, but if I never read another book that features Google, it'll be too soon.
I thought that the most interesting ones were the customers, but I didn't really connect with any of the main characters. There were a lot of twists, and the old versus new aspect was interesting, but the project seemed sort of arbitrary. To me, it read like a lot like a cozy mystery.
I liked this book enough that I feel like it deserves more of a description, but not enough that I know what else to say about it.
I thought that the most interesting ones were the customers, but I didn't really connect with any of the main characters. There were a lot of twists, and the old versus new aspect was interesting, but the project seemed sort of arbitrary. To me, it read like a lot like a cozy mystery.
I liked this book enough that I feel like it deserves more of a description, but not enough that I know what else to say about it.
Review Date: 5/2/2015
Helpful Score: 1
I picked this book up because I'd read Robin Parrish's "Off World". Overall that was the better book, but Nightmare did have some things going for it. I should start by saying that Robin Parrish is an "inspirational author". He writes inspirational fiction, which I've found can be a turn off for non-religious people, but his writing is very accessible. I'm not really religious and while his writing does touch on issues of belief, he does it in a very engaging way that makes you think without feeling like you're being hit over the head. I absolutely love this about his work.
His characters all have a nice depth, they aren't *just* anything. The boyfriend isn't *just* The Boyfriend, the rich girl isn't *just* The Rich Girl, etc.
The biggest problem I had with the book was that the main character is such a skeptic. It doesn't bother me that she wants evidence, and it's not that she doesn't believe (she does), but every fifth thought she has is about how very skeptical she is of whatever is happening. It works in some scenes (not early on), and it doesn't in others. For the most part it does though.
His characters all have a nice depth, they aren't *just* anything. The boyfriend isn't *just* The Boyfriend, the rich girl isn't *just* The Rich Girl, etc.
The biggest problem I had with the book was that the main character is such a skeptic. It doesn't bother me that she wants evidence, and it's not that she doesn't believe (she does), but every fifth thought she has is about how very skeptical she is of whatever is happening. It works in some scenes (not early on), and it doesn't in others. For the most part it does though.
Review Date: 5/2/2015
This is the sequel to Nobody's Princess. It picks up directly after the end of that one and carries on in the same vein.
If you like re-imaginings of myths, this is likely a good choice for you. Helen wants to be strong and live her life, but doesn't want to ruin everyone else's to do so if she can avoid it. It was fun to see smaller events get embellished into some of the huge events from various myths too.
My big problem with this book, and it really isn't one, is that at one point she is giving thanks to some people that helped her and she leaves out one of the people that helped her the most! As far as complaints go, though, that's a pretty darn minor one.
If you like re-imaginings of myths, this is likely a good choice for you. Helen wants to be strong and live her life, but doesn't want to ruin everyone else's to do so if she can avoid it. It was fun to see smaller events get embellished into some of the huge events from various myths too.
My big problem with this book, and it really isn't one, is that at one point she is giving thanks to some people that helped her and she leaves out one of the people that helped her the most! As far as complaints go, though, that's a pretty darn minor one.
Review Date: 5/2/2015
I know it was a mistake, but I started this series on this book instead of the 1st one since this is the one I had on hand.
The author did a good job of reminding us of (or in my cafe introducing me to) the main cast early on. One thing that I don't like seeing in books is when a very small amount of discussion could solve a MASSIVE problem and that is the case for an early portion of this book. I rather like some of the scenes with Rachel; I wasn't especially fond of her character, but I appreciated her scheming.
For my money, I'd rather have a book from the Forgive My Fins line by Tera Lynn Childs, but it was a decent read and definitely an asset to the library of a YA mermaid fan.
The author did a good job of reminding us of (or in my cafe introducing me to) the main cast early on. One thing that I don't like seeing in books is when a very small amount of discussion could solve a MASSIVE problem and that is the case for an early portion of this book. I rather like some of the scenes with Rachel; I wasn't especially fond of her character, but I appreciated her scheming.
For my money, I'd rather have a book from the Forgive My Fins line by Tera Lynn Childs, but it was a decent read and definitely an asset to the library of a YA mermaid fan.
Review Date: 5/2/2015
Deuce returns as the battle-hardened huntress. I was surprised at the beginning of the book. It never occurred to me that Salvation might be set up the way that it is.
I thought that everything progressed in a very reasonable fashion. There weren't any crazy leaps that stood out as out of character or such.
The freaks are, of course, disturbing, but there was one part that I found chilling that involved the townspeople.
I kind of liked the first book better, but it was really interesting to explore the upper world with Deuce as opposed to seeing the world that she was more familiar with.
I thought that everything progressed in a very reasonable fashion. There weren't any crazy leaps that stood out as out of character or such.
The freaks are, of course, disturbing, but there was one part that I found chilling that involved the townspeople.
I kind of liked the first book better, but it was really interesting to explore the upper world with Deuce as opposed to seeing the world that she was more familiar with.
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