Gio'

The world building is first-class. Great ideas, good background, lots of nice details, including a language and terms that are very evocative. Unfortunately the story is a little bit of a mess, with a bunch of characters doing weird things, too many twists and turns to really care or stay concentrated on really staying with the plot. Towards the end I was thinking, ok, that's enough, let's wrap this up.

When I started this gigantic audiobook, I was moderately hopeful; Dan Simmons has never gone below four stars for me, and this book was no exception. The characters are deep—you either root for them or hate them. The story is intense and full of details, and the Stephen King-like ruthlessness is there to unsettle you at just the right times. Simmons is a powerful author all around.

What a mess of a book. I am still asking myself why I even finished it.

Everything about it feels incredibly cheap: cheap writing, cheap plot twists, and cheap scares. There is simply nothing redeeming here.

Fun, fun, fun, and completely riveting.

You don't want to stop listening to the audiobook; you don't even want your run or workout to finish just so you don't have to go back to the real world. You just want to stay a little bit longer in this crazy, scary world that Mira Grant has created for our delight.

The girl can write.

Listening to this as an audiobook, I admit it was hard to get into at first and pay proper attention. After a bit, I realized I was missing out on far too much of the complex story and timelines, so I took the unusual step of starting it over from the beginning.

This book absolutely requires your full attention and memory to truly enjoy the powerful narrative. I loved most of the characters, and the revelations were perfectly interspersed and dropped at exactly the right moments.

To say that this book starts slow is an understatement. The temptation to DNF was incredibly strong.

I actually had to check Wikipedia to see if the plot would ever change, which convinced me to stick with it. It did get better, but it was never gripping at any point.

• First 3rd: Lackluster and slow.
• Remainder: Better, but not gripping.

• Rating: 3 Stars (Average)

Well... high average rating, but this book was a total bore for me.

The author tried to pump up the story and characters, but it all fell flat and turned the reading experience into a complete chore.

• Status: DNF

Over-the-top concept, over-the-top energy. This is an absolute "pull out all the stops" kind of story.

What elevates it is the underlying social commentary; it is way more than just an undertone. The sharp historical references ground the chaos, transforming this crazy, high-octane narrative into a truly important piece of fiction.

For me, this is the perfect mix: profound, great ideas delivered in a gripping, relentless package.

Sometimes you just want a good story that doesn't change the world but is truly well-written, with great pacing, interesting characters, and the occasional plot twist. Megan Goldin rules—every book of hers is an absolute page-turner that cannot be put down.

A masterclass in narrative execution. The author is easily one of the most talented writers I have ever encountered, and this early work is no exception. The absolute mastery of language, the intricate handling of multiple timelines and viewpoints, and the profound multi-dimensionality of the characters are all fully present. A truly phenomenal piece of writing.

The plot is top-notch, the characters are well-fleshed-out, and the backstory is reasonably original. A sharp, well-written thriller with great pacing.

A compelling concept and opening, but the narrative loses steam over time. While the early training phases move quickly and the dynamic between the two older siblings is well-executed, the progression eventually becomes repetitive. It is a solid standalone experience, but it didn't generate enough momentum to make me commit to the rest of the series.

Boring, thin plot, and forced wit—DNF

The book is boring, with very little plot to keep it moving. The wittiness feels so forced that it ultimately sounds fake. DNF.

Fast-paced and likable, but ultimately forgettable

This is a short story with some interesting and likable characters. The plot is simple, the narrative moves fast, and it is a quick read—but it is also something you forget just as fast.

A glacial pace and a thin plot—DNF

I liked the first book a lot, but this second book was a struggle. The combination of a glacial pace, a complex timeline, and a thin plot made it hard to stay invested. With so many books to read and so little time, I decided to move on. DNF.

A perfect guilty pleasure—smooth, mindless fun

This is not a serious murder investigation book. Instead, it is pure guilty pleasure and mindless fun. While the plot twists are a little too numerous, it is all done intentionally and smoothly.

Richard Osman's style succeeds because:

• Immersive world-building: The writing creates a distinct world where all of these eccentric things happen naturally and smoothly.
• Flawless pacing: Even with the high volume of twists, the narrative flows without friction.

I definitely look forward to reading more of these easy books from the author.

A treat for lifelong AC/DC fans—even better on audio

As a lifelong AC/DC fan, this book was an absolute treat. Having Brian Johnson himself narrate the audiobook made it a double treat.

It was great to learn about:

• His beginnings: Gritty and fascinating insights into his early life before the fame.
• The struggles: The real challenges and massive life changes he had to navigate.

Why 4 stars instead of 5: I only docked a star because I would have loved slightly more content focused explicitly on the AC/DC portion of his life. Still, highly recommended.

Sam Kean's books all sound a little similar. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it makes for a stark comparison with his best effort, The Disappearing Spoon. The Icepick Surgeon is not at that same level, but it's an honest book with interesting stories, it is well-written, and it doesn't have the excess gore of some of his other books.

Jeffrey Archer can write! There are very few things more enjoyable while exercising than proper, tight, gripping fiction. All the characters developed correctly, all the loops closing without infuriating you, all smooth and well-written. Why not? Books that are not meant to change the world, but to entertain us and maybe make us imagine how it was to live in a different time.

I have a huge respect for George Orwell—I'm definitely a fan—but this is minor Orwell. It is not as lively as his other work, and the story is smaller. Of course, the writing is unrivaled in its quality, but if you're not an Orwell completionist like me, I guess you can skip it.

This is a case in which the "tool" or the "hook" is a little thin, so I didn't find it that interesting or relatable. Having said that, the book was short enough and the writing and pace were pretty good, so I powered through it. Good job to me.

Nowhere close in terms of quality to Strange Sally Diamond—not in the same league at all. I wonder if it is the extenuating book structure, written in "reports" from different people, that made an otherwise interesting story a bit of a slog.

I felt like I've read the same story again and again—all the undertones, all the themes, all the scenery. At some point, you have to ask yourself what is the point in reading the same book again and again. DNF.