David
First published about a decade after her death, this felt like I was reading Marilyn Monroes's personal diary. In it she recounts her early childhood, her views on men and women, the industry and it's inability to take her seriously as an actress, her one-sided “feud” with Joan Crawford (my favorite part), her marriage to Joe DiMaggio and abruptly ends around the time she married Arthur Miller.
At 700+ pages, one should get immense credit for creating a propulsive At 700+ pages, one should get immense credit for creating a propulsive page turner such as BLONDE. A hybrid of fact and fiction, Oates has crafted a mythic & poetic story about Monroe from her innocent and heartbreaking beginnings, through the sexist and misogynistic studio system, and to the well-known tragic end. Through it all, Oates dispels the misconception of Monroe as just another “dumb blonde” and shows the intelligence and ambition of Norma Jean.
A wholly unique experience when it comes to the narrative style and execution of Tremblay's latest release. However, there's a lot of internal dialogue going on (it is presented as a memoir...no, it's a novel...no, it's a memoir!) and not a lot seems to be happening. But because I love Tremblay, I wanted to finish it. There's a few creepy moments and some fantastic LOL one-liners and barbs by the person (who I won't name) marking up the book in red ink.
But ultimately, in the end, it just didn't do it for me.
If you are a “Monster Kid” like me or a child of the 70's (um...also me) then look no further for your next read! Taking place over two parallel time lines, this is a gripping tale of a child abducting monster, a creepy old institution, and a monster hunter trying to piece it all together...and nothing is as it seems!
And as an added bonus, I have a favorite new author in Jennifer McMahon!
3.5 stars for me.
The story of two brutal murders set 15 years apart. One takes place in a Blockbuster video (remember those?) and the other in an ice cream shop.
My issue was that there were a ton of characters that all had the same “voice” which made it difficult to discern who was who. Although, this could just be a “me” issue. Lots of red herrings in addition to what felt like incomplete storylines that left more questions than answers.
That aside, it's a page-turner!
If you read Bugliosi's Helter Skelter and think you know what happened on that tragic night in August 1969...you don't.
A blistering exposé that shows the lengths Bugliosi went to in order to create the narrative we've all come to believe as the definitive truth while also examining the various elements & events that were conveniently overlooked.
Wonderful coming of age/mystery from debut author Brendan Slocumb.
A stolen $10 million dollar Stradivarius belonging to a Black violinist frames this coming of age story about overcoming racism & prejudice while pursuing a career in the world of classical music.
I loved this story. However, I initially felt many of the incidents of racism were overblown and almost cartoonish...then I read the Afterword only to learn, sadly, that they actually happened.
After a school in Tennessee banned the book, I went out and purchased my own copy.
This was the first graphic novel I've ever read (or as my husband teasingly would say, “How's your comic book?”, to which I would reply, “Oh, are you referring to my Pulitzer Prize winning graphic novel? It's amazing!”).
With Jews depicted as mice and Nazis depicted as cats (sorry cat lovers!), this heartbreaking memoir about a son's quest to document his father's experience in Nazi occupied Poland deserves all the accolades.
All the stars!
It's a shame it took me 3 years to finally get around to reading this page turner, but I'm just glad I finally did!
A story that examines the relationship between fathers and sons....oh, and serial killers.
There were moments that were truly frightening where I found myself holding my breath! And yet, there were moments that were extremely poignant that had me drying my tears.
A must read!
The fact that the Road of Bones itself is (tragically) a real location where Soviet prisoners perished in the bitter cold and would be buried right there on the very road they were building lends an additional layer of creepiness to this story. Such is the backdrop for this tale about a documentary TV producer and his pal who head to Siberia to explore the reportedly haunted Road of Bones.
Nothing good happens. Lots of weird encounters. And it's f#*^ing COLD!
A quick, fun and scary read.
I LOVED Needless Street but was underwhelmed by this one. That's not to say it's bad, I just didn't find it as engaging, but I was invested enough into the story that I wanted answers!
I was about 50% of the way into the book and I still had no idea what was happening in this super bizarre tale about a dysfunctional family. I didn't find it particularly scary, but rather disturbing and quite gross (Maggots!). The fictional story within the story seemed unnecessary and the cliffhanger ending was annoying. Trigger warnings for child/animal abuse.
A beautiful, disturbing and heart-wrenching story about two teenage boys from the working class streets of Glasgow, who fall in love and must keep their relationship hidden from the world around them.
While similar to the award winning Shuggie Bain (“write what you know!”), Young Mungo elevates the work of Douglas Stuart to a new level. Fully formed, dimensional characters that practically leap off the page alongside beautiful prose and a story that will have you riveted to the very end.
Vern, a pregnant 15 year old, escapes from a cult leaving her family behind. She gives birth, survives in the woods and then...things start to get really weird. To say anymore, would spoil the story.
While I didn't love this book as much as I was hoping to, I was was drawn into Vern's journey of self-discovery and the utterly bizarre world in which she inhabits.
“If we don't tell our own stories, we'll never take control of the narrative.”
Two women, each trying to escape their lives for their own reasons, switch identities at an airport.
What could possibly go wrong? Well, a plane crash for one. (not a spoiler).
A fun, twisty & suspenseful page turner about women speaking their truth in a world where they aren't always believed.
Based around the real-life political climate of 1970's Mexico, in particular, an event called El Halconazo, where the corrupt Mexican government injured or killed hundreds of protestors in an effort to squash Communism and rising dissent.
While this setting proved interesting, the rest of the story took some effort for me to finish.
A tad cliche...An innocent woman (secretary by day and lover of romantic comics by night) becomes entangled in a search for her neighbor and some missing rolls of film that are highly coveted by various government factions.
In short, a somewhat predictable tale where not a lot happens.
I loved Mexican Gothic. This? It was ok.
At one point in the story, a review of the book The Anomaly (written by one of the characters) is described as such: “Its a strange book, thrillingly fast-paced, unputdownable.”
While opinion seems to be split here in the real world, that fictional meta-like review sums up my feelings for the actual book itself.
Plus, how can I not love a book that features a couple cameos by Elton John?
A fun page turner that will have you trying to solve the various mysteries that lie within. Jess, a young Brit, escapes London to join her estranged brother in Paris. Only when she arrives at his apartment, he seems to have vanished in thin air. To say anymore would ruin this twisty and suspenseful tale!
Currently in development at Sony Pictures.
I've enjoyed other works by Matheson, but this one not so much. You definitely get the haunted house vibe, especially in the beginning where a sense of dread clearly hangs in the air. But then it devolves into some kind of male sexual fantasy involving rape and other sexual abuse. So, trigger warning for that. One's sexual orientation is also something that one should be ashamed and punished for as depicted in this book which is definitely a product of its time.
My eyes rolled every time Dr. Barrett's “ghost machine” was mentioned. It was called “The Reversor”, whose preposterous function was only outdone by its ridiculous name.
A modern update of “Rear Window”, a young man confined to a wheel chair due to having SMA (spinal muscular atrophy) witnesses a kidnapping and then engages in a cat and mouse game with the kidnapper.
But more than that, this book is about friendship, kindness, empathy and living one's life to the fullest.
Sadly, I can't remember the last time I read a book where the main protagonist is physically challenged. This was a refreshing and insightful look from the perspective of someone who overcomes great challenges with optimism, hope, courage and humor.